PHAM NEWS | NOVEMBER 2026 Merchant & Distributor News 17 Fundraising heroics


More than £100,000 has been donated by specialist merchant BSS after a series of fundraising events on behalf of Make-A-Wish UK, including car washes, race days, golf days, car boot sales and skydives. The charity exists to grant life-changing wishes to


critically ill children and their families when they need them most and £100,000 is enough to fund around 40 wishes. Wishes can range from meeting a favourite celebrity or visiting a dream destination to having a special day out or receiving a much-wanted gift. BSS MD Josie Crowe says: “Since selecting the


charity as our nominated good cause three years ago, our colleagues have thrown themselves headfirst into fundraising and it’s fantastic that we have been able to put a smile on so many faces.” Last year team members from BSS Scotland & North raised almost £2,000 by walking Hadrian’s Wall.


Four divisions under one new identity


Mark Vitow Ltd has launched Vitow Group, bringing together its distribution, manufacturing, partnerships and sourcing divisions under a unified identity that reflects the full breadth of the family-owned business. Supported by a new website, the launch is designed to provide a clearer platform for the trade to explore the company’s products and services. One of four specialist divisions, Mark Vitow


Distribution supplies more than 3,000 plumbing and heating merchants nationwide. Its portfolio combines established trade brands, exclusive partner ranges, and Vitow products, backed


by next-day delivery, flexible ordering and a nationwide sales team. Matthew Phillips, MD of Vitow Group, says:


“Vitow Group allows us to present a clearer vision for the future of the business while still maintaining the values, relationships and trusted Mark Vitow name at the centre of what we do. It’s not about changing who we are. It’s about better representing what the business has become. Bringing everything together under Vitow Group allows us to offer more choice, more innovation and broader support across the trade.” ◼ phamnews.co.uk/1126/25


Sales up, but volumes down


The latest Plumbing & Heating Merchant Index (PHMI) report shows like-for-like value sales for August 2026 increased by 1.8% compared to August last year (unadjusted to reflect number of trading days). Unadjusted volume sales dropped -5.4% year-on-year, while prices rose +7.6%.


Compared to July, August like-for-like value sales were 1.1%


higher. Like-for-like volume sales increased 1.6% month-on-month but prices decreased -0.5%. With three fewer trading days in August, unadjusted value sales were down -12.0%. Unadjusted volume sales fell -11.6% and prices decreased -0.5%. Mike Rigby, MD of MRA Research which produces the PHMI report, says: “The latest ONS construction data reveals that construction output has fallen for four consecutive months. While housebuilding is struggling, the UK economy is showing remarkable resilience. “The latest ONS figures suggest GDP increased +0.1% in August. Annually, the economy has grown 2.1% - its strongest rate since August 2022. The IMF’s latest forecast puts Britain’s growth equal second among the G7 group of advanced economies, after the US economy which is storming. Our national media and politicians are so used to talking Britain down that they’re surprised by such confidence in the UK.”


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