NEWSROUND
Slow start to merchant sales revealed in Q1 BMBI
ARMD agrees anti-tool theft partnership with IBMG ARMD and the Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG) have entered a partnership that looks to protect more tradespeople from the effects of tool theft.
The partnership will bring
ARMD’s all-in-one smart van alarm, tracker and insurance package to IBMG’s builder customers, offering a solution that proactively prevents theft in the first place and gets them back on the tools should the worst happen. All of IBMG’s 100,000+ customers will benefit from exclusive discounts on the ARMD GUARD security alarm, its dedicated insurance and alarm/ insurance bundles.
Figures for the Q1 2023 published today (22 May 2023) in the BMF’s Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) reveal a slow start to sales through UK builders’ merchants during the first quarter of the year. Comparing the first three months of 2023 with the same quarter in 2022 shows total sales value down by -2.3% this year. Drilling down to price and volume a contrasting picture emerges, with prices up by +16.9%, while volume sales were down by -16.4.%. There was one more trading day in the period in Q1 2023. Adjusting the figures for this, shows like-for-like sales values were -3.8% lower than in Q1 2022.
Nine of the twelve categories saw sales values increase year on year, for the most part this was due to price inflation. The largest category, Heavy Building Materials was up +3.3%, and all Lightside categories had their best performing quarter on record. Renewables & Water Saving was up by +42.3%, Plumbing, Heating & Electrical increased by +12.8%, while Decorating (+13.9%), and Workwear & Safetywear (+14.9%) both saw double digit growth. Price growth was the key driver for most increases, with only Kitchens & Bathrooms (+8.6%) seeing the largest volume turnover on record.
BMF supports global green
initiative
MKM expands kitchen finance offering
MKM is continuing to rapidly expand its kitchen and bathroom finance offering, with 20 of its branches across the UK now offering flexible packages for its customers. MKM has recently launched the scheme at MKM Home in Hull, it’s retail showroom in the city, following on from 19 other branches nationwide. The success of the initial launch has prompted the roll-out to support more customers.
The Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) is supporting a global initiative, calling for a new approach to sustainability in the built environment. The BMF is supporting the launch of Our Shared Understanding: a circular economy in the built environment, which sets out why all sectors and disciplines must work together to enable a circular economy in the built environment.
John Newcomb, BMF CEO said: “The circular economy focuses on a ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ process, and Our Shared Understanding calls for collective action to put circular principles at the heart of how we design, manage, build and use our existing buildings and infrastructure.”
6
Dulux reports on decorators’ mental health
More than three quarters (78%) of painters and decorators think maintaining mental wellbeing is more of a challenge than before the pandemic, according to research from Dulux Decorator Centre’s ‘Together, we roll’ report. Guy Butterworth, managing
director, Dulux Decorator Centre, says: “We know that mental health is a major concern for those working in the industry and worryingly a high proportion of those affected do not feel able to access support. At Dulux Decorator Centre, we pride ourselves on being centred on our customers’ needs, taking the time to listen and learn about the issues impacting decorators in the current climate. We recognise the challenges facing many in the trade and we want to encourage more open conversations in the industry about how people are affected by their mental health.”
Russell to double Burton roof output
Russell Roof Tiles has announced £18.5m investment in expansion, doubling output at its Burton site. The expansion will help Russell Roof Tiles meet increasing demand for its products to meet the UK’s housing needs of 300k new homes every year. The project is a multi-national co-ordination of supply partners from Sweden, Denmark,
Germany and British suppliers and is funded by the business. The expansion will ultimately create approx. 25-30 skilled and semi-skilled jobs in engineering and maintenance. Construction will start towards the end of 2023 with the new facilities completed, and product output starting from mid July 2024. The current site will continue to manufacture whilst the major project takes place. This new investment will deliver more manufacturing lines and a new 1600 sq m building which will house a state-of-the-art curing chamber (only the second in the country) for the concrete tiles. To mark the announcement, Kate Kniveton Member of Parliament (MP) for Burton and Uttoxeter visited the Burton site with the firm’s Managing Director Andrew Hayward. She said: “It was great to be with Andrew and the team at Russell Roof Tiles in Burton. Russell Roof Tiles is a company which has made real progress over recent years, expanding and employing more and more people locally.”
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2023
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