The “support, product availability, and network of like-minded merchants” has been described as an “invaluable” part of Greater Manchester-based Henshaws successful takeover of a new site in Rochdale.
The new Henshaws depot is the result of it taking over local company, R&M Roofing & Building Supplies. Already well-known in its original Stretford base, especially for roofing supplies, when Henshaws MD Adrian Shelley heard from a h&b supplier that R&M was available, the synergies were deemed to be obvious: a large site, a specialism in roofing, a strong independent ethos, and an established team.
At the same time, R&M was keen to team up with a properly independent merchant with strong community values. The takeover completes a busy and successful year for the 36-year established merchant, which has been run by Adrian since 2019.
h&b was Adrian’s first port of call when the Henshaws team started rebranding and restocking its new Rochdale depot. He said: “We called h&b and they were straight on the case. A fellow member across the country helped with bricks and blocks, the h&b HQ team were also incredibly helpful at a busy and stressful time. To feel that support, as an independent merchant, is invaluable.”
Henshaws is also using h&b deals and assistance from h&b suppliers to build different aspects of the business, for example developing the company’s landscaping offering which has shown strong growth in the last 18 months. Adrian added: “We are using h&b’s expertise, relationships and skills to leverage our success at this exciting time for the Henshaw business.”
For the buying group, sales are said to be approaching £1bn a year through its growing membership of independent builders’ merchants. It now has 110 merchant members operating from more than 285 branches, trading in partnership with around 280 suppliers.
