112,000 new building trade businesses have
been set up since the start of the March 2020 lockdown
Record quarter for building material sales
The latest report from the BMF’s Builders Merchants Building Index (BMBI) confirms Q2 2021 as the best performing quarter on record, for sales through GB builders’ merchants. Total builders’ merchants sales in Q2 2021 increased by +96.0% over Q2 2020, reflecting the severe impact of the initial Covid lockdown, but were also up by +20.3% against Q2 2019. All categories sold more in Q2 2021 compared with the same period in both of last two years.
2021 quarter on quarter sales also showed significant growth. Sales in Q2 2021 were 24.1% higher than in Q1, with two less
trading days in Q2. Average sales a day in Q2 were 28.1% higher than in Q1. Two of the strongest performers in Q2 2021 were the weakest in Q2 2020; Tools increased by +151.4% and Kitchens & Bathrooms by +141.3%. In addition, four categories had their best-ever quarterly sales since the BMBI started in July 2014 – Timber & Joinery Products (+134.6%), Ironmongery (+105.9%), Heavy Building Materials (+81.4%) and Landscaping (+71.1%). Comparing Q2 2021 with the same quarter two years ago,sales increases were recorded in all
96% increase in building material
sales in Q2 2021 v Q2 2020
categories, with the largest product category, Heavy Building Materials, up by +11.8%. Other categories recorded smaller increases, including Plumbing Heating & Electrical (+3.2%), Decorating (+1.7%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (+1.5%). Ten of the 12 product categories sold more in Q2 than Q1, including Landscaping (+67.8%) Timber & Joinery Products (+29.3%), Heavy Building Materials (+20.5%), Decorating (+11%) and Kitchens & Bathrooms (+8.6%) amongst the others showing growth. Only Plumbing, Heating & Electrical (-3.5%) and Workwear & Safetywear (-11.4%) sold less. Emile van der Ryst, Senior Client Insight Manager – Trade at GfK said: “The second half of the year is difficult to predict but will be fascinating to track.”
Richard Burbidge increases stock for Scottish customers
Scottish customers of Richard Burbidge, the manufacturer and supplier of timber products can now buy the brand’s mouldings direct from the company’s Livingston office. Richard Burbidge now stocks 36 of its most popular moulding profiles at its Scottish Distribution Centre in Livingston West Lothian. The company has also revamped the outside of its Livingston
Brick prices to rise again
Further price rises are in the pipeline for the begining of next year, brick manufacturers have warned. Following earlier notifications of rises of up to 10% by Ibstock and Michelmersch, Wienerberger has announced an across the range rise of 10.3% on new orders and pre- orders to come into force after 1 January 2022.
Although it stated that this should cover the increased production and investment costs, the firm said it could not guarantee that this would be the last rise next year.
office as part of its growth and improvements in Scotland. Elliot Tait, Richard Burbidge’s head of sales for Scotland, said: “With increased demand in timber products, we want to help our customers in Scotland by making more of our range conveniently accessible by offering an improved service. We can also send mouldings out with our hardwood flooring deliveries,
which is more efficient. “Our best-selling, certified mouldings are in demand for a range of projects, from home renovations to new-builds. And when ordering these products, our Scottish clients can benefit from our reliable 1 to 2 day service, which saves them valuable time and allows them to offer their customers improved service.”
Haulage a priority for BMF
New data from the Builders Merchants Federation reveals the shortage of HGV drivers as the main challenge faced by its members, who are already performing a balancing act to keep the building materials supply chain running across the UK. A snap survey of members found 67% of merchant respondents and 86% of supplier respondents are affected by haulage issues, citing it as their number one concern. John Newcomb, BMF CEO said: “Haulage, and in particular the shortage of HGV drivers, has become our industry’s number one concern, and the results of our member survey have been fed into discussions between the transport industry and government. “Some suppliers are reporting that the standard five-day lead time has
more than doubled, in some cases is up to four weeks’. Some suppliers are asking merchants to collect orders instead. Driver recruitment is the main challenge. Both suppliers and merchants are prepared to recruit or retrain existing staff as drivers, but there are limited opportunities for training and testing. They want more testing to be made available to help get new HGV drivers on the road.”
September 2021
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
71% of builders are seeing
increased enquries for work, says the FMB.
SCOTTISH WATER APPOINTS JEWSON CIVILS FRAZER IN FOUR YEAR DEAL
Scottish Water has appointed Jewson Civils Frazer as its single supplier across its entire network including the supply and distribution of civils and utilities products to 41 Scottish Water satellite stores including island locations, 365 days a year. The four-year Framework Agreement, with the scope to extend for a further four years, also includes the supply of materials to all Scottish Water Alliance partners for SR21 Capital works programme and the DV2 Alliance partners delivering refurbishment, repair and replacement projects across the network. Nick Boyle, sales director, Jewson Civils Frazer says: “This is an enormous win for the Jewson Civils Frazer team and we are absolutely delighted to be working in partnership with Scottish Water”
JCB sells out until 2022
JCB said most of its products are now sold out until next year as demand hits historic highs. The machinery giant is
recruiting another 100 new welders for its Staffordshire factories in a bid to keep up with orders. So far this year JCB has recruited 1,350 new shop floor employees and handed permanent contracts to 1,000 agency employees.
The firm said “demand for JCB machines has reached historic highs with most products now sold out until next year”.
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