Writing in the Viewpoint column of PBM’s February 2026 issue, editor Paul Davies contemplates the quiet and rather eerie start to the New Year…
This is a really odd time of year, don’t you think? Peaking behind the curtain of publishing mechanics for a minute, metaphorical pen is being put to equally imaginary paper in mid-January, when there literally are a couple of mince pies in the kitchen remaining stubbornly untouched from the Christmas overordering…
Following a delightfully extended break, a reasonably unrelenting schedule has meant no easing gently back into things yet there is an element of eerie quiet to the inbox, doubtless because people are still having the planning meetings that were long delayed last year in the forlorn hope that the Budget might have delivered a magic moment to fire up the engines of growth.
We’ve been having plenty of conversations and client meetings to discuss the year ahead, but many decisions remain on hold. What inbound email traffic we have received has been a curious mix —reports and statistics revealing a stagnant market (and worse), yet we’ve also received an encouraging amount of missives detailing investment in people, facilities and plans to expand operations.
“Whilst it is clearly far too early to identify tangible trends or ascertain what the real ‘theme’ of this year will be, potential bright spots can be identified for the industry at large.”
Perhaps this is best illustrated by the recent brighter news to emerge following the National Timber Group’s collapse into administration late last year — whilst we have every sympathy for those that lost their jobs, the likes of Premier Forest Products, Rodger Group Holdings and Jewson have been able to step in and save some branches and business units, safeguarding the employment of those who work in them.
So, this is a market where some firms are at breaking point whereas others are focused on the future. And as the BMF Winter Forecast records: “London, typically one of the strongest regions, has now become one of the weakest… Meanwhile, the West Midlands and North East have performed relatively well.”
It is a topsy-turvy world, but whilst it is clearly far too early to identify tangible trends or ascertain what the real ‘theme’ of this year will be, potential bright spots can be identified for the industry at large. For example, the Future Homes Standard and Warm Homes Plan are supposedly due to imminently make their much-delayed debut (UPDATE: since the print publication of the February issue, the Warm Homes Plan has now been released…).
Perhaps they will offer that extra level of certainty to unlock development, or be incentive enough to kickstart a wave of energy-efficient upgrades? Maybe the expected further cuts to interest rates will boost homeowner spending and generate a wave of RMI work?
Just as it remains an uneven picture for businesses, the same is true for the consumer market. Many people do still have money to spend and so, harder to come by they may be, plenty of sales opportunities are out there.
Numerous examples are cited in the rest of this issue. We detail a host of new product launches as manufacturers invest in invigorated solutions for the projects that will happen in the year ahead. Equally, there’s been no let up in marketing support schemes as merchants and suppliers recognise the consistent advantages of close working partnerships.
Then there’s new service initiatives from providers looking to help merchants become more streamlined, efficient and effective in navigating the challenges to emerge stronger the other side.
I apologise if this viewpoint seems all-too familiar and retreads a recognisable path. It is after all, an odd time of year. Quiet, subdued and a little unclear. Just like this piece though, we may have been here before, but we’ll get through it again.
