26/03/2026
Dear Valued Customers,
The year began with a great deal of optimism, which makes this update particularly disappointing to share.
As you’re likely aware, the construction industry is once again facing significant price increases, with conditions unfortunately beginning to mirror the volatility experienced during the COVID period. While the road ahead may be challenging, the experience and lessons gained during that time have placed us in a strong position to navigate what’s ahead.
In recent weeks, we’ve been working proactively behind the scenes—forecasting demand, leveraging supplier relationships and securing stock, particularly for items we anticipated could be impacted by the conflict in the Middle East. This approach has allowed us to blend higher-cost inventory into our existing stock, helping to soften the immediate impact of price increases where possible.
We will continue to do everything we can to stay ahead of the curve; however, current market intelligence indicates that further increases are likely. Should conditions escalate, pricing pressures will continue and may reach a point where these measures can no longer effectively offset the impact.
As we manage this as responsibly as possible, there are several ways you can help us support you:
• Placing orders early—for both current and upcoming projects—and including required delivery timeframes enables more accurate forecasting and allows us to prioritise what matters most to you.
• Maintaining consistent ordering patterns assists us in managing stock effectively, as our planning is based on customer demand over a 3–6-month period.
• Our systems allow us to identify and reserve stock early; the more visibility you can provide, the better we can secure supply on your behalf.
• We kindly ask customers to avoid panic buying. If you are considering bulk purchases, please contact us so we can align your requirements with incoming stock purchases.
• As we increase inventory to stay ahead of further rises, warehouse capacity will become constrained. If we are holding stock for you, arranging collection or delivery where possible would be greatly appreciated.
We understand that price changes may occur with little notice. Supplier updates will be available daily at our trade counter, and we are more than happy to provide documentation to support any discussions you may need to have with your clients. We are also working toward providing these updates via email upon request—please note that the volume and frequency of notices is currently quite high.
Please be assured that every decision we make around purchasing and pricing is made with your best interests in mind. Our focus remains on protecting you from unnecessary cost exposure wherever possible.
If you would like to discuss our approach, or if you have concerns about upcoming projects, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always here to help, and we genuinely appreciate your understanding. These conditions are challenging for everyone, and we remain hopeful for greater stability ahead.
Yours sincerely,
Jason McFadden
Operations Manager
