dibs
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Posts: 26 
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Post by dibs on Oct 24, 2007 7:24:41 GMT
Interesting comment in the latest edition of the trade magazine "Blinds and shutters".
One of the heads of a big Blind company was asked...
"What do you feel is the greatest threat to the industry today?"
Answer.......
"Cheap imports......"
I guess, they won't be getting any "Chinese ready mades" in then!!
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dibs
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Posts: 26
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Post by dibs on Oct 24, 2007 17:28:36 GMT
Another thing.........at my "roadshow" there seemed a lot of mention of B&Q by the powers that be. I'm not sure I understand the comparison. One minute they compare themselves to Thomas Sanderson (the John Lewis of the blind industry???) the next B&Q. Its about time Sillarys decided which section of the market they wish to appeal to. All the talk says Sanderson, all the advertising and most product, says B&Q. If B&Q start doing free fitting etc, we are in trouble  . One other point, whilst questions about delta 8 were allowed at my "roadshow" none were particularly answered satisfactorily. It was fun to see the guy squirm a bit though, and to reluctantly admit, (almost under his breath) that they come from the same place as the wooden venetians. That will be CHINA then! They also mentioned at mine, about the team of lawyers who have clarified that even though the blinds are pretty much of the shelf now, because we adjust the cord they are made to measure. It won't be long before this approach gets out there, and I'm guessing it won't enhance Hillarys reputation, for the long term! PS Did you know B&Q do made to measure shutters now!! |
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Post by thelloydgang on Oct 25, 2007 16:48:44 GMT
At our roadshow they were talking about the demise of DIY and the new saying GSI - get someone in! Where did you here about B&Q doing free fitting? K ;D Another thing.........at my "roadshow" there seemed a lot of mention of B&Q by the powers that be. I'm not sure I understand the comparison. One minute they compare themselves to Thomas Sanderson (the John Lewis of the blind industry???) the next B&Q. Its about time Sillarys decided which section of the market they wish to appeal to. All the talk says Sanderson, all the advertising and most product, says B&Q. If B&Q start doing free fitting etc, we are in trouble . One other point, whilst questions about delta 8 were allowed at my "roadshow" none were particularly answered satisfactorily. It was fun to see the guy squirm a bit though, and to reluctantly admit, (almost under his breath) that they come from the same place as the wooden venetians. That will be CHINA then! They also mentioned at mine, about the team of lawyers who have clarified that even though the blinds are pretty much of the shelf now, because we adjust the cord they are made to measure. It won't be long before this approach gets out there, and I'm guessing it won't enhance Hillarys reputation, for the long term! PS Did you know B&Q do made to measure shutters now!! |
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ade
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by ade on Oct 25, 2007 22:02:14 GMT
Karens right at our roadshow they taked about GSI, I talked to my neighbours sister from Guildford and she had heard of it in that area, the guys on our roadshow were positive about people wanting to get someone in and didn't say we were competing against B&Q, only that B&Q were offering a service to do jobs in peoples houses, tiling ETC...and that we were in a good position to utilise what we are already doing, on the item of Cheap blinds,I went to a customer last night who had Web blinds up on his Lap top, and told me he had bought two wood venetians from another site Blinds Direct for £75.00, he got the site up and some of the prices were giveaway, this has got to be detrimental to all the blind trade, the two wood venetians would have cost £300 at our prices and thet were the same quality £37.50 a piece delivered free, HELP !!!!
HELP !!!!
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Post by blindmansam on Oct 26, 2007 22:37:08 GMT
Karens right at our roadshow they taked about GSI, I talked to my neighbours sister from Guildford and she had heard of it in that area, the guys on our roadshow were positive about people wanting to get someone in and didn't say we were competing against B&Q, only that B&Q were offering a service to do jobs in peoples houses, tiling ETC...and that we were in a good position to utilise what we are already doing, on the item of Cheap blinds,I went to a customer last night who had Web blinds up on his Lap top, and told me he had bought two wood venetians from another site Blinds Direct for £75.00, he got the site up and some of the prices were giveaway, this has got to be detrimental to all the blind trade, the two wood venetians would have cost £300 at our prices and thet were the same quality £37.50 a piece delivered free, HELP !!!! HELP !!!! Ade, you now know why some advisors can source product and sell 'themselves' ! Making a better 'profit' for themselves and thier family's . There are huge profits in Blinds , as they CAN be made very 'low cost' and sold on at 'high' margins. This is how Sillary's have developed and become a haven for share holders wanting greedy profit . I am not at all busy at the moment , leads are few and far between , Then i look in this weeks local papers and BANG ... 3 sets of ad's for new advisors! ... I just can't believe it ! The Xmas Demand had better be good ! To devide that with a new set of advisors will result in a poor old Xmas for most of us . Think i'll source a few blinds direct ! Blinds Supermarket ? Web blinds ? and there are others not related to Sillary's. Got to think of a bigger picture ! LOL. |
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Post by brian on Oct 27, 2007 16:03:05 GMT
Ade, you now know why some advisors can source product and sell 'themselves' ! Making a better 'profit' for themselves and thier family's . There are huge profits in Blinds , as they CAN be made very 'low cost' and sold on at 'high' margins. This is how Sillary's have developed and become a haven for share holders wanting greedy profit . I am not at all busy at the moment , leads are few and far between , Then i look in this weeks local papers and BANG ... 3 sets of ad's for new advisors! ... I just can't believe it ! The Xmas Demand had better be good ! To devide that with a new set of advisors will result in a poor old Xmas for most of us . Think i'll source a few blinds direct ! Blinds Supermarket ? Web blinds ? and there are others not related to Sillary's. Got to think of a bigger picture ! LOL. Could'ent agree more. Listen up peeps! Why the hell do you think "lead to diary" is so important to hillbillys and they even pay fsms bonus on it (thats why they always advertise in your area, to get lead to diary down and get there bonus, they don't give a stuff about you.) Well let me tell you. If you don't get in first to the customer, you got no chance of getting full price for the shareholders, as every one else can do the same thing with more choice at a lot less. Then if your in late you will more than likely have to "price match" and they lose more profit. And don't give me the argument Sillarys customers are paying for guality, anyone who looks into these things knows thats a lie. I am really peed of that for many years i deceived my customers into thinking they were getting the best at the best price, thats because I diden't know no different. Well now I do, and I'm telling you. don't be fooled and conned. You'll always get the die hard Hillarys men, thats usually because there to old to start there own business and are happy at there time of life to be used. Also the new peeps don't know no different. THe reality is its not even your business no matter what they tell you. The focus has changed and now its about fsm performance and thats why they get whipped into building an area, not about advisers and there concerns you and me are expendable. Thats why all the good fsms left. Don't forget sillbillys can't even tellyou the truth about your fantastic new d8 headrails they lie to you and spin it well don't be conned. Its all about more profit for them, even Harmony and uk blinds pay more commision. Its all about the big picture now and you and me are small players. ie..big roadshow, no smaller meetings think about the implications of that! it don't suit you it suits them. I can buy a lace willow vert for patio for £28 (and you know who sells it to me is making a profit!!! Get off your backsides and make some real money, peeps, your the only ones losing out. |
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ade
New Member
Posts: 31
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Post by ade on Oct 28, 2007 21:22:17 GMT
Hi Brian, I agree with what you say but you do seem to hate Hillary's you should not let it wind you up so much, I don't know if you saw my reply on another topic but I checked out the new blinds you were saying about and found quite a few blind sites, there are some good companies doing well out there, I can satisfy 90% of my customers with Hillarys products but sometimes I wish I could offer more speacilised products in the core range
Ade
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Post by blindmansam on Oct 29, 2007 19:13:01 GMT
Can anyone state here if , Arena , Blinds supermarket and web blinds are using D8 headrails ? OR are these the 'bespoke' (Ha Bl00dy Ha) product specially bought in for Hillary's .
Some one must know by now?
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