The ability to specify products and materials is one of the benefits attracting self-builders and their influence is significant, making them a key target for manufacturers and suppliers wishing to target the sector. The supply chain is fragmented, with builders’ merchants thought to account for approximately 50% of the market (if you are logged-on, a database of the UK’s top 260+ builders’ merchant chains can be downloaded here). Specialist distributors, direct suppliers (including specialist internet-based suppliers) and wholesalers are thought to make up the remaining 50%.
The market is especially important for those businesses offering innovative, environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and higher-value design products. Examples would include underfloor heating, central vacuuming systems, alternative energy systems such as solar heating, eco-friendly insulation materials (sheep’s wool, hemp, mulched paper, etc.), and smart home technology systems (automated lighting, entertainment systems, etc.). The market for energy efficient materials is likely to continue growing in the custom and self-build (and other house construction) sector, buoyed by consumer demand and the UK government’s ambition decarbonise the economy and promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
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This issue was previously highlighted by research firm Building Link. Their research (a survey of self-builders generating 491 completed questionnaires) concluded that, in a typical self-build project, an average of some 86% of all products used were selected by the self-builder with a higher percentage of 90% when restricting the product range to those that are selected for aesthetic reasons. The report further revealed that the majority of planning applications showed only generic products, suggesting that, at the planning stage, 80% of self-builders had not made a definite decision on the majority of products to be used. This indicates that potential suppliers have the opportunity to secure specifications beyond the usual house building process and a wide range of marketing channels have evolved over the last 20 years offering access to the self-build decision maker.
Print and Digital Media
Homebuilding & Renovating
Circulation: 22,000 (2019 media pack)
Frequency: Monthly
Web: https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advertising-info/
Build It
Circulation: 13,187 (2017 data, 2020 media pack)
Frequency: Monthly
Web: https://www.self-build.co.uk/advertising/
SelfBuild & Design
Circulation: 11,219 (2018-19 media pack)
Frequency: Monthly
Web: https://www.selfbuildanddesign.com/sbdmedia18-19.pdf
Selfbuilder & Homemaker
Circulation: 10,003 (from ABC cert. 2019)
Frequency: Bi-monthly
Web: http://www.sbhonline.co.uk
Grand Designs Magazine
Circulation: 19,869 (print & digital)
Frequency: Monthly
Web: https://www.granddesignsmagazine.com/advertise
i-build
Circulation: 20,300 (print & digital)
Frequency: Monthly
Web: http://www.i-buildmagazine.com/
Ireland
SelfBuild
Circulation: On request
Frequency: Quarterly
Web: https://mediapack.selfbuild.ie/magazine/
Exhibitions UK
National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, NEC Birmingham
Homebuilding & Renovating also runs a programme of annual, regional self-build and home improvement shows throughout the year in the following locations:
Edinburgh
Farnborough, Hampshire
Glasgow
Harrogate, North Yorkshire
London
Shepton Mallet, Somerset
Sandown Park, Surrey
Previous attendance: 100,196 (total visitors for all shows held in 2019)
Web: www.homebuildingshow.co.uk
Build It Live
Annual events held in Detling (Kent), Manchester and Bicester (Oxon)
Previous attendance: 17,000 (total visitors for all three shows in 2019)
Web: www.builditlive.co.uk/
The SelfBuild and Design Show East
Peterborough
Previous attendance: Almost 5,000 (2018 event)
Web: https://selfbuildanddesignshow.com/east
The Grand Designs Live
Annual events held in Birmingham and London
Previous attendance: 60,277 (Birmingham, as part of UK Construction Week) and 96,264 (London)
Web: www.granddesignslive.com
Scottish Self-Build and Renovation
Annual events held in Inverness and Aberdeen
Previous attendance: On request
Web: https://scottishselfbuild.com
Selfbuild Live
Belfast
Previous attendance: 20,173
Web: http://www.selfbuild.ie/
SelfBuild and Design Show South West
Exeter
Previous attendance: On request
Web: https://selfbuildanddesignshow.com/southwest
The Southwest Home & Garden Show
Previous attendance: On request
Web: https://southwesthomeshow.co.uk/
Cornwall Home Improvement & Self Build Show
Previous attendance: On request
Web: https://cornwallselfbuildshow.co.uk/
Ireland
Selfbuild Live
Annual events held in Dublin & Cork
Previous attendance: On request
Web: https://selfbuild.ie/
Permanent Exhibition
The National Self-build & Renovation Centre is based in Swindon, Wiltshire, and is a permanent exhibition centre of custom and self-build related products in the UK. It houses over 240 exhibits and provides visitors with information, advice and a programme of themed seminars and other related events throughout the year.
Web: www.nsbrc.co.uk
Award Ceremonies with Sponsorship Opportunities
Build It Awards
Promoted by Build It Magazine in association with Buildstore, the Awards celebrate all aspects of self-build and renovation, including completed projects, products, services and suppliers.
Web: http://builditawards.co.uk/
The Homebuilding & Renovating Awards
Web: https://www.futureevents.uk/hbrindustryawards/sponsorship
Other Media Offering Promotional Opportunities
www.selfbuildportal.org.uk
An information and advice site operated by NaCSBA with a membership made up of custom and self-builders. The Self-build Portal's Suppliers Directory offers an index of product manufacturers and suppliers selling into the sector. Suppliers can also join NaCSBA and receive benefits such as an entry in the directory and have direct email marketing communications sent to all members.
www.theselfbuilder.com
Online magazine providing information and advice with product ads and links, and a generalised product selecting facility.
www.selfbuildit.co.uk
An information and advice site with some banner ads, a product directory and links.
Email marketing services
Build It Magazine provides email marketing opportunities to its database of over 50,000 active self-builders.
SelfBuild & Design Magazine offers an eProduct Newswire service, which is sent monthly to 60,000 contacts. They also offer a solus email option.