The leading London timber specialist Fulham Timber has been recruited by independent merchant buying group H&B to its ranks. “We are very excited about the opportunities that H&B membership will bring to Fulham Timber,” said Fulham Timber director Will Dobbs. “We are looking to continue the company’s growth trajectory and believe that the competitive buying deals that H&B offers, and its excellent rebate system, will make a real difference to our growth potential as well as our bottom line. Margins are very tight in timber at the moment and being part of H&B’s great deals will offer us the margin protection that will allow us to grow.” A family-owned builders merchant based in Brixton and established in 1984, Fulham Timber turns over more than £12 million per annum. From a branch network in Balham, Brixton, Colliers Wood and Croydon, the company manages to supply a full range of timber and other building materials to local tradesmen, contractors, and the general public. In addition, a thriving saw mill is also being run in Colliers Wood. “We felt we had outgrown our previous buying group and were looking to take the next step. We did a lot of research and after conducting full due diligence, we chose H&B for more than just its great buying; for its flexible and accommodating style. We also believe joining H&B will streamline and improve our buying, especially since we have recently centralised our whole buying process. And we will have access to a broad portfolio of products which will allow us to expand our product offering and improve profitability across a wide range of goods,” added Will. H&B managing director Steve Parkins said that Fulham Timber fitted the profile of the perfect H&B partner – “dynamic, locally strong, and with a real commitment to growth, service, quality, and innovation”. Through its growing membership of independent builders merchants, H&B manages to reach sales of approximately £1 billion a year. It currently has over 75 merchant members, with more than 215 branches, trading in partnership with around 280 suppliers.