EH Smith invests £400,000 in Solihull base

SOLIHULL builders’ merchant EH Smith has re-launched following a £400,000 redevelopment of its site.

The firm – a family business which has operated in the West Midlands since 1922 – has changed the shape and layout of the site in Shirley. It has more than doubled the stock in key areas such as bricks, timber, insulation, hard landscaping, drainage & civils and paint with around 15,000 product lines now available for collection.

In recognition of changing times and how customers like to buy in 2013, the company has also moved away from traditional high ‘list’ prices with individually negotiated discounts at the counter.

Now it centrally price-matches its stock to equal or beat the competition and in doing so has brought the collective unit price for the whole basket (one of each of its 15,000 items) down by £75,000.

The site was re-launched by 94-year old chairman Ken Smith, who has been with the family firm since the 1930s and was at the first opening of the Shirley site in 1932.

EH Smith turnover now stands at £100m and the company employs 350 staff, almost all of whom are based in the West Midlands.

John Parker, EH Smith chief executive said: “EH Smith has been in business for more than 90 years, supporting builders, carpenters, drainage contractors, ground workers, decorators and handymen working for major building firms, local authorities and small businesses alike.

“For our part we are showing huge confidence in the sector by investing £400,000 in our business to support the construction industry across not only the West Midlands but across Warwickshire and Worcestershire too.”

At the launch, chairman Ken Smith paid tribute to the employees of the firm, quite a number of whom have devoted their entire working lives to EH Smith.

He said: “Reflecting on the factors that have allowed us to endure as a company for more than 90 years, I must pay tribute to our employees because it is their knowledge and passion for the products that sets EH Smith apart from the competition and keeps customers coming back.

“They might not all share the Smith surname, but they all are a valued part of the EH Smith family.”