Marketing helps brick firm build up its bottom line

Date published: 16/11/2004

When Rochdale Builders Merchants, Harwood Jackson, wanted to stand out from a competition, they found their answer in a website.

With the support of Business Link North Manchester, the company established a unique resource that helps architects and builders in the purchase of facing bricks and related products for just about any project from house extensions to major commercial developments.

“We were trying to get ahead and the support from Business Link really helped to differentiate us from our rivals.” Says General Manager Chris Gibson. The site offers a valuable brick-matching service that allows customers to log on, compare different kinds of bricks and see how they will look against a range of mortars. Once we had the site we found ourselves getting email enquiries and phone calls from all over the country and it really helped to stimulate business.”

The success of the site also helped to encourage Harwood Jackson to work with Business Link on further initiatives that have now given the company a marketing arm and allowed them to achieve investors in people recognition.

Business Link North Manchester adviser Yvonne Grady says:

“The company has come to appreciate that whether it’s help with the website or any other aspect of their business, they can come to us and we will find the right kind of help and support for their business.”