Distributor-Installer Business Opportunity

The Market Opportunity

ECOGATE has been instrumental in recent years in developing the market for both industrial and domestic products manufactured from recycled plastics, and is now the leading supplier of recycled plastic gates and fencing in the UK.

The opportunities in this market are still developing and with growing momentum as more and more ecological issues receive publicity and the attention given to these issues grows from pressure groups, the government, local authorities and, not least, the EU.

ECOGATE products sell to discerning buyers who appreciate and value the quality in our designs and also the longevity our products deliver without the need for continuing and costly maintenance. A number are also attracted by the knowledge that by using our products they are contributing positively to safeguarding the environment for the future.

The evidence indicates that penetration of this market for durable, stylish and maintenance free products by ECOGATE and the (very limited) alternative products is still very low. We are regularly locating customers who state that they have been searching for some time for just such a product as ours. Our feedback from these customers indicates that many have searched only among suppliers in their local area for a suitable product. In part, at least, this is because typical ECOGATE customers do not wish to handle our products on a DIY installation basis; but seek a full supply and installation service, ideally local to their properties. Consequently, ECOGATE is actively seeking to increase the number of distributor-installers working with our range of products.

This is a growing opportunity that can provide a valuable additional source of profit with low risk for businesses currently delivering and installing quality property related products to domestic, commercial, local authority and institutional customers. ECOGATE business partners can gain new customers with significant cross-selling opportunities from our national and regional promotional campaigns and can also benefit from additional sales potential within their existing customer base.

Capabilities Required of Distributor-Installers

To support our development of the market for ECOGATE products we are looking for distributor-installers who can demonstrate that they will:

§         market ECOGATE products locally in a competent, professional and ethical manner;

§         work and take initiatives to achieve sales growth for their business and the ECOGATE product range;

§         maintain and develop the reputation of ECOGATE for high quality products and customer service by delivering competent and courteous enquiry handling, sales support, installation and after sales services in all aspects of their business.

We are looking for partners who are already providing fitting, installation or general building work within their own locality.

Site surveying, measuring-up, installation and fitting ECOGATE products requires only standard equipment and skill levels similar to those required for other types of gate and fencing. There are only minor differences in the installation procedures from those for wooden items, though the products do need some specialist fitting knowledge; full training and documentation is available in this.

In line with our reputation and the expectations of the majority of buyers in these market sectors, we are looking for companies who will provide a personal service to all customers.

Most products in these sectors are made to measure and our distributor-installers must be competent to configure and specify the whole supply required by the customer. We are geared up to quote for and deliver against individual requirements and can quickly respond to requests for customisation of standard products and for specific design features.

We manufacture all products to specific customer orders so that you do not need to hold stock; we ensure that our lead times are short so that we can provide you with prompt and reliable deliveries; and we expect our distributor-installers to reflect this in the quality and timeliness of the service they promise and deliver to all customers.

Introduction to ECOGATE and the Product Range

ECOGATE has developed an extensive range of gates, fences and other products manufactured from recycled plastic.

The materials used have been extensively tested and proven to be durable in use with little or no need for maintenance expense; they are also ecologically safe as they do not rot nor otherwise degenerate, nor do they leach any chemicals into the environment.

ECOGATE have developed designs for products of high quality that look much like premium painted items, so much so that many people do not realize that they are plastic. Customers are impressed when advised that the products are guaranteed to look the same over many, many years of useful life, and that they can enjoy this benefit with zero or minimum maintenance effort or expenditure.

ECOGATE products were first launched in 1998 and sales grew in the first instance by word of mouth recommendations and subsequently by a national program of marketing and advertising.  ECOGATE has, during this period, established a reputation for excellent customer service, technical support and quality from quotation through to delivery, installation and after sales service.

To supplement the gates and fencing products ECOGATE offer a comprehensive range of exceptional quality hardware and accessories. These hinges, latches, bolts and locks provide the finishing touches to any gate and make it look just that little bit different. Available in red, green, blue as well as black and galvanized finishes. Our coloured hardware is galvanized to BS EN ISI 1461 before being polyester powder coated to BS 6497. We have received excellent feedback from customers regarding the quality of our hardware.

The ECOGATE product range continues to be developed and already includes a number of garden and landscape products such as planters, trellis, and lawn edging, that are also based in the use of recycled plastics and so also deliver the benefits of quality, style and longevity with zero or minimal maintenance.

ECOGATE Marketing and Advertising

We have invested heavily in establishing the ECOGATE brand and product range.

We have been running a national advertising campaign since July 2000 that includes adverts in the Telegraph weekend editions, BBC Gardeners World, Garden Answers, The Guardian, and other appropriate publications such as year books and buyer guides.

In addition to national advertising, we have also run direct marketing and the ECOGATE product range has been exhibited at major exhibitions such as “BBC Gardeners World” and “The House Building and Renovation Show”.

ECOGATE will continue to promote the benefits of the product range to ensure that all potential customers become aware that there is a quality alternative to the traditional high maintenance gates and fencing; an alternative that offers at least equal style and quality but without the drawback or the continuing need for maintenance effort and costs.

ECOGATE will also be continuing and extending its direct selling initiatives to market the product range to specifiers to ensure that ECOGATE are increasingly specified in both new and refurbishment projects by such as local authorities, housing associations and property management agencies.

Sales leads generated for an area covered by an approved distributor-installer will be acknowledged centrally and then passed immediately to the local approved distributor-installer for action.

ECOGATE Sales Literature

We continue to develop the available literature and sales aids for the ECOGATE product range and copies of all these publications and aids will be made available at cost to approved distributor-installers.

Sales aids include our website at www.ECOGATE.co.uk that illustrates all the ECOGATE product range and offers supplementary advice and fitting instructions. We will develop this medium to provide further facilities and services attractive to potential customers and in support of our approved distributor-installers.       

ECOGATE are committed to developing further sales literature and point of sales materials to promote the brand and to drive the continued sales growth of our products in association with our distributor-installers.

ECOGATE Technical Support

ECOGATE provides full engineering support for the ECOGATE product range from our technical department. This department, led by a chartered engineer, has a full engineering design capability including drawing and CAD facilities. The support we deliver can vary from just advising which types of product to use through to a full design service for custom solutions.

For special initiatives, we are also able to prepare samples and prototypes, though there may need to be a charge for these in some circumstances.

We are committed to helping all our distributor-installers improve their business effectiveness, and this is not restricted just to activities directly concerned with sales and support of the ECOGATE product range.

Trading Terms and Discount Structure

We maintain an ex-works price list that takes account of the competitive and alternative product pricing and comparison of the relative benefits and values delivered by the ECOGATE product range.

This price list is effectively our recommended retail price list for the ECOGATE product range, and we are pleased to offer our distributor-installers discounts from these prices.

We are happy for distributors to offer products at any price in the market place.

We have three bands of discount that are based on the level of monthly turnover being achieved. When the average for the last three months business increases to the next discount band then this becomes the new level for future business for as long as the three months average is maintained in that band. 

In the event that a distributor falls below the minimum level in their current band for more than three consecutive months, then we reserve the right to reduce their terms to the lower band.  We are pleased that this has never happened.

Conclusion

Ecogate Limited would welcome your application to become an ECOGATE distributor-installer

Once we receive your application, we will make arrangements to visit you to discuss what is involved in representing our products at your local level. This will give us jointly the opportunity to assess our respective objectives and abilities. The aim will be to ensure that we can establish a successful working relationship should we decide to work together in the future.

Upon approval, we would look forward to a long, profitable and successful partnership providing a reliable, high quality, service to all of our customers.