UK: Over the last few weeks, Unimer has announced new marketing initiatives that have been created to help merchant members improve their trading prospects.
Howard Grant, managing director of Unimer, said: “It was time to expand on why the Unimer team believe these initiatives are important as a step in developing the Unimer business model and how they create fantastic opportunities, not just for our merchant members, but also our suppliers.
"Most of our members are small and medium-sized enterprises and most are owner-managed. In order to compete in their local markets the merchants will advertise and promote their businesses locally, but they do not have the resources to target market sectors that sometimes need a national presence to gain entry or to make a difference in the approach to that market sector."
The Unimer objective in creating any new business offers is to create a virtuous circle of trading opportunities which benefit members, suppliers and joint venture trading partners.
The organisation has created four market opportunities for its merchant members – all targeting well-defined and growing market sectors:
- Procurement for Housing – for the supply of building materials to housing associations.
- eBuildingSupplies – creating internet trading opportunities for end consumers and builders.
- Green Energy Centre – a merchant franchise to develop expertise and presence in this sector.
- Building Connections – to target and supply self-builders and those undertaking major renovation projects.
