Here’s to Home with Builders 

Builders Warehouse has been around long enough for homeowners to know that whatever they need, they will find it at Builders. Munier Solomon, Marketing Operations Manager at Builders chats to us about their latest campaigns with a bonus feature on how to approach your latest renovation the Builders way. 

Tell us a little bit about the Builders Brand?

Massmart acquired five Builders Warehouse stores operating in Johannesburg and Pretoria in 2003. They bought and rebranded three De La Rey stores in the Western Cape in 2005 and now operate in South Africa, Botswana, and Mozambique. Builders follows the big-box or warehouse retail format – offering homeowners, DIY enthusiasts and contractors a comprehensive range of competitively priced products under one roof. With a large garden centre display and builders’ supplies yard, the brand is unique in that it is the only home improvement warehouse in South Africa.  

We adore your latest campaign #herestohome.  How did the team come up with the concept?

Our Homes have essentially become our World. Today we are all looking at them differently and we wanted a campaign to help us bring that messaging to life. And many can agree that our homes have become our nests: a nest of refuge, safety, family, learning, work, pleasure and comfort. 

How has the pandemic life changed the Builders brand for the better?

DIY became the most searched word on Google during the pandemic and Builders being pioneers for home improvement and DIY projects in South Africa, could assist people with the easy options that our stores provide and give them great ideas on the Builders Blog.    Our customers are more and more becoming hobbyists and creators, resorting to the internet to inspire their creativity. And with all this help, they can easily and cost-effectively do it themselves.  People are redefining their homebody experience and building their own home sanctuaries. 

What new initiatives have you been working on?  Can you share them with us?

We will be launching the Builders Super App soon. 

How many Builders retail stores do you currently have nationwide?  Are you planning to grow even further?

We opened our 110th store in Midrand in March 2021 and are looking to open a few new stores in the near future. 

Let’s Renovate

The success of a home improvement project is the result of expert planning. As much as home renovation comes with costs and lots of decisions to make, it is a phenomenal way to breathe new life into any home or living environment. It is an opportunity to put your mark on the property and add to its value. 

Whether you are planning something big or small, to take control of your home renovation budget you need a plan. One factor, amongst others, is to plan how much product is needed to complete your project on time and cost effectively. 

Three Factors to Consider when Assessing the Cost of Your Project

Understanding the design and planning requirements: whether you are updating the look and feel of your bedroom with a new headboard, adding a laminated glass partition to add an extra room or space or privacy in your home, or simply just painting your wall – you must be clear on the job and the requirements. For example, glass for interior use will be different from that used for exterior applications.  It’s vital to understand the application and the correct product required for the project. 

Calculate Material Costs: now put together a list of materials you’ll need to do the home improvement job. There are a variety of ways to calculate how much materials you’ll need. One method is to use online product calculators such as the recently launched Builders Products Calculators. The Builders product calculators cover paint, blinds and curtains, headboards and glass cutting, including mirrors and doors. 

Write a schedule of works: it’s crucial to define your home renovation process before you start the work – a project plan of what needs to be done and by when. Be clear on the steps you will need to take to renovate the property. You might find that work in one room impacts on those in another, so have a clear vision and prepare a work schedule, listing the order of jobs. 

Save Renovation Costs

One of the best ways to lower your renovation costs is to tackle home projects yourself. You could cut the first part of labour costs by painting all your walls yourself, ripping out old flooring, tearing down drywall or removing cabinetry before the work requiring a skilled person starts. 

Time is essential when planning for renovation. Making a cohesive and functional design can be overwhelming. Taking more time, even when you have all your money ready, is crucial. You may regret the choices you make in a rush. 

It is important that once you start on a project, you keep changes to a minimum to avoid extra costs. Put a budget in place against your project using the estimates from the online product calculators and keep a running tally so you can stay on track.  

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