The spotlight is on – Wantage Builders Merchants
Company profile:
- Business established: 2003
- Head office: Wantage, Oxfordshire
- Number of employees: 6, plus 4 directors
- Branches: 1
- Time working with Midland Lead: over 12 years
Oxfordshire-based Wantage Builders Merchants was set up in December 2003; the exact same time the business began working with Midland Lead.
“We’ve stocked Midland Lead’s lead sheet from the very start,” says Steve Wilkins, one of the four company directors. “While my background is in logistics, one of the other directors has a background that saw him previously work with Midland Lead; he was well looked after and the price was right. So the choice to work with them again when we set up Wantage Builders Merchants was simple,” he explains.
Wantage Builders Merchants, which is a member of the IBC and NMBS buying groups, has stocked Midland Lead’s lead sheet machine cast and rolled lead sheet, along with patination oil and fixing clips, for over 12 years now.
Continuing, Steve comments on his personal experience working with the Midland Lead team: “I’ve found they have great personal contact and are very responsive, which are traits I value in a supplier.”
With the majority of Wantage’s customers purchasing lead sheet being roofers, he says the orders are steady and usually of a similar size, but does note one particularly big order: “We did have a rather big lead sheet sale recently. It was for a very old listed property that required lots of lead for a refurbishment job. It was gothic style architecture and had lots of lead channelling and huge roofs.”
With orders coming in steady and frequently, and business in general doing well, Steve says the firm is currently looking to expand the business with additional branches: “We’re looking to set up a second branch, but are still searching for the ideal area; one which is close enough to our current branch so that we can manage it easily.”
Further business developments on the horizon include plans to update the current site in Wantage. “We operate from a site with two buildings and a separate yard at the moment, which means customers presently have to walk between buildings. So we’re currently negotiating for a new and bespoke single building, and yard that is situated around it, with parking. The new building will have everything in one place and have higher eaves, so will allow more space for stock storage.”
To find out more about Wantage Builders Merchants and the firm’s future plans, email info@wantagebuildersmerchants.co.uk.
