Safety in numbers, buying better

When independent retailers combine their resources there’s safety in numbers in a tight market – maintaining prices, protecting margins and buying better. So the role of buying groups in the flooring sector has never been more relevant than now.

Group buying power, own-label competitor protection, product selection expertise plus a whole basket of business and marketing support are the reasons why more than 1,200 of the UK’s most savvy retailers have signed up.

All of the buying groups emphasise that each individual retailer’s independence is sacrosanct, and you can usually pick and choose how much or how little of the group’s services and products you get involved with. Those smart deals you already have with key suppliers can carry on if they’re advantageous to you.

So there are no obvious reasons not to consider joining a group – but which one? They’re all a little different and this article explores the options...

SMG says it has something for every retailer, large or small, long established or just starting out. Members run their business as they see fit but gain advantage from the comprehensive package of benefits and, all for the lowest annual membership fee.

There’s no need to be on a committee, attend group meetings or
go to AGMs – just increase your profit without changing what you
do – it’s as easy as that. As well as advantageous terms,
SMG members can enjoy downloadable marketing resources
and a whole range of business support services to give them a
real advantage in a challenging market.

The key driver for SMG has always been to create profitable partnerships between members and approved suppliers. Both have the same goals and SMG is able to deliver more sales and greater profitability for both. This formula has meant that SMG have retail members who have been with them for fifty years and more, as well as members who are just starting out.  

The Associated Carpet Group (ACG) sees it simply: all the gain without the pain!

ACG are a not for profit, non-intrusive, member owned national buying group made up of over 315 member stores. Membership is by association, and you are not required to change any of your current inhouse processes or place orders through central hubs.

Consisting mainly of independently family run businesses, ACG uses the combined buying power of its member stores to broker the best trade pricing from the industries main suppliers. With access to the hugely successful, multi-award-winning group rebrand Smart Choice, our retailers can secure more orders and comfortably compete with high street, online and man in a van price comparison, without fear of eroding their margins.

ACG offers an outstanding portfolio of member benefits beyond just best pricing.

With over 26 annual supplier turnover rebates which are paid
directly to member stores, the group further negotiates annual
product and unitary promotions, marketing, financial partnerships, subsidised social events, and the groups very successful, Platinum Supplier Trade Show, which is free to attend and where the group’s main suppliers come together to exhibit and tailor “on the day deals” specifically for group members.

“There are a number of buying groups within the flooring industry and each one will have an appeal to independent retailers”, says Eamonn Prescott, CEO at Greendale Carpets. “What we have at Greendale though is unique. We can buy stock for the exclusive use of our members.”

Greendale Carpets & Flooring have been established since 1962 and during that time, they have grown from just ten stores, to over one hundred. They are a member owned cooperative, and as such trade on a ‘not-for-profit’ basis. 

“We are owned by our members”, says Eamonn,
“so our focus is always on how we can help them to grow their
business through extra margin or securing great deals on Insurance,
Card Machine Fees, Finance Deals, etc.” 

have a centralised warehouse of their own stock. They were the first to bring in their own branding to protect retailers and they were the first to have their own delivery vehicles. 

“At Greendale, we are always asking ‘What’s next?’. To keep one
step in front of our competition, we are always looking at new
ways to improve our offer to our members.”

The INDX Show will see the ‘soft launch’ of the group’s new ‘iD’ brand. A selection of ranges aimed at Interior Design. 

“iD is our next chapter and a very exciting one,” says Eamonn, “it includes UK exclusive ranges and colours, and gives us another point of difference to the other buying groups”. 

The Metro Group is a multi-award-winning buying group, formed by retailers for retailers in 1979. Members retain 100% of their independence but improve their profitability and there is a portfolio of 200+ Carpet1st ranges.

The Metro Group has always supported marketing and the Group Marketing Scheme is unlike any other. 100% bespoke with assistance from Metro’s own fully equipped studio and production facility, Metro members have access to assistance with almost any marketing project they need to take on from a business card to a full shop fascia.

Flooring One offers a friendly and highly professional service to independent flooring retailers throughout the UK and Ireland with the aim of increasing their profitability.

The group is in partnership with the best key suppliers and works with them to offer members margin protection on rebranded products with dedicated support from its expert field merchandisers.

Flooring One is a subsidiary of Associated Independent Stores (AIS), the UK and Ireland’s leading buying group for fashion, home and leisure for independent retail. Their unique and powerful payment system (CENPAC) enables members to save time, money, and administration as well as enjoying improved settlement discounts from suppliers and access to exclusive group merchandise rebates.

At BRM (Bond Retail Marketing), they pride themselves on their history, experience and agility to navigate and keep pace with the ever-changing flooring marketplace.

With no joining fees, and a family feel within the group, BRM offers a bespoke personal service which can be tailored to serve each retailers individual needs, allowing the retailer to carry on with the day to day running of their business.

The group’s buying and marketing function has many years of experience negotiating with all types of suppliers/manufacturers both large and small in the UK market across all flooring product groups, with the addition of an online presence via www.beautifulflooring.co.uk where consumers are directed to a national retailer network.

De-branding and profit engineering are all attributes we are skilled in developing with individual retailers to create successful and profitable business models that will stand the test of time. Designer initiatives such as the unique Daisy collection gives retailers unique and exclusive selling opportunities with enhanced margins.

  FOR MORE INFORMATION

ACG • 01942 825520 • www.acgcarpets.com  

BRM • 01892 549050 • www.beautifulflooring.co.uk  

Flooring One • 0121 683 1426 • www.flooringone.co.uk  

Greendale Carpets • 01432 852000 • www.greendalecarpets.co.uk 

Metro Group • 01204 393 539 • www.carpet1st.co.uk  

SMG • 0118 932 3832 • www.smg-group.co.uk