National Merchant Buying Society (NMBS) are a significant organisation within the building supplies industry, turning over £1.9 billion last year. Having worked with them since 2013, our role has evolved; initially looking after their marketing print, we now work with them on brand development and digital projects, driving their membership communications.
For NMBS, objectives are focused around increasing membership numbers, improving communications between their members and suppliers, and positioning themselves as technology leaders in their industry.
“To be part of the continued growth of NMBS gives us great pride. We don't feel like a supplier, we feel like part of their team.”
Membership communications projects are high on their agenda, as are the events they host, to help retain existing members and attract new ones. From quarterly guides showcasing and advertising suppliers, to monthly promotional packs which provide members with details of supplier discounts, right through to events collateral and personalised new membership materials; we design, create and deliver digital and offline communications to help them build and develop successful relationships.
We know NMBS; their business, people, markets: their brand. In 2017, we were appointed to update the brand, and understanding the need for it to stay fresh and relevant, to retain engagement and investment, we modernised and simplified the style and produced full brand guidelines.
Around the same time, we were also commissioned to design and develop their new website. In order to meet their business objectives, NMBS recognised the need to have a user-optimised and targeted website; a key marketing tool and a conversion platform.
The website was to be a hub to represent NMBS, as well as to market to 4 very specific user groups. Building upon existing insights of their users and conducting focused research, we created a tailored solution that focuses heavily on user journey experience. The project was delivered on time and within budget, attributable to skilled project planning, together with open and regular communication between all the teams involved.
