Specifiers?
You want to sell building materials or services for Social Sector Housing? You can't just find a friendly builder; first, you've got to find those who call the tune; the Specifiers.
Once all you had to do was to go to the Local Housing Department. It's not like that any more, for much Public Sector housing is being placed into the hands of one, or more, Housing Associations. Alternatively, they've handed control to an ALMO (Arm's Length Management Organisation).
Within these are key people responsible for defining exactly what they want from you. Some are specifying their new build requirements, others are still concerned with refurbishment, for, although organisations are now completing their upgrading programmes, they may have received such stock from another authority. At the same time maintenance work continues.
And you have to know where to find them. Many spend their days out, so you could waste much time trying to track them down. It may be better to mail them, follow up with a personal call and then send a sales person to discuss their needs and obtain approval. Whatever you do, more than ever you need to convince that your product meets their requirements.
And that's where the Windowbase Social Sector Housing Specifiers database comes in.
In July 2006 there are:
2000 entries of individuals in
976 organisations,
(676 Housing Associations,
300 Local Authorities & ALMOs)
responsible for some
5 million dwellings.
What do I need?
To sell effectively, you need a minimum of the organisation name and address, a contact name (even if it is not the right one for you, asking or mailing a known contact establishes your credibility), and a telephone number. An indication of how up to date the details are will help, so you get that too.
