COMMENT
One big happy family
A
llow me to go back to basics here. What this industry does is build stuff. It builds buildings, it builds railways, it builds roads. It builds factories in which to make the things that builders use. It builds branches to sell the things that builders build with. It builds businesses.
What this particular sector of the industry does best though, is build relationships. Merchanting, and the wider building materials distribution supply chain, is all about the people. Companies who forget that, CEOs, finance directors, who forget that do so at their peril.
In the 30 years - yes, really. And no, I can’t quite believe it either - I’ve been doing this job, I’ve seen the sector face so many challenges. I joined BMJ in 1993, just as the industry was starting to recover from the aftermath of the early 1990s recession. Then 15 years later, we had the big one, the credit crunch and global financial crisis following the collapse of Lehmann Brothers. That’s when the taps were turned off on the housebuilding sector almost, it seemed, over night. That recession lasted for five quarters and was the deepest in the UK since the Second World War.
Then we had Brexit, Covid and Ukraine, the effects of all three are still with us, and will be for some time. The challenges faced have included shortages, delivery issues, raging inflation, labour shortages, transport issues, energy prices... I could go on.
Despite all this, when the challenges are laid down, the industry has risen to meet them, together. Our differences are forgotten, and whether we are merchants or manufacturers, distributors or support businesses, we come together as one.
CONTACTS Builders Merchants Journal
Datateam Business Media London Road Maidstone Kent ME15 8LY Tel: 01622 687031
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
EDITORIAL
Group Managing Editor: Fiona Russell Horne 01622 699101 07721 841382
frussell-horne@datateam.co.uk
Assistant editor Anjali Sooknanan 01622 699106
asooknanan@datateam.co.uk
What is it about this sector of the industry that means we build such great relationships? Is it because of what we do at heart? Maslow’s hierarchy of needs has shelter right in there. What this industry does is make and sell stuff that allows people to build homes. Homes that people are born, grow old in and die in. Homes that they bring their families up in.
Or is it that so much of the industry, even now, is family-owned and family-run? Or that that family ethos permeates the rest of the sector? Maybe it’s a combination of all of it and much more. Maybe we are just lucky to have found ourselves here.
I was reminded of this at an event this week. A reunion of past members of the BMF Young Merchants Group, it was everything that is right and proper about this sector. Friends, former colleagues, getting together to celebrate each other. This is the sort of sector that allows you to build lifelong friendships. So many of us wouldn’t be the people we are today, with the careers we have today, the roles we play today, without the support and fellowship of those we’ve met, worked with, worked for, drank with, danced with and tequila- slammed with (you know who you are) over the years.
And that, is why I love this industry. At the very heart of everything we do are the people, and the relationships we build with them. It will always be about people, coming together to work, rest and play.
What’s the collective noun for a bunch of merchants and suppliers? A family. BMJ
Fiona Russell-Horne Group Managing Editor - BMJ
“
One of the signs of passing youth is the birth of a sense of fellowship with other human beings as we take our place among them.
Virginia Woolf ”
CONTENTS 4 Newsround
The latest industry news from year-end results to new branches
8 News Extra
Reporting from the BMF’ latest regional meeting
10 People
Who’s moved where and a look at what Wavin are doing for women.
12 Business Helpdesk Looking at digitisation from the merchanting point of view.
14 Viewpoint
Thoughts and opinions from our industry commentators
19 Company Focus Grant opens up its new headquarters to BMJ
20 Sustainability The industry gets on with saving the planet one day at a time
24 Merchant Focus Fort, an independent builders merchant, shows its strengths
29 Painting and Decorating
Production Controller: Nic Mandeville
ADVERTISING
Group Sales Manager: Dawn Tucker 01622 699148 07934 731232
dtucker@datateam.co.uk
Publisher: Paul Ryder
pryder@datateam.co.uk CIRCULATION
ABC audited average circulation
July 2018-June 2019: 7,801 SUBSCRIPTIONS
UK 1 year: £97 UK, 2 years: £164 Outside UK: one year £113/$204; two years: £196/$353
Trends and developmentsin decorating products.
32 Doors & windows The security angle
34 BMF Industry Voice The latest news from the heart of the BMF
© Datateam Business Media Ltd 2023
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, electronic or mechanical including photo-copying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the prior written consent of the publisher. The title Builders Merchants Journal is registered at Stationers’ Hall. Suppliers have contributed towards production costs of some photographs in this issue.
36 Product News Stock to sell and latest developments
38 And Finally News and the BMJ prize crossword March 2023
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net 3
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