LONDON: The National Buying Group has presented Crown Paints with a bronze supplier award in recognition of the paint manufacturer’s commitment to develop business through independent builders merchants.
NBG has 80 members who operate in excess of 250 privately owned outlets across the UK, stocking and distributing products for heavyside, lightside and timber applications and generating a combined annual turnover exceeding £750 million.
The group’s annual awards are made to recognise ‘outstanding suppliers’ and take into account overall the standard of service provided, stock availability, account management skills and commitment, commercial innovation, response times and the strength of the working relationship the supplier has developed with the NBG.
Crown Paints supplies Crown Trade, Sandtex Trade, Macpherson and Sadolin brands into NBG merchants and was judged in the Group’s most wide-ranging supplier category – PDIHFE – which covers paint, decorating, ironmongery, hardware, fixings & electrical sectors.
“There were 21 manufacturers with 50 live agreements covering a massive range of product lines in our category, so we were absolutely delighted to receive our award,” said David Atherton, Crowns Paints account manager for the NBG.
“Over recent years we’ve been working very hard with the NBG to help its members compete on a more level playing field with national players. We’ve developed successful joint initiatives and campaigns, made a big investment in product training for merchant staff and have done a great deal internally to ensure that we always respond quickly and efficiently to the needs of all the members,” said Mr Atherton.
“It’s been a real team effort, involving sales, marketing, logistics, accounts, distribution, customer relations and training personnel, and this award recognises everyone’s hard work to develop the successful relationship we have with NBG today.”
Mike Benson, who oversees the painting and decorating sector for NBG said: “We were looking to recognise suppliers who have made tangible year on year improvements and who have clearly demonstrated their willingness to support our members. Crown Paints works very closely with us now to develop innovative deals and campaigns which have helped us all to grow sales volumes, and they have established a very strong track record, providing high levels of service in the areas that really matter to our members.”
