Specflue news

March 10: Introduction to Flues

Specflue are pleased to launch an “Introduction to Flues” training course. This course is ideal for fireplace and stove showroom staff, and teaches the very basic of flues. What’s more is it actually works out free of charge, as the booking fee is refunded as a credit onto your account once attended. All attendees receive a certificate of attendance. See our training page for further details.

Jan 10: 2 things new about Specflue!

As things hot up for the winter season, you will be looking for any additional help or service to ensure you retain your profits and give you an edge over your competitors. As a customer of Specflue we have 2 exciting new developments to tell you about before anyone else. Specflue have developed a new website aimed directly at the trade. www.discountflue.co.uk is a free to use website for all our customers, and can help you sell some of your special and unwanted flue items.

This site displays end-of-line and special made items for sale as a one off. Unfortunately special made products are unable to be returned and many of these end up sitting on store-room shelves for many years. You can now simply send us an email from the link on the site giving details of the flue product, sizes and a price you would like to achieve. We will then display this on the site for others to see and buy. Once an item has been sold (the customer will contact us directly), we will collect and credit you for the item, then arrange full delivery to the new customer.

So now you can get rid of those unwanted, sometimes unusual, flue items that may be totally useless to you, but an absolute bargain for someone else – and you get paid for it! It is also worth visiting the site when you are looking for that special piece that you may require very quickly or indeed are un-willing to pay a premium for. All products on the site are either end-of-line with no future sales OR special items. This is not a discounted flue website selling to end users, this is a tool for all our customers to enjoy and use FREE OF CHARGE to help move on unwanted special items.

Over the years Specflue has received many suggestions from customers. One of these suggestions has reared its head many times. “When is Specflue going to sell appliances and show the others how to do it?” We have recently launched a new range of Contemporary Danish stoves into the UK, and early signs are very encouraging! You can see the designs at www.woodstoveworld.co.uk (although the website has an English version, the translation is currently under development however Google has an excellent translation tool option). This simple classic design is of a high build quality using cast iron within the fire chamber, and strong and durable 4-5mm Steel. A high quality stove, but at an affordable price! Specflue have a very strict sales policy which can be found on this website which outlines our route to market and our transparent discount structure. This product is a retail only item and is not to be sold online!

We are currently visiting customers and introducing the range and so far the take-up is very high. Here’s why: • Easily controllable and very simple • SWAN ECOLABEL – High efficient and carbon neutral • Wood only • Contemporary Danish design • Quick delivery (3-5 days) moving to Specflues “Next day delivery” in early 2010 • Full range of spares kept in stock on a next day delivery • Large Fire picture • DESIREABLE yet AFFORDABLE! If you would like a full colour catalogue and price list, simply call us FREE on 0800 90 20 220 and speak with one of our sales team who can rush the information out to you. Thank you for your time and if we can do anything to help you please do not wait to get in contact. Warmest regards The Specflue Team

Nov 09: A Rewarding Year For Specflue

Underwriting their position as the flagship of the chimney accessory sector whilst also defying the recession, Specflue has enjoyed an outstanding year across all aspects of their business – embracing prestigous awards, tangible new business partners, training intiatives and extra staff – and all in the holistic manner for which the company is noted.

The blossoming awards portfolio included the BITC accolade within the BAA sponsored scheme for being the Best Regional Business in the Community in terms of the Impact on Society category – and this was in the company of the likes of Cambridge University, Whitbread and Tesco. The Specflue management were also proud to be in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales at St James Palace as a highly commended company in the National Small Business awards – which as with the above scheme also reflects their meaningful commitment to the environment by virtue of innovation with the likes of ceramic and plastic flues and this is reflected in CO2 accreditation and when not attending awards, many of the management team could be found walking 100 km against 500 other teams across the South Downs to raise money for Oxfam, as you do.

In turn, a logical business partnership has been created with Acquisition Fireplaces who exclusively recommend Specflue for the appropriate systems with installation and support services to support the new, ultra elegant XFIRE 1200 range of wall mounted gas fires. Acquisition is the name of choice for numerous VIPs as well as locations as diverse as English Heritage and The White House, all of which reflects Specflue’s foremost quality reputation.

As the sector leader, Specflue has also always sought to drive up industry standards and develop relationships with the key professional bodies. To this end at this year’s Hearth & Home Show in Harrogate an installer’s competition was run in association with HETAS – the organisation covering solid fuel domestic heating appliances – by way of the trade showing off it’s knowledge and crucial skills (not to mention keeping them on their toes!!) and the delighted winner of a Samsung television was Alistair Davidson of Ridgeway Stoves in Swindon. In this same vein, Specflue is also one of the driving lights behind a new retailer benchmark called FASA – the Fireplace And Stove Alliance – which will co-ordinate pricing and sales structures and stimulate professional marketing techniques.

New names and enhanced input for the company include sales office manager Matt Fisher and David Ebbs overlooking technical support, plus the well known profile of Frank Ewer in the South West – who also happens to be having been a firefighter - and Richard Leedale also supports architects, builders and developers in Yorkshire and the North West. Another notable increase is in the form of an increase of 25% in the modern Mercedes van fleet to match the increasing need for fast traced deliveries and customer contact and ending as ever on a high note – without giving to much away – but watch this space for exciting news of Specflue’s unique distributorship of a top quality and “green” range of Scandinavian wood burning stoves.