This year’s NMBS exhibition for independent merchants saw members and suppliers come together to make the day a huge success.

At the exhibition, which took place on 15 May at the Telford International Centre, a total of 255 exhibitor stands attracted the highest ever visitor numbers, as over 500 member delegates flooded through the doors. This year has also set a new record in terms of the value of orders placed at the show, with £millions of business conducted over the course of the day.

In particular, visitors to the show were able to benefit from exclusive supplier offers. The return of the popular Spot Buy deals pack allowed visitors to take advantage of fantastic savings while a new promotional voucher book offered one-day-only, free-of-charge products. As an added bonus, both exhibitors and visitors were able to take advantage of the impressive turnout to develop new trading relationships.

The award for the Best Stand at the show went to Dickies. The award was presented to Rob Haines, regional sales director, by NMBS’ managing director Chris Hayward and marketing manager Dean Hayward.

This year’s event also saw a special guest appearance from Titan the Robot. The eight-foot mechanical marvel entertained guests by singing, dancing and performing comedy impressions at regular intervals.

Feedback from visitors and exhibitors at the event has been highly positive. David Dickens, managing director at Northampton-based independent builders’ and plumbers’ merchant Martin & Partners, said: “The annual NMBS exhibition is quite simply a must-attend event for anyone involved in the merchant sector – I would even go so far as to say it has become the new Interbuild as the construction industry event of the year. The 2013 show was a great day and gave us the opportunity to enjoy preferential deals with key suppliers whilst catching up with old contacts and making new ones.”

Chris Hayward added: “At NMBS, we pride ourselves on offering our members access to the best possible deals, offers and terms. The unprecedented success of the 2013 NMBS exhibition is a particularly effective demonstration of the true extent of this commitment.

“We’re delighted with the turnout and with the feedback that we’ve received, which has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re confident that an enjoyable, eventful and above all profitable day was had by all.”