Let's work together say Jewson

Forging links and developing business relations was the key objective for Jewson, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of timber and building supplies, at its annual conference held at the end of January.

In a positive new move, a manufacturers’ exhibition day was added to the conference programme where 100 manufacturers and suppliers took the opportunity to meet, and exhibit their latest product ranges, to every Jewson branch manager from its 500-strong national network.

Leading industry manufacturers and suppliers including Hepworth, Hanson and Lafarge attended the exhibition and welcomed the opportunity to develop their relationships at grass-roots level with Jewson branch managers. Sally Gant, National Accounts Director at Brett Landscaping speaking about the event said: “The exhibition was well supported and provided the ideal opportunity to launch Jewson’s own brand landscaping range, which is manufactured by Brett. We also had the opportunity to meet branch managers throughout the day and demonstrate our new paving ranges for 2009. From a communications perspective it encouraged the development of existing relationships and provided a platform on which to establish new opportunities for the year ahead.”

Paul Yeates, Business Manager at Fischer Fixings, added: “The overall format of the exhibition was fantastic and enabled suppliers and Jewson branch managers to have an open conversation about how we can work better together throughout 2009. As a networking opportunity it worked really well and we now have a clearer understanding of what we need to do to maximize our efforts and meet business objectives.”

Stands were grouped in one of five key product areas including light building materials, doors and joinery; heavy building materials and landscaping;kitchen and bathrooms; timber and tool hire. Greenworks, which offers a wide range of sustainable building solutions through the Jewson and Graham UK-wide branch network, also showcased the latest products currently on the market.

The exhibition was followed by a dinner attended by around 900 representatives of manufacturers, suppliers and Jewson at which revered business guru Sir Digby Jones delivered an impassioned keynote speech, on the challenges facing the construction industry, and how organisations can overcome them.