PHAM NEWS | APRIL 2025 Merchant & Distributor News Winner gets NYC trip


Latest month vs last year:


Jan 2025 value sales up 0.7% on Jan 2024


Latest month vs previous month:


Jan 2025 value sales up 35% on Dec 2024


Latest 3 months vs last year:


Nov ‘24 - Jan ‘25 value sales down 2% on Nov 23 - Jan 24


Latest 12 months vs last year:


Feb ‘24 - Jan ‘25 value sales down 1.3% on Feb ‘23 -Jan ‘24


David Harley of Harley Heating in East Lothian, Scotland, has been selected as the winner of City Plumbing’s competition to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to New York. By spending over £500 (ex VAT) with City Plumbing in November or December 2024, rewards member David was placed into the draw for the luxury trip for two, which includes four nights accommodation in Manhattan, flights, a Broadway show, ice skating, a river cruise and a helicopter trip. The My City Plumbing Rewards programme offers members points for purchases, exclusive discounts and opportunities to win prizes. Members also benefit from promotions and the chance to win prizes through a monthly draw. To sign up for My City Plumbing Rewards, simply use the reader link below. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/425/17


Positive start as January sales rise


The latest figures from the Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) for January 2025 showed a positive trend for plumbing and heating merchants, with value sales up by 0.7% and volume sales up by 6.4% compared to the same month last year. Prices, however, fell by 5.3%. Compared to December, value sales rose significantly by 35%, and volume sales increased by 41.3%. Over the past three months, value sales were down 2% compared to last year, although volume sales grew by 3.8%. Mike Rigby, CEO of MRA Research, which produces


the report, says: “It was a more positive start to the new year for specialist plumbing and heating merchants compared to the same period last year. But the outcome for 2025 must hinge on the hard-to-read political landscape at home and abroad, and the impacts that policy changes and delays in implementation will have on the construction industry, economy and consumer confidence.


“UK construction and its supply chains have acquired resilience and got used to rolling with the punches after five years of considerable turbulence. Now, Plumbing and Heating Merchants can prepare for forecast opportunities to grow more steadily beginning in the second half of 2025.” January’s PHMI index was 110.6. With one extra trading day compared to the Index base period, the like-for-like value sales Index was 103.9. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/425/15


Expansion plans in city centres


Screwfix has revealed plans to expand its presence in the UK and Ireland by opening up to 35 new stores by January 2026, potentially creating over 400 local jobs. The store opening strategy is spearheaded by its recently launched new store format, Screwfix City. The retailer has already opened seven City stores, with plans for this to form the majority of new openings in 2025. Screwfix City stores are located in high footfall


areas, providing the essential products customers need to get their jobs done quickly. The new store format offers a range of more than 3,000 essential products via Click and Collect, with a further 48,000 available online for next day collection. Screwfix Sprint – the rapid delivery service that provides products on site or at home in 60 minutes or less – is also available from City stores. Screwfix has also been awarded the first ever Digital Excellence Award at the Retail Week Awards 2025. This recognition highlights the company’s commitment to digital innovation, seamless customer experiences and technological advancement in retail. ◼ phamnews.co.uk/425/16


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