Digital Magazine | First edition
Content
1/ Matter of the Month
From bricks to clicks:
How chatbox Charly is redefining customer service in Merchantland
2/ Merchants on Fire
Interview with Arjan Ahout and Tom Swinkels:
“If we really want to innovate, we need the guts to share knowledge’’
3/ Industry Experts
Interview with Hans de Gier:
“Don’t panic over arrival of Digital Product Passport’’
And more…
Introducing Our Community Voice
Dear Colleagues and Euro-Mat Partners,
It is with great enthusiasm that we introduce the first edition of our new publication —an international online platform created by and for builders merchants across our European network.
In today’s rapidly evolving construction industry, the power of community and shared knowledge has never been more valuable. This online magazine represents our commitment to opening up our network and bringing together individual members, builders merchants, and store management teams from our shareholders into an active, engaged community.
Within these pages, you’ll discover a wealth of content designed specifically for our industry: innovative approaches transforming our business, success stories from merchants who have found unique ways to thrive in their local markets, and detailed explorations of noteworthy projects. We’ll navigate the complexities of EU regulations together, providing practical examples of compliance and adaptation.
Our case studies, expert interviews, and updates from partner suppliers and shareholders aim to provide you with insights and ideas that can be applied to your own operations.
This online magazine is more than just a publication, it’s a platform for connection, a forum for discussion and an acknowledgement of the essential role builders merchants play in the construction ecosystem. We invite you to not only read but contribute, as your experiences and perspectives will help shape this community resource.
Together, we’re building something beyond bricks and mortar, we’re constructing a unified voice for our industry that crosses borders and bridges distances. Welcome to our community!
Eldert Jan van Herk
General Manager Euro-Mat
Matter of the month
From bricks to clicks: how chatbox Charly is redefining customer service in Merchantland
Interview with Thomas Schwarz – Head digital Office – HGC Handel AG
What started with a link forwarded by a partner grew into a strategic AI project at the Swiss construction wholesaler HGC: the implementation of Chatbot Charly. This virtual assistant really understands what a customer is asking and can answer in all possible languages.
Merchants on Fire
“If we really want to innovate, we need the guts to share knowledge’’
Interview with Arjan Ahout and Tom Swinkels, owners of Bouwcenters in Eersel and Lieshout (The Netherlands)
Sustainable construction is in the spotlight. Climate change, high energy prices and imminent depletion of minerals are forcing European builders to take circular and biobased materials seriously. This directly affects the building materials trade, as Arjan Ahout and Tom Swinkels, owners of BouwCenters in Eersel and Lieshout, the Netherlands, realised. They took a radical step, opening a joint branch in Eindhoven and established an entirely new showroom under the brand name Bouwgroen (Building Green).
Community Program and Activities
EURO-MAT Innovation Forum 2025 brings construction sector together in Split
From 19 to 21 May 2025, the Croatian coastal city of Split will be the setting for the EURO-MAT Forum 2025, a leading event focusing on innovation and collaboration in the construction sector. The international gathering targets European building materials wholesalers and their suppliers, providing a unique platform for sharing knowledge, networking and exploring the latest technologies and solutions.
Merchants in the Spotlight
BMF and NMBS to Launch Industry Data Pool for Construction Materials Sector
BigMat France Honours Material Innovation at 2025 Innovation Trophies
Italian Construction Sector Transitions to Digital Waste Registration System Rentri
BMF and NMBS to Launch Industry Data Pool for Construction Materials Sector
The British Builders Merchants Federation (BMF) and the National Merchant Buying Society (NMBS) have joined forces to create a central data pool for the construction materials sector. This initiative, announced on April 7th, aims to establish a digital platform where product data can be exchanged seamlessly.
BigMat France Honours Material Innovation at 2025 Innovation Trophies
Building materials retailer BigMat France recently hosted its annual Innovation Trophies. Events held on February 5th in Mâcon and February 13th in Poitiers brought together employees, suppliers, members, and store managers to share expertise and strengthen relationships within the industry.
Italian Construction Sector Transitions to Digital Waste Registration System Rentri
The Italian construction sector is undergoing a phased implementation of Rentri, a new National Electronic Register for Waste Tracking. This digital system, based on recent legislative changes, aims to achieve more efficient and transparent waste management within the sector, aligning with European sustainability goals.
Industry Experts
“Don’t panic over arrival of Digital Product Passport’’
Interview with Hans de Gier, founder and managing director of SyncForce
The construction industry is facing a radical digital transformation, with major implications for suppliers and wholesalers of building materials. For instance, the announced arrival of a European Digital Product Passport (EU-DPP) is causing panic in several industries. ‘Unnecessary,’ is the verdict of expert Hans de Gier. ‘There is still too much unclear about when the EU-DPP is coming, which products it will apply to and what the exact requirements will be.’
Regulatory updates
“Those who do not act, will vanish’’
Interview with Marnix Van Hoe, secretary general of the European trade association of builders merchants Ufemat
The European Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR) are coming. Entrepreneurs in the construction materials wholesale industry who have not yet taken action will risk high fines – or worse, lose their business. ‘This is no longer a non-committal directive. Anyone who does not comply could disappear from the market.’
Community Program and Activities
Industry milestone: UFEMAT and EURO-MAT Join Forces!
Last week, EUROMAT and UFEMAT came together in Brussels for a strategic meeting — and the outcome couldn’t be clearer: our missions and ecosystems are highly complementary. That’s why UFEMAT and EURO-MAT will be uniting at the upcoming UFEMAT Congress in Milan from September 11-12, 2025, marking a historic first step toward creating a unified voice for builders merchants across Europe.
Market & Product
SikaCeram: New easy range
For Sika, any innovation must bring additional comfort to our applicator
At Sika, we believe in making a difference where it matters most. After countless hours spent on job sites understanding the challenges tilers face, we’ve developed a game-changer: the SikaCeram® Easy range. This innovative line of tile-setting products is designed with one goal in mind—to make your life easier / more comfortable / safer / healthier.
Industry game-changers
Deliver more than goods: the rise of strategic suppliers
Interview with David Baker, Trade National’s Lead UK & Ireland, ICI Paints AkzoNobel
In the world of builders’ merchants, it’s no longer just about sharp prices and quick deliveries. What really counts is working with suppliers who are prepared to go the extra mile – partners who think along the same lines about logistical efficiency, digital innovation, and even social impact. The added value of an engaged supplier can be the difference.
About Euro-Mat Digital Magazine
The Euro-Mat Digital Magazine is your fast-track to the future of construction supply. Published monthly straight to your inbox, this high-impact digital publication delivers the cutting-edge of building innovation. From breakthrough technologies and smart materials to game-changing sustainability trends, each edition equips builders merchants and suppliers with the insights they need to stay ahead in an industry that never stands still. If you are not reading it, you are already falling behind.