The IPG has celebrated its anniversary, toasting a successful growth period since the company was founded five years ago.
The IPG was first established in 2013 by founder Robin Beal, with the aim to support independent plumbing, heating and bathroom specialists with growth and development, offering improved buying power alongside marketing and business services.
Starting the business from his home, Robin noticed that independent merchants were being ‘left out in the cold’ and he believed that without support they could be forced to close or sell.
When The IPG started trading, they only had a handful of members and suppliers signed up. Since then the company has developed into the biggest and fastest-growing membership group in the plumbing and heating sector.
The IPG now employs 14 staff and has over 200-member outlets, with a combined turnover well in excess of £400m. They also work with over 90 high-quality suppliers.
IPG Member, Steve Cotrell, Managing Partner of Premier Heating Supplies, said: “The IPG really seem to understand the needs of independent merchants. In championing the independent merchant, they have helped our business remain competitive in these challenging times.”
Ray Andes, Managing Director of Plumb Inn Merchants, added: “I have worked with many buying groups throughout my too many years in the plumbing industry and The IPG is without doubt the best I have worked with. A well thought through concept with a great team of people who listen to and work with members for all our mutual benefit.”
Robin concluded: “I’m incredibly proud of what The IPG has become. When we first started the company, we had to approach both potential members and suppliers and show them The IPG vision. However, since those days there hasn’t been a month where we haven’t taken on at least one supplier or member.
“Our message is ‘stronger together’, and that is something we have definitely seen. Only recently we discovered that our members had experienced a double-digit year-on-year revenue growth. I’m hopeful that this trend will only continue as the group goes from strength-to-strength.”
