B&Q has opened its first ever standalone TradePoint store in Barking, marking a significant expansion of its trade-focused offer beyond the dedicated counters and in-store areas currently housed within its wider estate.
Located on Ripple Road, the new 32,000 sq ft flagship has been created exclusively for trade professionals and has generated more than 30 local jobs.
While TradePoint already operates from dedicated spaces in more than 200 B&Q stores nationwide, Barking is the first location to launch as a standalone site in its own right, underlining B&Q’s ambitions to deepen its appeal among tradespeople.
The store has been designed around speed, convenience and specialist support, with services including 6am opening from Monday to Saturday, 15-minute click and collect, load and go collection, same-day delivery in as little as two hours and next-day bulk delivery.
TradePoint Barking stocks more than 5,500 products for immediate takeaway, with a further 25,000 items available for collection or delivery. Brands on offer include Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita and Johnstone’s Trade, alongside B&Q’s own Erbauer and Site ranges.
The new store also features timber and plasterboard cutting via two cutting saws, paint mixing, Speedy Tool Hire and dedicated trade business development managers to support customers both in-store and online.
Jagjit Kalsey, store manager at TradePoint Barking, said: “We’re proud to have opened TradePoint Barking today, giving local tradespeople a store designed first and foremost around how they work.
“My team and I are looking forward to supporting the trade community with early opening, fast collection and delivery, and expert support.”
B&Q said the launch was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting, a live radio broadcast from the Bald Builders at Fix Radio, free gift bags for the first 300 customers, giveaways and complimentary food and drinks.
Further promotions and product demonstrations are planned throughout the opening period, including discounted products, 10 per cent off every Monday for TradePoint members until 4 May, and in-store demonstrations from brands including DeWalt, Leyland, Johnstone’s Trade and Bostik.
TradePoint is B&Q’s trade brand and is already available through dedicated areas at larger B&Q sites across the UK. The Barking opening, however, represents the first time the business has launched a standalone store format specifically for the trade market.
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