137 | UK Enterprise Awards 2021 Best Wholesale Window Shutters Supplier 2021 & Excellence Award for Growth in Adversity 2021 Based in Hampshire, S:CRAFT helps to create a style statement in your home with their range of contemporary window shutters. While providing a host of practical benefits that you simply can’t achieve with any other window covering. S:CRAFT’s range of shutters is incredibly versatile and engineered to the highest possible standards. Sarah provides a brief overview of the firm and offers more insight into its typical client base. “With shutters becoming increasingly popular as more homeowners become aware of their many benefits, we are committed to producing made- to-measure products to suit different tastes and budgets. Based on our core values of people, partnership, and pride, we share a passion for providing outstanding support for our trade partners throughout their S:CRAFT experience”. Having made great strides since the firm’s inception, every employee has a part to play to ensure S:CRAFT remains at the forefront of the interior design field. Sarah continues: “From our award-winning training department, which ensures that our trade partners deliver the best end-consumer experience, to our account managers, customer support and marketing team, we are the only supplier on the market providing the service that makes working with us a pleasure. Of course, from time to time we’ve seen new entrants emerge and start to offer lower prices, however our laser-like focus on our partners has ensured that we are offering clients real value”. On the recruitment side, the company’s key values play an integral role in its hiring process. Moreover, as Sarah elaborates further, reaching milestones together is the most important aspect for S:CRAFT. “As we expand and grow, we welcome more staff into the family. The new apprentices we recently hired really bought into the Marketing department so that was great to see. Despite the fact we couldn’t initially meet them in person, the whole company welcomed them, and offered their support to get them up and running. With the results they are now producing, they are certainly paying us back in spades”. With the recent outbreak of COVID-19 resulting in many people spending a lot of time at home, the shutters and blinds market has recently seen a lot of growth, as Sarah explains. “Periods of lockdown coupled with unspent fuel and holiday money has led to many people looking to invest in home improvements. As restrictions continue to ease, people are looking around at the work their neighbours have been doing, and we think that the boom in shutters will continue as more people see the benefits in style and function that they offer”. Finally, Sarah discusses the benefits of being a UK based business, before outlining some of its plans for 2021 and beyond. “Having a nationwide network of partners works really well for us as we can transport our products efficiently throughout the country, and regional variations in performance can be great indicators for how to target and promote our product, something which ends up benefitting all of our partners. The UK window coverings market has been building strongly for many years, and it’s a great place to be, because there are a lot of curtains out there which could do with being replaced by beautiful, functional shutters! “Moving forward, we plan to begin broadening our comprehensive range of shutters with the launch of 12 new blinds ranges. Diversifying into blinds, we will ensure that the same excellent levels of support are available across our product range, meaning there are lots more exciting updates on the way. Naturally, this enables us to reach more customers, with our market-leading levels of service ensuring that retail customers and end users get a new level of satisfaction with their blinds. Of course, this means big changes for us, including a new ordering portal which is on the way!” Contact: Sarah Johnson Email:
[email protected] Web: www.s-craft.co.uk Address: Newdown Farm, Micheldever, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 3BT Phone: 01962 794 530 Apr21356 Established in 2002, S:CRAFT is the UK’s leading plantation shutter company, supplying premium grade shutters and blinds to customers through its network of national stockists and high-street retailers. Following its richly deserved success in the UK Enterprise Awards 2021, we got in touch with Trade Marketing Executive Sarah Johnson to find out more.