In this episode, we look at one of the biggest challenges facing independent garage door installers and business owners today...

How do you compete against the national companies?

With bigger marketing budgets, larger teams and a stronger online presence, it can sometimes feel like smaller independent installers are fighting an uphill battle.

But being a local business also comes with huge advantages.

In this episode, we explore why trust, reputation, customer experience and personal relationships can often matter more than size.

We look at how independent installers can compete by focusing on the things national companies often struggle to replicate - speed of communication, local knowledge, personal service and building a reputation within their community.

Because winning against the bigger companies isn't always about spending more money.

It's about creating a better experience.

What you'll learn in this episode...

• Why smaller independent garage door companies often underestimate their biggest advantages
• What successful national companies do well and the lessons local installers can take from them
• Why speed of communication can be one of your biggest competitive advantages
• How customers make buying decisions and why trust often matters more than price
• Why competing on price alone is a dangerous strategy for long-term growth
• How creating a professional customer experience can help you stand out in a crowded market
• Why your local reputation can become one of the most valuable assets in your business
• How independent installers can build a brand that customers recommend and remember

Key Takeaway

The national companies may have bigger budgets, but independent installers have something that money can't easily buy...

A genuine connection with their customers and their local community.

By focusing on trust, service and delivering an experience that customers remember, smaller garage door companies can compete and win against businesses much larger than themselves.

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 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

From ignoring strange noises to becoming a YouTube engineer, some garage door mistakes are funny, some are expensive, and some can be genuinely dangerous.

In this episode of the Garage Door Installers Podcast, James Williams shares the most common homeowner mistakes seen over decades in the industry, explains why they happen, and reveals how a few simple checks can prevent major repairs and unnecessary call-outs.

Along the way, there are plenty of real-world stories from the trade, including DIY spring disasters, doors that were driven into, and the classic “it’s been making that noise for months” service call.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to protect your investment or an installer wanting a few stories to share with customers, this episode is packed with practical advice and a healthy dose of humour.

In this episode:

• Why garage doors rarely fail without warning
• The danger of DIY spring adjustments
• Why annual servicing matters more than most people realise
• The truth about WD-40 and garage door maintenance
• How often people drive into their own garage doors
• Why cluttered garages cause more problems than you’d think
• When to call a professional before a small fault becomes a big repair

James’ Story of the Week:

A “completely broken” garage door turned out to be nothing more than a ladder that had shifted against the mechanism inside an overfilled garage. A perfect reminder that the simplest explanation is often the right one.

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 through our social channels 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, manufacturing, business growth and real stories from the trade.

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 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

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

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 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

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 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

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

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 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

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 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

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 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

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 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