The new outlet at Aylsham ties in with the company’s strategy to have an outlet every 10 miles “so no tradesman has to travel more than five to obtain materials”. Its other branches are in Holt, Stalham and North Walsham.
Officially launched on March 13, the one-acre Aylsham site has been modelled on the Holt branch, which opened in 2000, and comprises purpose-built warehousing and offices and a large area of exterior hard standing.
Builders merchant general manager Paul Pamment said that the CT Baker was unperturbed at the prospect of starting a new outlet in a tough market.
“We’re already getting a very positive response in the area, and our view is that it takes up to two years for a new site to fully bed in,” he said.
“We’re confident that by then the market will be turning round and we’ll be well placed to take advantage.”
The new branch has a team of six – three new employees and three taken from the other branches to ensure it has the “CT Baker service ethos”.
“We’ve also recruited another three people to fill the places at the other sites, so in total we’ve recruited six,” said Mr Pamment.
All CT Baker branches have a full range of dry graded carcassing, treated timber and sheet material, sourced from “importers which have implemented the EU Timber Regulation”. It also stocks an “extended range” of PSE.