Page 12 - HW May 2021

hard news
CBS Co-op hits 500
on third birthday
Builder’s buying group the Combined Building Supplies Cooperative (CBS Co-op) recently celebrated its third birthday with no less than 500 builders on its books.
A little over three years since we reported on its inception, although it hasn’t yet reached its stated goal of a thousand Shareholders, membership is already significantly up from the 250 we reported early last year.
Marketing Director, Mike Blackburn, says on LinkedIn: “Almost three years ago, the five of us (Carl Taylor, Ian Lamb, Simon White, Karen Dwyer and myself ) took an idea and launched it to the New Zealand construction sector.
“At that time, we had just 30 shareholders and less than a dozen trade suppliers, all who believed in our idea and that we could change the construction sector.
“Our goal was simple: to help small and medium-sized builders and tradies get access to the same level of pricing as large, group home building companies.
“To level the playing field, help to bring the cost of construction down and allow small companies to compete alongside the big boys.”
In return for a one-off share subscription, CBS members, who
are generally small to medium scale builders, get access to trade prices from a range of partnering suppliers and merchants which are usually available only to larger builders.
https://cbscoop.co.nz/
PlaceMakers Foundation boosts industry wellbeing programme
LATE LAST MONTH, the PlaceMakers Foundation stepped up to help mental health and suicide prevention organisation MATES in Construction extend the vital work it’s doing towards preventing suicides through workplace-focused programmes.
Along with a “substantial grant”, there will be in-store fundraising in September (aligning with World Suicide Prevention Month), and information and training will be rolled out across the PlaceMakers network of 62 stores and eight frame & truss plants.
From informational signage in
stores, Trade Breakfast presentations, to building capability amongst branch staff to recognise people who need help, PlaceMakers will be activating a number of initiatives alongside MATES in Construction to help improve mental health and prevent suicide in the industry.
Victoria McArthur, CEO at MATES in Construction, says the chance to enhance and expand the organisation’s work through the partnership will have
Bruce McEwen and Victoria McArthur mark the PlaceMakers Foundation’s new partnership with MATES in Constriction.
a huge impact in reaching more people who desperately need support.
Bruce McEwen, PlaceMakers CE and Foundation Chair, says getting as many people as possible behind MATES will create a force for change: “Suicide has become all too common in our industry, and the devastating ripple effect it can cause has driven us to get engaged.
“We interact with thousands
of people every day so by getting
our teams and customers behind MATES in Construction we’re looking to drive increased awareness and make long- lasting positive change.”
www.placemakers.co.nz/foundation/ https://mates.net.nz/
Concrete acquisition not yet set
THE COMMERCE COMMISSION has received a clearance application from Concrete Group subsidiary Dunlop Drymix seeking clearance to acquire the assets and business of the six companies trading in New Zealand as Drymix.
The six Drymix companies were placed into receivership in mid-2020 but have continued to trade since.
The Commission wants to look at the proposed acquisition because both Concrete Group (under the Cemix
brand) and Drymix manufacture and supply a range of bagged concrete and mortar products for the same uses and to the same channels.
Cemix products are manufactured in Auckland, while Drymix products are manufactured at plants located in Feilding and Orari (near Timaru).
A public version of the clearance application is available on the Commission’s case register.
https://comcom.govt.nz/
10 NZHJ | MAY 2021
MORE AT www.hardwarejournal.co.nz