Another year at the annual Builders’ Merchant Awards, and yet again, a fantastic achievement for EH Smith winning three awards, including the prestigious Independent Builder’s Merchant of the Year!
The 13th annual Builders’ Merchants Awards was held at London’s Lancaster Hotel on 21 November 2014, with 600 key figures from the UK builders’ merchant industry in attendance.
The awards celebrated excellence across the sector, highlighting some of the most successful and resourceful merchants in the UK.
EH Smith is incredibly proud to have been finalists in four out of the sixteen categories, which resulted in three very successful wins…
Independent Builders’ Merchant of the Year (6+ branches) – WINNER
Following some of the most difficult years in the company’s 92-year history, 2013/14 was one of the best years on record for EH Smith, with the past twelve months seeing unprecedented growth. Some of our key successes include:
• Opening brand new branches – Olton & Harborne Birmingham
• Ongoing branch investment & redevelopment at branches – Longbridge, Leicester
• Growth of sustainable products division
• Improving branch collected performance
• Improving customer deliveries and logistics
• Improving supply chain of bricks throughout a brick shortage
• Developing new business opportunities – brand new Kitchen & Bathroom Showroom
The combination of logical, smart business strategy, exciting developments and careful cost control has enabled EH Smith to increase turnover by nearly 25%; the single best trading performance increase in 92 years.
Branch Manager of the Year (Neil Grice – Cannock) – WINNER
EH Smith’s Cannock branch is one of the builders’ merchant’s flagship stores, performing a hub role for the smaller surrounding branches. Neil Grice, who has been with EH Smith since 1999 in the brick department, was promoted to Branch Manager in January 2012, and then to General Manager in August 2014. Throughout his time as manager, Neil has implemented numerous measures to ensure the Cannock branch has continued to operate successfully at a time of brick shortages and turbulent economic times.
Darren Moles, Depot Sales Director, commented: “Neil has helped guide, shape and grow our Cannock branch during a time when the industry was struggling financially to ensure that it has come out stronger than ever, with a great future ahead. He is always coming up with loads of new ideas and ways to improve the business.”
Showroom of the Year – WINNER
EH Smith opened its first Kitchen and Bathroom showroom back in May this year. After investing over £70,000, the ground floor office at EH Smith in Solihull has been completely renovated and transformed into a 150sqm state-of-the-art Kitchen and Bathroom showroom, the first of its kind for EH Smith.
The showroom features 11 kitchens, including a fully equipped, working demonstration kitchen and 17 bathrooms. It offers a welcoming experience for both current and new customers with dressed displays and free refreshments.
“When I saw the showroom, I could hardly believe it was part of builders’ merchant trade business! The layout and presentation are bordering on a ‘retail’ experience yet with a subtle trade feel. It really is fantastic. I can send my clients there and know that they will really like what they see.” – Farshad Saffarian – National Housing Service.