Over the last 18 months, well documented economic and market turbulences have continued to impact our industry, none more so than new building regulations and their potential impacts. The new Building Safety Act and Approved Part L (England) form part of the government’s attempts to tighten legislation on building safety since the Grenfell tragedy and improve the thermal performance of buildings to meet its ambitious targets on carbon emissions reductions.
New regulations can often raise more questions than answers and it can take time to learn and digest. However, with knowledge and understanding, they can also drive new selling opportunities in specialist and more profitable markets. This could be by way of new or higher performing products or systems, or extended sales from reviewing the wider solution or application requirements of a building, ranging from groundworks through to interiors.
Merchants are the local hub for their customers - builders and installers depend on their local merchant for range, expert knowledge and advice so they make the right choice for their building projects. They also depend on the reliable service of their merchant to avoid major project delays or disruptions. Merchants who can support their customers with the right solutions or systems, on time, to specification, and in accordance with new regulatory standards will lead the way.
In turn, merchants will look to their supplier partners for the products they need and to provide or coordinate the necessary training, guidance, service and technical support that enables them to meet their customer expectations. However, two recent studies conducted by MRA Research confirmed that merchants require greater support and guidance to better understand new regulations and requirements and, through this, be more effective for their customers.
As the leading independent distributor to builders’ merchants, we provide the right products to merchants in the exact volumes they need, even during times of widespread availability issues. Seen as the merchants’ warehouse, Encon has products readily in stock, backed by flexible and reliable deliveries.
Our business is an integral conduit in the supply chain with an extensive range of building solutions from leading brands, under one roof. We use our national reach to help merchants meet the requirements of their customers, including distress purchases and deliveries direct to site, recognising that some merchants have limited space in their yards to hold stock. In effect, we are an extension of merchants’ distribution, with the geographical scope and setup to react just in time.
Equally as important to us is the specialist knowledge and support we provide.
The Encon Group includes four specialist business units – Encon Insulation, Nevill Long Interior Systems, Encon Technical Solutions and Encon Construction Products – each with experienced teams with in-depth knowledge across the built environment. These include dedicated merchant teams and experts in specialist fields, such as passive fire protection, who can organise the training merchants need to help their installer customers make the right choices in an ever-changing market.
We also recognise emerging trends and specialist areas that will drive new or higher margin sales for merchants, giving them the scope to sell more profitably across the wider construction market.
Only by working closely together on all levels can we continue to achieve in times of change and work towards the important goal of delivering safer and more sustainable buildings for the long term.
Contact us today to learn how we can support your business growth in changing markets. Email info@encon.co.uk. Catch the full article in the July/August issue of Builders' Merchants News.
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