The Million Dollar Question – how can Victorian Sliders offer an award winning, high-quality sash window for just £199*?

Andy Jones, Group Managing Director of sash window specialists Victorian Sliders, outlines the extensive investments that have allowed it to make one of Europe’s most respected and affordably-priced sash windows.

Andy Jones, Group Managing Director Victorian Sliders

In my experience, everyone who’s heard of Victorian Sliders will know at least three things about us. We’re based in Wales. We make PVCu sash windows – and trade customers can buy a vertical sliding window from us for just £199.In particular, that £199 figure has been an object of discussion for some in our industry over the years, especially since that figure has remained unchanged since 2012.There’s been a lot of speculation about how we’re able to offer ECOSlide at such competitive prices. Are we cutting corners at every opportunity? Are we making next to no margin? I’ve heard both suggested more than once, and both are completely false.So if it’s not that, how can we manage it? In truth, there’s no big secret – we’re able to do it because we’ve invested a huge amount of time, energy and resources into being able to offer a fully certified window at the very best price.In recent years, we’ve invested over £12,000,000 into every aspect of the business including product development, machinery, expanding the factory, IT, UK-wide transport infrastructure and much more – making our operation one of the most advanced and efficient in UK glass and glazing.

Self-sufficient sash specialists

One of Victorian Sliders’ greatest strengths is the simple fact we’re specialists – we just do sash windows.Freed from the challenges of having to juggle hundreds of different products that hold back many fabricators, we can focus all our efforts on making ECOSlide as efficiently as possible.We’re also Europe’s biggest sash window manufacturer, and with that comes certain economies of scale – when you’re making upwards of 2,000 frames a week, you’re able to produce each one far more affordably than if you just make a few hundred.Then there’s our long-standing commitment to doing as much of the work that goes into manufacturing a window ourselves.Over the last 15 years, that’s seen us take control of our own extrusion – designing our own exclusive profile system, made in-house using seven extrusion lines.We manufacture our own glass units, spray and foil all our own profiles, bend our own arches and produce our own hardware too – we own the hardware company that exclusively makes window furniture for Victorian Sliders. We even have our own vacuum forming department which allows us to foil all our own ancillary parts.In fact, I’d go as far as saying Victorian Sliders is probably the most vertically integrated, self-sufficient, independently-owned window manufacturer in the UK.

Making sash windows accessible

What does all that mean? Fundamentally, it means we’re able to control virtually every aspect of our manufacturing operation from cradle to grave, maximising quality and productivity whilst minimising costs.Today, ECOSlide is one of the leading sash windows on the market – offering convincing traditional aesthetics, robust security, and a wide range of extras including astragal bars, run-through horns, and, soon, a deep bottom rail.All that, combined with the £199 price tag, has meant we’ve been able to help thousands of UK installers break into the extremely lucrative sash window market over the last 15 years.Despite the very challenging circumstances we’ve all faced over the past few months, the demand for quality sash window products hasn’t slowed – if anything, it’s increased.So if you’d like to learn more about how Victorian Sliders can help you win profitable new business and why our customers voted Victorian Sliders the UK’s number one supplier of vertical sliding windows, don’t hesitate to get in touch.*£199 excludes: curved, foiled or sprayed colours and Georgian bars/Astragal bars. £199 maximum size 1300mm x 2400mm (windows over this size are available at extra cost)For more information visit www.victoriansliders.co.uk or call 01269 846200.