Today's fresh ground is on the merchant supply side rather than tools themselves: payments provider EchoPay has launched a toolkit combining card surcharging and pay-by-bank for builders', electrical, plumbing and timber merchants, and roofline manufacturer Freefoam has set out its branch-stock commitment to LBS Builders Merchants. Everything else in today's pull is a continuation of stories already covered this week.
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Today's key stories
EchoPay's new toolkit targets merchant card costs EchoPay has introduced a payments toolkit pairing commercial card surcharging with pay-by-bank options, giving builders', electrical, plumbing and timber merchants two ways to offset rising card processing fees. Full piece below. Source: Professional Builders Merchant
Freefoam publicises branch-stock support for LBS Roofline manufacturer Freefoam has highlighted its commitment to keeping product lines stocked "in every branch" of LBS Builders Merchants, framing it as a trust-based supply partnership. Full piece below. Source: Professional Builders Merchant
Still developing: Triton Tools' new UK distributor TradeSafe Products Ltd.'s appointment as exclusive UK distributor for Triton Tools remains the week's key woodworking supply story, with no confirmed stockist list yet. Covered in full on 13 July. Source: Professional Builder
Still relevant: Availo-Trade's cancelled-job platform The trial offer on Availo-Trade's job-matching platform for tradespeople is still live. Full breakdown in our 14 July piece. Source: Professional Builder
Recurring: Makita's garden tool restock and Milwaukee's fastening catalogue No change from earlier this week on Makita's 18V LXT/40V XGT garden range restock or Milwaukee's UK impact driver, impact wrench and battery/charger kit listings. Still watching for a genuine range update rather than a repeat catalogue signal. Source: ITS Hub / Milwaukee Tool UK
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Watchlist
- EchoPay rollout: watching for pricing detail, timeline, and which merchant groups adopt the surcharging/pay-by-bank toolkit first.
- Freefoam / LBS scope: no detail yet on which specific product ranges the "every branch" stock commitment covers.
- Triton Tools stockist list: still no confirmed list of UK retailers carrying stock under the new TradeSafe distribution arrangement.
- B&Q TradePoint Barking trade day: low-confidence signal from Professional Builders Merchant on a standalone TradePoint branch trade day; worth a follow-up if it recurs at other branches.
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