News for Tool Hire, Equipment Hire & Plant Hire and Rental Professionals

Merchant group adds hire

8 July 2021

Merchant group adds hire

Reflecting the building boom and the demand for equipment to get jobs done, the Independent Builders Merchant Group is introducing a hire activity at selected outlets. 

IBMG comprises three builders’ merchants, namely Chandlers, Parker Building Supplies and Fairalls, plus Stamco Timber, and has 39 branches in the south east of England and the Midlands. 

“We are initially establishing six branches within our outlets in Petworth, Godstone, St Leonards, Worthing, Eastbourne and Brighton,” says Simon Gibbons, who has been appointed as Head of Hire. “Ten other sites will follow next year.” 

Rather than introducing one new, over-arching hire brand, the new activity will be introduced under the individual merchant identities.

“For example, it won’t be called Chandlers Tool Hire but, rather, ‘Chandlers for all your tool hire needs’ and similarly for the other group businesses", says Simon. “We want the tool hire teams and the merchant teams to work together, rather than running separately.” 

Initially, each location will have two dedicated hire personnel, namely a tool hire manager and a driver/fitter. 

“We are busy putting in workshops and compounds in each location, along with washdown stations and a new computer system. We are also recruiting staff and buying equipment for the fleet, which is challenging given the current supply chain pressures, but we are looking for a soft launch of the hire operation in September with a view to a hard launch in October. 

“The first branch will be at Petworth, followed by Godstone and Eastbourne.”

Obviously the main target hire customers will comprise the group’s existing merchant clients who are typically small to medium sized building contractors. Simon says that the aim is to offer them a one-stop shop for their materials and equipment. 

“We will concentrate on offering small tools and equipment – the fast-moving items that our customers typically need. We will also have strong cross-hire partnerships with other hirers for larger plant and machines.”

● Building activity is currently at record-breaking levels, as a recent blog post reported. 


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