Sales volumes were impacted by a slowdown in the new build housing and home improvement markets throughout Q1. UK consumer confidence was at record low levels, and we are seeing a similar impact on consumer spending as we did during the 2008 crisis. However, the diverse use of adhesives and sealants across the construction sector has enabled us to deliver a resilient trading performance so far this year.

While consumer confidence is low, there are opportunities in the commercial, industrial, and public sector markets. An example of this is The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).

The SHDF allows local authorities, providers of social housing, and charities that own social housing to bid for funding from government to install energy efficiency upgrades in their housing stock that is currently below an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) C rating. Measures that can be taken to improve the energy performance include the replacement of windows and doors, which could see strong demand for glazing and frame sealants.

In line with schemes such as the SHDF, we’re also seeing consumers make more sustainable choices when it comes to which adhesives and sealants they buy. Reducing plastic waste presents a huge challenge for the industry, but a move towards post-consumer recycled (PCR) cartridges is a first step on the road to success. As a manufacturer, we’re making every effort to ensure our products are clearly labelled to enable customers to make informed decisions about the products they purchase and their environmental impact.

With the acceleration in online shopping and the use of digital channels as a source of information, we’re also working on producing more informative online content to support the increasing number of sales that are digitally led.

However, while there may have been a shift towards looking online for inspiration, the vast majority of sales of adhesives and sealants still take place in store, so it’s vital that merchant staff are aware of the benefits so they can make the right sale to the end user.