#18 Garador: Innovation, Service and What's Next - A Conversation with Aaron Clarke

#18 Garador: Innovation, Service and What's Next - A Conversation with Aaron Clarke

In this episode of the Garage Door Installers Podcast, I sit down with Aaron Clarke from Garador for an honest conversation about his career, the changing garage door industry, and what it takes to build lasting relationships with installers across the UK. Aaron started his career with Garador as an Area Sales Manager covering the South West before progressing through the business thanks to his customer-first approach and commitment to supporting installers. During our conversation, we discuss how the industry has evolved, the importance of face-to-face relationships, and what manufacturers can do to better support the companies fitting their products every day. Aaron has since gone on to become National Accounts Manager at Garador, reflecting the impact he has made within the business. Whether you're an installer, business owner or simply interested in the garage door trade, this episode is packed with practical insights, industry stories and plenty of behind-the-scenes discussion from one of the UK's best-known manufacturers. In this episode we cover: * Aaron's journey through the garage door industry and joining Garador. * Building strong relationships with installers and merchants. * How the role of an Area Sales Manager has changed over the years. * Supporting customers beyond simply selling products. * Common challenges facing garage door installers today. * New opportunities for businesses looking to grow. * Product innovation and how customer feedback shapes development. * Why communication between manufacturers and installers is more important than ever. * Advice for anyone starting a career in garage doors. Key Takeaways ✔ Relationships still matter more than ever in the garage door industry. ✔ Good technical support and aftersales service are just as valuable as the product itself. ✔ Listening to installers is essential for manufacturers looking to improve. ✔ The industry continues to evolve with new products, automation and changing customer expectations. ✔ Success comes from consistency, trust and providing genuine value to customers. About Aaron Clarke Aaron Clarke has built his career with Garador, one of the UK's leading garage door manufacturers. Having spent years supporting installers and merchants throughout the South West, he established a reputation for outstanding customer service and practical product knowledge before progressing into a national role. His experience gives him a unique perspective on both the challenges and opportunities facing today's garage door industry. Connect with Garador Learn more about Garador's range of garage doors, operators and entrance doors via their official website. www.garador.co.uk [http://www.garador.co.uk] Our Sponsors The Door Industry Journal The Door Industry Journal is the only trade magazine targeted towards the Garage Door Industry. To receive the magazine and weekly newsletter for no cost send your details to pr@cvgroup.co.uk [pr@cvgroup.co.uk] to get added to the distribution list. ToolTrade For top branded products at competitive prices, speak to ToolTrade. A leading provider of tools, fixings and sealants. To open a trade account and have some customised pricing email your enquiry to info@tool-trade.co.uk

#17 Heatwave Problems – How Hot Weather Affects Your Garage Door

When temperatures rise, so do the number of garage door call-outs. But is your garage door actually broken, or is the summer heat simply changing how it operates? In this episode of the Garage Door Installers Podcast, James Williams explains how hot weather affects roller, sectional and timber garage doors, why expansion is completely normal, and the warning signs you should never ignore. Whether you're a homeowner looking to understand your garage door or an installer wanting to educate customers, this episode is packed with practical advice to help keep garage doors operating smoothly throughout the summer. In this episode: * Why garage doors behave differently during hot weather * How heat affects roller, sectional and timber garage doors * Why garage doors become noisier in summer * Can high temperatures affect electric garage door motors? * Common mistakes homeowners make during a heatwave * Simple summer maintenance tips * What's normal... and when it's time to call an expert Installer's Question of the Week: What's the biggest mistake you've ever seen a homeowner make with a garage door? Send us your stories and we'll feature some of the best responses in a future episode. Subscribe to the Garage Door Installers Podcast for weekly episodes covering garage door installation, repairs, servicing, business insights and the latest developments from across the industry. Our Sponsors The Door Industry Journal The Door Industry Journal is the only trade magazine targeted towards the Garage Door Industry. To receive the magazine and weekly newsletter for no cost send your details to pr@cvgroup.co.uk [pr@cvgroup.co.uk] to get added to the distribution list. ToolTrade For top branded products at competitive prices, speak to ToolTrade. A leading provider of tools, fixings and sealants. To open a trade account and have some customised pricing email your enquiry to info@tool-trade.co.uk

#16 15 Episodes in - A quick catch up and where we are going......

A slight change on this weeks episode. Our interview with Aaron wasn't quite ready to go so a slight rambling update of whats gone before and whats coming up. Apologies but I wanted to get the Aaron episode sorted properly so that will be coming up. Here we look back at the first 15 episodes and the unbelievable amount of support we have had already. Thank you so much to everyone that has been listening, hopefully there are some nuggets within all the information that can help everyone. If you are interested in coming onto the podcast then drop me a message or email at james@fastfitgaragedoors.com [james@fastfitgaragedoors.com] Our Sponsors The Door Industry Journal The Door Industry Journal is the only trade magazine targeted towards the Garage Door Industry. To receive the magazine and weekly newsletter for no cost send your details to pr@cvgroup.co.uk [pr@cvgroup.co.uk] to get added to the distribution list. ToolTrade For top branded products at competitive prices, speak to ToolTrade. A leading provider of tools, fixings and sealants. To open a trade account and have some customised pricing email your enquiry to info@tool-trade.co.uk

#15 The Reality of Running a Family Garage Door Business - The Good, The Bad & The Difficult Conversations

Running a family garage door business comes with unique challenges, opportunities, and rewards. In this episode of the Garage Door Installers Podcast, we discuss the reality of building and growing a family business - from starting with one van and a set of tools, to creating a company that supports multiple generations. We talk about the challenges of mixing family and business, having difficult conversations, defining roles, managing growth, and the importance of building strong systems for the future. From the early days of Fast Fit Garage Doors to growing a team and preparing for the next stage of the business, this episode explores what it really takes to build a successful family-run garage door company. Whether you’re a garage door installer, running your own trade business, or thinking about bringing family into your company, this episode is packed with honest lessons and real experiences from inside the industry. In this episode we discuss: • How family garage door businesses often begin • The challenges of working with family members • Keeping business and home life separate • Having difficult conversations in a family business • Passing a business from one generation to the next • Building a strong team and company culture • Lessons learned from over 40 years in the garage door industry The Garage Door Installers Podcast is built for garage door professionals, installers, and business owners looking to learn, improve, and grow within the industry. Our Sponsors The Door Industry Journal The Door Industry Journal is the only trade magazine targeted towards the Garage Door Industry. To receive the magazine and weekly newsletter for no cost send your details to pr@cvgroup.co.uk [pr@cvgroup.co.uk] to get added to the distribution list. ToolTrade For top branded products at competitive prices, speak to ToolTrade. A leading provider of tools, fixings and sealants. To open a trade account and have some customised pricing email your enquiry to info@tool-trade.co.uk

#14 The Sectional Door Revolution - How One Product Changed the Garage Door Industry

In this episode, we explore how the sectional garage door revolution transformed the UK garage door industry. For decades, the up and over garage door dominated residential properties across the UK. But as customer expectations evolved, demand grew for better insulation, improved security, smarter design, and doors that enhanced kerb appeal. Enter the sectional door, a product that changed everything. We break down where sectional doors came from, why they became so popular, and how they reshaped both customer expectations and the installer’s day-to-day job. Key Topics Covered * The dominance of the up and over garage door in the UK * How garage use has changed from storage space to living space * The origins of sectional doors in American overhead door systems * European innovation and manufacturers like Hörmann driving development * Why sectional doors became the modern residential standard * Space-saving vertical operation vs traditional canopy designs * Improvements in insulation, sealing, and security * How customer expectations around garage doors have changed * The impact on installers, surveying, and installation complexity * Whether sectional doors have replaced up & over doors * The future of smart garage door technology Our Sponsors The Door Industry Journal The Door Industry Journal is the only trade magazine targeted towards the Garage Door Industry. To receive the magazine and weekly newsletter for no cost send your details to pr@cvgroup.co.uk [pr@cvgroup.co.uk] to get added to the distribution list. ToolTrade For top branded products at competitive prices, speak to ToolTrade. A leading provider of tools, fixings and sealants. To open a trade account and have some customised pricing email your enquiry to info@tool-trade.co.uk