2.6% increase in total value sales in


April 2023, according to PHMI.


BMBI report finds sales down by 12.7%


Builders merchant value falls according to the latest Builders Merchant Building Index report. The report shows that sales are down by 9% in April compared to the previous year. However, the Renewables & Water category is the strongest performing margin with an increase in sales of 55.4% In total, sales were down 12.7% in April compared to March 2023. The worst performing categories in the report are Plumbing, Heating & Electrical -22.6% and Workwear


and Safetywear -26.7%. Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA


Research, said: “The latest BMBI figures, which show a significant decrease in value sales and an even sharper decline in volume, reflect the continuing national slowdown in housing activity, both newbuild and repair, maintain and improve. “Unfortunately, despite what is now widely recognised as a UK housing crisis, there is no quick fix. The UK requires a major step up in the numbers of homes being


IBMG takes on Kent Blaxill’s builders merchant operation


IBMG has taken over the Colchester and Bury St Edmunds builders merchant operations of Kent Blaxill from PaintWell, the owners of Kent Blaxill. It will now operate as Kent Blaxill Builders Merchants. Both PaintWell and IBMG are owned by Cairngorm Capital, the private equity firm. The acquisition takes IBMG into East Anglia for the first time. Branch director Mark Ward, will remain with the business,


working with Allun Pittingale, IBMG’s group managing director South East and IBMG’s leadership team to integrate the two businesses


Martin Stables CEO, IBMG said “Independent Builders Merchant Group is essentially carving out the builders merchant operations of the PaintWell-owed Kent Blaxill network. The acquisition makes perfect business sense for the builders merchanting side of Kent


Travis Perkins relocates to to Tame Retail and Trade Park


Travis Perkins has relocated from Tame Valley Industrial Estate to Tame Retail and Trade Park, which is half a mile away.


The new branch is set to open on July 24, it will be 1.8 acres and includes a 2,700 sq ft sales area. It also has a Travis Perkins Hire Centre where customers can hire tools and equipment.


“We’ve been serving the local community of tradespeople and builders in Tamworth since 2004 and we can’t wait to open our bigger and better relocated site to offer them an even greater service and range of products,” said


branch manager Chris Riley. The site will be a low-carbon branch and will boast full LED lighting, three electric charging points and electric forklift trucks, which will help deliver on Travis Perkins commitment of becoming a net-zero carbon producer. “We have a great team in place and are ready to serve as a one- stop shop for everyone’s building and construction needs. As well as the 25,000 products available in stock or to order online, we are pleased to be showcasing our new Benchmarx kitchen showroom as well as a landscaping and hire


July 2023 www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net


built each year, I think 400,000 a year, not the Government’s nominal target of 300,000 nor the far smaller numbers actually built and a massive upgrade in the energy efficiency of the housing


Blaxill who will benefit from our expertise in supplying the small and medium sized builder, backed by our best in class builders merchanting infrastructure and systems.


“For IBMG, the Colchester and Bury St Edmunds branches are highly complementary in terms of product offering and will merge seamlessly into our network of branches. It’s also very exciting to extend our presence in East Anglia with locations in Suffolk and Essex marking virgin geographical territory for the Builders Merchant arm of the Group.


stock. But we will likely have to wait on a new government, with a change in priorities, and an increase in housebuilding and installation capacity for this much needed growth.”


James Burrell celebrates York branch renovation


45% of homeowners are


planning home improvements.


33.8% of participants say


“price uncertainty” is their biggest concern.


Independent builders’ merchant, James Burrell is celebrating the completion of a major six-figure renovation at its branch located on Clifton Moor Industrial Estate in York.


range.”Other popular services available at the new site include an increased timber range, bulk insulation and plasterboard storage and an estimating service. In the trade, ‘time is money’ and so customers can choose to shop online, in branch or by using the new Travis Perkins app.


The branch, which opened in 1997, now has a brand-new trade counter area complete with high quality product displays, enabling the team to offer an even wider range of products onsite for tradespeople. To showcase the upgraded facilities, the company are inviting both new and existing customers to visit the branch to take advantage of the current voucher rewards scheme, product deals and prize draws with some amazing prizes including hotel stays, restaurant vouchers and gaming consoles.


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