TrustMark momentum builds as FairTrades drives accreditations
FairTrades – the leading multi-trade association and TrustMark Approved Scheme Operator (ASO) – is seeing a significant increase in the number of businesses moving forward to TrustMark status; with the ASO having managed the accreditation of another 55 home improvement companies in the last few months.
While the number of companies progressing through to TrustMark has been steadily growing, there has been a marked upswing of late. FairTrades attributes this to both the credit crunch – as installers seek to improve consumer confidence and differentiate themselves from lesser competition – and the increase in profile of the scheme through its adoption by Homebase and Magnet.
“There is a definite shift in the number of people seeking TrustMark accreditation”, says Nick Egdell, Managing Director of FairTrades, “and the penny seems to be dropping that – in this increasingly difficult market –professional installation concerns need to establish their bona fides to a wavering consumer; and simultaneously set themselves apart from lesser, possibly ephemeral, companies who seek to trade on little more than price and a ‘smash and grab’ approach to winning business”.
TrustMark – the award-winning scheme supported by Government, the building industry and consumer groups – is designed to help consumers seeking home improvements find reliable and trustworthy tradespeople. It is available to all sizes of retail installation businesses – whether large or small – provided certain criteria of professionalism can be met.
FairTrades has been promoting its vetted trade professional members for over 20 years; and has been a TrustMark ASO since 2006. Members reap the benefits of increased marketing, business support, sales leads and special offers; while homeowners benefit from access to the largest directory of quality ranked home improvement professionals who uphold the values of the Homeowner’s Charter.
Egdell concludes: “Consumer research has shown repeatedly that purchasing behaviour is influenced by a number of things, but price is only one of many determining factors. Therefore it is entirely possible to sell items at a higher price if the consumer views it as good value – and by securing TrustMark accreditation the installer conspicuously identifies themselves as committed to quality, service and professionalism”.
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