Everest Home Improvement was a British

double glazing Insulating glass (IG) consists of two or more glass window panes separated by a space to reduce heat transfer across a part of the building envelope. A window with insulating glass is commonly known as double glazing or a double-paned window, ...

and

home improvement The concept of home improvement, home renovation, or remodeling is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home. Home improvement can consist of projects that upgrade an existing home interior (such as electrical and plumbing), ...

company. The company was founded in 1964 but went into

administration Administration may refer to: Management of organizations * Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal ** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...

in June 2020. A new company called Everest 2020 limited was formed in June 2020 following the administration, saving 1,000 jobs in the process.

History

Everest was founded by Lewis Golden in 1964. It became one of the first companies in the market of

. In what became a very fragmented market, with over 3,000 companies, the company grew to become the second biggest in the UK market by sales and turnover with 2.5% of the market (£165m sales) by 2009, later rising to 3%. Private Equity firm

Better Capital Better Capital is a British Private equity firm founded by Jon Moulton in 2009. Investments Better Capital has had investments in the following companies: * City Link (in administration, December 2014) * Everest * Fairline Boats (sold to Wessex ...

acquired the company in March 2012 for £25 million. In November 2013, the company won the Interactive Media Awards in content, design, functionality, high standards of compliance and usability. In 2014, Everest windows introduced triple glazing to the volume market. Everest Windows were awarded Sales Team of the Year runner up and Sales Director of the Year runner up at the British Excellence in Sales & Marketing Awards in March 2015.

Administration

On 6 June 2020 Everest Limited was put into Administration by its owner, Better Capital. It then created a new company called Everest 2020 and bought up the operations and order book. The new company owned by the previous owners of Everest chose not honour the warranties of previous customers. BBC Watchdog said "the new company was using the same or very similar branding and claiming that they have been making quality products since 1965, but despite promoting the old company’s heritage, it was not looking after all of its customers."

Products

The company manufactured doors, windows and a variety of home exterior structures.

Organisation

The company was headquartered in Cuffley, Hertfordshire and had manufacturing plants in

Sittingbourne, Kent Sittingbourne is an industrial town in Kent, south-east England, from Canterbury and from London, beside the Roman Watling Street, an ancient British trackway used by the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons and next to the Swale, a strip of sea separa ...

and Treherbert, Wales and employed its own product development team, design team, installation team and sales team. The company employed over 1,000 sales people in 2009, each operating as a

franchisee Franchising is based on a marketing concept which can be adopted by an organization as a strategy for business expansion. Where implemented, a franchisor licenses some or all of its know-how, procedures, intellectual property, use of its busine ...

. They were not employed by Everest. they were self-employed. During 2013, employing over 2,000 staff, the total operating profits for 2012-2013 were over £5.1 million.

Advertising

Tan Hill Inn

Everest's slogan "Fit the best. Everest," written by advertising executive

Rod Allen Roderick Bernet Allen (born October 5, 1959) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and current game analyst for the Miami Marlins on Bally Sports Florida. He formerly worked as an analyst for the Detroit Tigers on Bally Sports ...

, was made memorable by the company's first television advert in the 1980s. Filmed in 'Britain's highest pub' the Tan Hill Inn in Tan Hill, North Yorkshire, it attempted to showcase the draught-proofing of Everest double glazing by having television personality

Ted Moult Edward Walker Moult (11 February 1926 – 3 September 1986) was a British farmer at Scaddows Farm near Ticknall, Derbyshire, who became a radio and television personality. Early life Moult was born in Derby. He left Derby School at 17 in ...

dropping a feather on one side of the pubs double-glazed windows, while a gale raged outside. A new version of the advert featuring

Craig Doyle Craig Doyle (born 17 December 1970, Dublin) is an Irish television and radio presenter. To British viewers he is recognisable as working for the BBC and ITV and more recently BT Sport. Irish viewers also know him as the host of RTÉ One chat ...

, was produced in 2008. It created some controversy after local planning officials recognized that Everest had not properly authorized the improvement work done to the filming location, as is required for commercial premises.

Advertising bans

In 2008, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) banned the Everest Windows television advert for potentially misleading consumers as to the amount of hot water generated by a solar panel. The advert was subsequently amended and allowed to be shown in the amended form. In 2011, the ASA banned an Everest ad for solar panels following claims of misleading consumers regarding potential cost savings.

Which? Investigations

A report in April 2010 by consumer organisation Which? claimed that of 14 companies it investigated selling double glazing on the doorstep, most were employing "cowboy" sales tactics.

References

External links

Official Everest Home Improvement website
{{Authority control Window manufacturers Building materials companies of the United Kingdom Home improvement companies of the United Kingdom Manufacturing companies of England Companies based in Welwyn Hatfield British companies established in 1964 Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1964 British brands