#7 Why Most Garage Door Businesses Plateau - And How to Break Through

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

#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

#13 We Went To The Three Counties Show

Episode: We Went To The Three Counties Show Episode Summary This week, we're stepping away from the office and taking you behind the scenes of one of the UK's biggest county shows. After spending three days exhibiting at the Three Counties Show, we returned with far more than just sore feet and empty coffee cups. We met thousands of homeowners, renovators, farmers, business owners and families, all with different interests, projects and questions. But amongst all those conversations, several key lessons emerged that every garage door installer can learn from. In this episode, we discuss the power of face-to-face marketing, why roller shutter garage doors continue to dominate homeowner interest, and why building relationships remains one of the most effective sales strategies in today's digital world. We also share insights into customer buying behaviour, discuss the importance of getting your business visible within your local community, and explain why some of the best opportunities come from simply showing up. Whether you regularly exhibit at events or have never considered it before, this episode is packed with practical takeaways for installers looking to grow their business and build stronger customer relationships. Key Takeaways - People still buy from people - Roller shutter garage doors remain one of the most requested products on the market - Local events can generate awareness long before customers are ready to buy - Face-to-face conversations accelerate trust and credibility - Strong supplier relationships create better customer experiences - Consistent visibility helps businesses stay top of mind - Marketing isn't always about immediate leads—sometimes it's about planting seeds for future sales Featured Partner A special thank you to Garador for their support throughout the Three Counties Show. Sharing exhibition space and having direct support from our Garador Account Manager, Jacob, helped create a fantastic experience for visitors and demonstrated the value of strong manufacturer-installer partnerships. About The Three Counties Show The Three Counties Show is one of the UK's largest agricultural and countryside events, held annually at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern. The show attracts thousands of visitors each year and features farming, food, retail, home improvement, outdoor living, livestock, machinery and business exhibitors from across the country. 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

#12 Pricing, Profits and Value – How to Price Confidently Without Losing Work

In this episode, we tackle one of the biggest challenges facing garage door installers and business owners: pricing. From understanding your true costs and profit margins through to customer psychology, quote presentation, and handling price objections, we explore how successful garage door companies price confidently without relying on discounts to win work. Whether you're a sole trader, growing installation company, or established garage door business looking to improve profitability, this episode provides practical advice on increasing margins, improving quote conversion rates, and building a business that wins profitable work rather than simply winning more work. What you'll learn in this episode… Why so many garage door installers consistently undercharge for their products and services The hidden costs involved in running a profitable garage door installation business How to calculate healthy profit margins and why profit should be built into every quotation The psychology behind customer buying decisions and why price isn't always the deciding factor Why customers often buy based on trust, confidence, and perceived value rather than the cheapest quote How pricing tiers and package options can increase average order values and improve sales conversions The difference between price shoppers and genuine buyers, and how to identify them early in the sales process Why competing on price alone creates long-term challenges for garage door businesses How to raise your prices confidently without damaging enquiry levels or sales performance The common pricing fears that prevent business owners from achieving sustainable profitability How professional quote presentation can improve customer confidence and increase conversion rates What successful garage door salespeople do differently when discussing value with customers Why discounting can sometimes damage trust and reduce perceived value How to position your garage door company as a premium, trusted provider rather than a commodity supplier The relationship between pricing, business growth, customer perception, and long-term success Why price is ultimately a signal of confidence, quality, expertise, and professionalism in the garage door 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