A Window of Opportunity

This article by Ryan Bromley, Co-Founder of Kubu Smart Security 🔒 was first published in Total Installer Magazine April 2024 Edition.

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As the recent long Easter weekend fades into the distance, and this year’s bank holiday season starts rolling in, I’ve got to thinking about the importance of opportunity and timing. 

For some folks, bank holidays represent a prime opportunity to stretch out those holidays by adding a day or two of annual leave, turning those short breaks into full week get-aways. 

On the flip side, for many businesses (especially in the trades), it offers a golden chance to ramp up the work. While some are off enjoying their extended breaks, there’s a real opportunity to pick up extra business by offering their services, and don’t just stop because it’s a holiday.

2024 was supposed to be tough for everyone, right? So heading into even more ‘time-off’ could’ve been pretty scary. But, interestingly, according to the guys over at Business Pilot – and their article in the last issue of Total Installer – following the traditional January correction and February slump, leads in Q1 have actually gone up! Which just shows you never can tell… 

Even with this increase in leads, there’s still been a shake-up – with some big (and not so big) names facing some serious trouble, which just proves that when markets are changing it is more important than ever to keep up with the times.  

It’s a bit like what happened to the big retail groups a while back (think: Phillip Green’s Arcadia group, Wilko’s, Debenhams…). A failure to see what was happening in the market around them, and a failure to tweak their business model in time resulted in catastrophic failures as consumers shifted to other suppliers. 

It’s stark, but the evidence stacks up; No innovation. No future.

It’s all well and good me talking about a failure to move with the times, but if you’re not sure what those changes should be, how can you make them? As a traditional industry, there’s not been an awful lot of ground breaking changes for a long time, resulting in a very settled, tried and tested business model with little or no reason to make any changes. But…

Everywhere you look, it’s all about innovation right now which actually means there’s a load of opportunity out there for those seeking it.   With new profiles, materials, locking systems, new standards and accreditations, advancements in glass tech, and most importantly, smart sensor technology – there’s an incredible amount of innovation all happening at the same time!

With all this in mind, it’s easy to see that sticking to the old ways of doing things isn’t going to cut it anymore, especially with cost of living and consumer spending being so up and down.

This is our opportunity to explore uncharted territory, to innovate not only for today’s needs but for tomorrow’s as well, and embracing change is what’s going to see us all thrive and grow for the years to come.

Just like in the heating industry, as everything starts moving towards smart tech, being ahead of the curve will give you a leg up. It’s not just about installing windows and doors; it’s about providing that extra layer of smart security that homeowners are starting to expect.

Becoming a Smart Installer isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore; it’s becoming essential. 

Take Kubu, for example. We’re leading the charge on Smart Security Solutions for fenestration – making sure that it’s not only simple for end users, but making it as easy as possible for installers to bring their A-game to smart tech in homes too – without any of the hassle, technical knowledge or call outs that you’d probably expect! 

For those who are keen to dive in, getting involved with the Kubu Pro Installer Scheme could be a smart move. It’s all about equipping yourself with the knowledge and tools to offer more than just the standard install service. It’s about setting yourself apart in a crowded market.

Just like those looking to maximise the opportunities that the bank holidays provide, the window of opportunity is open and the time to take advantage is NOW.  

The famous American business author and guru Tom Peters is famous for saying: “If a window of opportunity appears, don’t pull down the shade.”

Make sure you’re not closing the curtains.

Be Smart. Work with Kubu.