Superframe’s unique service for the South West
Wednesday 18th May 2005
Family-run conservatory fabricator, Superframe is celebrating its 10th year in business with a new sole supply agreement with Ultraframe. The company, based in Penryn, Cornwall, has increased in size and output 10 fold in the past nine years. Priding itself on maintaining personal relationships with its customers and the flexibility to deliver high quality products to site whenever required, the company continues to build on its widely respected reputation.
Drawing on vast experience
Alan Craig, founder of Superframe, was working as a carpenter and had 30 years’ experience in the building trade, including replacement windows, when he identified a real need for a conservatory roof fabricator in the South West and decided to start his own company. Alan explained: “While I was installing conservatories around Cornwall and Devon I realised that no one was supplying conservatory roofs locally. Builders in Cornwall had no choice but to buy from companies further north, or make their conservatories from window profile. There was a genuine demand for a local fabricator and with this in mind I set up Superframe alongside my wife Cath who manages the accounts.”
9 years on, the company’s foundations of family values and extensive industry experience have proved a winning combination. Alan Craig explained: “Although we have expanded massively, being based in Cornwall has meant we have not had the opportunities to grow as much as some of the more centrally located fabricators. However covering a
limited area does have its advantages and we have capitalised on these. By keeping to a relatively small size we can ensure we maintain a very personal service and close relationship with our customers, who in turn have rewarded us with firm loyalty.
“Because most of our customers are within a 50-mile radius, we can keep an adaptable schedule and be more flexible than most fabricators on our deliveries. We aim to accommodate our customer needs on a very individual basis and in our experience our customers rate this highly. We can make last minute changes to orders, which is important when problems or delays occur on site. Our deliveries are always arranged to meet the needs of our customers, rather than when we happen to be in their area, so our conservatory roofs arrive exactly when required. We also fabricate our roofs to a high level of completion which reduces the amount of time needed to be spent on site by our customers.”
Maintaining customer loyalty with market leading products
Alan Craig was quick to point out that supplying high quality conservatory roof products also contributes to retaining a loyal customer base and attracting new installers. Superframe’s new sole supply deal with the market leading conservatory roof designer, Ultraframe, means it will continue to fabricate the most innovative, technically advanced roofing systems on the market. Alan Craig said: “We have fabricated Ultraframe roofs since Superframe began in 1996 and always maintained a highly successful partnership with Ultraframe. Our customers love the roofs because they are designed to be fitter friendly and easy to install, plus Ultraframe’s range of stylish designs means they can offer a conservatory to suit almost every home and taste.”
Superframe’s latest offering is Ultraframe’s brand new roofing system, Sunroom, and Alan is convinced it will be a winner with installers. He said: “Demand for complex, larger roofs is increasing all the time so installers are definitely going to appreciate Sunroom which speeds up the installation of larger, awkward roofs with the use of Clicklock technology. Additional features such as box gutters, valleys and drop-down hips will also make it easier for installers to create more unusual, different, eye catching conservatory shapes.”
As well as offering pre-assembled bespoke roofs Superframe also provides a bar length service and supplies individual components from all Ultraframe systems.
The highest quality fabrication
Superframe is a holder of the BBA certificate for fabrication of Ultraframe roof systems and undergoes rigorous testing and performance checks every six months by the BBA and Ultraframe. BBA registered fabricators of the Ultraframe system are ranked according to these checks and Superframe has achieved a place in the top three fabricators ever since this ranking began. This has helped earn Superframe further high profile recognition with a television appearance on Carol Vorderman’s Better Homes and some important local contracts with HMS Devonport, Flambard’s Theme Park Garden Centre, Truro College and Crealy Park Leisure centre.
With significant investment in the development of a new interactive website, Superframe appears confident about the future. Alan Craig concluded: “Our website, www.superframe-sw.co.uk, will enable installers to view our price matrix, product images and technical details. Registered customers will also be able to check on their order process or review quotes online. The website is another initiative we are undertaking to further enhance the high level of service we provide our customers. In this way we are determined to continue building the business, offering excellent service and delivering top quality products to strengthen our outstanding reputation in the South West.”
