Featuring more than one hundred suppliers and service providers, the recent IBC buying group Conference returned to the awe-inspiring Silverstone GP race circuit, followed by a spectacular gala dinner and awards evening at the nearby Whittlebury Park hotel.
Now encompassing almost 230 merchant members who trade from a combined c.350 branches, IBC marked its first 15 years in style as busy supplier stands and a host of F1 themed activities ensured the engines were truly revving in anticipation within the twin exhibition halls at Silverstone.
Offering independent merchant members of the fast-growing buying group the chance to connect with leading suppliers, engage with the latest new products and take advantage of exclusive promotional deals, the Conference also provided a great opportunity for merchants to learn more about the expanding range of business support services made available through IBC.
In addition, the event was used to showcase the advantages for merchants in fully engaging with their IBC Member Portal Account which has been developed to provide comprehensive Supplier Partner information including financial and rebate details, access to info on thousands of products and more on additional benefits such as marketing collateral, ecommerce solutions and IBC’s unique Brickfinder service.
Addressing delegates at the Awards Dinner that followed the exhibition element of the Conference, IBC Managing Director Paul Read summarised the organisation’s ongoing vision for further growth and being, as its strapline suggests, “more than a buying group.”
Highlighting the advantages of collaborating with supplier partners and leveraging the business benefits that can be gleaned from fully engaging with its services package, Paul asserted how IBC’s proposition can help members develop the extra “competitive edge to promote your independent brand… and unlock you potential.”
A key element of the evening was in recognising the dedication and performance of some of the buying group’s high-flyers through the IBC Achievement Awards. Covering a range of categories and spanning both merchant members and supplier partners, the winners were:
Best Self-Select Area
Winner: Cumbria Building Supplies
Nominees: Nichols & Clarke, All Trades Supplies
Best Landscape Display
Winner: County Town Aggregates
Nominees: Thompsons of Crews Hill, Cumbria Building Supplies
Environmental Initiative
Winner: Nicholls & Clarke
Nominees: Build It, ABC Depot
Marketing Initiative
Winner: Bolton Builders Merchants
Nominees: All Trades Supplies, Payless DIY
Young Achiever
Winner: Arron Green, Selhurst Timber
Nominees: Harvey Mattu, Payless DIY; Kieran Jones, SWM Insulations
Account Manager
Winner: Adam Crossan, Toolbank
Nominees: Kev Warner, U-Value Insulation; Ian Stevenson, Mannok
Service Provider
Winner: Worldpay
Nominees: Fleetmaxx, Utilink
Supplier of the Year
Winner: Mannok
Nominees: IKO, Siniat
Member of the Year
Winner: Payless DIY
Nominees: Bedford Timber, Selhurst Timber
Click here for more information on the IBC Buying Group and its business solutions for merchant members.
