New research by Deceuninck has highlighted significant shifts in end-user behaviour and purchasing decisions in the post-covid era.
The study commissioned by Deceuninck and conducted by leading pollster YouGov, pinpointed significant changes in attitudes to home improvements and the companies that homeowners choose to work with.
Previewed exclusively to Deceuninck customers at its annual Customer Day, findings highlighted differing priorities for spend for homeowners defined by age and property type.
Rob McGlennon, Managing Director said: “What’s clear is that a lot of homeowners delayed spend in the second half of 2023 as household incomes were placed under pressure by high inflation.
“That’s been reflected in the industry in tougher trading conditions at the end of last year and into this.
“The flip side of that is that with easing inflation and cuts in the best rate likely from this summer, trading conditions are improving and that is likely to lead to a release of latent demand in the second half of this year.
“Understanding what makes the end-user tick, what they’re looking for in terms of product, service and supplier - and how age impacts that – gives anyone operating in a retail environment a distinct advantage.”
Deceuninck will be releasing the findings of its latest survey later this summer.
Chris Jones, Sales Director, highlighted its continuing dominance in colour and the growth of flush casements, which account for 62% and 40% of its sales respectively
He argued that anthracite grey remained dominant, within the 196 colour pathways it supplied last year. Deceuninck currently offers 30 plus colour and finish options from stock.
Darren Woodcock, Operations Director, highlighted Deceuninck’s continuing investment in its UK manufacturing operation.
This includes the addition of a brand new exelliq Manufacturing 4.0. DIGI.LINE automated digital extrusion line, installed in March and April this year significantly increasing capacity while bringing even accuracy to manufacture.
Deceuninck has established a lead on sustainability based on its’ commitment to the Science Based Targets (SBTi) programme, with a headline pledge to cut the CO2 emissions from its own operations (Scope 1&2) by 60% by 2030 from a 2021 baseline.
As part of this commitment Darren said that Deceuninck had also installed 2,200 solar panels on the roof of its Calne facility. This will generate 895,762 kWh of clean energy a year and saves almost half a million tons of CO2.
He said that Deceuninck had also upgraded its existing water chilling system, reducing its carbon output by 550 cubic metres per year in the process.
Customers were also given an overview of how changes under the Future Homes Standard were likely to impact the industry from the GGF’s Kevin Jones, as well as an update on Deceuninck’s digital marketing toolkit.
This gives customers including fabricators and installers, access to a wide range of marketing collateral including imagery, brochures, a ready-to-go CRM system and lead generation dashboard.
“The market is a little tougher but the investments that we’re making – in our product and service offer, infrastructure and support – put our customers and their customers in the best possible position for the return to growth and the inevitable return to growth as latent demand is released later this year”, Rob concluded.
For more information about Deceuninck, call 01249 816 969, email
