We have exhibited at the FiT Show a number of times now and we continue to return due to the great success we receive from it and this years’ appearance was no exception. As always, it was a very busy couple of days, full of lots of interest in our products including our newly launched Simplicity Xtra Veranda.
Our Managing Director, Kevin Horne was interviewed by one of the FiT Show team members, you can watch the full interview above, or read what they spoke about below.
Interviewer: “We are all about outdoor living here at the fit show 2019 and this next interview is no exception. I’m joined by Kevin who is the Managing Director here at Milwood Group. Kevin thank you very much for your time, tell me the big story around Milwood Group please.”
Kevin Horne: “Okay, so at the Milwood Group we design and manufacture outdoor living structures for both the UK commercial and domestic markets, they are all designed by ourselves, we proudly brand these as a UK manufactured product which clearly they are, so we have the extrusions done in the UK and then we convert them to our verandas and carports at our manufacturing facility in Hinkley in Leicestershire.”
Interviewer: “Just down the road from here, very familiar to me as well. So you brought some products with you here including this amazing looking canopy here, tell me more about this.”
Kevin Horne: “Okay, so this is a product that we have just launched here specifically at the FiT show, we call it the Simplicity Xtra, it’s got a 4 metre projection, it can span 4 metres between posts and has 6mm toughened glass in the roof. These characteristics of projection and post spacing are really critical to our customers so we’ve really pushed the boundaries with this system.”
Interviewer: “Let’s go take a look underneath it. As always, something I really, really like in these is very simple integrated lighting obviously that’s very important to customers because you don’t really want to be putting that in after the install.”
Kevin Horne: “No, we have a lot of features that you can add to these structures, integrated lighting is one, you can also have heaters in the structures as well so that they are more useable all year round.”
Interviewer: “In terms of choice of colour, obviously this is very much on trend at the moment, that kind of slate-y colour, what else do we do?”
Kevin Horne: “We offer this system in two standard colours, this grey colour which like you really is really popular, it also comes in a standard white as well, but we have got our own powder coating facility, so we can colours these to any RAL colour that the customer wants.”
Interviewer: “And you’ve got some more product examples here, tell us about those.”
Kevin Horne: “We’ve got all these different systems in our range, it depends on the projection, the size of the structure that people are looking for as to which structure you would pick. So, we’ve got some smaller, glass structures here, some polycarbonate structures as well, and then we’ve got the big structure range down the bottom that can project up to 6 metres and also goes 6 metres between posts.”
Interviewer: “And this outdoor living trend at the moment, that certainly seems to be growing and growing in the UK market and I guess that’s what you’re seeing as well.”
Kevin Horne: “Yes, we have seen a phenomenal increase in demand for our products, we supply direct to the trade and the desire for people to spend more time outdoors is a growing trend that we are seeing.”
Interviewer: “And as well as permanent structures like this do you also do retractable and semi-permanent structures too?”
Kevin Horne: “Yes, we do a retractable roof system and we also do some fabric structures that are awnings so they’re a sun protection product so they can just remote out and then remote back in, giving people the sun protection they are looking for.”
Interviewer: “Before we go Kevin, just tell me how the show has been for you and why it is important for Milwood Group to be here to show of your new products.”
Kevin Horne: “So, we are specifically launching this new product, so brand awareness is really important, and also to be able to show all our products off in one albeit small facility, it does attract new trade partners which we are looking for. And we can demonstrate all our products on the stand and it’s been a very good lead magnet for us.”
Interviewer: “Good well, I’m really, really pleased to hear that, listen Kevin from Milwood Group, thank you very much indeed for joining us today and I wish you all the very best with the rest of this year’s show.”
Kevin Horne: “Thank you.”
Interviewer: “Cheers.”
