Over the last two years, the British public have spent more time at home than ever before. The lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 have been hard on several industries – but not for builder’s merchants.
With all this extra time spent indoors, homeowners have invested in their homes by spending more on home improvements than previous years.
After a brief pause, new-build homes have also been on the rise. Home buyers have been looking to invest their brand-new homes with customised décor, furnishings and layouts.
With demand for building materials soaring, logistics and warehousing is a vital element to keeping supply chains running smoothly for the industry.
Home improvements
2020 and 2021 saw a massive increase in sales for the home improvement sector.
Research by ‘Powered Now’ showed that spending increased 29.7% compared to 2019, with 48% of the UK home owners spending a staggering £110.3b on home improvements. Whether re-doing bathrooms, upgrading kitchens or just painting the lounge walls, home improvements were on every home owner’s list.
Whilst the pandemic caused initial concern for the DIY and building material industry, many homeowners found they had more time and finances to move forward with long-awaited projects in the last year.
More than just DIY, a survey by ‘Property Reporter’ found that nearly nine-in-ten homeowners hired professional help for their renovations in 2020 including electricians, plumbers, painters and carpenters.
To tackle these home improvement challenges, builders need to work closely with their supply chain and communicate their requirements early with trade suppliers and logistics companies.
Here at PF Whitehead Logistics, we specialise in the logistics businesses need to receive, store and distribute home improvement materials and support the biggest names and retailers in DIY and building material.
New builds
It’s not just home improvements that are growing the demand for building and DIY material – it’s also newly built homes.
Data released in the ‘New Homes Index’ revealed that demand for new build homes across Britain has reached an all-time peak with a record-breaking 153,492 buyer searches conducted in May 2021.
Demand for new homes is rising all over Britain but specifically in the South East and South West of the country. This may be due to buyers who traditionally worked in London but are now working from home and looking for property outside of the city.
The UK government is continuing to target a goal of delivering 300,000 new homes a year with an aim to build quality new-builds and keep up with the sector’s growing demand.
Building and construction materials like steel, timber, paints and adhesives, require the correct handling to ensure they are in the right place at the right time, that’s why their logistics are vital in keeping the new build sector running smoothly.
Here at PF Whitehead Logistics, we can streamline logistics and increase supply-chain efficiency so building and DIY materials are always ready when you need them.
Construction materials shortage
With new-build homes on the rise – and eager home owners looking to continue investing in home improvements over 2022 – construction firms have been reporting supplier delays.
Material shortages can in part be traced back to increased building and home improvement activity in 2020, particularly during the first lockdown. But as the pandemic continues, and more people than ever are working from home, building materials are still in high demand.
Some of the materials being affected are roof tiles, bricks and blocks, cement and timber. But it’s not just here in the UK, there has been a global shortage of raw materials, stemming from global demand.
If you’re a builder’s merchant or trade supplier, organising your supplies with a logistics provider like us at PF Whitehead Logistics is pivotal to ensuring you aren’t caught out by shortages.
Holding stock with PF Whitehead Logistics
From our 500,000 square feet of warehousing, we provide logistics for both building merchants and trade suppliers.
We have extensive experience with industrial supplies, building materials and commercial products. We work with some of the biggest names in construction and DIY materials and have gained an enviable reputation for warehousing, logistics and transportation.
From our site in South London, we’re in an ideal position to receive, store and distribute construction goods across the South East and beyond.
If you’re looking for logistics for either builder’s merchants or trade supplies, give us a call on 020 8684 4507 today.
