Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Builders merchant JT Dove has reported an increase in sales and is focusing on further growth with a new branch opening in the summer.
Sales grew over 2013 to £33.8 million, an increase of 18 per cent on 2012 (£28.8 million). For 2014, managing director Steve Robinson is projecting a significant but slightly more conservative 14 per cent growth.
He said: “At one point, at the height of the credit crunch, when the housing market was being hit the hardest, we had to make some changes and make some hard decisions to make ourselves resilient. Just a few years on and we are starting to feel the benefits of those decisions, with increased turnover, which means we can increase our investment.”
Last year, the North East company opened two new branches in Boldon and Galashiels, swiftly followed in January this year with its 14th branch, in Hetton, South Durham. The 15th branch has just had planning granted and will open in Alnwick in the summer, creating eight new jobs.
There has been an increase in 40 jobs across the board, bringing the total number of employees to 195 when Alnwick opens. Those members of staff who were with the company throughout last year, have also received a profit share of over six percent of their salaries.
“The new branches are great news for JT Dove,” added Robinson. “It means we can reach further afield, and grow new relationships with trade purchasers. It is also heartening, especially for our trustees, for the company to be able to reward our loyal staff base with a profit share pay out.”
