Natbuild 30 Years

30 Years! It feels like just yesterday that the foundations were laid for what Natbuild would become Natbuild. It also feels like 30 years, funny how that happens.

Of course, there have been a lot of changes in that time, but our core tenets, those guiding principles Natbuild began with in 1993 are still with us to this day. Our belief in fostering growth and providing support for independent businesses is, and remains, steadfast.

Like most great ideas, it was born out of necessity. Our first members consisted of Gunns, Bretts, Cairns Hardware, Tobacco Growers, Beri, Bowens and Hurfords. Our list was short, and they knew to be more effective in the marketplace they had to grow and so, in 1994 a few of Natbuild’s founders went on the road to recruit new members to join the group.

The idea for a buying group was nothing new, but the opportunity to create something special for Australian independent hardware businesses was too good to ignore. The potential of building a tight-knit community, one that supports each other and enhances the relationships between the members and suppliers was the goal.

So, in the beginning the seven founders would meet and talk, discuss the future, the industry, the possibilities, and opportunities for Natbuild. 30 years on and with our members now numbering 39 and with over 200 stores between them, our buying power and ability to offer and provide is more competitive than it has ever been.

With our growth, Natbuild now has unprecedented access to information data across all aspects of the business, providing the ability to make improvements with precision, and take advantage of opportunities with confidence.

The development of TradeNet, Natbuild’s inhouse software that enables members quick access to deals, pricing rebate information and so much more, was a gamechanger for the group, something the founders could never have imagined in 1993. Today, the services Natbuild offer stem from of our members’ and suppliers’ need to work smart and add value. While getting the best deal will always be great, the true measure of success is the enjoyment we get from building long term relationships, sharing our stories and experiences that in turn make us all better. As something of a badge of honour, TradeNet is now used by several other buying groups, and not just in Australia, standing as a testament to the quality of the product.

Over 30 years, Natbuild has constantly refined and honed the approach to the market and our members. Three decades in the industry has afforded us the luxury of looking back at what has made us strong, what has worked and what we will take with us as we go forward. We have survived and thrived over this time and as a result we have incredible insight that we enjoy passing on to our members and suppliers whenever we can.

It’s hard to say what will happen in the next 30 years, but there are core values that will always remain. We are nothing without our members and suppliers, so relationships are always key, and we are always looking to build long term and strong connections. We will continue to add value for our members and suppliers and we will keep an open mind as those opportunities evolve and change in line with the times. And finally, our staff will continue to be the best in the business by staying up to date on the latest systems and technologies, through training and development, so we remain the best solution providers in the industry and to our network.

30 years, where does the time go? We’d like to think it’s gone into developing the best independent buying group in Australia and into a team that makes it so. Sure, there are other groups and good people everywhere, but we wholeheartedly believed nothing comes close to the collective offer we have.

To everyone that has been a part of Natbuild, whether from day one or year 30, thank you. We look forward to whatever the next 30 will bring.