SPAIN: NMBS pulled out the stops to launch the first merchant industry conference in three years, bringing together over 250 merchants and suppliers in Marbella.

Under serene skies, delegates will be able to network and discuss strategies away from the day-to-day drone of business.

Unlike conferences held during the boom years, this event has been tailored to the more challenging economic climate affecting the UK and Europe.

A line-up of  heavy-hitting business speakers, an extended ‘meet the merchant’ segment and inspirational talks from two of Britain’s finest Olympic athletes – Steve Backley OBe and Roger Black MBE – as a topical nod to the UK’s hosting of the Games.Philip Crowshaw, founder of online business channel www.expertsonline.tv will be explaining his blueprint for success. He is joined by other familiar conference faces: Anthony Hilton of the Evening Standard, ‘blue sky’ thinker, Alistair Dryburgh and Paul Morrell, chief construction advisor to the Government.

A rolling series of seminars will complete the Saturday. Topics will include opportunities for sustainable building, electronic trading, going green, re-booting your company, selling online and what your customer wants.

NMBS managing director Chris Hayward was adamant that this year’s event would focus on business, Last year, when he was organising the conference, he said that it was vital that the industry be given an opportunity to both be brought up-to-date with all the complex issues affecting merchant businesses and to enable the industry to air their views and concerns with like-minded colleagues.

The Builders’ Merchants News editorial team will be bringing you reports from the sessions, comments from conference and news updates – all the news all the time from Friday 22 through to Saturday 24 June, along with all the other news for the industry.