timber supplies Archives

Posted on 2 December 20242 January 2025 by Louise Parkes

Collier & Catchpole Lawford Hosts 1st Winter Wonderland Trade & DIY Event

“The perfect way to finish this year’s trade shows — great suppliers, a few cheeky churros & exclusive winter trade deals”

On Thursday 28th November, we hosted our first Winter Wonderland event. It was certainly one for the memory books. A great turnout of customers and suppliers, paired with winter sunshine, giveaways, games, hot churros & chocolate. We couldn’t have asked for more.

🍫 Fried churros & chocolate sauce (9.30am – 1.30pm)
📻 Prize draw to win a Makita UK DAB Radio & D.I.Y S’more Kit
❄️ Competition to win your own height in beer
👏 Live demos, displays & giveaways from RUBI UK & Ireland, Azpects Ltd, TIMCO, Mannok, Pavestone UK Limited, Sika, Brett Martin, Keylite and Colchester Institute.

“It was a great day and well organised, looking forward to the next one!” – Adrian. “Fantastic event, very welcoming environment and an amazing team at Collier & Catchpole. Well done to all involved” – Tristan. “Really enjoyed this event, great marketing again, a pleasure to see hard work come together” – Carl.

Meet The Winter Wonderland Exhibitors

Brett Martin Ltd is a global player supplying specialist plastic products for the construction, fabrication sectors worldwide. “Brett Martin is the UK and Ireland’s leading independent building products manufacturer with a comprehensive Underground, Rainwater and Plumbing product range, including the innovative Cast Iron Rainwater and Soil system, Cascade.”

Colchester Institute‘s Trowel Trades & Wood Occupations department: In partnership with industry leaders like Collier & Catchpole. “We deliver hands-on training and real-world experience. Our learners gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in the construction industry, preparing them for the next step — higher education, apprenticeships, or employment — ensuring they are workplace-ready and poised for success.” – Tristan Edwards / Chris Coe, M.Ed.

Established in 1972 — TIMCO imports and supplies more than 8,000 quality products from around the world. “From screws and fixings to power tool accessories, hand tools, adhesives, chemicals, personal and site protection, security, ironmongery, building hardware and beyond”

Based in Ipswich, Suffolk — Azpects Ltd have been developing, manufacturing and distributing hard landscaping products since 2009. “We produce products that make creating and maintaining hard landscaping EASY. The revolutionary EASYJoint has become the UK’s top-selling jointing compound amongst landscaping and building professionals.” Mica / David.

Keylite Roof Windows offers a full range of roof windows, blinds, timber loft ladders, flashings, electric operation kits and accessories. “We believe that every product produced should provide the very best in innovation, quality and value for money.” – Abie Jackson.

Mannok is one of UK & Ireland’s most diverse and experienced manufacturers of premium construction products. “Manufacturing and service excellence coupled with a passion for quality is at the core of our business and our aim is to provide an unrivalled technical support to architects, designers, engineers, contractors and building owners” Adrian Downes

RUBI Group specialise in the design and manufacture of machinery and tools for cutting, placing and maintaining tiles. “At RUBI we evolve day by day hand in hand with professionals from all over the world, providing them with the necessary tools to obtain the best results”.

Sika (Everbuild) is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection. “The reputation for Sika for quality and reliability is virtually unmatched, illustrated through a comprehensive portfolio of problem solving products that have been employed for many years” – Chris Forsyth.

This year we have done our best to ramp up our in-house events and the support we have received from our suppliers and customers has boosted the Collier brand and paved the way for the future trade days.

Well done to the Lawford team, you hosted a 10/10 event. We can still smell the churros! See you again next year for Winter Wonderland 2025. Click here to see our top photos from our “family photoshoot”.

Some highlights from the event

Posted on 1 December 202323 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Guess How Many Teabags in the Jar Competition

Throughout November, customers took part in a fun in-store challenge, all for a chance to win one of 70 top-tier prizes.

The competition has us all scratching our heads, we had over 350 guesses throughout the month and the lucky winners have now been notified. Thank you to everyone who participated, and a big congratulations to our winners!

The correct number of teabags in the jar was 346. It was a tight competition, but here’s how the top guesses stacked up:
🥇 1st Place: Darren Wilkins, guessed 350, just 4 teabags off! He walked away with the grand prize of a Makita cordless kettle with two spare batteries.
🥈 2nd Place: Craig Ellis, guessed 337, securing his spot and winning a selection of high-quality workwear and tools.
🥉 3rd Place: Helen Kemp, guessed 358 and won an assortment of tools and some new TuffStuff work boots.

We gave away over 70 prizes in total, including workwear, boots, tools, and, of course, the grand prize of the Makita cordless kettle — perfect for making a brew on site.

We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in-store. Your guesses, enthusiasm, and support made this competition a fantastic experience for all involved. We hope you enjoyed participating as much as we did.

Big thank you to everyone who had a guess in-store and a bigger thank you to Collier & Catchpole, TuffStuff Workwear, Azpects Ltd, ACO Group, TIMCO and Keystone Lintels for sponsoring.

Stay tuned for more in-store challenges and fun competitions coming soon — and don’t forget to pop into Collier & Catchpole for all your building, landscaping, and workwear needs.

Posted on 17 October 202323 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Collier & Catchpole Proudly Supports Colchester Institute Wood Occupations

“Helping to build the future”

We are proud to announce our sponsorship of the Colchester Institute Wood Occupations Department. Our first delivery of MDF and sawn timber marks the beginning of a valuable partnership that aims to nurture the next generation of skilled woodworkers and carpenters in Colchester and the surrounding areas.

Chris from Colchester Institute commented: “Collier & Catchpole have made a substantial and lasting impact on the lives of budding woodworkers and carpenters.

Their commitment to nurturing talent and fostering craftsmanship is truly commendable! With their support. We can provide our apprentices with the tools, training, and resources they need to excel in their craft.

Thank you Collier & Catchpole, for believing in our mission and investing in the next generation of woodworkers. Your partnership is a shining example of corporate social responsibility and community empowerment.”

We believe that investing in woodworking education not only empowers students but also helps build a skilled workforce for the future.

Our partnership sign has now been installed at Colchester Institute above the doors of the new woodworking suite. We would like to thank Hardwood Signs for their 10/10 craftsmanship, quality and attention to detail.

“Thanks to Collier & Catchpole for sponsoring our new apprenticeship suite. The partnership has allowed for the Level 2 Year 2 Site Carpenter and Joiners to build 2 bungalows inside our new workshop space” – Chris Coe, M.E

Supporting the development of skilled trades is not just about providing materials—it’s about ensuring a strong foundation for the future of construction in our region. Together with Colchester Institute, we are committed to creating opportunities for students to hone their skills and contribute to the local economy.

Thank you to the team at Colchester Institute, so much to look forward to. Let’s build the future together!

Our range of timber products and building materials is available for both delivery and collection from our Colchester, Ipswich, and Lawford branches. Whether you’re working on a self-build, home improvement, or a commercial project, we have everything you need to get the job done.

Posted on 16 July 202323 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Yard Expansion Completed at Collier & Catchpole Lawford

We are excited to announce the completion of a major 600m² external yard expansion at our Lawford branch, with the fantastic support of D A Cant.

This new expansion will significantly enhance the availability and accessibility of building materials and products for both collection and delivery.

Thanks to our friends at C & W Fencing, who made essential upgrades to our front gates. The expanded space allows for quicker loading and easier access to the yard, so you can get in, get loaded, and get back to work faster than ever.

As part of this expansion, we’re excited to offer improvements in our stock ranges, including a larger selection of:

Bricks & Blocks – Offering everything from standard bricks to specialist blocks for all types of building projects.
Timber – A wide variety of high-quality timber products perfect for construction, roofing, and landscaping needs.
Landscaping Materials – From decorative aggregates to paving slabs and sleepers, we have everything you need to transform outdoor spaces.
Lintels – Stocking a variety of lintels for different structural applications.
Drainage Solutions – We provide a full range of drainage products, from drain pipes to manhole covers.
Insulation – High-performance insulation materials to meet energy-efficiency requirements for residential and commercial builds.

What’s Next?

With Lawford 2.0 officially open, keep an eye out for new products rolling in over the coming weeks. Whether you need bricks, timber, landscaping materials, or insulation, our Lawford, Colchester, and Ipswich branches are here to help.

Visit us today or explore our range online at Collier & Catchpole for delivery and collection options across Essex and Suffolk.

Posted on 1 July 202323 October 2024 by Louise Parkes

Collier & Catchpole Hosts 1st Summer Bonanza Trade Show Event

On Friday, 23rd June, Collier & Catchpole hosted its first-ever Summer Bonanza Trade Show Event at their Colchester branch. The event brought together customers, suppliers, and industry experts for a day packed with networking, demonstrations, and fun activities.

The event was an opportunity for customers to meet the Collier & Catchpole team and discuss their projects with over 60 industry professionals.

Experts representing a range of product categories, including bricks, blocks, timber, and drainage, were available to provide advice and guidance. Customers could also explore the vast selection of building materials and landscaping products that Collier & Catchpole offers for both delivery and collection from their Stanway, Ipswich, and Lawford branches.

Guests had a blast playing on the retro Pac-Man machine, racing in driving simulators and everyone who visited had a chance to win a 50-inch Samsung TV—which was taken home by Graham from IFIX at the end of the event. To keep energy levels high, over 280 freshly cooked wood-fired pizzas from The Mobile Pizza Co were served to customers throughout the day, as well as burgers and hot dogs.

The first 50 visitors were treated to gift bags filled with goodies, including Pavestone mugs, Collier Hats, Pick&Mix sweets and TuffStuff workwear socks, making the experience even more memorable.

32 leading building material brands came to exhibit including, Ox Tools, Haemmerlin, Pavestone, Toolbank, Azpects, ACO Group, TuffStuff Workwear, and Brett Martin.

Velux brought their famous show-trailer, featuring a fully fitted loft space with Velux skylights, giving visitors a tangible experience of how these products can enhance their homes.

Rockwool demonstrated their fire and water insulation capabilities in a 10m-long mobile display and Millboard impressed attendees with their exhibition showroom.

Colchester Branch Manager Matt Whymark said, “It was fantastic to see customers and suppliers come together. It was a brilliant turnout, and the entire team put in an amazing effort. We can’t wait for the next Summer Bonanza!”

Commercial Manager and Event Organiser Karl Flintoff added, “The event was an excellent opportunity for our suppliers to demonstrate their expertise and product range. The feedback has been phenomenal, with many asking, ‘When’s the next one?‘ It’s a testament to the strong relationships we’ve built with our suppliers.”

The success of the event, with some calling it “the best trade show they had ever been to” sets the stage for more exciting events at Collier & Catchpole. Keep an eye on our social media for event highlights, supplier updates, and news on future trade shows.