What’s up? WhatsApp, that’s what!

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Charlene

Trellidor has a thriving digital media presence. We have a website, Facebook page, Twitter account, this blog and contribute helpful articles to loads of other websites. But even we were surprised by the ease of doing business that a client’s WhatsApp account provided.

Our Trellidor East London Franchise Owner Francois du Plessis told us of a recent installation where contact with their client was conducted entirely through the WhatsApp smart phone text messaging service!

He said that their customer had added Sales Manager Jarrid Moss’ cell phone number to her contacts list after coming across his business card. She contacted him via WhatsApp, saying she needed a quote on Trellidor Retractable for a door and Trellidor Fixed for her windows.

Jarrid went to the customer’s home to measure the door and windows while the customer was at work, and left a quote for her. Being a busy businesswoman, all their subsequent correspondence was also on WhatsApp.

Francois said that the customer faxed the signed quote through to their office and paid her deposit through internet transfer into their account. He wasn’t sure if they’d even get to meet her when they do the installation.

I know that we all complain about never being able to escape whining cellphones, the ever-present glow of computer screens and the demanding ‘ping’ of new mail in the in-box, but this story just goes to show that technology can be incredibly useful when we’re too busy to attend to important issues like safety at home.

Does technology work for you too? Share your story with us here.

Contributor: Lindy Barry

Quick home security audit checklist

Posted on May 7, 2012 by Charlene

Autumn has arrived in most parts of South Africa, and so has a slow-down in garden chores. Why not use the extra time to do a home security audit before the winter cold makes this task too unpleasant? Intruders don’t hibernate and will still be on the prowl, so make sure there are no gaps for them to utilize.

Here’s how:

Windows: are burglar guards showing signs of wear and tear e.g. fixed into rotting wooden window frames; rusting screws; or loose welded units? If they can’t be repaired, replace them.
Security gates: do they slide open and closed easily? They may need cleaning, as per your manufacturer’s instructions, but never spray anything into the keyhole and lock. Replace rusted gates with newer, more technologically advanced versions, especially if they’re in a high risk location.
Exploitable gaps: is every window and external door secured with a barrier? It’s no use selecting only a few to secure. Robbers will use any unsecured access point to get inside.
Key sense: check who has door and security gate keys, especially if you’ve moved into a previously occupied home. If you didn’t receive a full set of keys from the original owner, get the locks changed. Safely store security gate keys where thieves won’t find them easily, especially if they’ve gained entry elsewhere and now need to get out with your TV set.
Customised gate keys: Ask your security gate supplier for a randomly allocated key for the gate used most by employees and the family, so only one lock has to be replaced if the key is lost or stolen. The rest of the sliding security units can be keyed alike.

All Trellidor franchises offer free security assessments, so if you’re unsure of what to look for and want help, find a franchise closet to you on our website.

Contributor: Lindy Barry

Off the shelf DIY

Posted on April 30, 2012 by Charlene

DIY security? One of the questions Trellidor people get asked quite frequently is ‘why can’t I just give you the size of my door/window so that you can give me a price and I can install it myself, the good old DIY way?’

Well, it’s a bit like buying shoes on the internet – a hit and miss affair where you aren’t quite sure what you’re going to get and whether or not it will fit as snugly as it should. And unlike shoes, you can’t send it back for a refund.

You can buy security gates and burglar guards from DIY stores, and many people do. It’s absolutely fine to do this as long as you know exactly what you’re purchasing. A DIY product installed with normal household tools is unlikely to have the strength integrity of a custom-made equivalent, so it will just act as a warning sign to potential home-invaders.

To have any chance of warding off a serious attack it’s best to go for a security barrier that is purpose made for the opening instead of choosing a DIY option. The advantages are:

The barrier will be designed with your home’s unique risk profile in mind.
It will be custom-measured and manufactured for ‘best fit’ in the doorway or window space.
It will be fitted by a trained technician with customised tools that are unavailable to the general public and therefore difficult to remove by intruders.
The barrier will be fitted into the substrate around the opening with specialised screws, not just screwed into the wooden window frame where it is easily pushed out.
The barrier will be covered by the company’s warranties.
A reputable manufacturer will provide after-sales service on products they’ve manufactured and installed themselves.

For all these reasons, Trellidor franchises and head office don’t keep a stock-pile of ready-made security gates and burglar proofing. Every single barrier is specially designed and installed for your door or window, giving you the best chance of keeping those unwanted trespassers out.

Read more about how to choose security barriers for the long term here.

Or to see the Trellidor product range visit our website.

Image supplied by Ambro

Contributor: Lindy Barry

Trellidors protect two Middelburg women

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Charlene

Trellidor Middelburg sales manager Jeremy Montgomery sent us a newspaper cutting this week, which showed how important it is to have a ‘safe area’ to protect you in your home. This is a section of your home that is completely secure; a place where you can sleep easily at night or lock yourself into if intruders get in.

The newspaper article (Middelburg Observer, Friday 13 April) was about two women alone in their house when they heard intruders in the living area. Fortunately they had a security gate in their passage to protect them which the intruders were unable to break through, despite their best attempts.

The mother and daughter said they ‘owed their lives to Trellidor’. The security gate held so fast that the women’s rescuers (members of the Hendrina Radio Eienaars Forum) had to forcibly cut the gate open to let them out. Jeremy sent Trellidor Technician Bill Lambert out to temporarily repair the gate the next day and Trellidor Middelburg will soon be replacing it with a new one in the passage.

Some tips for safe areas to help protect you at night:

Fit reliable barriers on every single external door, window and in the passage.
Install a sliding burglar guard (i.e. one that can open) on at least one window to use as an escape route if necessary.
Lock your passage gate when you go to bed at night to protect you and avoid a nasty surprise.
Don’t leave security gate keys lying around where home invaders can find them.
Make sure you have a cell phone with you so that you can call for help if necessary.

Take a look at these suggestions for safe room doors and see which design you prefer:

: Trellidor Rollerstyle

: Trellidor Clear Guard

: Trellidor Retractable

Contributor: Lindy Barry

Images are subject to copyright. Should you wish to use any images please email enquires@trellidor.co.za

Trellidor staff become doctors for a day

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Charlene

Trellidor ‘doctors’ at Milpark Hospital

Trellidor's Karina Maule & Andries Mosupye

These two may look like doctors but they aren’t. They’re actually Trellidor Gauteng employees Karina Maule (Business Development Consultant) and Andries Mosupye (Installations Technician). Karina and Andries got to dress up like doctors for a day or two when they were working on an installation at Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg.

Trellidor for commerce too

Yes, Trellidor isn’t only for homes. We have a strong commercial presence too, and have developed products especially for these often more demanding circumstances. They’ve been fitted in shopping centres, sports stadiums, chemists and hospitals, to name a few locations.

Trellidor Rollerstyle to the rescue

Karina said she and Andries had quite an adventure measuring up for Trellidor Rollerstyle shutters at the hospital. “Our shutters had been specified by WBHO Construction for the hospital. One of the shutters was for the theatre area where R6 million worth of medications are kept. To go in we had to dress in full theatre garb, which was an interesting change from our usual work gear!”

She and Andries sorted out three Trellidor Rollerstyle roller shutters in total for the hospital, the other two destined for the doctors’ canteen area. Installation could only take place over weekends as, unsurprisingly, no drilling or mess of any kind is allowed when surgeries are taking place during the week.

They thoroughly enjoyed the experience. “We’ve installed Trellidor products in some interesting places in the course of our work, and this one was certainly out of the ordinary,” said Karina.

If you visit the applications section on our website you’ll see other commercial installations of Trellidor products, including shopfronts, pharmacies and access control.

Contributor: Lindy Barry

Stepping into paradise (with a little help from my friends)

Posted on April 13, 2012 by Charlene

A taste of my ideal lifestyle

Transformational writer Susan Kennedy aka ‘Sark’ once wrote that if you are dreaming of something you can’t have right now in its entirety, take small steps towards that goal. Or it might have been Julia Cameron who wrote ‘The Artist’s Way’ series.

Well, what I’d like is to be with the rest of you at the beach right now, reading one of the many books on my wish list. Unfortunately that’s not about to happen, so my ‘small step’ that has helped me enjoy a taste of my goal is this fantastic photograph, taken by my colleagues and friends.

: Not a bad lifestyle!

Picture this lifestyle…

Trellidor PR Consultant Charlene Erasmus and our professional photographer Patrick Royal were the lucky people that got to spend a whole glorious day photographing this spectacular home on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. It belongs to a Trellidor customer who very generously allowed us to take pictures of the Trellidor Rollerstyle aluminium shutters they’d had installed by our North Durban franchise, owned by Laird Anderson and his team.

The house has been beautifully designed with a large wrap-around veranda and the owners sometimes have hoards of people over for special celebrations. There is ample space, which is increased when they open up the veranda’s sliding doors off the lounge. If the weather turns nasty, they simply close the roller shutters and carry on partying.

Prevailing winds that blow in sand off the beach are also sorted – they close the shutters on the windy side, and enjoy the view from the open, sheltered part of the veranda. And when they have to leave the house, they simply close up all the shutters to completely secure the home against bad weather, the fading effects of the sun and theft (opportunistic or otherwise).

More lovely lifestyle patios to dream about

To see more lovely lifestyle patios to dream about, visit the Trellidor website.

Contributor: Lindy Barry

Images are subject to copyright. Should you wish to use any images please email enquires@trellidor.co.za

Wishing you safe Easter holidays, South Africa!

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Charlene

Plan for a safe holiday

Prepare for a safe holiday this Easter

I’ve had a look at the expanded weather forecast for the upcoming Easter long weekend, and it looks like it’s going to be a spectacular one countrywide. Many of us will be heading for the coast, some coastal-dwellers will be escaping to the mountains, and some of us will be relaxing at home. All of us will be hoping for a safe holiday this Easter.

Safe holiday tips

Whatever your plans, here are a few safe holiday tips that we mustn’t forget in our rush to get away from it all:

Suspend any regular deliveries such as newspapers if you’re going to be away from home.
Put on your landline answering machine so that unanswered phones don’t signal that you are away, not just out for a few hours.
I know you’ve heard it all before, but it can’t be said often enough: make sure every door and window is secured with a reliable barrier.
Clean up the outdoor area and lock away all tools, ladders, wheelie bins and anything else robbers could make use of.
Use a safe deposit box for small valuables such as jewellery – either at your bank or one of the private services.
Check that your alarm is working and connected to the armed response service.
Don’t forget to set the alarm when you leave the house.
Remember to follow the rules of the road so that you get to your destination safely.
Spare a thought for all the emergency personnel who will be on duty while we travel – let’s not make their jobs more difficult with selfish behaviour.

More safe holiday tips

For a more comprehensive list of things to check at home before going on holiday, visit our website.

And lastly, have a good , safe holiday break if you’re getting one, and for those who are not, just enjoy the peace and quiet of home and work while everyone else is away!

Contributor: Lindy Barry

SHOUT for a safer South Africa

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Charlene

At Trellidor we deal with the hard-edged aspect of physical security, so it’s really nice to be able to get involved in a completely different approach to staying safe in South Africa. We’ve joined in the Ledge drive (see blog 27 February 2012) and now we’re getting involved in the ‘SHOUT’ movement.

SHOUT for a safer South Africa was started by musician Danny K and kwaito star Kabelo Mabalane after the murder of music legend Lucky Dube. Their objective is to raise funds to support projects that help prevent crime in our country, and one of the ways they do that is to collaborate with top musicians to produce incredible songs for the public to buy. The first one was Tears for Fears’ ‘Shout’, which was a huge success.

Their new single is John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice” and I dare you to listen to it and not be moved! The video is a winner and they have an unbelievable line-up of singers and musicians from all genres, and a guest appearance by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Watch the Shout SA “You’re the Voice” Official Video

SHOUT has also launched a free Samsung app in association with Tracker with fantastic safety features such as a crime search and an SOS service for getting hold of an ambulance, the police or the fire department in an emergency. It can be downloaded to Android based devices from April. They say that other phone models and platforms will follow in the next few months – I hope the wait isn’t too long for Blackberry users like me as this is one app I really want!

For more on SHOUT visit their newly launched website.

And on the more conventional security side, take a look at some of Trellidor’s more contemporary security systems.

Contributor: Lindy Barry

Rugby coach chooses Trellidor for his family’s safety

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Charlene

This gorgeous picture is of the Coetzee family in front of their newly installed Trellidor Retractable security gate at the entrance to their home. Dad Allister is the well-known professional rugby coach for the Western Province Rugby Union and the Stormers Rugby Team but is also concerned about his family’s safety.

As rugby fans will know, Allister travels a lot with his team and so is away from home regularly. One of his main concerns while travelling is his family’s safety, and he has had Trellidor units installed at both his previous and current homes to put his mind at rest.

Also in the picture is Michael Gleeson (back) who owns the Trellidor Durbanville franchise that was responsible for the security barrier installations at both the family’s homes. “The idea in Allister’s new home was to create a safe area for his wife and daughters to retreat to at night. We’ve installed Trellidor security gates and burglar guards to all openings, including the front door, to improve his family’s safety.”

Michael values his relationship with the Coetzee’s, acknowledging that it’s really nice to have a long-standing connection with people that come back to you over the years. It’s an endorsement of both Michael’s commitment to family’s safety as well as his product range.

Click here for more on how to create a ‘safe area’

Or here to see photos of safe room products

Contributor: Lindy Barry

Holding hands across Africa

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Charlene

Trellidor International congregates in Durban

February was an historic month for Trellidor. It was the first time we held a conference especially for our distributors in Africa. Normally they join up with our local franchise conferences, which is great in terms of meeting people from all over our continent, but not ideal when the international contingent need lengthy discussions dedicated to trading quirks in their particular countries.

The international delegates with head office staff at the Trellidor Durban West showroom

Trellidor Durban on show

Trellidorians from Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Swaziland, Mocambique, and Mauritius joined us for three days of training, discussions and, of course, some fun! They loved Durban, its fabulous weather (the rains stayed away, thank heavens), and the gorgeous Moses Mabhida Stadium where some of the meetings were held.

Trellidor take time out at ten pin bowling

Time out at ten pin bowling, left to right: Paul van Blerk (Trellidor Commercial Manager), Simon Ramsey (Trellidor Zambia), Greg Roux (Trellidor International Executive), Jesse Rodrigues (Trellidor Kenya), and kneeling in front, George Chirombe (Trellidor Malawi).

We visited the Trellidor Durban West showroom, which is kitted out in Trellidor’s brand new showroom design (more on this in a later blog). Well done to Durban West’s owners Sumashan and Pragasen Govender, who hosted all of us with patience.

Trellidor sings for delegates

The highlight for many of us, though, was the enthusiastic Trellidor Production Choir. They welcomed the delegates to our factory in Phoenix with a song or two, including the SA national anthem and Shosholoza. Thanks to choir leader Cyril Ndu – we loved it!

Click here to watch the video clip of the choir in action

Trellidor Production Choir members giving the visitors a warm South African welcome

Contributor: Lindy Barry