As part of an ongoing and growing partnership, Freefoam Building Products recently attended the Huws Gray inaugural ‘Big Trade Event’, held at the Eirias Park, Colwyn Bay. The event was reported to be ‘a lively and busy day’, with over 1,500 Huws Gray customers and prospects taking part in fun activities, competitions and supplier promotions.
Freefoam is said to have been working in partnership with Huws Gray for around two years. “Huws Gray and Freefoam share a similar culture,” said Terry Owen, managing director of Huws Gray. “It can be felt at all levels from Freefoam’s MD Aidan Harte, Colin St John and Richard Jackson. The other thing that I respect in Freefoam is that they have decided on their route to market and stuck with it. I hope that our growth journey together will help them get the complete national coverage they aim for.”
Huws Gray roofing category manager, Kris Jones, said: “We chose Freefoam for their impressive product range, particularly the colours, and their reputation for customer focus. We are both independently run, able to make our own decisions, so we knew that Freefoam would be behind us every step of the way. The support we get from Freefoam is fantastic, we have a good relationship with the whole team, from external sales, through to directors of the company and the office support team who deal with us on a day to day basis. It’s a perfect partnership!”
Now available throughout the UK, Huws Gray branches hold a good range of Freefoam stock and are supported by the Huws Gray distribution centre. With close to £200,000 of roofline products held at any one time, branches are said to have access to stock every day of the week to ensure consistent supply. According to Huws Gray, this means it can deliver excellent levels of service to its customers.
Rob Parker, Freefoam area sales manager, North West, explained: “Huws Gray customers’ benefit massively from this comprehensive stock holding. It means that Freefoam is front of mind when fitters drop into a branch. It’s always available to take away, allowing them to get behind the Freefoam brand and feel confident in offering roofline to their clients.”
Colin St John, commercial director, summarised: “We set out over 20 years ago to service the supply chain, but not own it, and we’re still operating like this today. Huws Gray have seen tremendous double-digit growth in their roofline offering and we’re delighted the partnership has been so successful.”
