RAINWATER MANAGEMENT
Make the most of quiet times When trading slows unexpectedly, it can feel frustrating. But it can also be useful. Spokes says that during the quieter spells, the merchant teams picked up the phone to customers, checked in on ongoing jobs, and made sure that their trade customers had what they needed for any emergency work. Some branches brought forward training or tidied up their internal processes.
“Those conversations matter. When customers are dealing with damaged sites or urgent repairs, they remember who was helpful and proactive.
“If past experience is anything to go by, the real impact of a storm isn’t just what happens during it, it’s what follows,” he adds. “We’re already seeing a steady increase in roofing tenders and remedial enquiries. Typically, after severe weather you’ll see sustained demand across pitched and flat roofing systems, roofline products, tool hire, fencing and sheet materials.
“For merchants, the challenge is timing. If you wait until demand spikes, you’re already behind. As soon as the weather warnings are issued, it’s worth reviewing your stock positions in key external categories. Preparation does not eliminate disruption, but it certainly reduces the scramble.
“One of the positives in difficult periods like this is seeing how lour ocal branches step up.
“Across our network, teams supplied sandbags and emergency materials, supported local councils and community groups, and extended collections where it was safe to do so.
“That’s the role independent merchants have always played. We’re not just distribution points; we’re part of the local infrastructure. When extreme weather hits, customers and communities rely on us to be practical and responsive.
“If there’s a bigger takeaway,” Spokes concludes, “it’s that big climate events such as Storm Chandra are becoming more frequent. As a sector, we need to treat resilience as part of normal trading, not an exception. “For us at IBMG, the storm tested our operations. However, it also highlighted the strength of our branch network and of our people. Sales dipped in the short term, as might be expected. But the response from our branch teams, the shift in demand and the early signs of recovery all point to the adaptability that independent merchants are known for.
“Storms like this will come and go. How we prepare, respond and support our customers during them, that is what sets us apart.” BMJ
A Few Practical Lessons
Spokes highlights the key things to remember when dealing with extreme weather:
• Put safety first. • Encourage customers to delay non-essential work. Long-term relationships matter more than a day’s sales.
• Communicate clearly. • Be honest about what you can and can’t deliver. It saves frustration later.
• Stay flexible. • Rigid delivery schedules don’t survive extreme weather. Strong supplier relationships and adaptable logistics do.
• Trust your branch teams. • Local knowledge is invaluable when conditions change by the hour.
• Plan for what comes next. • The recovery phase often arrives quickly, particularly in roofing.
April 2026
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
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
