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It was set up by four Plymouth men over a meal in a Chinese restaurant but CMO is now an £83m company with ambitions to be even bigger. The Burrington Way-based online construction materials retailer has grown to be a UK market leader in just 15 years and is eyeing future growth with a vow to remain in the city.
Ben Hodson, brand director, said: “This is our headquarters. There is no intention of moving out of Plymouth.”
CMO Group Plc is now firmly established as one of Plymouth’s top 10 most significant companies. It sells building products directly to customers; either small and medium trades businesses or people looking to do up their homes.
Its catalogue contains more than 120,000 items, making it the biggest in the market. Products are mainly shipped directly from any of 350 manufacturers to its 182,000 customers.
It operates 10 specialist websites: Clickbasin.co.uk, Buildingsuperstore.co.uk, Doorsuperstore.co.uk, Drainagesuperstore.co.uk, Insulationsuperstore.co.uk, JTMplumbing.co.uk, Plumbingsuperstore.co.uk, Roofingsuperstore.co.uk, Tileandfloorsuperstore.co.uk, and Totaltiles.co.uk. CMO bosses stress its high levels of customer service are vital to its success.
More than 35,000 people have rated the company “excellent” on business review website Trustpilot. Dean Murray, CMO’s chief executive, said: “Customer service has been critical for the success of this business.
That success has seen turnover jump from £45m pre-Covid to £76m in 2011 with a profit of £3.7m. Pre-audit sales figures for 2022 look even more impressive at £83m and Mr Murray said future growth is being targeted, saying: “We have massive aspirations.”
Mr Hodson stressed: “Our vision is to be the retailer of choice for anyone building or improving a home. We will provide all the products they need.
“We are still recruiting. We are the biggest player and have aspirations to remain the biggest player. It’s going to be a huge business.”
It’s a far cry from when the company was established in 2008, It was actually hatched in a Chinese restaurant when four roofers, nearing retirement, had the idea while eating a meal.
It began as a small outfit called Construction Materials Online.based at Plymouth’s Airport Business Park, where its offices didn’t even have an outside window. But bosses are proud that it has been profitable from the start and saw headcount grow from just 33 people to more than 100 by 2017.
It now has about 200 employees, of which about 130 are in Plymouth, the rest staffing warehouses in Ipswich and Darlington. It employs a hybrid working system with some staff office based, some at home, and some working between the two. On any day up to 50 people are in the Plymouth headquarters, where there is also a small warehouse.
Private equity house Key Capital Partners (KCP), made an £8.65m investment in the business in 2017 having recognised its potential. It rebranded, expanded its product list, and began acquiring other businesses.
It acquired Doorweb, rebranding as Door Superstore, followed by acquisitions of Total Tiles, JTM Plumbing, and Click Basin. CMO floated in 2021 and is now listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM).
In 2022 CMO unveiled a new brand identity and launched Plumbing Superstore. CMO Trade, the successful trade account service, rebranded to become Building Superstore to support professional builders, contractors and developers.
The company now plans to launch Good Build Superstore, providing advice for home-owners looking to make their abodes look even better. It is also looking to start a loyalty scheme.
And there are plans for future growth by organic expansion and by acquiring more companies. CMO sees many opportunities, for instance in the repair and maintenance market, in landscaping and eco-builds.
There are areas not covered by its specialist websites, such as bricks, aggregates and electricals, and CMO sees this as an opportunity. Mr Murray said: “There are core verticals we are missing. There is a lot to add.”
Plymouth’s CMO is now an £83m company with ambitions to be even bigger
(Image: CMO)Inside the CMO Plymouth HQ
(Image: CMO)CMO chief exec Dean Murray, left, and brand director Ben Hodson in the company’s Plymouth HQ
(Image: William Telford)CMO’s HQ in Burrington Way, Plymouth
(Image: CMO)About 130 staff work for CMO in Plymouth
(Image: CMO)CMO’s catalogue contains more than 120,000 items which are sent direct to customers
(Image: CMO)CMO operates 10 specialist websites selling building materials to trade and home owners
(Image: CMO)CMO was created in Plymouth and senior management stress it will remain the company’s base
(Image: CMO)CMO staff in Plymouth connect 350 manufacturers direct to 182,000 customers
(Image: CMO)CMO has made a profit every year and has grown into one of Plymouth’s top 10 businesses
(Image: CMO)CMO employs a hybrid working system with up to 50 people inside its Plymouth HQ each day
(Image: CMO)CMO sells building products directly to customers; either small and medium trades businesses or people looking to do up their homes
(Image: CMO)[ad_2]
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