HERTFORDSHIRE COUPLES BID TO SAVE BUILDERS AND HELP THE ENVIRONMENT Published 01/10/2018
A Potters Bar couple have launched a new website - that can be used for FREE - dedicated to tackling the annual £1.5 BILLION of building waste.
XSTrade.co.uk opens for business on July 1 and is aimed at anyone in the building industry - which employees two million people nationally - from one-man bands to major companies.
Users can upload details of ‘leftover’ materials on to the website and then sell them at a discount, rather than throw them away - a major issue in Britain’s building industry.
It is the brainchild of James Connolly - who runs leading mechanical and electrical business Konnect Services Ltd, based in Strafford Gate - and wife Emily, who have seen first-hand how thousands of pounds worth of perfectly good materials are skipped on building sites all over the UK.
"Around 13 per cent of materials are binned every year - and that is a disgrace,” explains father-of-four James, aged 35.
Often, the materials have already been paid for but they are not needed for a number of reasons - and it is easier to throw them in the skip, rather than keep them or sell them on.
I once had £5,000 worth of electrical switches left over from one job and thought it immoral to throw them away. I tried to sell them on eBay but they were too niche. Then the idea came to me about XSTrade.co.uk - a bespoke website aimed solely at builders. Hopefully I can now sell those electrical switches - and give someone a huge bargain.”
XSTrade.co.uk will allow users to share excess materials - whether it be bricks, wood, electrics - and sell them on to other builders who may need them.
The user:
- Gives their location
- Uploads pictures of the materials
- Suggests a starting price
- Adds a contact number
And can then sit back and wait for users to #MakeMeAnOffer…
Margins are tight in our industry. Being able to buy the exact amount of right materials - at a bargain price - rather than be forced to over-order HAS to be a good thing,” adds James.
Economically AND environmentally it will have a positive effect. It really is a win-win situation and is a scenario that could be repeated all over Britain every single day. For many people, we really could be their very last resort to saving time and money - and making a job profitable.”
XSTrade.co.uk plays no part in any deal - it is merely a facilitator, putting people in contact with each other. Simplicity and speed is key. It is also Mobile Phone-friendly.
Currently XS Trade is free to use.
For further details go to XSTrade.co.uk or follow XSTrade on Twitter at @XSTrade
Media: For images, further information and interview requests, please contact fiona.martin@xstrade.co.uk
