BUILDERS MERCHANTS: A-Z COVERS • EH SMITH • ELLIOTTS Covers
COVERS THE NUMBERS
2022 Turnover £m Gross profit £m
Operating profit £k Net profit £k Staff
THE RATIOS 2022 Stockturn Gross margin %
Operating margin % Net margin % Sales/head £k Profit/head £
Return on capital % BMJ INDEX
5.8
31.7 5.0 5.7
234
11,768 11.2
2023 5.8
32.8 3.2 2.8 212
6,726 5.2
2024 5.8
32.1 -4.5 -4.3 204 nil
-9.1 (49)
95.6 30.3
4,813 5,402 409
2023
92.3 30.3
2,926 2,543 435
2024
94.1 30.2
(4,272) (4,052) 460
COVERS % CHANGE
2023 (3) (0)
(39) (53) 6
% CHANGE
2023 0 3
(37) (51) (9)
(43) (54)
2024 0
(2)
n/a n/a (4)
n/a n/a
2024 2
(0)
n/a n/a 6
Sussex House, Quarry Lane Tel: 01243785141
www.coversmerchants.co.uk
Branches: 17 Showrooms: 4 Employees: 437
Chairman: Rupert Green Managing Director: Henry Green Directors: James Bowry, Sean Clarke, Roger Lewis, Chris Trickett, Phil Walford, Steve Weston & Neil Woods
Approximate turnover for 2025: £93.2m Buying Group: Fortis
BMF Member: Yes Financial year end: December 31 2024
Covers has supplied a diverse range of timber and building materials to customers for over 175 years. It has 15 branch locations spread across the South of England, stretcing from Willingham Timber in Canterbury to Bexleyheath in South London, and Southampton and Gosport in Hampshire.
The company imports timber directly from the source and has timber mills equipped to produce joinery and mouldings. Stress grading, house lot packages and preservative treatments are also availible in-house.
EH Smith
EH SMITH THE NUMBERS
22/23 Turnover £m Gross profit £m
Operating profit £k Net profit £k Staff
THE RATIOS 22/23 Stockturn Gross margin %
Operating margin % Net margin % Sales/head £k Profit/head £
Return on capital % BMJ INDEX
Elliotts
ELLIOTTS THE NUMBERS
2022 Turnover £m Gross profit £m
Operating profit £k Net profit £k Staff
THE RATIOS 2022 Stockturn Gross margin %
Operating margin % Net margin % Sales/head £k Profit/head £
Return on capital % BMJ INDEX
5.2
17.0 3.8 3.6
290
10,988 10.8
2023 5.5
16.5 3.3 2.8 281
9,387 7.8
2024 6.0
16.5 2.3 1.8
287
6,460 4.8 19
93.8 16.0
3,560 3,358 324
2023
91.6 15.1
3,060 2,557 326
2024
92.9 15.3
2,093 1,636 324
ELLIOTTS % CHANGE
2023 (2) (5)
(14) (24) 1
% CHANGE
2023 7
(3)
(12) (22) (3)
(15) (28)
2024 8
(0)
(33) (37) 2
(31) (38)
2024 1 1
(32) (36) (1)
Millbank Wharf, Northam Southampton, SO14 5AG Tel: 023 8038 5300
www.elliotts.uk
Subsidiadry: Elliotts Premier Roofing Branches: 14
Branches added/closed: 1 Showrooms: 4 Employees: 300
Managing Director: Tom Elliott Operations Director: Steven Webber Business Development Director: Ian Goodenough Commercial Director: Matthew Allcock Chief Operating Officer: Paul Chadwick, Directors: Stuart Mason-Elliott Lauren Haines, Carl Battle
Buying Group: Fortis BMF Member: Yes Financial year end:
18
Elliotts, a family owned builders merchant, was founded in 1842, and is currently managed by sixth generation custodian, Tom Elliott. In 2025, Elliotts acquired New Forest Hire. The Totton-based tool and plant hire company now allows the merchant to provide its customers with the ability to hire a wider range of tools and plant equipment.
Elliott said: “Our long-term aim is for Elliotts to become a complete ‘one-stop shop’, and acquiring New Forest Hire marks a significant step in expanding our product offering.”
7.7
23.7 3.1 3.4 379
11,608 11.9
23/24 6.9
24.1 0.7 1.3
338
2,205 4.0
24/25 8.2
22.2 1.4 1.9
398
5,540 6.4
145
167.2 39.7 5,119 5,614 441
23/24
147.2 35.5 959
1,883 435
24/25
165.9 36.9 2,310 3,164 417
% CHANGE
23/24 (12) (11) (81) (66) (1)
23/24 (10) 2
(79) (62) (11) (81) (67)
24/25 13 4
141 68 (4)
% CHANGE
24/25 19
(8) 114 49 18
151 61
EH SMITH
Westhaven House, Arleston Way Solihull, B90 4LH Tel: 0121 713 7100
www.ehsmith.co.uk
Branches: 11 Showrooms: 3 Employees: 450
Chairman: John Parker Managing Director: Mark Setchell Directors: John Cave, Mark Mallinder, Sean Furlong, Darren Moles, Jamie Airey, Ian Grainger, Andy Wilford, James Cave
Approximate turnover for 2025:£167m Buying Group: Fortis BMF Member: Yes
Financial year end: June 30 2025
In 2026, EH Smith announced a series of succession planning- based leadership appointments at Group holdings level, aimed at strengthening its long-term future.
John Cave has been appointed Group Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mallinder becomes Group Development Director, Chloe Cave is Group People and Culture Director, and Mark Leinster becomes Group Property Director. Mark Setchell continues as managing director of the builders merchants, and John Parker remains Group Chairman.
TRAILBLAZERS
A supplement to builders merchants journal April 2026
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