MERCHANT FOCUS: BUILD DEPOT
Build Depot brand, we thought it would be nice and clean to bring that branding across the all of the branches. It tells you exactly what it does.”
The Build Depot brand was launched on December 8, with the official opening of the redeveloped Dunoon branch. The company invited key suppliers, customers, other local business owners, members of the community, and a local primary school performed the official opening, cutting the ribbon, bringing in their choir to sing Christmas carols. Rodger says that acquisitions have to work both ways, and that the company thinks very hard about potential targets. “Part of our philosophy with acquisitions is that it has to be a two-way street. We have to be able to bring some value to the transaction. “When we bought SLB, it was a well- respected, well-run merchant with a great pedigree. We knew that there would be things that they did, ways that they operated, that we would benefit from adopting across the rest of the company. And likewise, we
wouldn’t get involved in an acquisition if we didn’t believe we could bring something of value to it as well.
“For example, we’d been offering an e-commerce option for some time, but it was something that SLB didn’t do. So, our next work in progress will be a rebranded Build Depot website across all the branches which will have an e-commerce offering.”
Mixed offer
Build Depot employs around 50 people across the four trading branches, although the head office in Greenock is across two sites, as an adjacent three-acre site next to it was acquired in 2019, mainly as a store for heavyside materials. The operation is mixed across the sectors, from heavy building materials, through timber and joinery, to landscaping and roofing, as well as painting and decorating. There’s also a plumbing and heating offer at the Dunoon branch.
“A major benefit for customers is that they will be able to trade with any of our branches using one account now, whereas before they might have had to be customers of both M&J and SLB,” Rodger says.
“That will also allow us to service larger regional customers as well, who will have one point of contact and one account.”
January 2024
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
He adds that it will also give the company a neutral springboard to add further acquisitions should the opportunity arise. “We’ve had SLB for nearly four years and have incorporated the best of what they did into the rest of our offering. The same thing happened when we when we acquired GTI. The deal brought us phenomenal staff and great ways of doing things, that we’ve adopted across the business. So, I’m really keen on this idea that it’s not about us, it’s definitely about us and them together - a two-way street. When looking at a potential acquisition, if we don’t feel that we can bring a benefit to it, it’s not something we consider. Build Depot, therefore, is an opportunity for us to pull all the best bits together from the GTI, SLB and M&J businesses. Every company will bring something of benefit, so it’s right that they are all equal within in the rebrand by coming under the neutral banner.” Given the new structure there are some key positions that the company is looking to recruit in 2024, in particular, a finance director. Rodger adds: “Now that we are all under one entity, there will be real benefits from someone coming in with a remit to cover the whole thing, someone who can take a bigger picture view, and allow us to expand and grow appropriately and accordingly.” BMJ
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