Door Industry Journal - Spring 2021

spring 2021 THE door industry journal Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk Advertising and Editorial The Door Industry Journal PO Box 508 Warninglid Haywards Heath West Sussex RH17 5GY T: 01444 464147 F: 01444 464148 E: mail@doorindustryjournal.co.uk Design Agency Freelance Design & Graphics PO Box 508 Warninglid Haywards Heath West Sussex RH17 5GY T: 01444 461796 F: 01444 461596 E: info@freelance-design.co.uk Advisory Partner The Door & Hardware Federation The Barn Shuttington Fields Farm Main Road Shuttington Tamworth B79 0HA T: 01827 52337 F: 01827 310827 Printed Circulation: Door Industry Journal is a controlled free circulation publication and is available free of charge only to personnel who fall within our defined criteria. Copies are available on subscription to persons or companies who do not qualify. Our current printed circulation is just under 5000 copies. Digital Circulation: Our current digital circulation reaches around 12,500 readers. Annual Subscription Rates: £17.95 (UK), £29.95 (EU), £38.95 (Rest of World) To subscribe visit: www.doorindustryjournal.co.uk 3 Follow us on Twitter @DoorIndustryJnl The Door Industry Journal is an independently produced and edited trade publication which is published by Avalon Innovations LLP on behalf of the door, hardware and gate industries, with support and guidance provided by The Door and Hardware Federation (dhf) and other carefully selected industry bodies. Companies selling to the any of the above industry sectors wishing to find out more about advertising or having articles published in the Door Industry Journal should visit our website at www.doorindustryjournal.co.uk or download our media pack at www.dijonline.co.uk . Alternatively, to obtain further information, discuss your advertising requirements or to enquire about special features and advertorials, please call us on 01444 464147 or send an email to advertising@doorindustryjournal.co.uk . Door Industry Journal is a trading style of Avalon Innovations LLP. Company No. OC364751 Derek Hibbart, Editor, Door Industry Journal welcome At last, it seems the future is looking brighter. Certainly brighter than this time last year, when my Spring welcome message talked about our industry “facing an unprecedented situation in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic.” Back then, none of us knew how this was going to pan out and it was a frightening time. But twelve months later – despite the many challenges that remain – we are nearly out of lockdown and the vaccination programme has given us hope. And it seems that all the restrictions have even had a positive effect on demand, as households are diverting some of the money saved by not going on holiday etc. into home improvement. This has led to a surge in demand for garage doors, whilst the explosion in internet shopping has been good news for industrial door firms, thanks to more warehousing being constructed. The ironmongery sector has also prospered, through the massive increase in DIY sales. Ironmongery Direct reported a 75% upturn during last year’s lockdown and this strong performance has continued into 2021. Away from COVID-19, there has been much concern ahead of our departure from the EU, with many worried about the effect on cross-channel trade. But in reality – whatever your views on the wider implications of the situation – Brexit has come and gone without any significant repercussions for our industry. And, despite everything, we have seen the launch of two new garage door manufacturing businesses in 2021, in the shape of Thermador-UK Ltd and UK Doors Midlands Limited – you can read about them on pages 68 and 42 respectively. So, we weathered the storm! All that remains to be said is to enjoy your Easter, have a chocolate egg or three, and – of course – enjoy this latest issue of the DIJ…