Everest 2020 Limited
TypePrivate
IndustryHome improvement
FoundedJune 2020
Headquarters
Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire
,
England
Key people
Paula Chambers (CEO)
Servicesdouble glazing, home improvement
OwnerBetter Capital LLP
Number of employees
1000
Websitewww.everest.co.uk

Everest Home Improvement was a British double glazing and home improvement company.[1] The company was founded in 1964 but went into administration in June 2020.[2] A new company called Everest 2020 limited was formed in June 2020 following the administration, saving 1,000 jobs in the process.[3]

History

Everest was founded by Lewis Golden in 1964.[4] It became one of the first companies in the market of double glazing.[1] In what became a very fragmented market,[5] with over 3,000 companies,[1] the company grew to become the second biggest in the UK market by sales[1] and turnover[5] with 2.5% of the market (£165m sales) by 2009,[1] later rising to 3%.[5]

Private Equity firm Better Capital acquired the company in March 2012 for £25 million.[6] In November 2013, the company won the Interactive Media Awards in content, design, functionality, high standards of compliance and usability.[7][8]

In 2014, Everest windows introduced triple glazing to the volume market.[9][10]

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.[11]

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.[12] 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."[13]

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 and Treherbert, Wales and [1][14] 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.[1] 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.[15]

Advertising

Tan Hill Inn

Everest's slogan "Fit the best. Everest," written by advertising executive Rod Allen, 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 dropping a feather on one side of the pubs double-glazed windows, while a gale raged outside.[1][16] A new version of the advert featuring Craig Doyle, was produced in 2008.[17] 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.[18][19]

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.[20] The advert was subsequently amended and allowed to be shown in the amended form.[20]

In 2011, the ASA banned an Everest ad for solar panels following claims of misleading consumers regarding potential cost savings.[21][22]

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.[23][24][25]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 James Hall (October 11, 2009). "Cleaning up on windows is just the start for Everest chief". Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ "EVEREST LIMITED | Appointment of Administrators | the Gazette".
  3. ↑ "Companies House documents show new Everest 2020 company". 2 June 2020.
  4. ↑ "Lewis Golden".
  5. 1 2 3 James Hurley (January 24, 2011). "Everest's profits climb 30pc as cost-cutting pays off". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Moulton's Better Capital buys Everest Windows for £25m". March 29, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Interactive Media Awards". Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  8. ↑ Nicola Keene (November 6, 2013). "MBA wins Best in Class with Everest website redesign". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ Gary Farmer (March 3, 2014). "Triple glazing: the green solution to Scotland's Baltic Weather". Archived from the original on March 21, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  10. ↑ Virginia Blackburn (June 16, 2014). "Everest reviews product range to focus on customers". Retrieved March 2, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Everest Excels in British Excellence in Sales and Marketing Awards". 9 March 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Everest double glazing rescue deal saves 1,000 UK jobs". TheGuardian.com. June 9, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  13. ↑ "BBC One - the One Show - Watchdog – Everest lifetime guarantees".
  14. ↑ "Everest launches its first ever National Sales Academy in St Albans". October 15, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Everest Climbs Back To Profitability". May 21, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Ted moults everest tv ad the best ever". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  17. ↑ Gavin Newsham (June 13, 2008). "The Hard Sell". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  18. ↑ Paul Stokes (May 30, 2008). "England's highest pub in television advert planning row". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Top pub's solar panel TV advert fight". Daily Mirror. May 30, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  20. 1 2 Ben Hall (October 22, 2008). "Everest ad banned over solar claim". Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  21. ↑ "'Misleading' solar panel advert banned". September 10, 2011. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  22. ↑ Paul Newton (September 8, 2011). "ASA bans 'misleading' solar PV ad". Archived from the original on November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Solar heat suppliers 'acting like cowboys'". April 24, 2008. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  24. ↑ Martha Hickman (April 26, 2010). "Major solar panel firms 'misleading consumers'". Belfasttelegraph. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  25. ↑ Alastair Jamieson (April 25, 2010). "Solar heating rip-off exposed by undercover probe". Archived from the original on April 28, 2010. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
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