GULF Depot Company, a retail outlet chain supplying building materials to small- to medium-sized contractors and professional home improvers, continues to expand both its product portfolio and geographical footprint as it marks a decade of service to the region.

The Saudi-based company offers 18 main product lines including insulation, waterproofing, electrical, flooring, partitioning and ceiling products, paints, construction chemicals, power tools, stone cladding fixing systems, hand tools, site equipment, plumbing materials, block accessories, measuring instruments, waterproof wall panels, toilet cubicles and raised floors.

“These products are sourced from some of the largest manufacturers worldwide as well as from our own group companies. Many of these products and brands are exclusive to Gulf Depot and feature many innovative and cutting-edge technology products,” says Ihab Tabbara, the company’s general manager.

The company’s stand at last year’s show.

He indicates that the company’s participation at Saudi Build 2011 was highly beneficial to the company in marketing its products and creating brand awareness in the country, Tabbara says the event enjoys a high number of visitors.

Over the last year, Gulf Depot has boosted its product range to include plumbing and electrical products as well as an exclusive range of waterproof wall panels, which Tabbara describes as being “unique to the Saudi market place”.

At the end of last year, the company also launched a range of decorative aluminium composite panels for exterior cladding of buildings under the name Aluface, “again exclusive to Gulf Depot”, says Tabbara.

As it concludes a decade of service to the region’s construction market, Gulf Depot has drawn up plans to expand the number of its stores to 50 by the end of 2013 and expand its existing stores while broadening its horizons to include some African countries.

Commenting on the company’s performance, Tabbara says Gulf Depot has had a solid start to 2012 with a substantial 20 per cent growth in sales over last year.

“We are forecasting a continuing increase in sales for remainder of the year,” he says. “All our business is obtained from the domestic market, with our network of stores reflecting local preferences as well as our core range of products.”

To increase its presence and gain feedback from customers, Gulf Depot has launched its online e-commerce website in addition to a page on Facebook, the social networking website.

“We will be also starting our new training centre, where customers can learn how to apply the products that we sell,” says Tabbara.

Gulf Depot has seen its products used on prestigious projects in Saudi Arabia with some recent examples including the King Abdulaziz Al Saud International Airport, King Abdullah University and many office buildings.

Gulf Depot is the retail division of the Roots Group. Established in 2002, it has its head office in Jeddah and operates in five GCC countries with 40 stores, the majority of which are in Saudi Arabia. The company employs 150 people and has an annual turnover of $19 million.