Huddersfield-based Bradbury Bros celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and the occasion will be marked with a barbecue on Sunday (24 March, 10am-3pm) where there will be stands and displays by the distributor’s major brands Yuasa, NGK, EBC, K&N, Silkolene, and Tecmate. Dealers and existing customers are invited.
“It’s flying the flag, isn’t it,” said owner Denis Bradbury. “We want the suppliers to be there so our customers can see the offices, the online ordering service and the warehouse.” Storage capacity within the warehouse has just been expanded by 60% with the construction of a mezzanine floor to cater for growing demand for tyres.
“We are having to stock more and more tyres because our customers are expecting us to have all the tyres all of the time. We are after people who want to buy what they need in terms of hard parts – like spark plugs, chains, sprockets – and can then tag on a tyre as well. So it’s a better portfolio of products. Almost a one-stop shop on products,” Bradbury explained.
“We do a lot of investment. We are changing with the times … We have to adapt with people’s buying patterns, and that includes them buying lesser amounts more often so wholesalers like ourselves have to have the stock. The number of parcels leaving our premises has vastly increased.”
Bradbury explained the company’s new online portal showed actual stock levels so dealers could see whether an item was in stock, an image and description of each product, and its price. “That’s what dealers need. They don’t want to wait until tomorrow when the van delivers it.”
Bradbury has changed premises three times within Huddersfield over the past 40 years, moving into the current premises in 2007 and has extended twice, in 2008 and 2010.