As one of the longest-established builders’ merchants in Croydon, with over 100 years of operation under its belt, Harris & Bailey has moved with the times but without losing its emphasis on traditional values that continue to set the company apart. Someone who has been steeped in this culture is David Harger, who started work at the business as a teenager and was recently appointed as Sales Director.
“I’ve worked my way up through the company since joining as a 16-year-old, so to be given the opportunity to join the board as Sales Director is fantastic,” explains David. “The business has always been keen to promote from within whenever possible and the guidance I’ve received over the past 16 years has been invaluable.”
David knows Harris & Bailey inside-out, having worked across various parts of the business, from the trade counter to the warehouse, before moving into sales. He is now aiming to use every ounce of this experience to make the most of the opportunities within the marketplace, particularly within sustainability.
“I took on my new role in September, so it’s still early days but not a huge amount has changed for me personally. I have a 14-strong sales team behind me, supported by a well-developed supply chain. We’ve been part of the National Buying Group for over 20 years, which has helped us to build some really strong relationships with our suppliers, and we’re always looking to explore new opportunities too. This ensures our product range continues to meet the needs of the marketplace in-line with the latest trends.”
One such growth area is renewables, and last year Harris & Bailey added a dedicated sustainability centre to its existing operation, which recently hosted representatives of Daikin, one of its key suppliers.
“Renewables continues to be a growing area and we’re focusing on developing this side of the business to make the most of its potential,” says David. “The Sustainable Home Centre is gradually getting up to speed, as we continue to develop our range of products dedicated to this area. We’re now much better positioned to secure more business. We also run a training operation out of the facility too and offer a free course for boiler engineers.”
Having been in operation for over a century, it is clear that Harris & Bailey is doing something right. Aside from its commitment to quality and service, its ability to move into new areas has also been integral to its development, as underlined by its move into sustainability.
“In terms of the market generally, we’ve had a good year so far, although there was some pre-Budget uncertainty. We’re fortunate that our customer base ranges from one-man-bands through to much larger contractors able to tackle major sites across London, as well as smaller individual merchants and DIY stores. This diversity ensures that we’ve not become overly reliant on any single sector. We’ve been able to adapt to the peaks and troughs as a result.
“Looking ahead, the aim is to increase turnover and to kick on with our sustainable activities. Our current premises are large enough for our needs, but we are hoping to reach a point where we need an additional site.”
At a time when recruitment is proving difficult for the industry, David is proactively banging the drum for merchanting and the opportunities the sector can offer in order to encourage youngsters into the industry. The company is also a huge advocate of training, both internally and externally.
As part of its ongoing commitment to customer excellence and reducing its environmental impact, Harris & Bailey recently achieved Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) Gold status, becoming one of only a handful of merchants in the south-east to reach the standard.
Another feather in Harris & Bailey’s cap is the positive impact it has made on the wider community, with the company being involved in a number of charitable and sponsorship initiatives. For instance, it sponsors Hear Us Croydon, a locally based charity focusing on mental health.
Having been established in 1912, there’s not much Harris & Bailey hasn’t seen over the years, particularly with the Covid pandemic and all that entailed. This experience, coupled with the ongoing investment in the business, is sure to see the company continuing to prosper moving forward.