COMMENT
COMMENT
Reasons to be cheerful W
th the UK political landscape in turmoil, it’s time to turn our thoughts to something a bit more positive. I write this - as is the way of
Fiona Russell-Horne Editor-in-Chief - BMJ
“
Our doubts are traitors,
and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt.
William Shakespeare INFO PANEL
Builders Merchants Journal Datateam Business Media London Road
Maidstone Kent ME15 8LY Tel: 01622 687031
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net
EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief: Fiona Russell Horne 01622 699101
frussell-horne@datateam.co.uk
Assistant editor Elizabeth Jordan 01622 699186
ejordan@datateam.co.uk
Production Controller: Kirsty Hood
khood@datateam.co.uk 4
Publisher: Paul Ryder 01622 699105
pryder@datateam.co.uk
North & midlands sales: David Harman 01772 462596
david.harman@talktalk.net ”
traditional printed media - some days before it will hit readers’ desks. In fact, it’s the morning after Prime Minister Johnson prorogued Parliament in order to ensure that whatever deal or no-deal scenario he manages to extract from the EU come October 31, it isn’t hampered by the Jarndycean machinations of Remain-leaning Parliamentarians in the way Mrs May’s efforts were. At least, I think that’s why he’s done it. The alternative is that he’s let the power go to his tousled head already, in which case the mire we are in is way deeper than we think it is. The decision, it’s safe to say, has not been met with universal approval. Or indeed much approval at all. It has already cost him the estimable Ruth Davidson, and Justine Greening, and we may or may not be heading for a snap General Election. Because that worked out so well last time. Oh. I digress. Whatever happens on October 31st, the plain and simple fact is that the world will not cease turning. We still have to get up and go to work, making, distributing, selling and writing about building materials to the UK building industry. And we will have to do it to the best of our abilities.
Those abilities are really quite something and deserve celebrating. This month sees the annual BMF Members’ Conference and its Young Achiever Awards. Once again, I was lucky enough to be on the judging panel and felt privileged to be able to see the talent, drive and commitment shown by the entrants. All of them, not just the shortlisted finalists and the eventual winners. We all know how vital it is to bring new blood into this industry if it is to survive and thrive. If the talent evident in these entries is anything to go by, then the industry is on a good track.
However, it’s not just the new entrants that deserve celebrating. Without good solid, innovative businesses,
today’s Rising Stars have nowhere to rise to. Plus, of course, without well designed, well marketed innovative products, those businesses have nothing to sell. Which is why BMJ in our own BMJ Industry Awards, widens the criteria to include merchant businesses, marketing initiatives, customer service and suppliers, as well as the individual achievement honours.
The BMJ Industry Awards 2020 launches this month, building up to the gala presentation event in London next May. We are still relatively new at this, so we are adapting to what the market tells us it wants - new categories for this year include Trainee/ Apprentice of the Year and Online Business of the Year. The former complements our existing Rising Star categories, which are for those who have been in the business long enough to prove themselves as having what it takes to get to the top. Our new category recognises the need to champion those who are new to the business but who could very well become those Rising Stars in future, given the right encouragement and development.
Also new, the Online category will highlight those business that are using the internet and social media to add a new dimension to enhance, complement and develop their core businesses. New technology is here to stay; it will continue to change the way we do business and the way that merchant’s customers interact with them.
The last two years’ awards have shown us that there is a huge amount of innovation and talent across this industry. It deserves to be acknowledged and celebrated, by the people who know best - the merchants, manufacturers and customers working in the industry every day. Nominations for the BMJ Industry Awards 2020 open shortly so head on over to the awards website to see all the categories and start thinking about which businesses and people you think deserve to win an accolade. The decisions are yours.
ADVERTISING
Advertising Manager: Dawn Tucker 01622 699148
dtucker@datateam.co.uk
Senior Account Manager: Burim Osmani 01622 699174
mobile 07934865418
bosmani@datateam.co.uk
CIRCULATION
ABC audited average circulation July 2018-June 2019: 7,801
SUBSCRIPTIONS
UK one year: £97 UK, two years: £164 Outside UK: one year £113/$204; two years: £196/$353
© Datateam Business Media Ltd 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photo- copying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express 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.
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net September 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
