Professional Builders Merchant

David Henderson OBE, owner and Managing Director of Tobermore, speaks to PBM about his career and business. He comments: “Tobermore has evolved from a general concrete company in the 1980s to be a specialist paving supplier with a comprehensive range of world class products. Our market share of the block and slab paving market rose very strongly in Ireland and at our peak in 1998 we had approximately £40m of sales and a market share approaching 60%.

Peter Thompson, General Manager UK of ISO-Chemie, is optimistic that the foam sealants market in 2013 will remain stable in the face of low expectations for growth.

Selecting woodcare products can be a complex process for trade professionals, with a wide range of solutions on offer and numerous decisions to make. What’s more, while merchants aim to support their customers in making the best choices, the category can often prove difficult for them as well. The ability to provide informed advice will help to increase customer satisfaction and drive repeat custom and with this in mind, Richard Bradley answers some of the commonly asked questions regarding woodcare solutions.

Founded in 1925 and situated in the heart of the Cotswolds, Northcot Brick is one of the UK’s last remaining independent brick manufacturers. The company uses the traditional skills of master brickmakers to produce a wide range of wirecut facing bricks, bench-moulded handmade bricks, reclaim bricks and ‘specials’ with much sought after aesthetic qualities.
Boasting considerable expertise in matching bricks from many areas of the UK and still family-owned, Northcot is passionate about manufacturing bricks ‘with character’ and providing an individual service to all its merchants and stockists.
PBM meets the company’s Managing Director, Michael Brown.

December is always a perfect time of year for a period of reflection; a chance to pause, to take stock and consider what needs to be done next. This ‘back to the future’ ethos is reflected by a number of campaigns, initiatives, surveys and reports we have seen lately which are — ultimately — all urging homeowners to give their properties the once over and consider what improvements can be made.

Brian Andreas, Sustainability leader for Saint-Gobain in the UK and Ireland, responds to Green Deal progress

Keith Riddle, Managing Director at Velux, comments on the news that no household has yet registered for the Green Deal:

Founded ten years ago by Darren Holliday and backed by a young and talented design, commercial, operational and sales team, Abode Home Products has already been recognised with a number of industry awards and certificates which reflect the company’s ethos towards good design and value for money quality.
The company aims to lead the marketplace in terms of the technological design of its showers and taps for both kitchens and bathrooms, whilst it’s practical and stylish kitchen sink designs strive to make the best use of materials and aesthetics. Abode has UK wide distribution through kitchen and bathroom retailers and merchants, working with a number of successful distributor partners. 
PBM meets Managing Director, and founder, Darren Holliday.

The message from the recently held BMF Members Day is one of new beginnings as the organisation unveiled a number of developments designed to propel the industry’s trade federation forward. And significantly, this vision isn’t solely about the here and now but one also designed to safeguard the progression and development of the merchant sector into the future, with recognition given to apprentices and the launch of a BMF Foundation Degree as the next step for individuals to undertake beyond the well-regarded Diploma in Merchanting.

There could be as many as 24.5 million inefficient radiators that need replacing in the UK, according to Nick Whitwell, Managing Director of Quinn Radiators, who is urging installers to take advantage of this up-selling opportunity when replacing boilers or carrying out heating maintenance work.

Recent research carried out by the Manufacturers’ Association of Radiators and Convectors (MARC) indicated that 20% of home owners still have radiators in their homes which do not have convectors.  MARC estimates that this suggests there are 4.9 million homes using finless products.