The Graham Group, the largest timber, plumbers’ and builders’ merchant in the UK can trace its history back a full 75 years to 1936 when it was started as Thomas Graham & Sons in Glasgow.
Today, after a series of ownership changes and acquisitions, it sits proudly at the top of the tree, as part of the Saint-Gobain Building Distribution Group, with between 200 and 300 sites, one of which is in Nottingham.
Nottingham Branch Manager, Kevin Nicholson says, “I joined the Group about a year ago with the aim of moving this branch forward in Nottingham. . Since I joined, I have completely transformed the showroom from its old-fashioned layout with everything behind the counter into something more like a supermarket with everything out on the shelves for customers to see. The company have taken on a new sales representative Caroline Goldsmith who like myself is out visiting and talking both to our old customers and to new ones and already we have seen a number of major and new accounts coming on board with the result that, in the last year, the Branch has seen a remarkable turn around in Nottingham to a very busy helpful friendly Branch with the help of my staff Emilly Martin John and Paul.”
One area that Kevin sees of growing importance is the emerging area of renewable energy, sustainable heating and water recycling and saving. He says, “The Group started a Division called Greenworks but this was turned in to an Academy last year. Then earlier this year, we started Graham’s Renewable Energy as a separate entity to offer renewable energy, sustainable heating and water saving solutions. We have an experienced sales team that can go out on site, work out exactly what is required and then provide and price exactly what equipment is needed to a very high standard. It is something in which I am very interested as I have a LOGIC certificate for solar, heat pumps etc. We have set out now to make this a one-stop shop for a wide range of environmental products and Plastics Heating Spares and hold a vast range of stock of all Major brands including our own Brand of course Altech for builders, property developers, architects landlords and plumbing and heating engineers and also to the Public.”
Looking at some of the product opportunities now available through this source, Graham’s offer both flat plate and evacuated tube collector designs of solar panels, complete with twin coil hot water solar cylinders as well as photovoltaic panels. With the Government’s Feed In tariffs coming into play, these will become increasingly important. The company also offers technical advice and help and if installers want we can point them in the right direction for all types of training.
In terms of sustainable heating, Graham’s offer a wide range of energy efficient condensing boilers as well as biomass boilers for both domestic and large installations. Ground source and air source heat pumps are become more common and Graham’s can offer a variety of solutions, including borehole collectors, compact collectors and horizontal ground collectors and air-to-air and air-to-water systems. Finally, there is a range of rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling systems on offer. As you can see Graham is not just a plumbers Merchant but also a one-stop shop for the Trade and the Public and the Environment.
For further information please telephone Kevin Nicholson/Emilly Howitt/ Martin Bonser 0115 978 1255 or visit www.graham-group.co.uk.
