Enter the Builders' Merchants Awards Celebrate Excellence

The judges will be looking at builders’ merchant customer service initiatives from October 2024 to the present day, whether as part of the business overall or specific service agreements with particular customers.

Nominations should include

• Explanations of why the company decided to introduce fresh initiatives
• What these initiatives were and how they were implemented
• Details of the success of the initiative and the benefits it brought to the merchant, the customer and their relationship should be included

The judges will be looking for an exceptional Branch Manager who has introduced new strategies and initiatives to boost its branch sales and/or reputation since October 2024. Consideration will also be given to managers who have invested in improving staff training/morale to create a more cohesive branch within the business. These initiatives can include sales and marketing strategies, new product lines or staff training schemes.

Nominations should include

• Specific information on why the Branch Manager decided to introduce new strategies/ initiatives
• What these initiatives were and how they were implemented
• Figures and statistics to demonstrate the benefits to the business

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant with between 1-5 branches that has most successfully developed and improved its business since October 2024. What new initiatives were implemented? Why was this work carried out? How did the merchant improve the customer experience? What new trading channels or branch upgrades were introduced?

Nominations should include

• Comprehensive details of how these new initiatives were able to boost merchant sales and/or brand awareness
• Evidence of how these results were measured
• Feedback the merchant got from customers and/or suppliers as a result of the initiatives

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant with between 6-20 branches that has most successfully developed and improved its business since October 2024. What new initiatives were implemented? Why? How did the merchant improve the customer experience? What new trading channels or branch upgrades were introduced?

Nominations should include

• Comprehensive details of how these new initiatives were able to boost merchant sales and/or brand awareness
• Evidence of how these results were measured
• Feedback the merchant got from customers and/or suppliers as a result of the initiatives

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant with between 21-50 branches that has most successfully developed and improved its business since October 2024. What new initiatives were implemented? Why? How did the merchant improve the customer experience? What new trading channels or branch upgrades were introduced?

Nominations should include

• Comprehensive details of how these new initiatives were able to boost merchant sales and/or brand awareness
• Evidence of how these results were measured
• Feedback the merchant got from customers and/or suppliers as a result of the initiatives

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant that focuses on civils and has most successfully developed and improved its business since October 2024. The judges will be looking at those merchants who have created or improved their civils-related services.

This category is open both to merchants who specifically categorise themselves as drainage and civils merchants AND merchants who have focused on this section of their wider business this year.

Nominations should include

• Details of new initiatives or new product ranges that the merchant is stocking
• Evidence of how the merchant believes this has helped it boost its business
• Specific work it has done to categorise itself as an expert in this area of the merchant sector
• Claims should be backed by quantifiable data such as sales figures and/or customer testimonials

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant who has gone the extra mile to give back to their local community since October 2024. They will be looking for merchants that have helped to improve their local community through sponsorship, by raising money, donating materials, or otherwise helping those in need. They will look at builders’ merchants who have given staff time during working hours to engage with and boost community projects, or who have united with others to help the community recover after an unexpected event.

Nominations should include

• Details of the projects involved
• Specifics of the work the merchant and its staff members have carried out
• How this has had a positive impact on the community at large

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant that has fostered a strong culture of equality, diversity and belonging where differences are welcomed. They will be looking at the positive implications that this has had on the business, its people and the sector as a whole. This can have been achieved either at a local or national level. Entries covering the period from October 2024 to the present will be considered.

Nominations should include

• Details of strategies, initiatives or projects to promote equality, diversity and belonging in merchanting
• Testimonials from staff or customers
• Details of the impact of the initiative and the benefits it brought to the merchant and, if applicable, its customers and the wider community

The design and construction of merchants’ external hard landscaping displays are the focus of this category. The judges will examine the techniques employed to display hard landscaping products to their best advantage to boost sales and improve the customer experience - from October 2024 to the present day.

Nominations should include

• Details of why the merchant chose to create the display in that format
• How the display was implemented?
• Any market/customer research conducted
• Any positive impact the display has had on the company’s overall trading figures.

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant that has forged ahead to increase the awareness and prevalence of Health and Safety within their business. This could focus on safety in the branch, safety at height, site safety and mental health awareness from the branch level to HQ and senior levels. This can be achieved at a local or national level. Entries covering the period from October 2024 to the present will be considered.

Nominations should include

• Details of the initiatives and projects involved
• Specifics of the work the merchant and its staff members have carried out
• How this has had a positive impact on the company's Guidance

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant that focuses on heating and plumbing and has most successfully developed and improved its business since October 2024. The judges will be looking at those merchants who have created or improved their heating and plumbing services.

Nominations should include

• Details of new initiatives, or new product ranges that the merchant is stocking
• Evidence of how the merchant believes this has helped it boost its business
• Claims should be backed by quantifiable data such as sales figures and/or customer testimonials.

Nominations for Kitchen & Bathroom Showroom of the Year should include details of bathroom and/or kitchen showrooms updated, created or re-designed since October 2024. The judges will be looking for innovation, design and clear evidence of successful results, both quantitative and qualitative.

Nominations should include

• The objectives for the new showroom
• Why did the merchant choose to update the display area and any costs involved to the business
• Details of how the displays were created
• Information on the results achieved and how these reflected the original aims of the project, such as positive customer feedback, increased sales or increased customer numbers.

For this prestigious award the judges will be looking for the person who, during their career, has made the greatest contribution to their business and to the merchant industry as a whole. A true role model for colleagues across the industry.

Nominations should include

• A brief outline of the person’s career to date
• Examples of how their hard work and dedication has had a positive impact on the sector as a whole
• Evidence and testimonials to support their success throughout their career.

This category focuses on marketing initiatives that merchants have used to improve their customer numbers in branches, brand awareness in their local areas or sales figures in branches, that have been implemented since October 2024.

Nominations should include

• Clearly defined details of the project, its aim and objectives, how these were implemented and the costs involved
• Why the business decided to carry out the initiative and the tactics used, e.g. advertising, public relations/publicity, merchandising, direct mail, events, sponsorship, sales promotion, etc
• Details of the resultant benefits the initiative has brought to the business, such as increased customer numbers, brand awareness and/or sales figures.

The judges will be looking for the person who, since October 2024, has worked tirelessly towards making a major contribution to their company’s business, going above and beyond what is expected as a normal part of their role. This person must work for a merchant.

Nominations should include

• Details of the individual’s achievements (what they've done and how they've done it)
• Evidence of how this has benefited the business or branch as a result
• Testimonials from colleagues and customers.

The judges will be looking for a national merchant with 51+ branches that has most successfully developed and improved its business since October 2024. What new initiatives were implemented? Why? How did the merchant improve the customer experience? What new trading channels or branch upgrades were introduced?

Nominations should include

• Comprehensive details of how these new initiatives were able to boost merchant sales and/or brand awareness
• Evidence of how these results were measured
• Feedback the merchant got from customers and/or suppliers as a result of the initiatives

This category considers digital initiatives and strategies that have been put in place by a builders’ merchant and that have added value to their business since October 2024, whether through online sales channels, digital monitoring or data usage that has actively proven to increase turnover. This can include websites, digital sponsorship, social media targeting and investments in existing digital platforms.

Nominations should include

• The initial aim of the strategy and how it was implemented
• How they have increased sales or encouraged repeat purchasing
• Figures to show how it has been successful to date and whether the project has fulfilled its initial aims
• Where possible, links to the digital initiative & strategy concerned should be included so judges can visualise for themselves.

The judges will be looking for a supplier or distributor that has most invested in research, technical and commercial innovation, relationships and strategic marketing specifically to give its merchant customers a competitive edge. Judges will look at the period commencing October 2024 to the present day. Suppliers may nominate themselves or be put forward by their merchant customers.

Nominations should include

• Comprehensive details of how the supplier was able to boost merchant sales and/or brand awareness
• Evidence of how these results were measured
• Testimonials from customers.

The judges will be looking for the person who, since October 2024, has worked tirelessly towards making a major contribution to their company’s business, going above and beyond what is expected as a normal part of their role. This person must work for a supplier or distributor.

Nominations should include

• Details of the significant, positive impact the individual has had on the business through how they work with merchants
• Details of the individual’s achievements (what they've done and how they've done it)
• Testimonials from colleagues and customers.

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant that has improved its sustainable and environmental credentials over the past year. They will be looking at what the company has done to reduce its overall carbon footprint and how the company managed unwanted waste materials. Entries that cover the time period from October 2024 to the present day will be considered.

Nominations should include

• Details of the projects involved
• Specifics of the work the merchant and its staff members have carried out
• How this has had a positive impact on the environment.

The judges will be looking for a builders’ merchant that focuses on timber and has most successfully developed and improved its business since October 2024. The judges will be looking at those merchants who have created or improved their timber offerings.

Nominations should include

• Details of new initiatives, or new product ranges that the merchant is stocking
• Evidence of how the merchant believes this has helped it boost its business
• Claims should be backed by quantifiable data such as sales figures and/or customer testimonials.

Nominations for Tool Display/Showroom of the Year should include details of tool displays or showrooms updated, created or re-designed since October 2024. The judges will be looking for innovation, design and clear evidence of successful results, both quantitative and qualitative.

Nominations should include

• The objectives for the new display/showroom
• Why the merchant choose to update the display area and any costs involved to the business
• Details of how the displays were created
• Information on the results achieved and how these reflected the original aims of the project, such as positive customer feedback, increased sales or increased customer numbers.

This award acknowledges the achievements of an individual newly working within a merchant business. The judges will be looking for individuals who have worked hard to develop their skills through modules and/or vocational training, while also making a demonstrable contribution to their employer’s business. Entries covering the period from October 2024 to the present will be considered.

Nominations should include

• Details of the training the company has implemented
• The achievements made by the company initiative and how they have benefited their staff
• What support staff have received from the merchant business and how they have impacted the business.

This award acknowledges the achievements of a merchant business as a whole, or a specific branch of a merchant business, in developing the knowledge base of its staff, through internal and external training and investment. Initiatives from October 2024 to the present will be considered.

Nominations should include

• The company’s objectives for providing training
• How the training was carried out and who undertook the training
• The learning outcomes set for and the different achievements of all the company’s candidates
• The benefits the training initiative has had on the merchant’s business
• Figures or testimonials should be included where possible.