Kellaway Building Supplies opened a new branch in Chippenham, Wiltshire on September 2.
Travis Perkins opens new branch in Kent
Builders merchant Travis Perkins has announced the opening of its latest new branch in Whitstable, Kent.
The new site, which also includes a Benchmarx branch relocating from Canterbury, highlights the merchants commitment to creating a “more capable destination” for its customers.
Matthew Flain, branch manager
Dulux Decorator Centre now delivers with e-cargo bikes
Burton unveils new look Leeds branch at Travis Perkins Whitstable,
said: “Whenever we open a new branch, we’re making a commitment to providing our customers with greater
accessibility to a wide range of tools and materials, ensuring they have everything they need to deliver their projects on time and to high standards.”
Burton has re-launched its Leeds branch following a significant investment; the branch is one of Burton’s largest depots, stretching over one acre. Martin Armour, commercial
director, said, ‘Our vision is to be a leading brand in the industry, and our investment into Leeds is a testament to that. The new brand is also a statement of where we are heading as a business. The refurbished branch will also house a training venue and stock
more product lines to facilitate increased demand, particularly for solar and flat-roof products. Burton operates 38 branches
across the UK, employs 450 people, and has a turnover of approximately £170 million.
NMBS launches affiliate member scheme
Building on the company’s Rapid delivery service, and taking customer feedback on board, Dulux Decorator Centre has introduced an e-cargo bike service at two stores in London. The new e-cargo bikes provide London-based customers with a fast and efficient option that promises to deliver within just 90 minutes. In partnership with Absolutely, a same day courier service, Dulux Decorator Centre’s new delivery service utilises e-cargo bikes to provide a practical solution for London- based professionals that are looking for speedy deliveries in a busy city hub.
As part of its bid to strengthen the independent builders’ merchant industry and its access to innovative products, NMBS is launching a new affiliate membership scheme. This category has been created to support businesses that don’t currently meet NMBS’s membership criteria but could do so over the next three years. Dean Hayward, head of sales & marketing of NMBS, said: “As we see consolidation in the market, we believe start-ups and entrepreneurial new entrants must be helped to grow and prosper to fill their places. Smaller independents are who we were set up to support, and they provide a vital resource into local markets. Through this new affiliate membership offering, NMBS will be able to support this development and continue the future success of independent merchant sector.”
NMBS will provide affiliate members with access to more than 400 suppliers and support. It will also help smaller independent businesses improve their digital efficiency and financial performance and ability to compete with larger merchants. Affiliate members will have many of the same financial rebate benefits as full members. NMBS members earned an average of 3.84% on turnover transacted via NMBS in 2023, so this could have a significant impact for smaller businesses going forward.
September 2024
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
Seven years and seven volumes: the Inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire which killed 72 people has finally been published.
General merchant sales fell by 5.8% in Q2 2024 compared with Q2 2023, the latest BMF Builders Merchants Building Index has found.
AG Building Products’ staff strike
According to the GMB union, more than 70% of the workforce at Acheson & Glover’s (AG) Toome site walked out for four days at the end of August. The dispute arose when
staff were offered a 2.5% pay increase for the 2024/2025 year, representing a real terms pay cut with retail price (RPI) inflation at 3.1% The striking workers are members of the GMB trades union.
A spokesperson for AG said: “AG Paving & Building Products is deeply saddened by the recent industrial action taken by a small portion of our operations staff at our Toome facility. Prioritising the wellbeing of our employees is a core value for us, and we are disappointed that negotiations did not yield a resolution before reaching this unfortunate point. “The striking employees
represent a small fraction of our dedicated workforce. Specifically, only 15 out of AG’s total 216 [group] employees signed up to support the strike action. However, we recognise and respect their voices and opinions. Our commitment to our staff is evident in the actions we have taken over our 64-year history. In the past three years alone, we have significantly enhanced our employee benefits package, including a 12.5% pay increase. This demonstrates our dedication to fair compensation even amidst a challenging period for the construction industry. “We believe in the power of constructive dialogue and have consistently sought to engage with all our staff and their representatives in good faith. Our goal has always been to reach mutually beneficial agreements that honour the contributions of our employees while ensuring the sustainability and success of our company. “We remain hopeful for a swift and amicable resolution and are dedicated to upholding the values that have always guided AG.”
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