While the wider marketplace has seen a noticeable slowdown over the past year, iHus—the specialist in garden annexe buildings—has stayed firmly on course, continuing to innovate, expand its offerings, and reinforce its status as a market leader.
“The climate has certainly presented challenges, particularly with the interest rate environment,” says Trevor Smeaton, CEO. “But rather than getting bogged down in the negatives, we’ve focused on what we excel at. We’ve seen a steady rise in the average value of our builds, and we’re taking on larger, more complex projects than ever before.”
This focused determination is paying off. Even in a cautious economic climate, iHus’s reputation for quality and reliability is driving momentum. “Since the start of the year, we’ve seen a positive shift in activity,” Trevor notes. “Our build schedule is looking strong over the coming months, and there are early signs that customer confidence is starting to return.”
One of iHus’s greatest strengths has been its strategic commitment to its core niche. While others might diversify in search of quick wins, iHus has doubled down on annexes—refining its expertise and standing out as the go-to name in the sector.
“We’ve stayed true to what we do best,” says Trevor. “Instead of branching out into areas like home offices, we’ve focused on enhancing the annexe experience for our customers. From evolving our website to launching a dedicated app for maintenance and upkeep, it’s all about delivering more value and providing continuous support.”
That laser focus is backed by ongoing product development. A luxury range is also in the pipeline, currently on pause while the market remains cautious—but the appetite for premium annexes is clearly there, and iHus is ready to respond when the timing is right.
As well as continually improving the quality of their range, iHus has been working hard to make progress on sustainability too, having last year gained the ISO 14001:2015 certification. This reflects the strides the company has made on operating more efficiently, particularly in terms of increased recycling and reducing wastage of materials during manufacturing.
“We already had many of these processes in place, so it was more a case of just tightening up in certain areas to achieve ISO 14001. This is supported by the training programmes we have in place for our employees and the toolbox talks we hold to maintain our strong approach to health and safety.”
Naturally, external challenges persist—particularly around planning, which remains unpredictable and inconsistent. “Planning continues to be one of the biggest hurdles,” adds Trevor. “The lack of consistency in response times across regions makes scheduling tough. Even relatively straightforward projects still face extensive regulations and compliance hurdles.”
But as it has proven time and again, iHus is more than up to the challenge. With a clear vision and strong foundations, the company is focused on continuous improvement and long-term growth.
“Our goals for the next 12 months are straightforward,” Trevor says. “Continue to grow our sales, enhance our product and service offering, and keep refining our customer experience. Most importantly, we want to stay consistent and resilient, no matter what the external environment throws our way.”
That steady, determined approach is clearly what sets iHus apart from the rest. With a robust infrastructure, deep expertise, and a proactive mindset, iHus is perfectly positioned to thrive—not just today, but as the market begins to recover, evolve and embrace the concept of multigenerational living.