Offering a new way to access high quality building materials and home improvement supplies, Plane & Simple (itsplaneandsimple.com) connects DIYers with trusted local independent merchants, shining a light on great local merchants who might not be on a customer’s radar. By entering a postcode, customers are paired with a selection of merchant partners in their area, and a full range of building supplies and products are delivered directly to their door.
Once a merchant signs on as a partner, they benefit from market insight, regular monitoring and additional marketing to drive online sales. With a targeted approach, the platform also allows merchants to control the areas that they are selling to, with full control over delivery areas.
Plane & Simple is currently available in three regions: Central Scotland; Devon and Cornwall; and Sussex and Kent. The long term plans for the business include expansion into the rest of the UK.
“The pandemic has advanced online purchasing in all sectors, and builders merchants are no exception,” said Glen Stocco, co-founder of Plane & Simple. “We know that 40% of online shoppers prefer to shop on marketplaces, and that shoppers are five times more likely to search for a product on a marketplace than on a brand’s website. We expect this will only increase as the sector adopts more digitalisation.
“Developing a website with online sales capabilities can be a big undertaking for busy businesses. The Plane & Simple partnership means that we only win if we both win. By connecting the best independent trade merchants in the country with local online customers, we think Plane & Simple is going to revolutionise the DIY and building materials purchase process and we’re looking forward to seeing it develop as it’s rolled out across the country.”
