How to Choose the Best Shutter Manufacturer for Your Business

Having the right shutter manufacturer is a critical element for business success. This forms the backbone of what you, as a dealer, can offer your customers. It impacts the quality, the service, the customization options, after-sales care—virtually every aspect of what creates and enhances your industry reputation.  

Ultimately, any shutter company is only as good as its products. Breaking down what this means and how your chosen provider performs is something every outlet needs to regularly monitor.

6 Steps to Choosing a Florida Shutter Manufacturer (or any other location)

• 6 factors that make a great partnership
• Questions to ask a potential Florida shutter manufacturer

6 factors that make a great partnership

6 key elements that form the basis of a successful partnership:

1. Location: The convenience of local manufacturing can’t be over-stressed. Face-to-face communication, site visits, installation support, climate and environment knowledge… It also drives down the ultimate cost to the end user, reducing shipping costs, potential delays, and is a strategic investment into environmentally friendly production.
2. Manufacturing processes: Are the shutters and window dressings manufactured on-site or is there an element of third-party procurement? While the latter wouldn’t necessarily be a sticking point, it adds an extra layer into the mix that could potentially cause issues with timescales and quality control.
3. Material quality: While your dealership will naturally offer a selection of economy, mid, and top-end shutter options, it’s essential that each of these sits at the pinnacle of its range. Your manufacturer should utilize a range of materials suitable for every climate. Florida shutters, for example, require attributes that can withstand high levels of UV attack and, therefore, be produced from and/or use processes that ensure their longevity.
4. Customization choice and expertise: How flexible can the manufacturer be? The best craftspeople offer virtually limitless options for bespoke shutters. Shape, size, style, color, materials, and more, this is especially important to those whose customer demographic is the mid to high-quality level.
5. Commercial experience and turnaround times: Short lead times have a powerful influence on customer purchasing. Partnering with a Florida shutter manufacturer who has plenty of commercial experience and understands your business scope and size is vital. What are their typical turnaround times? Are deadlines consistently met? Do they have well-established supply chain relationships and what back-up do they have to support material shortages?
6. After-sales support and warranties: This should be robust, with dedicated pre-and post-installation support if necessary. What is the process if a product is faulty? It’s usual to expect that there should be a guaranteed commitment to expedited replacement if such an incident occurs.

Questions to ask a potential Florida shutter manufacturer

While the prime time to ask questions of a Florida shutter manufacturer is during the initial discussions, every dealer should review their manufacturer’s performance regularly—at the very least on an annual basis.

Their performance is key to your reputation. The following are examples of what to ask and ways to help determine that you will be/are working with the best supplier to service your business.

• What is the typical turnaround time and is this guaranteed?
• What range of materials do you work with and is there the option to procure additional types if needed?
• Are all shutters and window furniture manufactured in-house or is there an element of outsourcing?
• In the case of outsourcing, what processes are in place to ensure quality control and turnaround times?
• What are your in-house quality control processes?
• How extensive is your range of customization options? Do you offer one-off designs?
• What size commercial projects do you have experience working with? 
• Do you have the scope to expand and meet additional needs?

This list is by no means exhaustive but gives an idea of the range of questions to ask or review when considering who the best Florida shutter manufacturer for your business is.

RS Shutter Manufacturing is the Leading Trade Supplier of Florida Shutters 

Our commitment to bespoke manufacturing, impeccable quality, fast turnaround, and the ultimate all-round service is second to none. With an industry-leading reputation and cutting-edge, in-house manufacturing processes, our dynamic approach and flexible terms make us the number one choice for dealers in the Sunshine State and beyond.

Find out more at https://www.rsshuttermfg.com/ and call today to arrange a site visit and/or discuss your requirements.