The popularity of the Grand Designs television programme has helped a home improvements company achieve record-breaking results.
To complement its core PVCu business, five years ago Peninsula Home Improvements decided to concentrate on high-end products similar to the ones used on the hit TV show fronted by Kevin McCloud.
The decision has paid dividends because in the last financial year, the company broke through the £2 million barrier for turnover.
Peninsula, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, first began trading in Pwllheli as a spin-off from a boat-building yard and initially specialised in uPVC windows and conservatories.
Now based in Gaerwen on Anglesey, the company employs a 23 people full-time and another three on a part-time basis.
More jobs are on the cards thanks to a strong order book and increasing interest in the range of high end products.
They’re now looking to expand across the border into lucrative new markets in Cheshire where they are hoping to open a new showroom.
Chief executive Ken Grayson said: “We are very proud that we have achieved more than £2 million net in turnover for the first time. It’s a major milestone for us.
“Around five years ago we took a major decision in terms of the strategic direction of the company, to go down a specific route with high end products
“Originally, we concentrated on just uPVC products but the success of Grand Designs and other programmes of that ilk have changed all that.
“They have inspired home-owners to be more ambitious and we have responded by partnering with companies that specialise in new cutting-edge type glazing so that we could widen the net.
“We diversified into various products like hardwood and composite windows which are a combination of wood and aluminium and aluminium sections, which are very high performance in terms of keeping wind and rain out and keeping the heat in.
“As a result we’ve partnered various companies like Solarlux and NorDan and we have signed up to be their suppliers in this geographical area.”
Their latest partner is a Northern Ireland company called Apeer whose Lumi range of windows and doors was chosen as ‘Best New Product’ at the glass and glazing industry’s Oscars, the G Awards.
Peninsula have just carried out the very first installation of Lumi windows and doors in the mainland UK at a house that was built in Benllech by retired furniture shop owner Martin Fell for his grand-daughter, Carly Jones, her husband, Karl, and their two children.
It was, in fact, Martin who first spotted the Lumi windows and pointed Peninsula in their direction.
Martin said: “I’m very pleased with them and Peninsula have been great. The windows are very special because the outer glazing covers the frame so they are seamless.”
Ken Grayson added: “There’s nobody else offering the range that we do and the Lumi windows and doors are the latest to join our portfolio of products.
“I’m delighted we’ve carried out the very first installation on mainland Britain because it’s quite a coup for us, especially as they’ve been crowned as the best new product in the glazing world.
“Our success has given us the confidence to think along the lines of expanding the company more towards the Cheshire market by putting a show site up there.
“We’ve got a finite population in North Wales. There are a lot of fields between houses, so in order to expand we just need to go a bit further afield and just keep on innovating. These are exciting times.”
