An increase in retrofit and refurbishment projects is providing wholesalers with a boost in sales opportunities. PEW discusses this with Gavin Williams, Sales & Marketing Director at Hamilton.
If we could have warned our 2019 selves what to expect in 2020, it is unlikely that any of us would have genuinely believed what was to come. Following major disruption in every sector, government restrictions are easing into a ‘new normal’. And this ‘new normal’ is currently offering some unique sales opportunities for wholesalers.
We’ve been very lucky to continue operating and supporting our customers during these extremely challenging times. With much of our manufacturing taking place at our headquarters in Bristol, we are agile in our operations and were able to make quick changes to operate safely and carry on our supply and distribution of products. This has been fortunate as we’ve seen an increase in retrofit and refurbishment products that have positively impacted demand.
Commercially, the hospitality sector is renovating guestrooms and restaurants, and private owners are upgrading rental properties that are advertised on sites such as Airbnb in order to capitalise on the increase in UK holiday bookings. While times are still challenging, there is an opportunity for wholesalers to push simple changes that can make a big difference.
Design at the Hart-land
Hamilton’s Hartland range has long been a favourite of installers due to it being easy to fit in all its configurations. But it’s also a favourite with interior designers too for its minimalist, sleek and stylish design. It is available in different options to cover all project requirements, including the standard Box Fix design, while the CFX option has concealed fixings for a sleek, streamline finish without visible screws. Both are available in 13 finishes, including the on-trend and sought-after Matt Black, and popular Brass and Bronze finishes. And if a customer is seeking a punchier finish, Hartland Colours CFX comes in a robust plastic with Red, Black and White plate finish options. It delivers the same sleek look but at a lower price to the metal options.
Same look, more cost-efficient
The Hartland range has proven so popular that Hamilton has value-engineered the design to help support clients that want to make their budget work harder. The company has developed the Hartland G2 screwless ‘Push-To-Fit’ plate. The plate is produced from pressed metal rather than cast, with this manufacturing method contributing to an overall cost saving without compromising on either the quality or finish, so it delivers a screwless look at a box-fix price.
Once the back plate is wired, the front plate can be easily removed for walls to be repainted or papered, then the plate simply pushes back into position. It’s therefore a great option for areas of the home or hotel that gets a high level of use and need regular refreshes, such as entrance halls or corridors.
It is available in 10 on-trend finishes, including metallics Polished Brass, Satin Brass and Etrium Bronze, along with Matt White and Matt Black that have seen a recent boost in popularity. Inserts are available in White, Black and New Quartz Grey.
In terms of functionality, a grid option is also available with pre-engraved 20A double pole switches, EuroFix options, plus double sockets also equipped with two 2.4A USB outlets as standard, plus 4.8A Type A & C output connectors for charging phones and tablets. The back of the socket is coloured Bright Yellow making it extremely easy for contractors to see colour coded terminals.
Double impact
If the Hartland design doesn’t quite suit the look and feel your customer is after, Hamilton has a vast range of design options. Making a big design impact currently is the recently introduced Wide Rocker Switches. A design trend that has been influenced by the Asian market, these extra wide switches are in demand for both residential and high-end hotel projects. The switches are available across five Linea CFX collections – Duo CFX, Georgian CFX, Perlina CFX, Rondo CFX and Scala CFX – as well as Hartland CFX and Sheer CFX.
Available in 12 metallic finishes, including popular Bronzes and Brasses, as well as Gloss White, the Wide Rocker Switch wiring accessories cater for all interior design schemes as well as configuration requirements, including 1, 2 and 3-gang switches, 1-gang Push-To-Make (PTM), Double Pole and Intermediate Wide Rockers.
For those that need more space, or to comprehensively reconfigure rooms, a full refurbishment may be on the cards.
Blend in or stand out
By simply providing an industry standard colour reference code to suit the décor, Hamilton will pre-paint the wiring accessories to be a perfect colour match with a flawless finish. This can be a colour that exactly matches the wall, or a contrasting colour that complements the room’s soft furnishings. Delivered ready to fit, it is then simply a case of installation. Alternatively, the plates can be primed and ready to paint on site if that’s preferred.
There needn’t be any fiddly painting on site – we take the hassle and pain out of this desirable finish by painting the accessories at our HQ in Bristol and providing them all ready to go, as if they were an off-the-shelf solution.
Bespoke solutions and service
The Hamilton team is happy to work directly with the wholesaler and end customer to develop a production specification that meets the needs of a project. We pride ourselves on going the extra mile to provide the perfect solution for our clients.
One such client is three-Michelin-star ‘restaurant with rooms’, The Waterside Inn, which is under the leadership of Chef Patron Alain Roux and located in Bray, Berkshire. A recent refurbishment overseen by in-house designer Laura Roux utilised Hamilton’s Perception CFX designer wiring accessories to ensure that it is the décor that makes an impact. This high-quality transparent plate design with concealed fixings has snap-on clear front plates to allow for a section of wallpaper to be inserted. It means that the plate discreetly blends into the wall and the switch plates and sockets enhance rather than detract from the impact of the décor.
Support you can rely on
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Hamilton has restructured its sales force to provide the best possible service that’s befitting of new working practices and requirements. For those wishing to discuss bespoke services, or any of Hamilton’s products, the sales team is a call or videoconference away, and are happy to arrange in-branch visits and comply with social distancing procedures and protocols.
For further information
To take a closer look at Hamilton’s full range of products, view the 2020/21 flip-book catalogue online here: https://www.hamilton-litestat.com/marketing-hub/latest-news/hamiltons-2020-catalogue/
