Earlier this year (2026), Elton, our Managing Director, spoke to six installation business owners and talked with them about what’s actually working for them right now. Not theory. Not consultants. Operators running real companies in a tough market.
They talk about growth when revenue is flat, visibility when your team is spread across sites, cash flow when margins are tight, and the tech and tactics that made the difference.
Click on the panels below to explore each interview and tips on how to build a successful installation business.
Each interview covers:
Growth: What it means when the market won’t hand it to you
Visibility: How they keep sight of what’s happening across the business
Cash Flow and Margins: The changes that moved the needle
Technology: The tools and systems that support the work
Their Expert Tip: One thing they’d tell another installer
Ed and Ben run Freedom Bespoke, targeting high end residential projects with build budgets of £5M and above. They employ their fitters rather than subcontract, investing in proper benefits, paid downtime, and branded vans. Growth has come from moving up market and owning the entire glazing package rather than chasing volume.
Charlie is a Director at Sandringham Windows in Norfolk. His focus has been on expanding the product range into flush casement and aluminium as customer demand has shifted, and on getting the right systems in place to manage that complexity. His standout advice is about supplier relationships: a ten year guarantee means you need a supplier who will back you for ten years, not just deliver the cheapest product today.
Kenny is the Managing Director of Home Choice Glazing, based in Kent. He launched the business in 2021 with decades of industry experience behind him. What stands out is their approach to growth: completely organic, no external finance, no investors. Everything they earn goes back into the business. Last year they grew 39% and they're targeting 25% this year in a much tougher market.
Matthew Ripton runs Ripton Windows and Conservatories in Basingstoke alongside Lorraine, their accountant. The business has been operating for 30 years. Their philosophy is straightforward: focus on doing the process right and the turnover follows. They review every job at the start, during, and at the end, and they're clear that being the cheapest is never the goal.
Ken owns the Ken Rhodes Group in Wickford, a family business he took over from his parents in 2016. They recently moved from two separate sites to one premises with office, showroom and warehouse under one roof. In a tough market, they've focused on efficiency over volume, reducing from six fitting teams to three and getting tighter on operations. Ken's big message: don't ignore old school marketing. Everyone's doing email. You've got a bigger share of the postman now.
Craig and Georgina run Dimensions Garage Doors in Gloucester, a family business started by Craig's dad. They operate across two locations covering both installation and service work. Their growth has come from getting communication right internally and with customers, using systems to replace the chaos of notepads and memory, and keeping things deliberately simple when everyone else overcomplicates.
