On Tuesday 14th November, BHETA hosted a very successful “Meet the Buyer” event allowing over 50 suppliers to meet face to face with the Toolstation buying team at hotel in Bristol.The event was one of a long series of Meet the Buyer events which BHETA has organised in recent years with the likes of Homebase, Walmart, Stax, Home Hardware, John Lewis, Lakeland, The Very Group, Ocado and many others.Toolstation is part of the Travis Perkins Group and one of the UK's and Europe's fastest growing suppliers of tools and building supplies to trade and DIY customers via a multi channel offering. Toolstation has 563 UK stores and over 720 in total across Europe.Feedback from suppliers who attended was very positive:“Thank you for organising this excellent event”, Tony Wills, Director, Button-fix.“I thought the Meet the Buyer event was a very good opportunity to reach out to potential customers and was very well organised”, Nicola Carling – SNAM, Burgon and Ball.“I just wanted to drop a quick message to thank you for your help in facilitating this event, we’re grateful for the opportunity”, Ross McMullan, Sale Representative, Cottonmount Workwear.“Many thanks for the organization, it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet purchaser,” Bertrand Pierre, Sales Director, Tools Western Region, Rapid SAS.“Just wanted to thank the team for organising the Meet the Buyer event with Toolstation. We thought it was excellent”, Guy Weaver, Chief Executive, A365 Limited.“The event was great. Easy to find the location and convenient … you guys were really helpful”, Alan James, Sales Manager, Dantherm Group.“Thank you for your kind welcome at the event you all made me feel really comfortable. Can't wait for the next one”, Adam, Director, Rapid Riggs Products Ltd.“Your team were accommodating and helpful and the venue was perfect. From enquiry to booking, to the actual day was exceptional!”, Nick Cox, Director, Vivest.The team from Toolstation were very pleased with the day:“Thanks for your work yesterday and good to meet the BHETA team”, Seb Falkiner, Power Tools Buyer, and “It was a really good and positive day”, said Caitlin Winter, Assistant Category Manager.Lee Martin, BHETA's new DIY & Garden Sector Manager said: "What a great event! BHETA works hard to deliver retail engagement events, bringing retailers and suppliers together, and making it an easy and smooth experience for all parties. If any retailer is interested in BHETA managing a Meet the Buyer for them to help introduce you to potential new suppliers quickly and efficiently (and at no cost!) please get in touch at lm@bheta.co.uk."Will Jones, Chief Operating Officer of BHETA said, “The BHETA team would like to say a huge thank you to Toolstation for taking part in this event and helping to foster good relationships with the UK supply base. And a thank you to all the suppliers who made the event so successful. We look forward to announcing soon our next retailer meet the buyer events in 2024.”Are you a retailer and interested in BHETA organising a Meet the Buyer event for you? Then please drop Lee Martin an email at lm@bheta.co.uk.Are you a supplier and interested in attending future BHETA Meet the Buyer events? Then please get in touch with Lee Martin, lm@bheta.co.uk.
