Merchants Branches and Staff Are Almost Fully Back

IN THE LATEST survey of independent merchants a readiness to reopen branches and welcome customers and supplier representatives was overwhelmingly the result.

The National Buying Group (NBG) quarterly survey of its 88 independent merchants partners, trading from 415 UK branches shows 94% of branches are now fully open, with 3% remaining closed on Saturdays mainly due to a conscious change in business operating hours. This is a significant change since the last survey in November, when only 86% were fully open and 12% were closed on Saturdays.

NBG Managing Director, Nick Oates, said: “It is fantastic to see so many of our Partners now in a position where they are confident to fully reopen their branches and showrooms. Through the NBG community all of our Partners have been able to share their experiences, advice, and best practice, ensuring the independent merchant sector was able to weather the pandemic.”

When conducting business, just over half (52%) are already allowing manufacturers’ representatives on site, with an additional 21% expected to allow visits by /June, and 10% looking at July. 11% were looking further into the future, with plans to allow these visits again from the third quarter of 2021.

The survey also showed that 93% of respondents’ staff have returned to the office full time, with 4% splitting their work between a branch and their home, while 3% remain working from home full time. This is also representative of Partners’ intentions from July when restrictions are expected to have eased.

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