Everest Home Improvement
Everest Home Improvement (Everest Ltd) was a British double glazing and home improvement company. Now in administration as of 8th June 2020. [1]
Private | |
Industry | Home improvement |
Founded | Lewis Golden & Roy Hanna 1964 |
Headquarters | , England |
Key people | John Bostock (CEO) |
Services | double glazing, home improvement |
Owner | Better Capital LLP |
Number of employees | 1000 |
Website | www |
History
Everest was founded by Lewis Golden in 1964.[2] It became one of the first companies in the market of double glazing.[1] In what became a very fragmented market,[3] with over 3,000 companies,[1] the company grew to become the second biggest in the UK market by sales[1] and turnover[3] with 2.5% of the market (£165m sales) by 2009,[1] later rising to 3%.[3]
Private Equity firm Better Capital acquired the company in March 2012 for £25 million.[4] In November 2013, the company won the Interactive Media Awards in content, design, functionality, high standards of compliance and usability.[5][6]
In 2014, Everest windows introduced triple glazing to the volume market.[7][8]
Everest Windows were awarded Sales Team of the Year runner up and Sales Director of the Year runner up at the British Excellence in Sales & Marketing Awards in March 2015.[9]
Organisation
The company is headquartered in Cuffley, Hertfordshire and has manufacturing plants in Sittingbourne, Kent and Treherbert, Wales and [1][10] employs its own product development team, design team, installation team and sales team. The company employed over 1,000 sales people in 2009, each operating as a franchisee.[1]
Accreditations
Everest Windows is accredited by the British Board of Agrément (BBA),[11] the British Standards Institute (BSI),[12] The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF),[13] The Conservatory Association, The Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme (FENSA)[14] and Interlay.[15] The company also carries the Government Endorsed Standards Trust Mark through the GGF.[16][17]
Advertising
Tan Hill Inn
Everest's slogan "Fit the best. Everest," written by advertising executive Rod Allen, was made memorable by the company's first television advert in the 1980s.[18] Filmed in 'Britain's highest pub' the Tan Hill Inn in Tan Hill, North Yorkshire, it attempted to showcase the draught-proofing of Everest double glazing by having television personality Ted Moult dropping a feather on one side of the pubs double-glazed windows, while a gale raged outside.[1][18][19] A new version of the advert featuring Craig Doyle, was produced in 2008.[20] It created some controversy after local planning officials recognized that Everest had not properly authorized the improvement work done to the filming location, as is required for commercial premises.[21][22]
Advertising bans
In 2008, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned the Everest Windows television advert for potentially misleading consumers as to the amount of hot water generated by a solar panel.[23] The advert was subsequently amended and allowed to be shown in the amended form.[23]
In 2011, the ASA banned an Everest ad for solar panels following claims of misleading consumers regarding potential cost savings.[24][25]
Which? Investigations
A report in April 2010 by consumer organisation Which? claimed that of 14 companies it investigated selling double glazing on the doorstep, most were employing "cowboy" sales tactics.[26][27][28] The report also added that while consumers trust local suppliers, they still prefer the national sellers because of their quality of products and long warranties.[29][30][31]
Turnover
During 2013, employing over 2,000 staff, the total operating profits for 2012-2013 were over £5.1 million.[32]
Products
- Double and triple glazing
- Secondary glazing
- uPVC windows
- Aluminium windows
- Timber windows
- BiFold doors
- Conservatories (uPVC aluminium and timber)
- Orangeries (uPVC aluminium and timber)
- Tiled-roof extensions
- Patio doors and French doors
- Front doors (uPVC aluminium and timber)
- Back doors (uPVC aluminium and timber)
- Driveways
- Patios
- Synthetic grass
- Roofline (guttering, soffits and bargeboards)
- Garage doors (steel, aluminium and timber)
- Security systems
References
- James Hall (October 11, 2009). "Cleaning up on windows is just the start for Everest chief". Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/lewis-golden-obituary-22w79zp8p
- James Hurley (January 24, 2011). "Everest's profits climb 30pc as cost-cutting pays off". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Moulton's Better Capital buys Everest Windows for £25m". March 29, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Interactive Media Awards". Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- Nicola Keene (November 6, 2013). "MBA wins Best in Class with Everest website redesign". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- Gary Farmer (March 3, 2014). "Triple glazing: the green solution to Scotland's Baltic Weather". Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- Virginia Blackburn (June 16, 2014). "Everest reviews product range to focus on customers". Retrieved March 2, 2015.
- "Everest Excels in British Excellence in Sales and Marketing Awards". Retrieved June 25, 2015.
- "Everest launches its first ever National Sales Academy in St Albans". October 15, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
- "Window Energy Ratings Certificate 07/B011" (PDF). January 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Everest". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Everest Home Improvements". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Everest Windows". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Interlay Members List". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "TrustMark glazier". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- McGregor, Stephen (September 18, 1984). "Doorstep trade war of double glazing firms". The Glasgow Herald.
- "Stag party suspected after Everest advert memorabilia is stolen from Britain's highest pub". December 16, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Ted moults everest tv ad the best ever". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- Gavin Newsham (June 13, 2008). "The Hard Sell". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- Paul Stokes (May 30, 2008). "England's highest pub in television advert planning row". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Top pub's solar panel TV advert fight". May 30, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- Ben Hall (October 22, 2008). "Everest ad banned over solar claim". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "'Misleading' solar panel advert banned". September 10, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- Paul Newton (September 8, 2011). "ASA bans 'misleading' solar PV ad". Archived from the original on November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Solar heat suppliers 'acting like cowboys'". April 24, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- Martha Hickman (April 26, 2010). "Major solar panel firms 'misleading consumers'". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- Alastair Jamieson (April 25, 2010). "Solar heating rip-off exposed by undercover probe". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Best double glazing firms revealed by Which? poll". April 19, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Double glazing sales tactics exposed". June 23, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "How Everest is changing the double glazing game". June 16, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
- "Everest Climbs Back To Profitability". May 21, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.