Pros and Cons of NEXGEN Cabinet Doors in Uniboard Colours
Updated November 20, 2024
Should you sell NEXGEN cabinet doors in Uniboard colours? Read more to learn the pros and cons of NEXGEN doors, and why they matter.
To stay relevant in your market, you must constantly source and display new products – because if you don’t, your competitor will. However, you need to make informed decisions about new products. Are you considering NEXGEN cabinet doors? Are they a product your customers will buy? Will they stand up long-term, or are they low quality? Will the price put them out of your budget?
At Cutting Edge, we have worked with NEXGEN doors for over five years. We know this product inside and out, from the potential issues to the benefits.
In this article, we’ve gathered all that information. Keep reading to learn:
- Pros of NEXGEN cabinet doors in Uniboard colours
- Cons of NEXGEN doors in Uniboard colours
- Whether you should offer Uniboard NEXGEN doors to your customer
But first, here is a quick reminder of what NEXGEN doors are.
NEXGEN™ Cabinet Doors Are a Wrapped Product
Olon Industries Inc. developed the NEXGEN™ product and trademarked it in 2016. NEXGEN doors have an MDF core with a decorative TFL or polyester wrap.
Thanks to this construction method, NEXGEN cabinet doors mimic real wood doors at a lower cost.
Now, let’s dive into the pros and cons.
Pros of NEXGEN Cabinet Doors in Uniboard Colours
Uniboard has developed a range of decorative wraps for NEXGEN doors. Although the first two pros are due more to the work done by Olon Industries, the third is thanks to Uniboard alone.
1. Cost-Effective Alternative to Wood Cabinet Doors
NEXGEN cabinet doors have an MDF core. MDF is a cost-effective composite material made of compressed wood fibres – essentially, recycled wood. The MDF core allows NEXGEN doors to be stable while remaining affordable.
Although MDF is typically used under painted finishes, NEXGEN doors have a TFL or polyester wrap around the outside instead. This wrap eliminates the need to apply a finish, reducing the price tag.
NEXGEN doors are around half the cost of a wood cabinet door.
2. Durable and Stable
So the MDF core and TFL wrap keep the price tag down, but that’s not all. MDF is very stable. Unlike wood, it has little tendency to move (expand, contract, warp or twist) over time.
And the TFL wrap offers a host of benefits that set it apart from standard finishes.The wrap is heat- and scratch-resistant, making it perfect for high-wear environments.
In addition, the TFL wrap is fade-resistant. Unlike painted or stained finishes, which fade and change colour gradually, NEXGEN doors remain consistent. If you have to replace or add a cabinet door, you don’t need to worry about a colour difference – the new door will match the existing doors.
3. Textured and Patterned Wraps Mimic Wood
The Uniboard collection does an excellent job of imitating the appearance of wood. From the textures to the patterns, every detail is accurate. In fact, it is hard for experienced cabinet makers to tell the difference between a Uniboard door and a wood door until they get close enough to touch.
This attention to detail makes Uniboard NEXGEN doors an excellent option for those customers who want wood doors without the price tag.
In total, Uniboard has over 130 colours to choose from. However, we can’t produce NEXGEN doors in each of these options, which leads us to our first drawback.
Cons of NEXGEN Cabinet Doors in Uniboard Colours
There are three reasons you might choose an alternative product to Uniboard NEXGEN doors.
1. You Might Not Be Able to Order the Colour You Want
With over 130 colours available, Uniboard probably has the colour you need. However, our team can’t sell every single one of these colours due to our limited warehouse space.
You might wonder why we stock so few of these colours. Surely we could get around the limited warehouse space?
2. Minimum Order Quantities Prevent Our Team From Stocking New Colours
Olon Industries Inc. and Uniboard have minimum order quantities in place that make it difficult for us and our suppliers to stock each of their colours.
If our supplier stocks the colour you want, we may only have to purchase enough material for 55 cabinet doors, which isn’t far from the average kitchen size. If this occurs, our team will gladly assist you by bringing in the material you want.
However, our suppliers don’t stock all of Uniboard’s colours. If you or your customer selects a colour that our supplier doesn’t stock, our team would have to order in enough material for at least 300 cabinet doors. As you can imagine, this is a lot of material, which takes up a lot of space.
While our team will always work with you to ensure you can meet your commitments, we may have to suggest alternative options depending on the size of your order and our minimum order requirements.
3. High Demand Extends Material Lead Times
As NEXGEN doors increase in popularity, our supplier’s lead times stretch out. At times, it can take up to eight weeks to restock a product.
To limit the effects of this delay, our team stocks a minimum amount of each product and orders new stock well before we run out.
However, if you order a large order while we are waiting for a restocking shipment, we may have to delay your order while we wait for our shipment to arrive.
Our team will notify you if a delay occurs.
Should You Sell NEXGEN Cabinet Doors in Uniboard Colours?
Having said all that, you might still be unsure if Uniboard NEXGEN doors are the right product to put in your showroom and offer to your customers.
Do the cost savings and durability outweigh the risks of extended lead times and limited colour selection?
The final decision is yours.
However, our team has worked with NEXGEN doors for over five years, and we can confidently say that they are an excellent option for low-budget projects that require high-quality and durable doors, or for customers who want the look of wood without the expense.
How Cost-Effective Are NEXGEN Cabinet Doors?
To run a successful business, you need to understand the products you offer inside and out. Misunderstandings and mistakes cost you time, money, reputation, and customers – especially now that your customers can easily find other options online.
Now that Cutting Edge has given you the authority to decide whether NEXGEN doors are a good option to add to your product line, it’s time for you to take the next step – learn how much NEXGEN cabinet doors cost in Uniboard colours.
