Just six months since Baggeridge Brick launched its extended mixed load option, merchants across the country – from nationals to independents – are already reaping the financial and commercial rewards that go hand in hand with the Sedgley-based manufacturer’s merchant-targeted campaign.

Traditionally merchants have had little choice but to take delivery of full product loads which takes up valuable and extremely limited space on the yard and ties up capital. However, since the launch of Baggeridge’s mixed load, they have been given the option of being able to receive a whole plethora of products including stock and wirecut facings, blues, engineering bricks, pavers, specials and red class B bricks on the same delivery.

Particularly pertinent at present, with stock holding such an issue, Baggeridge’s mixed load has proved a hit with Travis Perkins, one of the UK’s largest builders merchants, a company currently making use of the mixed load option at branches such as Aylesford and Gravesend. As part of their Brick Centre Initiative, these outlets have to stock a minimum of 50 brick types so the option of having a mix of product on the same load couldn’t be more convenient. A spokesman said: “If we all operated from ten acre plus yards, storage wouldn’t be such an issue, but the reality is we don’t have that much space to be flexible with.

“Thanks to the mixed load, we are able to meet the exact profile of brick types required without any of the cost implications. Baggeridge is addressing the needs of its customer, and as a result, it’s helping us improve our efficiency.”

Graham Vines, joint managing director at Dover-based Coastal Brick, part of the National Buying Group, echoes these sentiments, commenting: “We specialise in heavyside and have to carry around 135 brick types at any one time. However, we are undergoing a two acre expansion at the Whitfield plant and plans are in place to stock even more bricks, pavers and specials so the mixed load option will certainly help.”

Founded in 1994 by Graham Vines and Michael Stupple, Coastal Brick has dealt with Baggeridge for many years and commends the manufacturer for refining their business practice for the benefit of merchants. Graham continues: “With the help of Baggeridge, we have been able to keep our stockpile to a minimum without having to compromise on our range, subsequently helping us maintain our competitive edge over other players in the market.”

Similarly, Tony Tunstall, executive sales director for Tippers with six depots throughout the West Midlands in Lichfield, Uttoxeter, Wolverhampton, Tamworth, Hay Mills and Kidderminster firmly believes Baggeridge has helped add value to the business. He comments: “We have dealt with Baggeridge for the past 25 years and have always been impressed with how focused and committed they are with their support of merchants. They recognise the challenges we face, that is having to stock as wide a range as possible in depots that have limited space in which to do so, and they have come up with the ideal solution.”

Mark Morris, Baggeridge Brick’s sales director concludes: “We’re a merchant friendly company and we’re constantly looking for ways in which we can improve and refine our services for them. The mixed load option is just one way we have demonstrated our support of this important distribution channel and it’s something we are intent on doing for them for many more years to come.”

29th March 2006