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MAESTEG: Family firm converts old Boxing Gym into £150,000 showroom — and plans to create ten new jobs

A family business with 34 years of history in south Wales is making its biggest investment yet — transforming the old Boxing Gym on Maesteg high street into a 5,000 sq ft showroom, with plans to create up to ten new local jobs once it opens.

MPN Windows, Doors and Conservatories, run by Melanie Webster and her son Nathan, is spending nearly £150,000 on the renovation. The new space will allow customers to see and touch products in person — including composite doors and UPVC windows — and use CAD software to design and visualise their own projects before committing to an order.

The official launch is planned for the end of June. Melanie Webster said the showroom would be a boost to Maesteg’s high street at a time when private investment in the town centre is gathering pace. “The new showroom should be ready for an official launch at the end of June and will be a big boost to Maesteg’s bustling high street,” she said.

“We’re in the process of renovating the old Boxing Gym to create a modern and welcoming place for people to come in and chat with our experts about doors, windows, conservatories and, increasingly, our popular range of living spaces,” she added.

The MPN investment arrives as Maesteg is experiencing a broader regeneration moment. Maesteg Town Hall reopened in November 2024 after a multi-million pound redevelopment — one of the biggest investments in the town in decades. Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme has also recently awarded funding for a shopfront improvement scheme on Talbot Street.

A £41.8 million housing and retail development on the former Ewenny Road industrial estate — on the site of the former Revlon factory — is now under construction, with homes expected to begin being handed over by the end of 2026. Against that backdrop, a family business choosing to invest £150,000 in a high street showroom is exactly the kind of private confidence the town needs.

MPN currently employs ten people across its retail and installation teams, with the installation side completing more than 1,000 jobs every year. Once the showroom is trading and sales increase, the firm expects to launch a recruitment drive that could see the workforce double.

MPN say they are the only retailer in south-west Wales and along the M4 corridor with exclusive access to the ‘Forte’ composite door and ‘Extreme’ UPVC window ranges — product lines that offer more colours and styles than conventional collections, and which will form a central part of the new showroom’s offer.

Nathan Webster said the family approach was what made MPN stand out from larger competitors. “There’s a real personal approach that can only be generated by a family-run business. That’s what makes us so special and accounts for all the repeat business we’ve enjoyed over the last 34 years,” he said.

“In some instances we’ve had three generations use us,” he added — a claim that speaks to the loyalty the firm has built across the area over more than three decades.

The investment coincides with MPN joining the CO Retail Network — a group of around 30 independent home improvement retailers that pool resources on marketing, digital tools and product development. As part of the arrangement, MPN will receive a new website, branded brochures, and support with digital advertising designed to extend its reach beyond its traditional customer base.

Greg Kane, CEO of CO Manufacturing, said south-west Wales had been on the network’s radar for some time. “South West Wales was an area we’d looked at for a while, so to get a company with the local reputation of MPN is a big coup for the network,” he said.

“In Melanie and Nathan, we have two people who are hugely committed to delivering exceptional service to existing and new clients and share our values of always going beyond the norm to make sure the perfect install is completed,” he added.

For Nathan, the combination of the new showroom, the network membership and the exclusive product ranges represents a step change for a business that has built its reputation one installation at a time. “2026 is going to be a really big year for MPN and one where we build on over 34 years’ experience in the trade,” said Melanie.

“The relationship with CO Retail Network will help us extend our reach outside of our traditional customer base. We’re going to be receiving a brand-new, industry-leading website, custom-designed branded brochures and lots of support across digital marketing,” added Nathan.

The new showroom is expected to open at the end of June. Further information is available at mpnwindows.com.

PRICE SHOCK: Iran conflict to hit YOUR pockets! Window and door prices set to SOAR this summer

While petrol prices and energy bills have dominated the headlines, a hidden cost is quietly building in the supply chain, set to hit local pockets hard. This latest blow comes as families and businesses in our region are already grappling with rising costs, from Llanelli hauliers struggling with fuel prices to Carmarthenshire families facing a heating crisis.

Experts warn that uPVC windows and doors, a common choice for many, are made partly from petroleum-derived chemicals. With oil prices surging by over 40% since the conflict began, these costs are set to filter down to consumers.

Antony Heath, Development Director of Glevum Windows, revealed the grim forecast: “There’s a hidden consumer cost building quietly in the supply chain that hasn’t been picked up yet.”

He explained that a four-month lag means the full impact of rising oil prices on construction costs won’t be felt until summer, just as many families are looking to upgrade their homes.

This comes at a time when rising energy bills are making home upgrades, particularly to improve insulation, more urgent than ever.

Brent crude oil has been holding above $100 a barrel, a staggering 40% increase since the conflict erupted on February 28th. The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route, remains largely closed to commercial traffic.

According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, only 90 tankers have passed through the strait in the last 20 days, compared to a normal rate of around 120 vessels daily.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer admitted on Monday that reopening the strait is “not a simple task,” with the UK working with allies on a collective plan.

The government’s official economic forecaster, the OBR, has already warned that if oil and gas prices remain high, UK inflation could hit 3% by the end of the year – a full percentage point above the government’s target.

For a typical semi-detached home, a full uPVC window installation currently costs between £4,000 and £6,000. With oil prices having surged by over 50% in just three weeks, and the Strait of Hormuz effectively shut, homeowners could see these figures rise significantly before the end of summer.

This means that delaying those crucial home improvements could end up costing you hundreds, if not thousands, more.

The timing of these price rises is particularly sharp for homeowners with older glazing. Around 18% of a home’s heat is lost through windows, and upgrading to energy-efficient double glazing can save up to £395 a year on bills.

This comes as Cornwall Insight forecasts the energy price cap will rise to £1,827 in July, an 11% increase from the current April level of £1,641.

Antony Heath, Development Director of Gloucestershire-based Glevum Windows, reiterated the industry’s concerns:

“The connection between oil prices and window costs isn’t something most people think about, but nearly half the raw material in a uPVC frame comes from petroleum. What we’re seeing in global markets right now will feed through to quotes. Homeowners who are already thinking about new windows would be wise to move sooner rather than later.”

For homeowners across South Wales considering new windows or doors, industry experts offer crucial advice:

• Get quotes now, not later: With a four-month lag, current installer prices may not yet reflect the spike. Locking in a quote now could save hundreds.
• Prioritise the worst-performing rooms first: North-facing rooms and single-glazed frames lose the most heat and will offer the biggest return on investment.•Check your window rating: Windows are rated A++ to E for energy efficiency. Anything rated C or below may not meet current building regulations and is likely costing you more on bills.
• Don’t overlook doors: A poorly insulated front or back door can account for significant heat loss, and uPVC doors are subject to the same raw material pressures as windows.
• Ask about lead times: Fabricators are already reporting supply chain pressures. Even if prices hold short-term, delays in installation are increasingly likely.

Durakraft Extrusions Launches Pan-India Fabricator Network to Strengthen Nationwide Presence

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https://tycoonworld.in/durakraft-extrusions-launches-pan-india-fabricator-network-to-strengthen-nationwide-presence/

Why Raw Material Selection Defines the Life of uPVC Windows & Doors

#TycoonWorld #uPVC #uPVCWindows #uPVCDoors #Fenestration #BuildingMaterials #ConstructionIndustry #SustainableConstruction #GreenBuilding #ArchitectureDesign #ArchitectsOfIndia #RealEstateIndia #HomeImprovement #WindowSystems #DoorSystems #DurakraftExtrusions #EnergyEfficientHomes #RawMaterials #ManufacturingIndustry #QualityConstruction #IndianClimate

https://tycoonworld.in/why-raw-material-selection-defines-the-life-of-upvc-windows-doors/