The construction industry requires large amounts of materials and equipment. A builders’ merchant, or their assistant, is the person who supplies what construction workers need.
Basic job description
A builders’ merchants is the place someone goes to buy building supplies. They may sell in bulk, to large scale construction projects, they may offer smaller selections to individual electricians, plumbers and other independent tradespeople, or they may even sell their products to the general public.
Employers
There are different places where you might find builders’ merchants. These include specialist retailers who stock and deliver the large amounts of materials that are needed by the construction industry. There are also, however, smaller builders’ merchants who are based in DIY shops, some aimed at tradespeople, some at the general public, and some at both. You can find builders merchants vacancies through sites such as bmcareers.com.
Stock
Goods stocked and supplied by builders’ merchants may include building materials such as sand, cement, bricks and timber, trade supplies such as pipes for plumbers or wires for electricians, insulation, heating materials, painting and decorating equipment, various tools, units for the bathroom or kitchen, or outdoor supplies such as plants and garden furniture. Anyone employed in the merchants will need to be able to find these products and explain their use to customers.
Other roles
Working in a builders’ merchants may also involve administrative and accounting tasks such as managing orders, processing both cash and card payments, or organising deliveries. You may need to monitor inventory. Another office task could be responding to customer enquiries by phone or email. Outside of the office, some builders’ merchants employ delivery drivers to ensure products are distributed to customers. Working on a shop floor for a DIY retailer requires good customer service skills and may involve lifting and carrying stock.
If you routinely purchase building materials, whether because you are employed in the construction industry or just have a project you are working on at home, you may need the services of a builders’ merchant.
