Joining the business a year ago in February 2022, ForgeFix Manging Director Paul Swift answers PBM’s questions and offers his perspectives on the issues confronting the merchant sector.
Q How did you get into the industry and to your current position?
A My father & brother are both builders and as a child I spent lots of time with them going to and from various builders’ merchants. I completed my apprenticeship as an electrical engineer and after a few years on the tools I found myself in the Hardware sector working for door and window manufacturers.
The last five years have seen me working for the Tyman group, working under the group brands ERA and more recently ZOO Hardware where I was Head of Sales.
Q What are the current challenges facing your company?
A Like many businesses we are all facing similar if not the same challenges, whether that be the rise of inflation, cost of living in general as well as employment. The feeling of uncertainty is everywhere, and we see it daily when we turn on the news — this raises concern and people in general will be more cautious what they are spending.
But out of all of this comes opportunity, and I see 2023 a year of opportunity. We are looking at our staff and how we can support them, we are constantly growing our products and increasing ranges and seeing how we as a supplier can help and support our customers and together overcome any challenges we might face.
“Everyone is facing many challenges with the inconsistency of pricing and supply, and it is our job as suppliers to try and keep this stable.”
Q What has the particular impact of the pandemic been on the business, and what changes have been implemented?
A The biggest impact for us has been how Covid has affected China and the Far East for manufacturing. The long lockdowns they have suffered certainly didn’t help with our situation on stock and then the knock-on effect of the shipping also lead to the inconsistency of supply.
However, we have learnt a lot from this and have started the project of nearshoring and bringing production closer home and have reduced our reliance on the Far East.
Everyone is facing many challenges with the inconsistency of pricing and supply, and it is our job as suppliers to try and keep this stable. We have to keep communication going so we maintain good levels of service all around.
Q How important do you feel the issue of sustainability is to the merchant sector?
A Sustainability is hot on our lips like many others at the moment. Not only are we looking at ways to improve our packaging and making that more sustainable and environmentally friendly, we are also looking at our carbon footprint and how we can reduce transport and shipping costs — how as a business we can be more energy efficient and use renewable sources where possible.
We are taking delivery of our first electric cars and the charging coming from renewable sources. Being a part of a larger group has enabled us to appoint our own environmental sustainability officer, we are constantly looking at ways of improvement and to do things better.
Q What has been your biggest challenge so far?
A Since joining ForgeFix in February 2022, I have come accustomed to the volatility of currency, the supply chain network, shipping, and rapid inflation both here in the UK & abroad. But it has been great being a part of a fantastic team of people who together we have overcome these challenges together.
Q Which individual has influenced you most in your career?
When I first started my career in the hardware sector I had a fantastic mentor someone who I looked up to and admired — Ian Jones who was the general manager. He helped me with my career and self-development and many things he taught me I now use those methods as a senior member of a team.
I am also a big fan of reading but the one book I turn to and advise people to read is The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey. I certainly have these traits and try to use them as a mentor to my colleagues.
Q What has been your own personal highlight of your career to date?
The biggest achievement I have had is when I started university at the age of 36 and graduating at 42 years old with a Master’s in business from Sheffield Hallam University with my wife and 2 children attending my graduation. I wouldn’t have been able to have achieved this without the encouragement that Ian Jones had given me in my earlier years to self-develop and always strive to be better.
But I am proud to now say that I am Managing Director of ForgeFix and this has been a huge achievement for me. I am now passing on my knowledge and expertise to the people around me to help them and give them the encouragement like I had and assist with the development of staff within our business.
Q Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Having joined ForgeFix twelve months ago, I now see myself Head of a very successful Fixings Division within Dormole. My biggest objective is to remain happy, assist with solving problems and creating opportunities for other people within the business and helping them become successful. I want everyone who works with me to feel fulfilled.
Click here for more information on the ForgeFix range and its support services for merchants.
ForgeFix has been a specialist supplier of fixings and fastenings to the trade since 1991. One of the UK’s leading distributors of known fixings and fastener brands, the company supplies in excess of 5,000 different product lines to trade customers such as builders’ merchants, plumbing and heating merchants, DIY outlets, hardware stores, and to businesses involved in trades like joinery, glazing and roofing.
As a fixing and fastener specialist, it has successfully designed and developed brands that are well known and respected within the trade, with all of its products “of the highest quality and backed by exemplary levels of service.”
