Record sales for Distinction Doors

THE door to growth has stayed open wide for a South Yorkshire manufacturer which has announced record sales.

Barnsley-based Distinction Doors has announced a record breaking month of sales after turning over £3.5m in October.

The sales, which are unprecedented in the firm’s eight-year history, brought in more than £3,000 an hour, Monday to Friday throughout October and saw the orders of 34,000 entrance doors top the company’s monthly average by over 20%.

Operating from an 80,000 sq ft base in Tankersley, Distinction Doors has grown from a small start-up business launched by managing director Drew Wright, to its position as a leader in supplying GRP (glass reinforced polyester) insulated composite doors to the UK market.

Wright, who heads up a workforce of 50, said: “Our October sales exceeded everybody’s expectations and firmly establishes our place as market leaders in the UK door industry. Sales and orders are on track to achieve our very ambitious forecast for 2013 and 14% ahead of the same period on 2012. The figures for October alone mean 2013 will be our most successful year yet.”

He added: “This level of sales is unprecedented in the company history and is testament to the hard work of our employees who have adapted to our fast growing and evolving business.”

In the company’s last financial year, to December 1 2012, the business saw pre-tax profits of more than £1.95m and turnover of £29m.

Established in 2004, Distinction Doors introduced Nan Ya’s GRP entrance doors to the UK market as part of a joint venture with Nan Ya Plastics Corporation of Taiwan, a world leader in the plastics, chemicals and electronics industries.

Wright launched the business after recognising the need for sturdy and cost effective doors for the social housing market.

He said: “Our success is down to the way we consistently evolve our offering and because other sectors are now beginning to understand the benefits of secure, insulated and well-crafted external doors. The market has opened up and is currently forecast to exceed £370m in the next two years.

“This is exceptional news for Distinction Doors and ensures our growth plans are on target with a forecast 15% increase in our workforce and a 10% increase in turnover in 2014.”