A Look Back: What the RLM Windows Showroom Looked Like Before Our 2016 Refurbishment
Every business has its “before and after” moments — those turning points that help define who you become. For us at RLM Windows, Doors and Conservatories Ltd, one of the biggest milestones in our journey was the complete refurbishment of our showroom in 2016.
In the photos below, our current showroom is unrecognisable in its former life. Before we took over the building it had previously been used as the main Post Office and Newsagents for the local area of Westmoor. Unfortunately like many Post Offices of its time, there was a huge decrease in demand and cuts by the Post Offices meant that these services were forced in to closing. The previous owners tried a entrepreneurial approach and in its last couple of years we believe that the building was used as a Post Office, Newsagents, Sunbed shop and Sandwich counter.
But before we took the building over it had stood empty for a couple of years and was in desperate need of modernization.
Today, we thought we’d take you on a little trip down memory lane and show what things were like before the makeover.
A Humble Beginning With a Lot of Heart
Before 2016, our original showroom was based just a couple of miles away on Barrington Business Park. This is still the home to our installation teams today.
The Westmoor showroom happened by mistake really. One Day my wife sent me to the shop for some Christmas dinner items and on my way I drove through Westmoor. The huge “To Let” sign as I drove along the road just stood out and a “light Bulb” moment happened. Could this work? Could this be our new showroom? Three Month later and we had the keys and started the refurbishment! I never moaned about going to get shopping again!
Think of it as the classic “small family business” space:
- Amazing Location,
- Premium Displays,
- A new and exciting opportunity,
- and a layout that had more heart than polish.
Bursting at the Seams
As our reputation grew, so did our product range. By the time 2015 rolled around, our original showroom was struggling to keep up with the number of customers coming through the door and the variety of windows, doors, and conservatories we wanted to display.
We wanted customers to be able to experience our products properly — open the doors, feel the locks, see the colours, and explore the possibilities for their homes. The old showroom just didn’t do the job right, the layout just didn’t allow that kind of hands-on, modern experience.
It became clear that we’d outgrown the space that had served us faithfully in the time we were there.
The Decision to Transform
By early 2016, Ricky made the decision that it was time for the showroom to evolve. He wanted a space that truly represented who RLM Windows had become:
- A family-run business with high standards
- A trusted name in home improvement
- A company that prides itself on quality, detail, and customer experience
The old showroom had been good to us — but it was time to bring the customer experience to the next level.
Looking Back With Pride
Although the showroom before 2016 was modest, it played a huge part in our journey. It was where we met some of our very first customers. It was where we earned trust, built relationships, and set the groundwork for the growth that followed.
When we look back at the original space, we don’t see “outdated.”
We see the beginning of something special.
We see the foundation of the showroom we have today — bright, modern, spacious, and designed to inspire.
The Transformation That Set the Tone for the Future
The 2016 refurbishment wasn’t just a makeover. It was a statement of who we were becoming and what our customers deserved. Since then, the showroom has continued to evolve, but that transformation marked the moment we stepped confidently into the next chapter of RLM’s story.
And it all started with a simple little showroom full of passion, potential, and promise.
The photos below show the Westmoor showroom prior to us refurbishing it. Please click here to see our latest showroom and view the latest 3D walk around tour.
