INDUSTRY UPDATE THE IPG Supporting Independents
Reginox UK announces Jessica Hitch as new National Sales Manager
The IPG – The installer has changed
oday’s installer operates in a very different world to the one we knew 20 years ago and that shift is reshaping what tradespeople need from merchants and suppliers. As Lee Wilcox, CEO of On The Tools, puts it, behaviour, pressures and priorities have moved on. Social media has become a practical tool for research and decision making: an “amazing place” to search, compare and choose.
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And while the channels have changed, the structure of the market hasn’t. It’s still dominated by small teams and self-employed tradespeople - often juggling every part of the business, with tight margins and little room for error.
Members at the heart of The IPG
That’s why we invest in tools that help independents compete. At The IPG, members are at the heart of everything we do. Our buying group is their network, their community and their platform to thrive - helping them stay relevant, protect margin and win repeat custom.
Launched on 16 February: The IPG App
On 16 February 2026, we launched The IPG App, built to help members stay front of mind, drive repeat visits and build loyalty, with minimal day-to- day effort.
Practical benefits for members and suppliers The app uses a simple mechanic, customers scan in store to collect entries into monthly prize draws, launching with a holiday giveaway. Customers can scan up to three times a day, turning everyday visits into a reason to return more often and to choose a member of The IPG over the competition. It also helps members stay connected with their customers between visits. Members can send tailored offers straight to customers’ phones, promote clearance and best offers, spotlight priority categories and drive attendance at in-store events.
For our suppliers, it creates a new way to engage active tradespeople through independent member stores, improving visibility and sharpening promotions at the exact moment purchasing decisions are being made. In short, the installer has changed and we’re changing with them.
Nike Lovell, Marketing Director, The IPG.
www.the-ipg.co.uk
itchen sinks and taps specialist, Reginox UK has announced Jessica Hitch as its new National Sales Manager. Jessica joins the business from luxury tile and home interiors brand Fired Earth, where she headed up specification sales for commercial and residential projects for 12 years.
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Based in the Netherlands with a UK headquarters in Cheshire, Reginox is acclaimed for the style and innovation of its wide-ranging array of stainless steel, composite and ceramic sinks, as well as conventional, filtered and boiling water taps.
Hampshire-based Jessica, who will also serve as Area Sales Manager for the south east and London, steps into a role held by Rebekah Tomkinson, who has left Reginox after 12 years to pursue a long-held ambition to work in education.
Dave Mayer, Reginox UK Commercial Director, says: “Jessica comes to us highly recommended and I’m delighted to welcome her to the team as we wish Rebekah good luck in her new career.
“Jessica’s experience in specification sales, and contract and project management, will be invaluable as we continue to build on the excellent work we’ve done in this sector, particularly over the past 10 years.” Before joining Fired Earth, Jessica worked in retail sales for a Chelsea- based interiors company and for range cooker specialist Aga before that. She says: “I did a lot of specification work in my previous role, so it’s really interesting to be able to use that side of my experience as well as growing a new sales area.
“This is a very busy sector – really dynamic and exciting with plenty of opportunities for growth. My first priorities are making sure the sales team are supported and settled in their roles and reaching out to all our key clients and my customers.”
Reginox has full UK and Irish representation and a customer base that covers the retail, merchant, kitchen manufacturer, distribution and house builder sectors.
Its success is built on strong commercial management, the parent company’s commitment to ongoing investment in advanced manufacturing techniques and a willingness to be flexible in meeting customers’ needs.
www.reginox.co.uk BKU MARCH 2026 49
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