Cowal Building & Plumbing Supplies, the family-run merchant and a founding Partner of National Buying Group (NBG), has acquired Neilson’s Joinery Superstore. NBG has also confirmed its backing for the industry’s move to a shared product-data platform, becoming an an external shareholder in the Building Materials Digital Services (BMDS) joint venture launched by the BMF and NMBS.
Based in the west of Scotland, Cowal has eight branches located across key areas of the region. The acquisition of Neilson’s Joinery Superstore expands the company’s presence in Glasgow and west Scotland and adds to the growing list of well-known Scottish Independent Merchant brands under the Cowal group banner.
These include Reddance Building Supplies, Catherwood Construction Materials, John Cameron Plumbers & Builders Merchants and JKM Industrial Supply Merchants, all of which were acquired by Cowal between 2017 and 2024.
Neilson’s Joinery Superstore is based in Glasgow and includes a showroom featuring doors, floors, windows, staircases and ironmongery, among other associated building supplies. The company’s on-site warehouse hosts specialist cutting facilities that help reduce waste and streamline the onsite installation and fitting process.
The acquisition will see Nielson’s have access to deals exclusive to NBG. Neilson’s buying power will also contribute to the collective buying power of NBG, helping to improve deals for all merchants within the group.
The founders of Neilson’s, Chris, Barry and Leeanne Neilson, will be staying with the business to assist in the integration of the two companies and the entire Neilson team will remain with the business.
This new venture comes as Cowal welcome a new Chief Financial Officer Cameron Provan to the team. Cameron joins Cowal after a successful career in the beverages industry and has been brought on board to help drive the business’s continued growth and excellent customer service.
Stewart Shaw, Director at Cowal, said: “We are thrilled to welcome both Cameron and the whole Neilson team to the Cowal family. Their knowledge, experience and dedication align perfectly with our values, and we are confident these exciting business developments will be of significant benefit to our customers.
“We’re looking forward to introducing Cameron and the team at Neilson to everyone at NBG in the coming weeks and to integrating them into the wider NBG family. We’ve been part of NBG from day one and we’re very happy to have Neilson’s reap the benefits of the NBG deals and add to the shared strength of the buying group.”
Stewart continued: “The aim for us as a business has always been, and will always be, to deliver the best service for our customers across our operating area. The acquisition not only enables this, but bolsters our product offering and makes sure, no matter the job, we have the solution.”
NBG Managing Director Mark Hughes added: “It’s always pleasing to see merchants expand their business, especially one that has been so connected to NBG’s own journey. Neilson’s is an excellent addition to the Cowal Group, and we look forward to offering our continued support as Neilson’s and Cowal continue to go from strength to strength with NBG.”
National Buying Group (NBG) has also confirmed its backing for the industry’s move to a shared product-data platform — a step that will make it easier for merchants to access consistent, accurate product information and to manage sales and purchases more efficiently.
Building Materials Digital Services (BMDS), a joint venture between the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) and NMBS, in which NBG is an external shareholder, is launching the Industry Data Pool (IDP) that will accept product records in the Standardisation Format.
NBG’s five years of experience developing the Product Information Management system (PIM+) means it is in a strong position to play an active role in the IDP. Key NBG personnel will work with BMDS data specialists to support the operational and marketing aspects of the IDP while also having a presence on the board.
Suppliers and manufacturers are currently being asked to supply data in the Standardisation Template format. NBG has developed it’s PIM+ to receive marketing, logistics and Media data through the standardised format directly or through submission into the IDP.
The two systems are complementary, and the shared format ensures product information regarding marketing, logistics and media channels is widely reusable. By providing the data for one system, Suppliers will be ready to provide data for the other, as the Standardisation Template format applies equally to both.
That reusability delivers practical benefits for independent builders’ merchants, helping them present clear specifications, support smarter inventory decisions and create conditions that can boost sales.
Les Boyle, Head of Technology & Systems at NBG, said: “Standardised data is the foundation for smarter product presentation, stronger sales, and reduced duplication across the industry. By adopting the Standardisation Template, Suppliers can make their product information work harder and reach further. We would therefore encourage all Suppliers and manufacturers to sign up to the BMDS in order to provide their data to not only NBG but the wider merchant sector.”
Mark Hughes, Managing Director of NBG, added: “We’ve been using the PIM+ for five years now and can say from experience that you only get out of it what you put in. NBG’s PIM+ is currently the most comprehensive product management system available to NBG Partners, with more than, over 360 Suppliers and more than one million products.
“For Suppliers and merchants across the industry, to benefit from this new initiative, we all need to make sure we’re giving the most accurate data available and are taking advantage of the opportunity to boost sales it will make possible.”
