PARTNER PROFILE


brand hand-sanitiser in small (handbag or glove-box size), half litres and five litre sizes and foggers, machines which are used in places like shops and aircraft to ‘fog’ an area with heavy-duty disinfectant that will kill all viruses including Covid-19, for up to seven days. “It’s just finding the opportunities and making the most of them,” Rees says. “The foggers came about via an online meeting of NBG’s North and Central CMT. Someone mentioned them and I hadn’t a clue what they were talking about, so I investigated and thought they were something that County could get involved with selling.” County stayed open right through the lockdown period last year. Rees says it wasn’t easy but they brought in all the safety precautions and furloughed those members of staff that had been asked to shield, all of whom are now back and working again. Not only is everyone back, but Rees says the company has even taken on more people since the start of Covid-19. “In addition to those who will be staffing the new branch, we have taken on 12 more people than we had at this time a year ago, because we were busy enough for it and there was opportunity to do so”. Increases in business have been across the board, Rees adds. “Showrooms have gone well, landscaping has flown out of the yards, paints have been difficult to get hold of but our paint sales have still been doing well. “I think some companies closed down fully at the start of lockdown and others placed huge restrictions on their customers about who could and couldn’t come into those branches that were open. So that opened up a big opportunity for others like us. Anyone who had a branch layout where they could manage the flow of traffic in and out whilst maintaining


the required social distancing did really well. Because the tradesmen were still working and needed to get their materials from somewhere. So naturally they went to those merchants who were remaining open.”


In the last couple of years, the company has opened five new branches: Cheltenham Two, Tetbury, Hereford, Tewskesbury Heating and Plumbing and a separate showroom in Evesham. “What’s next? We just keep looking out for opportunities. We do have very good people and we like to let them come to us with ideas,” says Rees.


Outside view “One thing that has happened recently is that our former accountant sold his business and has come on board as our non-executive director. He really has helped us on the non-sales and financial side of things, with


new systems and the sort of bigger picture housekeeping and forward planning that we never really had time to take a step back and look at because we were always so busy and expanding. He can take a look at the whole County business from an outside point of view and it’s been massively helpful and supportive.”


Help and support also comes from the National Buying Group of which Rees is a very proud board member. “With the current situation, communication has never been more important, but it’s also never been as good. I really believe that being an independent merchant out on your own now must be so tough. The benefits don’t just come from the buying, there’s all the help with paperwork, the red tape and the little things that you just need a quick steer on from someone who has more experience of it than you. I think it really does make us bond closer together.” Rees is keen to emphasise that NBG’s Central Team have been “amazing” all through this pandemic. “They have spent hours and hours sorting out rebates and administration and really taking the strain so that the rest of us can focus on our businesses. I speak to someone from one of our other Partner companies every day about one thing or another. We have Zoom chats and meetings practically every day. It’s all about being part of the team and playing your part. The deals, the commitment, the support that we get and give each other is amazing. And that goes for our Suppliers too, there’s a tremendous amount of support between both sides. “As an industry and as a buying group we have really pulled together. Not only is this getting us through, it is getting us through it in good shape as well.”


January 2021 17


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