FORT Fencing
Agricultural & Equine Fencing
FORT October Newsletter - 2023
10 October 2023
Here we are in October and it started with July weather, quite incredible for this time of the year and it all helps to make outdoor working a little bit easier. We reported last month that things had quietened off during the holiday season, but you all seemed to come back in a rush! September ended up being yet another very busy month.
Global events do have an impact and the recent terrorism in the Middle East has pushed oil prices back after a steady fall. That will impact many building materials and depending on how the £ fares against the US $, we might see some quick impact. Interest rates were on a knife edge for the last Bank of England meeting and ended up being held. Inflation seems to be steadying and even declining so that may mean we are at a peak on rates. This will improve the position for new housebuilding and that would increase demand for materials. The general RMI (repairs, maintenance & improvement) market remains quite positive. FORT continues to get positive feedback from customers about their forward orderbooks and as we head into winter, where shorter, wetter, colder and darker days tend to slow things down, it’s good to know that there is workaround.
Here at FORT we’ve continued to develop, with a new recruit in the sales team, ongoing website development and importantly securing the purchase of our site at The Longhouse which means that you’re all stuck with us for the long term!
We were also ecstatic to see that Kyle Howarth captained the Sheffield Tigers to winning the British Speedway Premiership 2023 in a thrilling final after an excellent season. FORT has proudly sponsored Kyle for a number of seasons and we’re delighted that all his hard work is paying off.
Case Study - Tiki Torch x Island Mist
A fantastic combination of Trex Transcend boards as demonstrated in this project, was recently completed by one of our customers at FORT. Whilst looking to complete a raised decking area at the back of their garden and after seeing our Trex show deck of Tiki Torch & Island Mist our customer decided to go for the Transcend range and this great colour mix too. They choseTrex as their preferred decking solution for its outstanding benefits, such as being a long-lasting material, easy to maintain, stain & fade resistance and with a 50-year domestic warranty. For more information on Trex & this case study click the button below!
At FORT, we keep fantastic stocks of Trex composite decking. If you’re looking to replace an existing deck or create an all-new outdoor living area then get in touch with the team on 01488 505 800. You can visit our show deck at our site in Membury, Lambourn Woodlands, we have a great range of samples and brochures available to take with you! Click here to read the full article.
General Availability & Price Update
Our roundup of key indicators is shown below:
Currency - While the £ is well ahead of a year ago (when Trussonomics arrived!) it is down on a high of $1.31 back in July. We’ve seen a bit of a recent recovery and it looks as if it’s settled around $1.25. It seems to be a similar story with the Euro.
Containers - China’s economy has slowed and global demand is down, all of which heavily reduces demand for containers and rates have fallen again. This is all helping to contain product costs.
Steel Bar - Steel prices have actually risen slightly and with the $ effect on top, it makes steel prices go up, albeit only slightly.
Timber - While this is a US market indicator, it does give a trend and the weak market continues. Europe appears to be in a similar position and timber prices just do not seem to be able to make any upward movement. European construction activity is slow and all of this means there is more timber on the market than demand.
Inflation - After seeing a high of over 13% it makes 9% look low! These are still historically high rates but everything seems to be pointing towards a continuing fall.
Spooktacular October Offer
Don’t miss out on this fantastic special offer throughout October, Leyland Trade Contract Matt Brilliant White 10L is at a reduced rate of £13.95+VAT!
We’ve also brought in an all-new range of decorating tools by Prodec, they can be found on our website and in our shop, and of course if you’d like any further information then feel free to call us at 01488 505 800 or email at office@fort-m.com.
As always, please do not assume stock availability - check with the sales office!
Our reputation relies on word of mouth and testimonials from our valued customers, and as such we'd love for you to share reviews of your experiences with us on either Facebook or TrustPilot if you have the time.
Thank you very much for your ongoing support of FORT! Best Regards,
Matt, Tim & Keith
The Directors.