Monument Tools is a UK-based manufacturer of professional plumbing, roofing, and drainage tools that has been in business since 1932. They offer a wide range of tools and work closely with merchants to support their businesses through product innovation, training, and marketing support. Monument Tools aims to provide the right products for all types of merchants and their different customer needs. They also support the industry through apprenticeship programs and trade associations.

1. MONUMENT TOOLS
Professional Quality Plumbing
Roofing & Drainage Tools
SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR
FINALIST

2. Overview
Monument Tools has been manufacturing professional quality
tools for the plumbing, roofing and drainage sector since 1932.
Based in Hackbridge, Surrey, the business is owned and managed
by the Collier family (now under the stewardship of the 5th generation).
The Monument brand is ‘generic’ within the plumbing tools sector
and continual investment in manufacturing processes, product
design and marketing has resulted in the company becoming
the largest producer of pipe cutters in Europe with a reputation
for quality, professionalism, excellence and innovation.
A recent Brand Refreshment programme was implemented to raise awareness levels
within the Merchant sector and to herald the start of a campaign to support the sector
through product innovation, service excellence, industry support, training and end
user engagement, all to drive sales & profit growth for both distributors and merchants.

3. Industry Support
Monument is an active member of the BMF, a Platinum Sponsor at the All Industry
Conference Malta 2015, sponsors the golf tournament in 2013-14-15 at BMF Members
Day; represents the industry on BHETA DIY Committee; is a partner of the RDT
and provides additional support for the President of the RDT and the only tool
manufacturer to support the industry’s float at a recent Lord Mayor’s Show.
Through an ongoing relationship with the training organisation JTL, Monument has
been supporting the next generation of plumbers through apprenticeship programmes
via Schools and Colleges. Specialist Toolkits have been supplied free of charge to
introduce this next generation to the Monument brand. Monument were nominated
for H&V News Partnership Award in 2014, in now Monument and JTL are looking
to increase awareness within the merchant sector to be able to deliver the correct
and professional tools for NVQ Level 3 Apprenticeships.
MONUMENT TOOLS

4. One Size Does Not Fit All
All merchants are different, varying by size, location, customer type and customer spend.
Monument has developed ranges of formats for different types of merchant and their
customers e.g. DIY, White Van Man, Professional H&V Engineer, Gas Engineer etc to ensure
that the merchant has the right range of products to fit the merchant’s customer profile.
Product packaging card sizes are standardised to allow for eye catching and easy layouts.
Bespoke toolbar headers have also been included.
I am impressed with the very professional
manner Monument Tools have shown in
implementing their tool stands in our 5
branches. The stands are an excellent
addition to our trade counters. They look
good and have increased our tool sales
remarkably. Kevin Dewey, Operations Manager
”
“

5. Flexibility
Private Labelling & OEM has been part of the Monument philosophy over many
years. Monument has recently worked closely with a major Buying Group to develop
a Private Label plumbing Tool Range which is being delivered to more than 200
Trade Counters. Striking black toolbars are being installed in trade counters with
members’ bespoke packaging, pioneering trade counter range guides and
A5 end user catalogues included as part of the POS material. Monument Account
Managers install on site, merchandise to planograms and deliver trade counter
product training.

6. End User Engagement Program
Monument has launched an end user engagement
program, raising the profile of Monument to Professional
Tradesmen and driving them into the plumbers and
builders merchants.
Social Media is at the heart of this
as well as Trade Press editorial and
advertising encouraging involvement
through the supply chain.
Training
Monument works closely with the BMF and presented at the BMF Branch
Managers Forum on “Hammering Home the Profits from Hand Tools”.
Apprenticeships are being offered by the company in
Manufacturing Engineering, Warehousing & Distribution and
Customer Service. Monument’s internal Departmental Team
Leaders are also embarking on BMF / Didac Apprenticeships
and NVQs in Leadership.
All Monument’s sales staff, both external and internal, have
been through a bespoke Monument training programme, run by
Weiss Marketing, designed to improve customer satisfaction levels.
Can I take this opportunity to thank you and your team for your efforts, and show you some
of the fruits....You can see our stock has dropped and sales are now increasing steadily.
The trendlines are both heading the right way..... MKM Q1, 2013
”
“
I have dealt with Monument Tools for nearly 30 yrs and
have found their product range innovative whilst also
offering a range of tools for the old fashioned plumbing
Jobs. More importantly, they are easy to do business
with, which in these pressured times is a great asset
John O’Brien, BBS
”
“

7. Plans for Winter 2015 and beyond
Monument Grip+ is a ‘patent and TM pending’ group of products, designed for
professionals and manufactured in Hackbridge. The products can be used with
over 1 million Monument adjustable basin wrenches already in the marketplace
but also include new product designs and kits to cover many other plumbing tasks.
Trade Counter Training in plumbing tools is essential to aid the merchant
staff to understand what can be a complex category.
Working with Cortexa, we are delivering a program to deliver training to
merchant counter staff online and via our Regional Account Managers.
It was great to visit you (at Monument Open Day) yesterday and I was very impressed with
the modern machinery that you have to produce so much of your products ‘in house’. It’s
always reassuring to see a company being so well organised at not only how the goods
are produced and packaged, but also how quickly you can react to producing items in
a very short lead time. March 2013, Merchant Customer
”
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8. Summary
Recently Monument has delivered growth of circa 20% per annum for our leading
distributor through our ‘one size does NOT fit all’ program. This has been achieved by
supporting distributors through a customer acquisition programme backed up by
free merchandisers & POS and regular sales calls. Monument works closely
with the major buying groups, improving members’ displays, helping
with trade counter training and product awareness.
We have achieved 96% availability via distribution and displaced
a number of imported products with our ‘Made in Britain’ range.
For more information email:
heather.aronin@monument-tools.com
www.monument-tools.com
MONUMENT TOOLS
Monument tools offer a wide range of Plumbing and Roofing Tools providing a solution for every
eventuality. The staff at Monument have a wealth of Knowledge in this product area and are only
too willing to help find a suitable product from their range to complete every job. At Martin & Partners
we have traded with Monument for over 15 Years and as a recognised plumbers merchant offering
quality products we would not use any other supplier for our plumbing and roofing tools
David Dickens, Chairman NMBS Hardware committee
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