The CLC has warned of price increases of between 3% and 8% in January 2025, driven by higher energy costs.


The Screwfix Foundation has raised £15 million and supported more than 1.5 million people since its inception.


Mira Showers wins patent infringement case 2024 Her Honour Judge Melissa


Shower manufacturer Kohler Mira has won a High Court ruling against the parent company of the Triton Showers brand, Norcros Group . The Court ruled that Triton infringed on the patent of Mira Showers’s dual outlet electric shower technology with its DuElec range of showers. The initial proceedings in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court were in December 2022, when Mira Showers claimed that Triton had infringed its patent. Triton denied infringement and counterclaimed for revocation of the patent.


On Monday 16th December


Clarke held Mira Showers’s patent to be valid and infringed. The judgment is subject to appeal. Kohler Mira managing director Emma Foster said: “One of our guiding principles is to live on the leading edge of design and innovation, and it is vital that this is backed with a strong commitment to fiercely protect our intellectual property”. Phil Viner, commercial director at Triton Showers, said: “Over the past 24 months, we have been defending a legal dispute concerning a component used in our DuElec® electric shower range. Despite our legal team


Dulux Decorator Centre joined the BMF as an affiliate member from the beginng of this year.


having confidently and vigorously defended Triton’s position in this matter, our robust challenge has unfortunately been unsuccessful. “We find the decision both surprising and disappointing and will be seeking permission from the Court to appeal the judgment early in the new year. As the court has not yet ruled on the consequences of its decision, we are able to continue to manufacture and sell the DuElec® shower range at least until that time. As the case is ongoing, our legal team will continue to handle this matter in accordance with the findings and instructions of the court.”


Joe Tipper completes Industry Panel at BMF All Industry Conference


Joe Tipper, director at independent West Midlands merchant Tippers, is the fourth


member of an Industry Panel at the BMF All Industry Conference 2025.


After leaving Warwick Business School, Tipper qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC before moving into the family


business in 2007. Since that time, he has worked alongside his brother Bill, father Andrew and sister Amy to develop the business. Tipper is passionate about supporting the company workforce and implementing the ‘Tippers’ Way’ - the core guiding principles that underpin the company’s success as a fifth generation independent business. Tipper will be joined on the


panel by John Carter of Stark Building Materials, Jennie Daly CBE of Taylor Wimpey and Neil Jefferson of the Home Builders Federation.


John Newcomb, BMF CEO said: “This year’s panel brings together leading figures from housebuilding and building materials. We are delighted that Joe has agreed to take part and provide an independent merchant’s view.”


New packaging for Global Stone for its Indian range


Porcelain and stone paving supplier Global Stone Paving has a new minimalist packaging solution for all its Indian porcelain ranges across both Global Stone and Digby Stone brands. The new packaging consists of plastic corners that are made from recycled plastic and that are fully recyclable. Each slab is printed with its product colour and batch number, making it clearly identifiable and much easier to trace. The improved pallet


design makes handling and transportation much easier for the distributor or merchant. Cardboard-less, the new packaging will remain intact during transportation and storage, a change which also solves the problem of trying to identify the contents of packaging that has got wet. The installer now will not have to clean the cardboard off the slabs before laying them


January 2025 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


– or dispose of the packaging – making their job quicker and cleaner.


Global Stone Paving managing director Nick Sharpe


says: “We wanted to make life a little easier for our distributors and merchants, so, as well as looking good, it makes our products so much easier to handle and trace, rather than when they are wrapped in torn, often soggy cardboard.”


Bence hosts local MP


The MP for Cheltenham, Max


Wilkinson MP, learned how the building materials’ supply chain is evolving to support


house-building and existing homes during a constituency visit to independent builders merchant George Bence & Sons.


The visit was arranged by the BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) as part of its industry and parliament programme. The aim is to show MPs the role, value and importance of merchants in delivering for their customers and communities.


Managing director Paul Bence, and commercial director Carlwyn Coombes, welcomed Wilkinson, and talked to him about how merchants and their SME customers have managed in recent times with higher prices and rising fuel, labour and other costs. Wilkinson said: “It is


heartening to see a local family- run business, that this summer marked its 170th anniversary, facing the future and keeping up-to-date with the needs of its trade customers and property owners. I was particularly concerned to hear about the pressures being faced by the business and the impact that is likely to have in the coming year. I share Paul’s concern about the increased cost burden being faced by small businesses – not least the increase in Employers’ National Insurance Contributions. That will certainly make the lives of many SMEs much more difficult, particularly after years of economic turbulence”.


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