Industry Analysis & Industry Trends
The Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry covers a wide range of products. The industry is contested by large-scale, multi-branch companies with operations spanning manufacturing, wholesaling, retailing and importing, and by small-scale independent timber merchants and aggregate suppliers.
The industry is being affected by wholesale bypass, which involves manufacturers supplying products directly to retailers and leaving wholesalers out of the supply chain. Through this process, manufacturers can reduce their costs and supply products to the final consumer quicker. The industry's performance since the mid-2000s has principally been affected by a slump in demand from the downstream building markets that accompanied the severe economic recession... purchase to read more
Industry Report - Industry Locations Chapter
The distribution of industry revenue and establishments generally reflects the spread of population and construction activity. Revenue distribution largely reflects new building development and expansion. For this reason, London holds a low share of industry revenue (7.7%) but about 12.0% of establishments, comparable with its share of the population but about half its share of the economy. The strongest degree of construction material is being distributed to the North West, South East and East of England regions and Scotland.
The current distribution of materials is not entirely reflective of where demand will be strongest in the medium term, as there are distinct differences in what stimulates demand for non-residential as opposed to residential development... purchase to read more