MKM Building Supplies opens 40th branch

Independent builders merchant MKM Building Supplies has opened its 40th branch, situated in the shadow of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow, Scotland.

The Hull-based company has announced ambitious expansion plans to extend its branch network across the UK, with six new outlets to open by the end of next year.

The latest 37,000 sq ft store has created 19 new jobs and is designed as a one stop shop for tradesmen and DIY enthusiasts alike and employs specialist teams to advise customers on all aspects of building work.

Branch director, Craig Millar, said: “We haven’t had an independent in Glasgow for many years so the arrival of MKM will help diversify the local market and introduce a more customer friendly way of doing business.

“Certainly the success of our other Scottish branches would suggest we are on our way to building a very strong brand here and the Glasgow branch will go a long way to furthering that process.”

Millar, who is also chairman of the Builders Merchants Federation in Scotland, expects the new branch to be popular immediately as people are choosing to invest in their own properties rather than move.

The new branch is entirely powered by solar energy and biomass and is to become a centre of excellence for green building materials and techniques, including customer demonstrations on renewable technology and innovation.

MKM chief executive, David Kilburn, expressed his excitement at opening the company’s 40th branch in Glasgow. He said: “Glasgow is a fantastic city with warm and friendly people and we feel the MKM way of doing business, which centres around offering a more personal and tailored service that you would expect from an independent, will suit the culture well.

“We have come a long way since starting out 18 years ago yet despite our ongoing expansion we have always stayed true to the values on which we were founded.”