IBC FOCUS: Interview
MERCHANT FOCUS: GRAHAM PLUMBERS’ MERCHANT
IBC BUYING GROUP CELEBRATES
15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
In February 2008 Vick Patel and Paul Read had an idea to create a new kind of buying group for independent builders’ merchants. One that went further than just the typical buying group model of great deals and promotions, and also offered business-critical ‘head office’ features that fully supported every facet of its members’ needs.
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BC Buying Group started in North London, supporting a small number of builders’ merchants, but rapidly began to grow as more and more merchants saw the benefits of joining the Group. Now, 15 years’ later, IBC Buying Group has become the largest member buying group for independent merchants in the UK, with more than 220 members trading from 340+ branches, and a collective buying power of over £600 million.
Commercial director, Paul Read, said: “We provide our members with access to leading Supplier Partners, and opportunities to connect, engage and grow with leading providers across all business critical services.
“It’s the way we combine these services, together with our spending power, experience and member support that ensures you have the best chance to unlock the true potential of your merchant business. That’s what sets us apart from the rest. That’s why, to our members, we’re more than a buying group – we’re a nationwide network of opportunities for suppliers and members to unlock.” Members of IBC Buying Group have access to industry leading products in a variety of categories from bricks, timber and cement to tools and ironmongery. IBC Buying Group carefully chooses its Supplier Partners to ensure the very best quality products, creating strategic partnerships that together can cater
Meet IBC’s new managing director
IBC Buying Group, the largest member buying group for independent merchants in the UK, has announced the appointment of Stuart Stockley as its new managing director.
Stockley joined the company on March 1, 2024, and has a distinguished 20-year career in the builders’ merchant, distribution and manufacturing sectors. He has held various senior positions across UK builders’ merchants and material suppliers, so he understands the challenges and opportunities that exist across the building materials sector.
Notable positions include five years as commercial director of CCF, part of the Travis Perkins Group, and Stockley was also head of sustainable products at Travis Perkins, as well as holding positions as managing director of Klöber Group and VEKA Recycling.
He said: “I’ve spent the last 20 years working with merchants in distribution and manufacturing, so I’ve got a pretty good appreciation of what our industry is about, and what makes it so great.
“I’m thrilled to have joined IBC Buying Group and I’m looking forward to working with the team as we build the Group for the future. It’s really important for me when we work with our Members and Supplier Partners that we have trust, honesty and integrity. And that we ensure we do everything that we say we’re going to.
“Anyone who has been in our industry in the past few years knows that resilience has become so
April 2024
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important. We’ve had inflation, we’ve had scarcity of product, we’ve had the challenges of COVID. We’ve had the skill shortage – you name it. We need to be resilient and work together.
“We’re looking to work with businesses and people we can create long-term partnerships with, and to create that classic triangle of empowerment and collaboration that ensures wins for our members as well as our suppliers. It’s all about connection and engagement, so that we can work together for the next 15 years.” IBC Buying Group CEO Vick Patel said: “Stuart is a forward-thinking business leader who is passionate about innovation and developing people, and we are delighted that he has joined IBC Buying Group as we celebrate our 15-year anniversary. We are looking forward to welcoming him and working together to grow and develop the business.”
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to all the needs of a busy builders’ merchant. As well as competitive pricing and exclusive deals, IBC Buying Group also offers a wide range of business-critical services in partnership with leading Service Providers, who can support merchants with a suite of features including HR, card payments, software solutions, health and safety, security and utilities deals.
CEO Vick Patel, said: “At IBC Buying Group our members are part of a family committed to achieving greatness and best practice within the merchant industry. We work tirelessly to ensure our Members, Supplier Partners and Service Providers not only survive, but thrive and excel in today’s competitive landscape.” BMJ
www.ibcbuyinggroup.com
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