SEALANTS & ADHESIVES
SEALING THE DEAL FOR MERCHANT SALES
Merchants offering the right sealants, adhesives and fillers at the trade counter can see sales rise as BMJ finds out
W
hether it’s fitting a bathroom, finishing around work surfaces or guttering, or simply making good at the end of a job, the
number of applications for sealants, adhesives and fillers are vast. Coupled with a bit of knowledge at the trade counter, eye-catching point of sale and recognisable product branding, merchants can take real advantage of this opportunity.
That’s according to Scarlet McAleese-Banks, Marketing Director of HB42, who explains that the company’s HB42 range, for instance, was launched in 2013 to meet increased demand from builders, plumbers and decorators’ merchants to supply a high-end trade range of sealants with clear branding and sensible pricing that offered merchants good margins.
Sealant Technology
Repeat business is important for merchants, she explains, adding that, therefore, sealants and adhesives, especially those used by the trade in kitchens, bathrooms or wet rooms, must be of high quality. “Over the last few years, chemical technology in sealants and adhesives has changed to make them stronger and safer to use. Advanced hybrid polymer technology gives outstanding trade strength and adhesion. It also means that sealants can be used for many different applications.”
McAleese-Banks says that the HB42 Ultimate All-in-One, for instance can seal, stick and fill and is flexible up to 230%. It works in the wet, does not shrink and can be overpainted. It is also low in VOCs, is anti-fungal, bonds to almost anything, is food safe and fully cures within 24 hours. “It’s a product that does what it’s meant to do very well and consumer satisfaction means repeat custom for merchants,” she says.
Upsell
To complement a range of trusted sealants and adhesives brands at the trade counter, stocking wood and multi-purpose fillers, decorator’s caulk, wood glues and solvents means a merchant can cover nearly any job requirement their customers might have.
“As we have seen over the last 18 months, stock availability has been an issue for many manufacturers. We have moved quickly to widen our range especially where there is an opportunity to bring a product to market which fits the HB42 criteria for merchants,” McAleese- Banks says, adding that a perfect example would be the PS1 Primer Sealer Stain Block. “This combines professional performance together with our commitment to cost effectiveness and availability for the trade. It is suitable for interior surfaces and to ‘spot’ exterior surfaces. Providing a rapid matt finish that covers stains in one coat, it is ideal for use on all interior woodwork, plaster, glossy and hard to paint surfaces such as tiles, varnish, or gloss paints. Another advantage of PS1 is that it dries in 15 minutes and is ready for a recoat in 45 minutes. The primer sealer is white, can paint any surface and no sanding is required before you coat it with any paint. It can also be tinted, with universal tinters.”
Single use plastics
It’s estimated that over 2 million single use plastic cartridges are put into landfill every week in the UK. As attitudes to single use plastics continue to change, one of the ways that merchants can benefit is by introducing produicts in foils to their trade counters.
Several manufacturers, including HB42, 34
have responded to the need to reduce single use plastics, McAleese-Banks explains. “In 2019 we launched the best-selling HB42 All-in-One Sealant and Adhesive in 400ml Eco- Foils, removing the environmental problem of disposing of the plastic cartridges, normally associated with these types of products. In late 2021 we added more colour variants in Eco-Foils (Anthracite, Invisible and Grab) and we launched Silicone in White and Clear. As the trade begins to change and gradually demands a more sustainable approach to packaging, stocking Eco-Foils makes sense as they produce 95% less waste than the single use tubes but users also get 38% more sealant than in a standard cartridge”.
With merchant sales looking buoyant going into the first quarter of 2022 and the trade still extremely busy, McAleese-Banks says the company will be supporting merchants with a series of roadshows and breakfast mornings, getting back to live product demonstrations, giving hints and tips and practical information. “As a merchant you cannot go wrong with a good range of sealants and adhesives in stock,” she continues. “They are always a popular product range and give you a great opportunity to upsell to customers, as no matter what project tradespeople are working on, it is likely these products will always be needed on site.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net February 2022
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
