As it chalks up 20 years of operation, and with sales continuing to grow strongly, Unique Plumbing Supplies has plenty to celebrate. Construction Industry News recently caught up with Adam Kill, Operations Director, to see how this ongoing success is being achieved.
“We’re generally very busy and having come through the challenges associated with Covid, we’re smashing targets left, right and centre,” explains Adam Kill, Operations Director. “Our staff have been the most crucial element of the growth we’ve been enjoying. They’re all highly trained and committed to providing excellent service for our customers. One of our branch managers has been with us since the very beginning and we really value this level of loyalty.”
With over 30 staff spread across five branches within Hampshire, which includes its head office in Eastleigh, in addition to a dedicated showroom, Unique Plumbing Supplies’ emphasis on service has been a key factor behind the formidable reputation it has built over the past two decades. This approach has been further enhanced by the network of suppliers it has developed over the years, particularly since it became a member of the IPG in 2017.
“We wouldn’t have been able to achieve what we have without the suppliers that we have developed relationships with along the way,” adds Adam. “Their support has allowed us to expand our product range in-line with the needs of our customers, allowing us to quickly adapt to emerging market trends. For instance, the move towards renewables has seen growing demand in this area that we’ve been able to cater for thanks to our suppliers, several of which have been with us for many years. Our membership of IPG also continues to go from strength-to-strength and helps us compete with the national operators.
“Over the past 20 years we’ve made plenty of progress, even if there have been some considerable hurdles along the way, such as Covid and the impact it had on price increases and product shortages. Again, our staff and our suppliers have been invaluable in weathering the storms that have come our way.”
As it looks to keep the momentum going, Unique Plumbing Supplies is continuing to explore new ways of developing the business. “Last January we created a new position – area sales manager – with Dan Drinkwater coming in from one of the conglomerates to fulfill the role. He’s performing extremely well, having brought in a considerable amount of new business since he joined over a year ago.
“We’re also keen to add a sixth branch to our portfolio, but due to the current uncertainty regarding the economy, we’re keeping this plan under wraps for the time being. However, if the right opportunity did come along that ticked all the relevant boxes, we would seriously consider it.”
While a sixth branch will surely happen sooner or later, in the meantime Unique Plumbing Supplies has been using its 20th anniversary celebrations as the opportunity to give something back to both its customers and its staff. “We held a week of promotions and various competitions at Easter for our customers across our branches,” says Adam. “We also paid tribute to all our staff too. We really see them as people rather than just numbers, which is another way we set ourselves apart from the larger conglomerates.
“While we feel it’s important to look back at all we’ve achieved so far, we’re not losing sight of our future objectives either. We remain committed to maintaining the level of growth that we’re currently seeing, if not increasing it further, and are determined to keep building our presence in the marketplace. We certainly have the infrastructure and the workforce to meet these targets.”
This commitment to continual development makes it easy to see why Unique Plumbing Supplies has been able to rack up 20 years of growth and it’s sure to provide the framework for future progression too.