MERCHANT FOCUS: ALSFORD
I’ve got to be honest, and it’s important to be able to reach out to someone with that expertise. That sort of thing is why you build relationships; our team compliments one another and the same is true when building relationships with customers. Sales are based on relationships, and that relationship only gets stronger and deeper if you are open and honest with people.”
From this foundation, Boafo was able to build his industry skills, taking advantage of the opportunities for further development that the company was able to offer. “I had the opportunity to do an apprenticeship in October 2024, which led to me becoming a chartered manager. I took a level five in operations management, completing the course in April. It was 18 months of hard work, ranging from how you manage your people, project management, how to negotiate, all sort of things like that. It opened my eyes to a lot of different things. It gives you a different perspective as to the way you think, the way you plan your day, and how you execute your tasks.
“Whatever opportunity that comes up to update and improve yourself, I think it is worth taking, because the world is changing very quickly, I always believe that when the opportunity comes to update yourself in your role, you should. This is not the end goal, and there’s always going to be an opportunity to move up. You never stop learning, and you never stop growing. If you are always willing to learn, you will always have the opportunity to push yourself.”
An ever-changing industry Having joined the builders merchant industry with a history in logistics and sales, Boafo was able to fill the gaps within his skillset as he worked, and now, as manager of the Mortlake branch, he continues to develop his skills and push himself further.
“I think to anyone that has a desire to enter this industry, I would say it’s a very good field because there is a variety of roles. Don’t be scared of the challenge ahead. Never think that you cannot do it. Use the opportunities that you have, and trust the people around you that will support you. I stepped into a business that made me feel welcome, and have had people around me that supported me, and there wasn’t a single time when I needed support that I didn’t get it. Stepping into a new role is always going to be daunting for anybody, regardless of how much you think you know, but don’t be scared by that. “I think over the three years I’ve been in the business, the building industry has changed. I think it’s become more difficult to drive
sales because it’s been impacted by economic factors within the country at the minute.” “For me, it’s about understanding the connections and the support that is there, and that there’s always room to progress.” “Once you join this industry, you realise that you have not just stepped into a dead-end job. There’s opportunity for development. There’s opportunity for growth. There’s opportunity for connections as well, you get to connect with so many different people, so many different suppliers, people with different ideas, so you learn a lot through your experiences as you work.
“For me, I feel that when you are outside looking in, you really do not understand it. You don’t see the support that is there, and you don’t get to understand the industry in its entirety until you are in it and you realise how broad the industry is, and how well connected the business is.” BMJ
December 2025
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