It all began one April evening in 1995, in the most unlikely of places—a bathtub.
I had spent years in the glass industry, working for Solaglas and then Hetley Glass, while my partner Claire was a trainer at TGI Fridays in Birmingham. We both dreamed of breaking free from our day jobs to start our own business but struggled to pinpoint exactly what that business should be. That night, as we tossed around ideas, I suggested something bold: a trade magazine, unique in its focus, created by the trade, for the trade. My background in the glass and fenestration industry gave us the foundation to make it work.
With a vision in mind, we took a leap of faith and borrowed £15,000 from the bank—a significant sum in those days. We invested £2,500 in a computer and another £2,500 in a Vauxhall Cavalier, ensuring we had enough left to live and enjoy life. Our backup plan was simple: if the business didn’t work, we’d sell the computer and car and return to our old jobs. But we were determined to make it succeed.
Claire left her job in April 1995 and began building a database, cold-calling 2,500 fenestration businesses. A few months later, I realised it was now or never. I gave my notice and joined her full-time. Claire set up appointments for me to meet potential customers, and in the first week she arranged 20 meetings. I closed every single one, giving us the confidence and funds to print our first issue of Vision Magazine. That first edition even turned a small profit, a promising sign in those early days.
We poured our hearts into the business, working 70 to 80 hours a week. We handled everything ourselves—design, editorial, and advert creation. When it came time to mail the magazines, we printed labels on a dot matrix printer and stuck them on by hand, a tedious task we endured for the first five years. It wasn’t glamorous, but those small efforts defined our determination to succeed. As the saying goes, “Small acorns turn into big oak trees,” and we held onto that belief.
Over the years, Vision grew, and so did our impact. We helped our advertisers expand their businesses while building a loyal team, despite the natural ebb and flow of staff. Our readers and advertisers, through their content and support, shaped Vision into what it is today. Now, we distribute over 8,000 print and 22,000 digital copies monthly, and maintain a strong presence of 10,000 followers on LinkedIn and Twitter. Responding to customer demand, we recently expanded our reach to include 10,000 builders, who are key users of doors, windows, soffits, fascias, cladding, and other products our industry manufactures. This move has driven more business to our advertisers.
Innovation has always been at our core. Fifteen years ago, we experimented with QR codes—long before they became mainstream. We were also early adopters of e-advertising, staying ahead of industry trends. Today, QR codes are in demand again, and we continue to evolve, always listening to our customers to deliver what they need, not just what we think they want.
Our journey hasn’t been easy, but the hard work, late nights, and countless labels have paid off. We’re proud to have built a business that supports and grows with our industry. To our readers, advertisers, and contributors—thank you for making Vision Magazine a success. Here’s to staying at the forefront and continuing to grow together.
Mark Stacey
