BigCommerce, Brave Bison, The Journey and Pimberly Launch ‘Branch of the Future’ Accelerator to Digitally Transform the UK Building Material Supplies Sector
BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) has launched the "Branch of the Future" accelerator, a comprehensive ecommerce solution designed specifically for the UK building materials industry. The initiative, developed in partnership with Brave Bison, Pimberly, and The Journey, aims to digitally transform the traditionally offline builders' merchants sector.
The accelerator combines business transformation consulting, turnkey ecommerce implementation using BigCommerce B2B Edition, and integration with Pimberly's Product Information Management platform, featuring over 1.5 million pre-optimized SKUs. The solution offers customer-specific pricing, product visibility, and quoting capabilities out-of-the-box, enabling merchants to modernize their operations and meet the expectations of next-generation buyers.
BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) ha lanciato l'acceleratore "Branch of the Future", una soluzione ecommerce completa progettata specificamente per il settore dei materiali da costruzione nel Regno Unito. L'iniziativa, sviluppata in collaborazione con Brave Bison, Pimberly e The Journey, mira a trasformare digitalmente un settore tradizionalmente offline come quello dei rivenditori edili.
L'acceleratore combina consulenza per la trasformazione aziendale, implementazione ecommerce chiavi in mano utilizzando BigCommerce B2B Edition, e integrazione con la piattaforma di Product Information Management di Pimberly, che include oltre 1,5 milioni di SKU pre-ottimizzati. La soluzione offre prezzi personalizzati per cliente, visibilità dei prodotti e funzionalità di preventivazione già pronte all'uso, permettendo ai rivenditori di modernizzare le loro operazioni e soddisfare le aspettative degli acquirenti di nuova generazione.
BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) ha lanzado el acelerador "Branch of the Future", una solución integral de comercio electrónico diseñada específicamente para la industria de materiales de construcción del Reino Unido. La iniciativa, desarrollada en colaboración con Brave Bison, Pimberly y The Journey, tiene como objetivo transformar digitalmente el sector tradicionalmente offline de los comerciantes de materiales de construcción.
El acelerador combina consultoría para la transformación empresarial, implementación llave en mano de comercio electrónico utilizando BigCommerce B2B Edition, e integración con la plataforma de Gestión de Información de Productos de Pimberly, que cuenta con más de 1,5 millones de SKU preoptimizados. La solución ofrece precios específicos para cada cliente, visibilidad de productos y capacidades de cotización listas para usar, permitiendo a los comerciantes modernizar sus operaciones y cumplir con las expectativas de los compradores de nueva generación.
BigCommerce (나스닥: BIGC)는 영국 건축 자재 산업을 위해 특별히 설계된 종합 전자상거래 솔루션인 "Branch of the Future" 가속기를 출시했습니다. 이 이니셔티브는 Brave Bison, Pimberly, The Journey와 협력하여 전통적으로 오프라인 중심인 건축 자재 도매업 부문의 디지털 전환을 목표로 합니다.
이 가속기는 비즈니스 변혁 컨설팅, BigCommerce B2B Edition을 활용한 턴키 전자상거래 구현, 그리고 150만 개 이상의 사전 최적화된 SKU를 보유한 Pimberly의 제품 정보 관리 플랫폼과의 통합을 결합합니다. 이 솔루션은 고객별 가격 책정, 제품 가시성 및 견적 기능을 기본 제공하여 상인들이 운영을 현대화하고 차세대 구매자의 기대에 부응할 수 있도록 지원합니다.
BigCommerce (Nasdaq : BIGC) a lancé l'accélérateur "Branch of the Future", une solution e-commerce complète spécialement conçue pour l'industrie britannique des matériaux de construction. Cette initiative, développée en partenariat avec Brave Bison, Pimberly et The Journey, vise à transformer numériquement un secteur traditionnellement hors ligne, celui des négociants en matériaux de construction.
L'accélérateur combine du conseil en transformation d'entreprise, une mise en œuvre e-commerce clé en main utilisant BigCommerce B2B Edition, et une intégration avec la plateforme de gestion des informations produit de Pimberly, comportant plus de 1,5 million de SKU pré-optimisés. La solution propose des prix spécifiques par client, une visibilité produit et des capacités de devis prêtes à l'emploi, permettant aux marchands de moderniser leurs opérations et de répondre aux attentes des acheteurs de nouvelle génération.
BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) hat den "Branch of the Future" Accelerator gestartet, eine umfassende E-Commerce-Lösung, die speziell für die britische Baustoffindustrie entwickelt wurde. Die Initiative wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit Brave Bison, Pimberly und The Journey entwickelt und zielt darauf ab, den traditionell offline geprägten Baustoffhandel digital zu transformieren.
Der Accelerator kombiniert Unternehmensberatung zur Geschäftstransformation, eine schlüsselfertige E-Commerce-Implementierung mit BigCommerce B2B Edition sowie die Integration mit Pimberlys Product Information Management-Plattform, die über 1,5 Millionen voroptimierte SKUs umfasst. Die Lösung bietet kundenspezifische Preise, Produktsichtbarkeit und Angebotsfunktionen direkt einsatzbereit, sodass Händler ihre Abläufe modernisieren und die Erwartungen der nächsten Käufergeneration erfüllen können.
- Strategic partnership with Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), the authoritative voice for UK builders' merchants
- Access to 1.5 million pre-optimized SKUs specifically tailored for builders merchants
- Out-of-the-box B2B functionality including customer-specific pricing and quoting capabilities
- Modular design allows for phased deployment and faster value realization
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Insights
BigCommerce's new UK building materials accelerator targets an underserved market, potentially opening significant B2B revenue streams.
BigCommerce's new "Branch of the Future" accelerator represents a strategic vertical expansion targeting the traditionally offline UK building materials supply sector. This initiative addresses a clear market opportunity where next-generation buyers increasingly demand digital experiences in an industry still reliant on phone calls, in-person visits, and paper workflows.
The solution intelligently combines BigCommerce's B2B Edition platform with complementary partnerships: Brave Bison's implementation expertise, Pimberly's product information management (with 1.5 million pre-optimized SKUs), and The Journey's construction industry consulting. By joining the Builders Merchants Federation, BigCommerce gains critical industry access and credibility.
What's particularly compelling is how this accelerator addresses specific pain points in the building supplies vertical - complex trade pricing, quoting requirements, account relationships, and inventory management. These are precisely the challenges that have prevented traditional ecommerce solutions from gaining traction in this sector.
The composable architecture allows for phased deployment, potentially accelerating customer acquisition with faster time-to-value. For merchants, the value proposition centers on operational efficiency (automating repetitive tasks), enhanced customer experience, and enabling sales teams to focus on higher-value activities.
This initiative aligns with BigCommerce's broader strategy of expanding its B2B capabilities and targeting specific industry verticals where its platform can deliver differentiated value. By packaging industry-specific functionality with specialized partners, BigCommerce can potentially capture market share in verticals underserved by generic ecommerce platforms, driving growth beyond its core markets.
New solution provides a fast and easy path for UK builders’ merchants to improve efficiency, reach next-generation buyers and future-proof their businesses
AUSTIN, Texas, July 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC), a leading open SaaS ecommerce platform for B2B and B2C businesses, today announced the launch of a powerful ecommerce accelerator purpose-built for the UK building materials industry. Developed in collaboration with leading digital agency Brave Bison, Product Information Management technology provider Pimberly, and construction industry consultant The Journey, the “Branch of the Future” accelerator provides building merchants with a comprehensive toolkit to digitize operations, meet the expectations of next-generation buyers and future-proof their businesses.
To further strengthen its commitment to this sector, BigCommerce has also joined the Builders Merchants Federation (BMF), the authoritative voice for the UK’s builders’ merchants, plumbing, heating, roofing, decorative and timber merchants and their suppliers.
Digitising a Traditionally Offline Industry
The building supplies sector has long relied on offline interactions, phone calls, in-person visits and paper-based workflows, but today’s trade buyers expect more. A new generation of customers is demanding the same seamless, omnichannel experiences they encounter in other industries. Yet most builders merchants have been underserved by generic ecommerce solutions that fail to account for the complexities of trade pricing, quoting, account relationships and real-time inventory.
“The Branch of the Future accelerator is about helping builders’ merchants unlock new growth by delivering the seamless, customer-first experiences today’s buyers expect, whether in branch or online,” said Lance Owide, general manager of B2B at BigCommerce. “By combining proven technologies with deep industry expertise, we’re enabling builders merchants to modernize their online experience more quickly, more affordably and with less complexity while deepening the relationships they have with their customers.”
The new accelerator combines:
- Business transformation consulting from The Journey, taking advantage of their 25+ years of experience in the building material supplies industry
- A turnkey ecommerce implementation by Brave Bison using BigCommerce B2B Edition and Catalyst, tailored for complex B2B workflows
- Integration with Pimberly, a leading Product Information Management (PIM) platform, for robust data and content management, complete with access to over 1.5 million pre-optimized SKUs tailored specifically for builders merchants
Together, this composable commerce solution empowers merchants to streamline operations, differentiate customer experience and boost sales team efficiency.
“Builders’ merchants have an important opportunity to reduce operational costs by automating repetitive tasks like order tracking and invoice inquiries, freeing up teams to focus on higher-value work,” said Al Ward, vice president of commerce at Brave Bison. “At the same time, they can deliver a more personalized, self-serve buying experience for trade customers, complete with negotiated pricing, curated product access and seamless quote-to-order workflows.”
B2B Functionality Out-of-the-Box
The accelerator leverages BigCommerce’s B2B Edition to deliver capabilities typically missing from legacy platforms, including customer-specific pricing, product visibility and quoting, all of which are available out of the box with B2B Edition. Brave Bison, a media, marketing and technology company that specialises in both B2B and BigCommerce, brings deep implementation expertise and a strong understanding of the complex workflows that define builders merchant operations. Their modular Branch of the Future storefront is designed for phased deployment, making it easy for merchants to get started quickly, tailor the experience to their needs and realize value faster.
Pimberly brings industry-leading product information management to the accelerator, ensuring builders merchants have the high-quality data foundation needed for successful digital commerce. With over 1.5 million pre-optimized SKUs tailored specifically to the building materials sector, Pimberly enables merchants to centralize, enrich and distribute product information with speed and accuracy.
“We’ve spent years helping builders’ merchants overcome the challenges of managing vast, complex product ranges,” said Craig McCalley, managing director at Pimberly. “In this sector reliable product data is crucial. It is the foundation of trust and operational efficiency. With Pimberly, merchants can confidently deliver the up-to-date specifications and pricing their trade customers depend on, while freeing internal teams from manual tasks so they can focus on growing the business.”
“With over 25 years of experience working alongside and at builders merchants, like Travis Perkins, we know just how much opportunity there is for digital to enhance, not replace, relationships with buyers,” said John Godwin, director at The Journey. “We’re incredibly excited to bring that experience to the ‘Branch of the Future’ accelerator. As part of this initiative, we’ve ranked every builders’ merchant in the UK based on their online customer experience, and we’re sharing those insights directly with merchants. It’s a powerful starting point for transformation, rooted in data, tailored to the trade, and focused on helping merchants move forward with confidence.”
For more information or to register for a demo, visit https://bravebison.com/branch-of-the-future/.
About BigCommerce
BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) is a leading open SaaS and composable ecommerce platform that empowers brands, retailers, manufacturers and distributors of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online. BigCommerce provides its customers sophisticated professional-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2C and B2B companies across 150 countries and numerous industries rely on BigCommerce, including Coldwater Creek, Harvey Nichols, King Arthur Baking Co., MKM Building Supplies, United Aqua Group and Uplift Desk. For more information, please visit www.bigcommerce.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.
About Pimberly
Pimberly is a powerful, AI-driven Product Information Management (PIM) and Digital Asset Management (DAM) platform that simplifies product data management for retailers, manufacturers, and distributors. Our cloud-based solution automates workflows, enriches product content, and seamlessly integrates with e-commerce, ERP, and data platforms. Designed for global teams, Pimberly scales effortlessly to support complex catalogues and high SKU volumes. Leading B2B and construction brands rely on Pimberly to manage their product data, including Marshalls, JT Atkinson, Wolseley, NEUCO, PartsTown, and ExTech.
About BraveBison
A world where complexity is the only constant demands a new breed of company. Brave Bison is a different beast: a media, marketing and technology company purpose built for the digital era.
We work with the boldest brands in the world to engineer seamless digital experiences and composable commerce infrastructures. From platform integrations to bespoke UX design, from tech-stack advisory to rapid product innovation, we turn complexity into clarity—and clicks into conversions.
Whether it's helping global leaders like Worldline revolutionise multi-platform payments, or launching multi-market ecommerce ecosystems for retail giants like our Technology and Experience division delivers digital transformation at the speed of now.
We combine strategic consultancy, agile delivery, and industry-leading tools to ensure every solution is fit for today and built for tomorrow.
Find out more at https://bravebison.com/branch-of-the-future/.
About The Journey
The Journey is a digital growth consultancy with deep expertise in the building materials and home improvement sector. We partner with ambitious brands to unlock ecommerce performance, improve customer experience, and drive measurable commercial growth.
We’ve worked with some of the UK’s most respected builders' merchants, helping them modernise their digital channels, connect better with their trade customers and accelerate their growth in a highly competitive market.
Whether it’s redefining digital strategy, optimising UX, improving conversion, or building smarter data-driven customer journeys, we bring industry know-how and hands-on delivery that gets results, fast.
BigCommerce® is a registered trademark of BigCommerce Pty. Ltd. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
Media Contact:
Brad Hem
pr@bigcommerce.com
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