National Buying Group (NBG) is the UK’s premier buying group for independent merchants

We help independent merchants to sustain and expand their businesses through excellence in buying, access to a supportive community and business-enhancing support systems.

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Our Purpose

National Buying Group exists to help independent merchants to buy better in order to sustain and expand their businesses.

These elements of our purpose see that independent merchants have access to the best Supplier deals and are therefore more resilient to fluctuating market conditions, well placed to grow their business and can collaborate on overcoming challenges and approaches to new opportunities.

Our Strategy

We help our extensive network of merchant Partners to sustain and expand their businesses.

Our strategy is guided by our three strategic pillars: excellence in buying, a supportive community and enhancing business performance.

Excellence in Buying

Our Category Management Teams (CMTs) are made up of NBG Partners that specialise in and/or trade in various areas of the building materials market. This expertise, combined with our buying power, not only grants our merchant Partners access to many of the sector’s leading brands, but also Supplier agreements that allow them to compete on price with national chains.

A Supportive Community

Our thriving network of merchants is built on a democratic structure that gives each one an equal vote, regardless of the size of their business or time affiliated with NBG. This means that our Partners have an equal say in the deals negotiated with Suppliers in their Categories and the decisions that impact NBG.

By fostering this one Partner, one vote approach, Partners see each other as colleagues rather than competitors. Our Partners come together for the annual NBG Conference (the highlight of the industry’s calendar) and are quick to offer each other peer support, shared expertise and practical business advice.

Enhancing Business Performance

Partners gain practical business support to improve efficiency, identify growth opportunities and strengthen overall business performance. The shared insights and experiences of our merchant network help Partners capitalise on opportunities that they may have otherwise missed.

Access to the NBG Hub helps merchants improve efficiency and support access; our Product Information Management (PIM+) system grants Partners access to up-to-date product data including pricing, logistics, marketing and media. Automatic rebate collection further supports operational efficiency by reducing the administrative load associated with Supplier rebates.

How NBG works

Governance

We operate as a democratic partnership that ensures all Partners can contribute equally to discussions and decisions regardless of their size or seniority within the group.

Membership

NBG Partners work together to sustain, strengthen and expand their businesses while safeguarding their independence. Merchants join NBG to reap the benefits of our competitive Supplier agreements, business support, and access to a national independent merchant network.

Partner Participation

All Partners are expected to be active in the group, participating in meetings and events. By participating, Partners can share and gain knowledge, exchange market insight, shape NBG deals, and benefit from the business insights of others in the industry.

Decision-making

Decisions made within the group are democratic and Partner-led. Partners are expected to attend regional and Category meetings, bringing their knowledge and ideas to the table, helping direct decisions that impact the collective network.

Category Management Teams

Our Category Management Teams are made up of NBG Partners who use their market knowledge to help shape Supplier agreements, category strategies and buying decisions, ensuring that they are representing the real-world needs of the Partners within their category.

Our Category Management Teams

We have a specialist Category Management Team in each of the following categories:

Central Team and strategic relationships

Our Central Team provides the administration, support and governance that helps the group run efficiently as a whole. This allows Partners to focus on their businesses while benefitting from the strength of the wider group.

The team comprises of our Managing Director, Finance Team, specialist Buyers, Commercial Support Team and Systems Team – all of whom come together with the support of our Non-Executive Chair to maximise the effectiveness of the group for all Partners.

The Central Team supports compliance, manages Supplier partnerships and agreements, collects and distributes Supplier rebates and helps ensure that agreements deliver value for both Partners and Suppliers. The team is also responsible for maintaining our dedicated Partner Hub and Product Information Management (PIM+) system to ensure Partners can access a wealth of critical information including product and pricing data, plus key contacts from across the organisation.

A summary of the support provided by our Central Team is as follows:

Day-to-day administration and governance support

The function of the buying group continues while Partners focus on the running of their businesses.

Category Management Teams

Central support from our specialist Buyers combined with Partner expertise moulds Supplier agreements, strategies and how commercial opportunities are formed for the benefit of Partners and Suppliers.

Access to business-critical systems

Our IT and Commercial Support functions combine to ensure merchant Partners have a wealth of business-critical information at their fingertips – from live Supplier pricing to Supplier terms and agreements and key contact details.

Financial and Commercial Support

Our Central Finance Team manages the collection and distribution of rebates from Suppliers to ease the administrative burden on our Partners. Further help with the administration and organisation of our Supplier deals is also provided by our dedicated Commercial Support team.

Management of Supplier relationships on behalf of Partners

Commercial agreements are led by our Category Buyers and see that value is delivered to Suppliers and Partners alike. Many Partners enjoy automatic rebates as part of our Supplier agreements.

Relationships with trade bodies and the broader industry

Our close connections with industry associations like the BMF (Builders Merchants Federation) and NMBS (National Merchant Buying Society) keeps NBG and our network of Partners abreast of important industry developments and strengthens our influence. It also creates opportunities for collaboration, such as the industry initiative Data Yard, which NBG is proud to have been involved with from its inception.

Support for compliance and processes

Partners commit to Supplier deals which are then managed by CMTs and facilitated in part via the Hub. This maximises sales for Suppliers and benefits the entire Partner network.

The history of NBG

National Buying Group (NBG) was originally founded in 2003, following the merger of three separate regional buying groups: the Scottish Independent Merchants Buying Association (SIMBA), the Chandor Consortium (South of England) and the Prospero Consortium (North and Central England, and Wales).

At the time, the three groups were independently run but had a shared business outlook so joined forces to create NBG.

In January 2008, NBG was registered as a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). This structure means every Partner has an equal voice, supporting a culture of unity and openness. We are a not-for-profit organisation, with all residual proceeds distributed to our Partners each year.

Today, NBG continues to experience strong growth with new branch openings and expansion into exciting business areas.