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15 Apr 2025
The NMBS Exhibition, held on 10-11 April 2025 at the Coventry Building Society Arena, once again brought independent merchants and suppliers together in record numbers, reinforcing its position as the UK’s leading exhibition for independent merchants.
With 280 exhibitors and 1125 visitors passing through the doors, the event provided a vital platform for independent merchants to engage with key suppliers, secure exclusive rebate deals and strengthen professional relationships. The record numbers for merchants compared to previous years highlight the continued importance of face-to-face networking in a competitive and evolving market.
Chris Hayward, chief executive officer at NMBS, said: “The NMBS Exhibition is more than just a trade show, it’s an essential opportunity for independent merchants to build partnerships that enhance their competitive edge. This year’s event has once again demonstrated the strong relationships that make up our sector. We remain committed to supporting merchants and suppliers as they navigate the opportunities that this year will hopefully bring.”
Unmissable offers and industry engagement
Merchants were able to take advantage of exclusive show deals, with over 100 spot buy offers available across the two days. Many suppliers also provided prize draws, giveaways and live product demonstrations, adding further value for attending merchants.
Attendees also took part in activities ranging from visiting the owl on the Owlett Jaton stand and meeting football icon John Barnes on the Artificial Grass Stand to playing gravity darts on the Werner Stand or having a hug with the Timco mascot Huggy.
Simon Thacker, sales director at Walsall Wheelbarrow Company commented on their success at the event, stating: “The NMBS Exhibition is always the best day of the year for us. We have been attending for around 25 years, and it is the best trade show we do. Wheelbarrows aren’t the easiest thing to take around the country, so it allows us to showcase our new and existing products to hundreds of merchants, all under one roof.”
Gala Dinner raises funds for industry charities
Following the first day of the exhibition, the NMBS Gala Dinner offered an evening of entertainment and networking. Hosted by Ben Shephard the evening included a guest appearance from Chris Kamara, who shared insights from his footballing career, as well as his journey with apraxia of speech, a neurological disorder that affects speech and thought processes.
The event also served as an important fundraiser, with £4000 raised for construction charities Crash and the Rainy Day Trust. A highlight of the evening was the donation prize draw, which saw Rob Orchard from Marcliff Services win an Apple iPad.
NMBS and the Builders’ Merchant Federation also announced the launch of the Industry Data Pool. The initiative will create a centralised, digital platform for product data exchange. It will provide an industry-owned resource that contains high-quality, e-commerce-friendly information on hundreds of thousands of products.
For more information about NMBS, or to explore supplier and membership opportunities, visit: https://www.nmbs.co.uk.