Six-figure investment to modernise and extend builders’ merchant depot

A building supplies specialist has invested to create a comprehensive depot with help from design and fitout expert Filstorage.

Myers Building Supplies, based on Barr Street, Huddersfield, can trace its roots back more than 90 years and is currently run by James and Katie Berry, the fourth generation of the Myers family to head the business.

Recently, the company decided to redevelop the site surrounding its head office, which consisted of a timber merchant at one end, a timber mill, and a building supplies business at the other end.

A large and underutilised yard lay at the centre of the site, giving the business significant scope for redevelopment and to create a purpose-built “one-stop-shop” for building companies and contractors.

James Berry, managing director of Myers Building Supplies, said the improved site now provides a full range of heavy building materials, timber, plumbing and heating and lightside accessories, as well as a modern kitchen and bathroom showroom, and landscaping display.

He added the biggest change had been creating a coherent depot, providing a welcoming site suitable for trade and retail customers.

Berry said: “We weren’t realising as much potential from the site as we could have done. Customers were going to the timber merchant first, then driving to the building supplies site in order to get the complete range of products. It was all a bit disjointed.

“So, we set about creating a completely coherent site where everything was connected. This included an overhaul of the yard to provide better parking and more storage space, a refurbished trade counter and shop, and building a brand-new warehouse.

“The project involved a significant investment but one worth spending in order to improve the customer experience.”

Myers appointed East Yorkshire-based racking experts Filstorage to support it, to help design the layout plan as well as providing shelving, racking and wire baskets.

Gary Winter, Filstorage business development manager for the North East, oversaw the project which saw a six-figure sum spent by the builders’ merchant.

Winter said: “We worked closely with Myers to come up with a design that would enable all the different aspects of the business to work together and then set about creating it.

“It was a really comprehensive job that has resulted in a market-leading builders’ merchant depot supplying all materials needed for construction projects.

“The site is absolutely fantastic, and we’re delighted to have played a part in bringing Myers’ vision to life.”

Myers Building Supplies today has 14 branches throughout Yorkshire.

Katie Berry, director at the firm, added the newly created head office site has transformed the customer experience.

“The site has a joined up feel now,” she said. “It’s been thoroughly modernised, extended and improved, enabling us to give our customers a better, more efficient service. We’re really pleased with how it has worked out.”