Selecta Systems have been enjoying an extremely busy six months and a demanding schedule leading up to the FIT Show, Glass News finally got an opportunity to have a chat with Sales Director, Andy Green, and Marketing Manager, Mark Walker.

FIT Show: What is it that made you become an exhibitor at the FIT Show?

Andy: Selecta Systems have always supported industry specific exhibitions from the old Glassex days through to the current FIT Show. I’m led to believe that we are the only systems house company to have never missed a single show since they all began! We also see the FIT Show as the ideal platform for both existing and potential customers to come and have a friendly chat, meet the family behind the scenes and see our product range up close. We always look forward to exhibitions!

FIT Show: And how important is the show to Selecta?

Andy: We treat every show as important and an opportunity to raise our profile – pardon the pun! A lot of time, effort and money is spent preparing for the FIT Show and in the end you want to ensure that you get a return on that investment, which may not be instant but nurtured over time. That return on investment doesn’t always come down to monetary return but valued PR and brand awareness.

FIT Show: What efforts will Selecta be going to in order to get people on to its stand?

Mark: We’ve already started to promote our presence at the FIT Show via social media and through our advertisements within the industry magazines. Invites will soon be sent out with certain details kept a close guarded secret until closer to the show date. The stand will be very different to what people are used to in terms of Selecta. Visitors can expect to see the new Selecta and Advance 70 branding heavily featured and incorporated in to the stand. Our headline products are of course going to be our new Advance 70 Flush Window profiles and EASi-FOLD Doors with both of the new products on display. We are also celebrating our 35th Anniversary at the show and so we are having a stand party with drinks and music on the ‘Big Tuesday’ party night from 5pm onwards. We’d love everyone to come and meet the family in a relaxed atmosphere and help us celebrate our anniversary, have a beer, a slice of cake and an informal chat with the Selecta family.

FIT Show: What objectives does Selecta have for FIT Show 2017?

Andy: Our main objective is to promote the Advance 70 brand with the window and door system fast becoming a recognised versatile and quality profile system. That versatility and effectiveness will be fully on show and it is our intention to ensure that message gets across, making fabrication and installation more effective and efficient. We also aim to raise awareness of the uniqueness of Selecta when it comes to service and customer support. The whole family theme is about promoting our core values and ethos of providing total customer care and support. Our flexible approach to ensuring customer satisfaction of all natures is one which we are proud of and are sure that once experienced, fabricators and installers will fast understand where the caring, approachable family message comes from.

FIT Show: Are there any new products and services that you are going to be launching at the show?

Andy: As already mentioned, we will be launching our new Advance 70 Flush Windows where the new flush fit sash has been designed to fit within the existing 70mm Advance 70 frame, giving fabricators more options to offer end consumers. We’ve also added an 80mm traditional frame for those that want a traditional looking flush fit window. Our new Advance 70 EASi-FOLD Doors will also be on show with their individually sliding and folding sashes. There are also no visible hinges on the doors and the only hardware/furniture you see is the handle on the master door. We’re looking forward to seeing the response of visitors to our stand!

FIT Show: Since the last FIT Show what improvements in fortune has taken place at Selecta?

Andy: Since the last FIT Show there has been a huge change in the presence of the Advance 70 brand in the market. The window and door system with the back-up of our fantastic customer support package has seen Selecta have a record number of new customers change over to and set-up on the Advance 70 System. December and January are usually relatively quiet months, but this past year we saw over 20 customers change over or start up on our Advance 70 System, and there’s no sign of thing slowing down with our Sales and Technical Team working flat out!

FIT Show: How much of your product cycle is based upon your timing at the FIT Show?

Andy: Our product cycle is really dictated by customer demands and market trends more than timing with the FIT Show. Research and development is ongoing and we are always looking to continuously improve products and their diversity. The FIT Show has fallen nicely for Selecta with new products ready for launch, however Selecta would be supporting the FIT Show whether we had new products available or not. It’s just as important a message to exhibit from a PR point of view and the FIT Show provides that ideal platform – It tells the industry ‘we are here’ and always available to talk to potential and existing customers.

FIT Show: What difference would you say the FIT Show has made to the industry?

Andy: The FIT Show has invigorated and revitalised the industry – in terms of exhibiting. Since the departure of Glassex the industry lacked a specific platform for exhibiting products and businesses. The FIT Show is the perfect stage to promote a businesses’ products and/or services to the industry and companies obviously see it as this, hence the move to the larger event halls of the NEC. Having an industry specific show also ensures concentrated coverage with visitors all from the trade that we serve which was so lacking. It has also brought the industry together and we enjoy the lead up to the show, the show itself and of course the Gala Dinner!

FIT Show: And finally, what are your expectations and plans for Selecta after the FIT Show?

Mark: There is a new, fresh and enthused approach to promoting the hidden strengths of Selecta and the Advance 70 System. I say hidden, as we’ve probably not ‘shouted from the roof tops’ about these assets. The Advance 70 is fast becoming more recognised as a quality and versatile window and door profile system with the new flush sash and traditional frame raising the bar considerably and highlighting the real benefits to fabricators. The customer support and service has always been there, with a flexible and caring approach to looking after the fabricator and their business. We’re eager to ensure that these messages shine through prior to and during the FIT Show thus giving ourselves a greater platform to build on and promote afterwards. This is the start of a fresh new era for Selecta as we develop further and build on the 35 years of success of which we have already achieved.

You can visit Selecta Systems on stand C20 at this year’s FIT Show. Taking place 23-25th May 2017, to book a stand at FIT Show 2017 please contact Freya Humphries on: 07572 623457, or email: freya@fitshow.co.uk. To register as a visitor for FIT Show 2017 visit: www.livebuzzreg.co.uk/2017/fit17