B&Q has broken ranks with other DIY superstore chains to become the first such operator to join TRADA.
The company, which purchases in excess of £90m of timber per year, officially became a member of High Wycombe-based timber research and development association at the beginning of April after several weeks of negotiation.
B&Q believes membership – said to amount to a ‘considerable investment’ – will bring it key benefits. Most important of these is that all its 318 stores will be able to tap into TRADA’s expertise and product knowledge.
B&Q is ‘keen to demonstrate’ that it is a responsible timber products supplier and is considering using BM TRADA‘s Q-Mark schemes, such as the Spotlight scheme for dry graded timber.
The superstore chain is also said to be in discussion with TRADA to develop ‘an extensive training programme’ and put in place a link between the TRADA and B&Q websites for ‘joint communication, branding and new product development’.
A spokesperson for the company’s commercial timber team said: ‘TRADA enables us to provide technical advice to our customers when purchasing timber and timber products. In addition, it also provides information and training to our store teams to assist them to offer expert advice to our customers.’
TRADA views getting the DIY chain on board as a major coup and is looking to use its newest member as an asset for future development of the timber research body.
TRADA chief executive Dr Chris Gill said: ‘We ‘re looking forward to working closely with B&Q to develop the technical information that is being fed through to buyers and users of wood products. Our aim is to repackage our information in an ‘at-a-glance’ format, tailored to meet the needs of specific end users.’
