Jewson has strengthened its presence in the North East of England with the opening of a purpose-built branch in Alnwick.
The investment is part of the wider STARK Group’s plans for the ongoing development of its UK branch network, consolidating smaller locations into larger and more efficient branches closer to customers.
The brand-new branch, at Lionheart Enterprise Park South, replaces the former site off Wagonway Road, creating four new jobs, and now offers 7,000 products and materials for local builders and tradespeople. It offers customers a drive-in loading bay, an extended range of timber products stored undercover, a dedicated bathroom selection centre with plumbing specialists on hand, paint-mixing facilities and much more, “offering tradespeople and builders everything they need for a single project under one roof.”
Plus, customers also have access to a brew station serving free tea and coffee throughout the day.
Builders, tradespeople and families recently came together for the launch of the branch, with celebrity appearances, food trucks, games and more. The grand opening saw former footballer Jimmy Bullard and darts champion James Wade hosting sporting challenges and a live Q&A, while a DJ, group of Highland cows(!), free street food, an ice cream van and free beer also kept guests entertained.
The famous Dulux dog joined the celebrations, while local customers who placed orders on the day had the chance to win a series of prizes. Brennan Drylining took home tickets to the World Darts Championship at the iconic Alexandra Palace this Christmas; Coastal Plastering & Roofing won hospitality tickets to watch Liverpool vs Newcastle at Anfield; Nisbet Brickwork secured a golf day at The Belfry, and PHD took home £1,000 in holiday vouchers.
Branch Manager Malcolm Wootton said: “It was fantastic to officially open the doors to our new Alnwick branch and welcome so many customers, local families and members of the community to celebrate with us. The atmosphere throughout the day was brilliant, with everyone enjoying the activities, meeting our team and taking the opportunity to explore what the new branch has to offer.
“The event was exactly what we hoped it would be – a chance to bring local builders and tradespeople together, strengthening relationships with existing customers and introducing ourselves to new ones. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve created here and would like to thank everyone who came along and helped make the day such a success. We look forward to welcoming even more customers through our doors now that we’re officially open for business.”
From the Group perspective, the opening is said to be indicative of the “transformation (it) is continuing to drive across its UK business, despite a challenging market” while also improving operational efficiency and “developing product ranges and distribution networks based on experience from the Nordic markets.”
STARK Group CEO Søren P. Olesen commented: “Across our markets, we continuously invest in strengthening our customer offering through a modern and efficient branch network. In some locations, this means replacing older branches with larger, purpose-built branches that allow us to offer a broader product range and more efficient logistics solutions.
“Alnwick is a good example of how we are investing close to our customers while strengthening our long-term market position.”
Main image: Regional Director David McNamara, Branch Manager Malcolm Wootton and Regional MD Allan Davidson cut the ribbon at the new Jewson branch in Alnwick.
