Stephen Jones, Sales Director at NBP, reflects of customers' changing purchasing habits and how a new distribution model is emerging.
A quiet shift is taking place in the construction materials sector. As the generational profile of customers is changing more installers and homeowners move their purchases online, the traditional approach of collecting materials in branches is beginning to change. A growing number of suppliers are focusing on e-commerce and customer service while relying on fulfilment specialists to manage storage and delivery.
Many of these businesses are strong in online marketing and sales generation but do not operate their own warehouses or delivery fleets. Instead, they work with fulfilment partners to facilitate their requirements. High service levels, and strong communication are extremely important in this sector to drive repeat sales and positive reviews from a whole host of installer types.
Those fulfilment partners support this way of working by managing stock and delivery on behalf of resellers, providing a dependable delivery service without the need for major investment in infrastructure. This support helps ensure materials arrive where they are needed, allowing resellers to concentrate on growth and customer relationships.
The number of online-only resellers has increased as the industry adapts to changing buying habits and changing customer landscape. Contractors and tradespeople now expect the same convenience and reliability they are used to in other sectors, which is encouraging more suppliers to develop stronger digital sales channels. For many businesses, fulfilment partnerships have become a crucial link between online success and on-site delivery.
This can help shape a more efficient and practical model for the movement of building materials. It reflects the changing face of the construction industry and continues to play a part in strengthening the sector for the future.
We are seeing a real shift in industry buying habits. More resellers want to focus on what they do best, which is selling and supporting their customers, and they trust us to take care of the logistics behind the scenes.
Our role is to help them offer a fast and reliable service without the pressure of running large storage sites or transport fleets. It is a simple approach that works well for everyone involved.
