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BMJ BUILDERS MERCHANTS JOURNAL WELCOME


NBG AS A brand was born fifteen years ago, when three independent merchant buying groups - Chandor, Prospero and Simba - decided, in the face of increasing competition from the large national chains, that their best chance of survival lay by coming together to offer suppliers a national buying group, offering commitment to deals across the entire country. The merchanting landscape has changed considerably in that time, but the independent sector is as strong as ever. NBG is about so much more than simply negotiating deals with suppliers on behalf of Partners. It works hard to make sure that the Partners and suppliers have the tools they need to work together efficiently and effectively to mutual business benefit. Once again, BMJ is delighted to be working with NBG on this special supplement that not only highlights the direction the organisation is taking in the future, but also looks at the work it is doing to support Partners and suppliers to build and strengthen their brands, on the grounds that strong brands build strong businesses.


Fiona Russell Horne Editor in Chief, Builders Merchants Journal Nick Oates, NBG Managing Director


Published by BUILDERS MERCHANTS JOURNAL, on behalf of NBG, the National Buying Group.


Datateam Business Media, London Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8LY Tel: 01622 687031


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief:


Fiona Russell-Horne 01622 699101 frussell-horne@datateam.co.uk Assistant Editor:


Elizabeth Jordan 01622 699186 ejordan@datateam.co.uk Art Editor: Steve Stanton Production Controller:


Kirsty Hood khood@datateam.co.uk ADVERTISING


Advertisment Manager: Dawn Tucker 01622 699148 dtucker@datateam.co.uk North & Midlands Sales: David Harman 01772 462596 david.harman@talktalk.net Southern account manager: Burim Osmani 01622 699174 osmani@datateam.co.uk Publisher: Paul Ryder, pryder@datateam.co.uk


CONTENTS


4 View from the Top NBG Managing Director Nick Oates looks at where NBG is and where it is going.


8 Buying Better to Build Business


An interview with NBG’s buyer Bob Davis.


9 View from the Board How three NBG Board members see the way the organisation is developing and what it means for their businesses.


10 Looking back Two former Board members were there at the beginning of NBG, 15 years ago.


11 Supplier Summit The Conference Supplier Summit looked at what the organisation is doing to help Suppliers and Partners work together better,


BMJ


more profitably, for the benefit of both sides. NBG Managing Director Nick Oates shares some insights from the organisation’s first Industry Barometer.


13 The Social Aspect Social Media is an incredible tool for promoting Partners’ businesses, if they only understood how powerful it is, and also how accessible it is, according to Expert Trades’ Adam Callow who has worked with NBG Partners on this very topic.


14 Brand Building by Being Basically Brilliant


Customer Service expert Linda Moir knows about the importance of getting the basics, not just right, but exceptional. She shared some of her expertise and experiences at the Supplier Summit.


15 Merchants of Change


NBG launched a new forum for Partners to help them futureproof their businesses.


16 Supplier of the Year Awards


NBG’s Partners voted for the top companies in each of the commodity areas as well as for the overall Account Manager of the Year and the Brand of the Year.


18 New Product and New App Showcase The One-Minute-Pitch: Suppliers’ newest products and Apps as demonstrated in a quick-fire presentation at the Conference.


22 Networking in action


One of the biggest benefits to NBG is the networking and relationship building opportunities.


© Datateam Business Media Ltd 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photo-copying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The title Builders Merchants Journal is registered at Stationers’ Hall.


January 2019 3


BUILDING A STRONG Brand requires commitment and focus from NBG itself as well as from our Partners and Suppliers. In the last year, NBG have been working on our strategy and as a result we have seen a strong purchase growth of


8.6% for the last 12 months. On top of that, we have added new Partners and our existing Partners have been expanding and developing their own businesses, moving into new areas and adding new branches. At NBG we manage our brand by adapting to the environment and, importantly, by facing change. We believe that in a fast moving market our status as independents means we are the best placed to meet the changes and the challenges the sector faces.


CONTENTS / WELCOME


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