A 12-month total transformation of the Witham branch of Builders’ Merchants EH Smith, in Essex, has been completed and the revamped branch officially opened by the company’s CEO, John Parker, with customers joining in the celebrations.
During a week of events at the Forest Road branch, to mark completion of the redevelopment, customers collected their ‘Proper Builder’ packs whilst the chance to win £2,000 of the latest tools helped to attract a crowd eager to get their hands on tools and accessories from Makita, Ox and Milwaukee. Lucky customer Graham Gooday, from Gooday Builders, walked away with the tools at the end of launch week.
The £250,000 redevelopment has transformed the popular builders’ merchant with the construction of a new warehouse, trade counter and customer facilities. The redevelopment has also doubled the number of product lines available in the branch and introduced ‘good, better and best’ product options to increase choice.
The redevelopment also emphasises one of EH Smith’s USPs: its highly knowledgeable and experienced staff who offer specialist advice in areas such as bricks, timber, civils, and landscaping. Here, the new trade counter will provide a focal point for customers keen to pick the team’s brains on a particular project or challenge.
John Parker, Chief Executive of EH Smith, said: “This £250,000 redevelopment has transformed our Witham site, to meet demand and provide local tradesmen with a greater range of products, at a time when growth has been predicted by the ONS for the construction industry in the UK.
“We’ve opened up the site to make it easier for builders and other trades to drop in and pick up what they need – as well as having the traditional option of delivery to site. We’ve also competitively priced our products against our local market and broadened our ranges to make sure we offer an unbeatable service for builders, decorators, plumbers and landscapers across Essex and beyond.”
Pictures show: (Top) Chief Executive John Parker, Branch Manager Tony Bennett and his team and customers, outside the new-look store and competition prize winner Graham Gooday and Charlie Joy from Gooday Builders with Branch Manager Tony Bennet and the haul of Makita, Ox and Milwaukee tools
