2012 sees the launch of an all-new service from Insight Data - the Insight Index – and the company believes it will transform the way people find suppliers, research information and source new products in the window, door, conservatory, glass and building products industry.

The Index is a new online portal that combines an industry-specific search engine with a product finder and supplier directory. Helen Costeloe-Hughes, Commercial Director at Insight Data explains; “The problem with general search engines is the sheer volume, relevance and accuracy of information.  For example, there are 204 million listings for ‘hardware suppliers’ on Google.  People want key information quickly and accurately when searching for products, technical data or suppliers which is why an industry-specific business-to-business portal works so well.”

Visitors can use the Insight Index to find all the products, components, services and suppliers they need. From window manufacturers to suppliers of architectural ironmongery or silicone sealants.  The Index is aimed squarely at the window, door, conservatory, building plastics and glass and glazing industry including installers, fabricators, glazing contractors and industry-specific buyers.

Suppliers can showcase their products on the Index and provide valuable information and PDF downloads, ranging from sales literature to technical data sheets and case studies.

A nationwide marketing campaign has been launched to promote the Insight Index including extensive press advertising, online marketing and a major direct mail campaign that targets every fabricator, installer and glazing contractor in the UK.

Insight Data also has the largest email database in the industry, with 40,000 contacts updated daily by the firm’s own research team and this will form part of a monthly email broadcast promoting the Index.

“We also want to help raise awareness of fenestration and glazing products across the wider construction industry so one of our key marketing drivers is to promote the Insight Index to architects, specifiers, builders, developers, main contractors and house-builders” adds Helen.

Insight Data has put substantial resources behind the Insight Index and believes the Industry needs a central information hub, however the company is under no illusions it will happen overnight as Helen explains:

“We had the inspiration for a product finder when we exhibited at Glassex in late 2010. After considerable research this evolved into a full search engine and window industry supplier directory.  Like any new technology or innovation The Index will take time to establish and it will develop and evolve to meet the needs of the market. We want to encourage those forward-thinking suppliers and business leaders in the window, door, conservatory and glass industry to get involved and showcase their companies and products.”

For further information about the Insight Index visit the website at: http://www.insightindex.co.uk or call Insight Data on 01934 808293. You can also follow the Insight Index on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/insightindex

The home improvement industry has never had a big name behind it. Sure, companies like Anglian and Everest are well known, but they are not a global brand. 

So what happens when a business that everyone knows and trusts, and most people trade with, and that holds a world-class brand, enters the home improvement market?  What happens to established window installers, many of which are struggling to generate enough business as it is?

I am talking about Tesco of course.  The global brand that generates £1 billion sales per week and makes circa £3.5 billion pre-tax profit per year – greater than the entire size of the window industry.

Tesco Home Services has now launched and promises to provide homeowners with quality home improvements through a network of approved partners. Oh, and Tesco Clubcard points too.  If and when Tesco roll this out nationally, it could change the home improvement industry. 

The implications are far reaching.  Installers who sign up as partners could have all the sales leads they could ever cope with, and sales conversion rates they can only dream about.  Homeowners trust Tesco. So will this benefit or mark the end of organisations such as the Double Glazing & Conservatory Ombudsman Scheme? (DGCOS), Insurance Backed Warranty providers (IBG’s) and online lead generation sites? What about the product manufacturers? Will Tesco control the supply chain? 

Many won’t take this move seriously. But this would be a mistake.  With over 280,000 UK staff, along with their family and friends, they already have a captive market before launching the service. 

So why has Tesco moved into home improvements? Well why not. They have recently launched their own record label, movie company, and a chain of hairdressing/beauty salons. They acquired a 24-strong chain of major garden centres. And Tesco Bank provides mortgages, loans, credit cards and insurance. Lots of insurances. So why not home improvements? 

It won’t happen overnight. But it will happen. I would welcome your views on this, please comment below, and you can visit the Tesco Home Services website here:  www.tescohomeservices.com

Andrew Scott, Managing Director, Insight Data Ltd.

Market research, trends, and analysis for the window and conservatory industry. www.insightdata.co.uk

Volatility in the window and conservatory market has reached an all time high with a staggering 320 companies ceasing to trade since January.

“Not all of these companies have gone bust” points out Insight’s sales manager Sonia Punter; “many business owners and sole traders have simply retired or shut-up shop, but the trend is still upwards.”

The number of companies changing their details, moving premises or changing their key staff is also increasing.  “There are now some 1,200 changes to the Insight UK fenestration database every month, which is 20% higher than two years ago” adds Sonia.

With so many changes occurring every month, suppliers can find their marketing results deteriorate very quickly – targeting companies who have moved or ceased trading simply wastes time and money. “At Insight Data our telephone research team continuously verify the details held on our databases, meaning our clients only access the very latest market intelligence and spend their marketing budget more effectively as a result.”

Don’t waste time targeting 320 dead companies, call Insight Data today on 01934 808 293 or visit www.insightdata.co.uk and access the most accurate data on the market today.

Insight Data have announced a major new initiative to help companies avoid the pitfalls of bad payers.

‘Credit Manager’ is the innovative new facility that enables users to see a financial snapshot of potential customers in real-time using an easy to read and understand format – ideal for non financial people. This move officially makes Insight Data the only data provider in the window industry to offer such a credit feature and according to Insight’s Sales Manager, Sonia Punter it will help companies avoid wasting time and money chasing new business from high risk customers.

Sonia elaborates: “Everyone will have come across bad payers at one time or another.  You spend money creating leads, your sales team follow them up and after meetings, negotiations, product samples and a great deal of time and effort your accounts department credit checks the new customer and they’ve got a bad credit score.”

“This laborious process can be avoided with Credit Manager. Powered by one of Europe’s leading Credit Reference Agencies, Credit Manager links to Salestracker, Insight’s online prospect database, and is available as an optional extra for subscribers to our UK window, door, conservatory and IGU databases.

Credit Manager provides key information including credit score, credit rating, date established and details of any County Court Judgements meaning your sales team work smarter not harder” concludes Sonia. 

For more information on Credit Manager call Insight Data on 01934 808293 or  email info@insightdata.co.uk

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Insight Data have launched a comprehensive database of over 1,100 manufacturers of double and triple glazed units in the UK and Ireland, in response to the rapidly changing market for IGU manufacturers and suppliers.

Sonia Punter, Insight’s Sales Manager comments; “With changes to Part L of the Building Regulations having taken effect on 1st October 2010 and the drive towards improved Window Energy Ratings, the impact to sealed unit manufacturers has never been more significant.”

Sonia continues: “Many will require substantial investment in equipment, stock, and new standards accreditation.  As a result some smaller companies are ceasing to manufacture, while some window fabricators, reliant on sealed units as part of Window Energy Ratings, are investing in sealed unit production lines to simplify the WER process.”

“The Insight IGU database is ideal for glass, component, sealant, spacer bar, and gas suppliers, as well as suppliers of specialist equipment/machinery, transport and accreditation agencies/bodies” concludes Sonia. 

Users of Salestracker, Insight’s online prospect database software, simply log-on, select sealed unit manufacturers and target prospects by volume of units or location.

For those that aren’t familiar with Insight Data and what we do let us take a moment to introduce ourselves. Insight is the leading supplier of prospect data and direct marketing services for the window, conservatory and building industry.

Headed by a team of marketing professionals with over 20 years industry experience, Insight Data was established as a result of frustration with the poor quality of information available from existing data providers. The business has grown from 3 people to a 20-strong team in the past four years.

 Because we specialise in the building industry, we are able to develop niche databases that provide clients with in-depth market intelligence not available elsewhere. And our dedicated, state-of-the-art research centre, with a highly experienced telephone research team, ensure clients benefit from the most relevant and accurate information.

Currently Insight holds the details of potentially 60,000 new prospects for your business, including;

• 15,011 fabricators and installers in the UK and Ireland (now with over 10,000 email contacts)
• 800 fabricators and installers in the Republic of Ireland
• 27,414 Local builders and contractors
• 15,052 Architects & Specifiers
• 5,022 Roofline installers
• 1,142 IGU manufacturers

To find out more about Insight Data and our range of UK and Irish databases call Sonia Punter on 01934 808 293 or visit www.insightdata.co.uk