This year's National Buying Group (NBG) Conference saw the buying group celebrate its 10th anniversary, bringing independent merchants and suppliers together to make plans for the new year and celebrate a successful 2013. 

Taking place on 18 and 19 November, the Conference comprised an exhibition, Partners vs Suppliers football match, as well as a Gala Dinner where this year's NBG Supplier Award winners were announced.

"NBG is about suppliers and merchants working together for a common aim of hopefully getting a bit more on the bottom line," said James Norton, host of the Gala Dinner and vice-chairman of NBG. "It's fantastic to see so many familiar faces."

The Rainy Day Trust was this year's charity beneficiary, with an estimated £6,000 raised for the charity during the exhibition, dinner and football match. This included £1,000 from Southall Associates, an NBG Supplier who attended the exhibition, who donated £100 for every merchant who visited their stand and gave them a video testimonial during the day's exhibition.

Mr Norton said at the Dinner: "The Rainy Day Trust helps people who have worked in the DIY or housewares industries and who have fallen on hard times for any reason. Tonight is about educating you that all your staff can benefit from the Trust as well."

Andrew Weiss of Monument Tools, who will become president of the RDT in 2014, added: "On behalf of all the beneficiaries of the Rainy Day Trust I'd like to thank everyone for their donations, they will be very much appreciated."

During the Gala Dinner a number of supplier awards were announced, with winners and finalists being chosen by committees of NBG Partners. The winners were those suppliers who have "gone the extra mile to make NBG the success it is", according to Mr Norton.

The 2013 NBG Supplier Award winners are:

  • Brick and Block Supplier of the Year: H+H
  • Civil Engineering and Landscaping Supplier of the Year: Digby Stone
  • General Build Supplier of the Year: Everbuild
  • Painting, Decorating, Ironmongery, Hardware, Fixings and Electrical Supplier of the Year: Crown Paints
  • Plumbing, Heating and Showroom Supplier of the Year: Bristan
  • Roofing and Insulation Supplier of the Year: Knauf Insulation
  • Timber Supplier of the Year: Cheshire Mouldings
  • Tools and Workwear Supplier of the Year: Toolbank.


For the first time, NBG also introduced a new Award for the Supplier Account Manager of the Year. "This award recognises an outstanding, enthusiastic and very professional individual who supplied excellence to our NBG Partners," explained NBG managing director Nick Oates. The group canvassed nominations from its partners across the UK, with the first award winner being named as Mark Jones of Everbuild.

The evening's entertainment was provided by comedian Bob Mills, a regular panellist on Radio 5Live’s quiz show Fighting Talk.

The exhibition took place on the 19th November and saw over 80 NBG suppliers talking with merchants about their latest products and plans for 2014.

For a full review of the exhibition, don't miss your copy of the December/January issue of Builders' Merchants News.