National Timber Group Case Study

Looking to grow

How Emanaged's in-depth marketplace analysis helped inform National Timber Group’s marketplace strategy and launch on their first site.

Challenge

Moving online

The National Timber Group is the largest timber merchant in the UK with 1,500 employees and 57 processing and distribution sites. Serving a diverse customer base of contractors, joiners and housebuilders, the Group wanted to set up an online channel to enhance their sales and distribution capabilities. They turned to Rich Insight to help create the right marketplace strategy.

The best praise I can give is that Emanaged became an extension of my team. They were extremely diligent in driving the project forward and providing expertise at every step.

Simon O’Mahony, Group Marketing Director, National Timber Group

Approach

Marketplace roadmap

Emanaged worked with the National Timber Group to analyse potential UK marketplaces and created a roadmap for their future marketplace expansion. This included site identification, such as setting up on GoBanana which they’d never heard of pre-engagement, defining a launch plan and helping tackle some difficult realities, such as shipping heavy and bulky products B2C and nationwide delivery requirements for a branch-based model.

56

Days from plan to launch on first marketplace

9

UK DIY & Construction sites reviewed

5

Key product categories analysed

Outcome

Swift and rigorous process

The National Timber Group launched on marketplaces within just 56 days of the plan being proposed. In that time, Emanaged’s comprehensive audit of potential marketplaces reviewed nine UK DIY & Construction site options and five key product categories for pricing and competitive activity. The tailored strategy also helped the Group streamline their processing and distribution for more efficient online sales.