HEAVYSIDE
in the UK to adopt completely automated payment methods in October 2023, and the concept was launched into Ireland in November 2023. Earlier this year, the company made serious strides when it was taken on by LBS Builders Merchant, for its Ammanford branch in South Wales.
Atkinson says: “Environmentally we can’t do very much about the carbon footprint and CO2 impact of cement though hopefully one day we will be able to. In the meantime, what we can do is something about waste cement,
and we can do something about transport mileage. If you think about the model, if you have someone collecting half a cube when they collect it, they get exactly the right amount of cement they need, they don’t end up buying two bags and sticking one in a skip. It also reduces the need for so many vehicles going around. The customers are going to the builders’ merchant anyway, why not let them get as much of their requirements in one journey? So if we put these drive-through click-&-collect machines in the merchant yard where the builders and landscapers or whoever are going to be there anyway, it saves waste and it saves on another journey.” Among recent innovations was the development of the bulk bag unloading system, designed for merchants who do not have loose bays. Another important addition has been the inliner solution which allows merchants to broaden their fibo Collect service range by selling loose aggregates through the same touch screen terminal.
Atkinson says that, despite some initial concerns regarding the potential loss of raw
material sales, feedback from the longest participating merchants shows that the new business volume generated through the fibo Collect machine significantly outweighs any drawbacks. “The implementation of fibo Collect not only streamlines the purchasing process but also strategically enhances profitability through a tailored pricing strategy. By using price quantity breaks, builders’ merchants are now able to secure higher sales margins on smaller collect quantities, while providing competitive pricing for larger volume purchases. This dual approach caters adeptly to diverse customer needs, reinforcing the value proposition of the service.” He adds that the company isn’t looking to blanket the market with machines either. There will be a degree of regional exclusivity in order to protect the merchant’s investment. “With fibo Collect in Europe, we will protect your investment by committing to not selling another installation within a radius of 10 km, which based on experience and research, is the territory an operator needs to successfully supply their market.
“It is crucial to recognize that the fibo Collect service is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Each business case varies significantly, reflecting the unique dynamics of the local market and specific on-site requirements. “Despite these variances, an evaluation of fibo Collect’s return on investment (ROI) highlights promising figures for most merchants, this is also including an average margin per recipe ranging between 40% to 60% and an expected payback period of under three years.”
He adds: “The service thus not only enhances operational efficiency but also opens new revenue streams for builders’ merchants, fostering stronger customer retention rates and also positioning them favourably in their local market. “ BMJ
Long Rake Spar qp BMJ
Apr24.indd 1 April 2024
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
27/3/24 11:48 39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88
