Opinion

Practical steps to protect your business and help save lives

30 March, 2020

Many builders' merchants are leading the fight to carry on trading and protect their staff and customers during this coronavirus pandemic. Digital expert and eCommonSense founder, Andy Scothern, has collected some of the best practical steps that merchants are taking around the UK and Ireland today.

Looming deadline: are you ready for MTD?

Many building and timber merchants are likely to be unprepared for the imminent introduction of the Government's new ‘Making Tax Digital’ initiative for VAT returns, warns Chris Fisher, UK Operations Director at business management software specialist ECI.

The story of a British business – how Marshalls was made in Britain

Chris Harrop OBE is Director of Sustainability and Marketing at Marshalls, traces the proud history of the business and looks at its future.

Specialist composite-decking installers: the benefits for merchants

Indi Sarkaria, Assistant Product Manager at Arbor Forest Products, explores the impacts for merchants of the rising demand for composite decking.

Water! Water everywhere! Flood resistance and resilience made accessible

The increased frequency of extreme rainfall events and consequent flooding means new approaches to flood resistance and flood resilience – namely water entry’ or ‘water exclusion’ strategies – are needed, says Hudson Lambert, Director at Safeguard Europe.

Builders’ merchants face online ticking time bomb

Many builders’ merchants are sleep walking into an e-commerce time bomb, warns digital expert and MD of eCommonSense Andy Scothern.

Winter safety advice for roofers

With temperatures dropping as low as -10 degrees in some parts of the country, Emily-Jane Dix, Marketing Executive for Marley, advises contractors to make sure they are prepared for the freezing conditions.

Tackling the lack of diversity in the merchant sector

Kishor Harsiani, Strategy & Finance Director at the IBC Buying Group, shares his impressions of the recent round-table on diversity in the merchant industry and why he thinks there is a need to consider the issue in the context of wider industry issues.

Condensate pipes are still not being protected on every boiler installation

Following the Beast from the East, when millions of boilers suffered malfunction and breakdown due to frozen condensate pipes, the heating and plumbing industry resolved that it must not happen again.

Make risk management a priority

Kishor Harsiani, IBC’s Strategy &amp; Finance Director, explains why the merchant industry must make risk management an urgent priority.

The basics of business records: what do you need to keep and for how long?

Tax preparation specialist and Director of DSR Tax Claims Ltd, David Redfern, explains what business records you need to keep and for how long.

Don’t forget the millions on the table in front of you

There’s an A and an O road to growth, says Kevin Morgan, Group Commercial Director of The Crystal Group. Acquisition is exciting and quick, organic less risky, cheaper and a bit slower.

Consumer trends merchants need to know about in 2019

It’s important for builders’ merchants to keep abreast of consumer trends, Becci Pell, Marketing Communications Manager at Häfele UK, spoke to kitchen experts from some of Häfele’s retail customers and suppliers to get their valuable insight for the coming year.

Is there such thing as “over automation”?

In today’s society we are overrun with technology. But within a business, you cannot beat human interaction and personal understanding of your business’s facts and figures, according to Mike Cockfield.

Modern solutions to delivering social rented homes

Mark Robinson, Scape Group Chief Executive, explains how modular construction could solve the lack of social renting homes in England and Scotland.

Is it time for the construction industry to adopt alcohol and drugs screening legislation?

Suzannah Robin, alcohol and drug safety expert at AlcoDigital, has helped numerous companies to address their alcohol and drugs testing requirements. She explains why implementing testing policies and procedures will help to improve workplace safety.

Scaling up your SME

SMEs can reduce exposure and contribute more through growth – radically shortening the 'scaling void' by combining both ‘twist’ and ‘stick’ approaches, according to Gary David Smith, the co-founder of Prism Solutions.

Five critical factors in recruiting for an agile supply chain

Andy Kaye, CEO at Bis Henderson Group, explains the five key factors that businesses need to consider when recruiting and training for an agile and responsive supply chain.

Women in construction

The construction industry has come a long way over the years in reflecting diversity. However, there is still a long way to go – particularly in encouraging women to work in the sector, says Sophie Beard, Account Executive at MRA Marketing.

Activate tomorrow’s AI marketing technology, today

Grant Coleman, Vice President and Market Director at Emarsys UK, explains how you can use artificial intelligence technology to enhance your business.

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