“Any merchant not currently selling commercial spare parts is missing out on revenue,” Nu-way’s trading director Rick Crees has warned.

“Heating engineers working in facilities maintenance are helping commercial business in the UK to reduce their running costs,” Mr Crees said. “This protects their profits, so naturally your customers are in demand in this sector. Merchants’ customers are pushing an open door where this market is concerned. Commercial business doesn’t just want to reduce running costs – some of them have to.

“Any merchant who is able to provide the relevant parts for facilities maintenance work is going to pick up a fair chunk of business. All commercial buildings will have a combination of toilet, kitchen and heating facilities; what will vary is the commercial building itself. The parts your customer might need will vary but what is clear is that this is a big market for merchants.”