The National Merchant Buying Society (NMBS) is employing the latest technology as part of its commitment to strengthening independents with the launch of MerchantApp.
Reflecting a progressive approach that extends to all areas of its operations, the leading buying society for independent builder’s, hardware, plumbing and heating, and timber merchants has launched a new mobile app – known as MerchantApp – which is aimed at trade professionals and other potential customers of NMBS’ membership of some 1000+ independent merchants.
It can be used to search for all branches of NMBS members within a radius of up to 99 miles of the current GPS position of a mobile device or of an entered postcode. Users can also conduct searches based on one, all or a combination of four different categories – builder’s merchants, hardware merchants, plumbing merchants, and timber merchants.
Search results are listed by proximity, with the closest NMBS member branch appearing first. Users can then click on the branches listed to discover additional information such as postal address and directions, email address and website address. They can also call the branch directly from the app and save the branch telephone numbers directly to the contacts list on their device.
NMBS expects the new app to prove especially popular with the growing number of contractors working on sites away from their usual ‘home’ locations, and who prefer the high levels of service and advice that independent merchants offer.
Dean Hayward, Marketing Manager at NMBS, said: “For over 50 years, the support NMBS provides to independent merchants has continued to evolve to ensure it remains relevant to our members’ needs and also the wider world we live in. There’s no question that mobile technology continues to have a huge impact on many aspects of our personal and working lives and the new MerchantApp embraces that. It’s easy to use and should enable our members to tap into an additional customer source.”
The app is suitable for both smartphones and tablets running either IOS or Android. It can be downloaded free from the App Store or from Google Play and can be found by searching ‘MerchantApp’, ‘Builders Merchant’ or ‘Plumbing Merchant’.
