26.3% of independent electrical retailers say supplier support has worsened

More than a quarter of independent electrical retailers believe the support they receive from suppliers has worsened over the past 12 months, according to the ERT Report 2026.

ERT’s inaugural industry survey found that 26.3 per cent of respondents rated current supplier support as worse than a year ago, while 57.9 per cent said it was about the same and just 15.8 per cent felt it had improved slightly. No respondents said support was “much better”.

The findings come as retailers place increasing importance on strong relationships with manufacturers. Elsewhere in the ERT Report, 84.2 per cent identified stock availability as one of the most important forms of supplier support, while margin protection and after-sales service were each selected by 78.9 per cent.

ERT Editor Will McGill said: “I think manufacturers should take notice of this one. More than a quarter of the retailers we surveyed feel supplier support has actually got worse, while nobody told us it was much better.

“Independents are facing enough pressures as it is, so having suppliers that understand their businesses and provide consistent, reliable support can make a real difference.”

The finding forms part of the ERT Report 2026, which examines the challenges, opportunities and changing trading conditions facing independent electrical retailers.

Read the full ERT Report 2026 for all the findings.