National Buying Group (NBG) has welcomed its latest new partner, Surrey-based plumbing supplies and bathroom specialist DW Burn.

DW Burn has two branches in Woking and Farnham, along with a bathroom showroom and a contracting arm. Established in the 1960s, the company is still family-owned and runs with current managing director, Toby Hoyle, taking the helm from his father in 2005.

That family ethos is still important to DW Burns with staff retention and loyalty key to the business’s success. The Burns showroom is one of the largest in Surrey, and houses a wide range of bathrooms and associated products. The company also provides a full design and technical service.

Toby is clear why he wanted to take Burns into a buying Group, but is pleased to find that joining NBG comes with many added benefits. He said: “We were struggling to achieve decent margin in plumbing products and even considered getting out of that business at one stage. We looked at joining a buying group to improve those margins and NBG came highly recommended to us by many of our suppliers as the best in the business.”

As well as improved margins, DW Burns will see other benefits from NBG membership. “NBG deals will make our purchasing processes much quicker, easier and more streamlined,” said Toby. “As an independent family-run business, we struggled to find the time to organise our own deals, and found that on our own, we did not have the clout to negotiate with the larger suppliers. Now, we have a seat at the top table with NBG.”

Toby continued: “It is also a massive advantage to be able to network with fellow merchants who are running similar businesses, facing the same challenges, and finding solutions in the same marketplace as us. Every one of them understands what it’s like to be an independent merchant too.”