RISING STARS MEET THE FUTURE!


Craig Merritt from Azpects tells Will McGill about the standout moments in his career and how “anyone can start out in the industry, at any age, and continue onwards and upwards.”


What is your current role? My current role is UK sales manager (North) but I am also responsible for sales in Scotland & NE and I also manage two other account managers on a daily basis, assisting and advising them in achieving sales and targets within their own regions.


How did you get into this particular industry?


Before joining Azpects I had a couple of jobs in various industries, whilst trying to find something that suited my personality. I then joined Wurth and found I liked the life out on the road and specifically dealing with builders and contractors. From there I ended up at Azpects dealing directly with landscapers, builders and contractors, as well as builders’ merchants.


What does a typical day for you at work look like?


Every day for me at the minute is different. Most of my time is spent visiting national and independent builders merchants to make sure stock is readily available for our end users, whilst using the time to build rapport with existing and potential new customers.


Then I have the other side of my role, where I spend a chunk of my time on calls to my team discussing their customers and what we as a team can do to help them.


What are your big challenges in this role?


I have only just started a new role so my biggest challenges are managing such a big area with my own responsibilities along with the added areas of my team. The vast land mass that I cover is incredible, and finding time can be a challenge. Also, being British I have to moan about the weather. It’s not been conducive to a great landscaping season for a while – especially up North.


What do you think has been your biggest achievement in your role? My biggest achievement in my role would be the growth I have managed to produce since starting with the company back in 2019.


The area was undoubtably packed with 12


potential but unfortunately, we hadn’t managed to tap into it. I have spent a lot of time building up rapport, which has helped put Azpects in a great position in Scotland. I believe I am very well-respected by branch managers and regional directors alike.


What would you like to achieve next in your career?


I am looking to build on the promotion I have recently been given, by helping my team and my merchant customers to grow their businesses, and ours at the same time, and have a successful 2024.


What advice would you give to someone new to this industry? Going by my own experiences I would say, dive right in. Get involved in everything you can possibly get involved in. There are ample opportunities to further your career in this industry. All you have to do, is take the opportunities when they present themselves, and have a positive attitude about everything.


What would you say to someone who might be thinking about a career or getting a job in the builders merchant sector?


Be open minded and receptive to no day being the same and go for it! It’s an industry which is constantly growing and moving with the times, so if you put your mind to it, it’s a job for life with some great opportunities to grow your career.


Why do you think young people and women are hesitant to go into the industry?


I think stereotypes still remain within this industry. This being that you have to be a middle-aged male to succeed. This is absolutely not the case. The industry welcomes everyone and there are so many career opportunities across a wide range of positions.


I’ve worked with and alongside many great young people and females. In fact, half of my employer’s staff are female. As I have said, anyone can start out in the industry at any age and continue onwards and upwards. BMJ


www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net June 2024


“Be open minded and receptive to no day being the same and go for it! It’s an industry which is constantly growing and moving with the times, so if you put your mind to it, it’s a job for life with some great opportunities to grow your career.”


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