Line In The Sand

Last year was tough for many plumbers.

New builds down, interest rate rises saw many people put renovations on hold or attempt DIY projects themselves to cut costs. While it may save the homeowner money, it takes away from the plumber’s livelihood and also puts the community at risk.

It’s a new year and time for a fresh start, its time to draw a line in the sand and force a Trade Only industry, an industry where only licensed plumbers can buy plumbing goods. You do the training, you put in the work, and you pay
the overheads, so only you should be able to carry out plumbing work.

Say no to DIY and merchants who support it by selling to the general public. We have been beating the drum for over 20 years now. We have seen other suppliers adopt our policy, but not enough. You the plumber are the only ones who can truly embrace it by only buying from Trade Only merchants. The stick is in your hand, it’s your time to draw the line in the sand!

LUKE BOLTON
DIRECTOR, PLUMBERS CHOICE

5 Years Ago….

Five years ago, Plumbers Choice opened its doors in Sydney. It was a huge achievement for us as a humble little Melbourne-based supplier. But more so, our expansion was the sign of an industry adopting the Trade Only mentality.

In the past five years, we have gained a huge amount of support from the New South Wales and Queensland plumbing communities. Our same day delivery for Sydney Metro and a quicker, more convenient service to rural New South Wales and Queensland has seen our Smithfield based warehouse grow by 64% over the past five years.

We would like to thank each and every plumber who has supported our Sydney team and embraced a Trade Only industry. We endeavour to expand our range, innovating an industry and provide a better service to each and every plumber Australia wide. So where next? Your state might soon see a same day delivery service just like Melbourne and Sydney.

LUKE BOLTON
DIRECTOR, PLUMBERS CHOICE

Introducing our new mobile app

Look what we’ve created now… Our NEW App!

Plumbers Choice has long been known as an innovative supplier. We are constantly bringing new products to market, products that make your life easier and more productive and products that bring a more professional finish. 

And now we’re excited to innovate the administrative side of things for plumbers with our NEW mobile app! Quickly search for a product, order your gear, pay a bill, check an invoice, request a quote or track an order all from the palm of your hand.

Available from both the App Store and Play Store download it today, sign in with the same details you would access our website on and start shopping today. If you are having trouble logging in reach out to either your personal sales rep or call us on (03) 9720 8274.

LUKE BOLTON
DIRECTOR, PLUMBERS CHOICE

The ultimate PEX clip has finally arrived!

But don’t take my word for it. Over the next couple of months we will be sending out free samples with every order.

Keep an eye out for them and give them a try. 

This clip has a superior fastening for both timber and steel. No more hammering, no more dealing with Phillips head screws that slip off the driver. It’s also a Dualpex so it will fit both 16mm and 20mm PEX pipe.

I genuinely believe it is one clip to rule them all.

LUKE BOLTON
DIRECTOR, PLUMBERS CHOICE

We have been around for 27 years and a new generation of Plumbers is supporting Trade Only.

Plumbers Choice has been around for over 27 years now. That’s 27 years of Trade Only. We have seen many changes over the years within our industry.
We’ve seen the evolution of plumbing products, soldering transition to press, the old fashioned paper diaries disappearing with the emergence of phones and iPads, but the thing that pulls
on the heart strings the most is the changing of the guard to future generations. 

We have seen many businesses come and go, many plumbers retire but we love to see when it stays in the family. We’ve been lucky enough to deal with many plumbers who have
followed in their father’s footsteps, some have even continued the legacy for 3 generations and all have supported Trade Only.
So this Edition’s cover is dedicated to all those multi-generations plumbing companies who have passed down their business but also passed on the Trade Only legacy! 

You are all changing an industry for the better!

LUKE BOLTON
DIRECTOR, PLUMBERS CHOICE

You Spoke we listened, bringing you the latest innovations in PEX Clips to the market 

Plumbers Choice has long prided itself on helping bring innovative products to the market, anything that may make plumbers’ lives easier, a job quicker or more convenient, is something we’ve always been passionate about. Working with our suppliers we are always first to put our hand up to push new items and have many Plumbers Choice exclusives due to these relationships.

We currently stock the largest range of PEX Clips on the market, wIth many exclusive to Plumbers Choice. Whether you’re after a standard 16mm, 20mm or 25mm clip, a DualPex for (convenience and to save on waste) or innovative clips for those hard to get to places, with every type of fixing method under the sun, from masonry nails, nylon anchor tap ins, timber screws or self drilling hex heads, we’ve got you covered.

Many of these ideas come from you, the plumber. No idea is silly, whether it’s big or small, we welcome innovation. Do you have an idea for a tool and don’t know how to get it to market? Think a different screw would work in a Fastanog? Feel free to reach out and we may be able to point you in the right direction.

LUKE BOLTON
DIRECTOR, PLUMBERS CHOICE

WHAT DOES THE YEAR AHEAD LOOK LIKE FOR OUR PLUMBING INDUSTRY? 

2023 saw some uncertain times creep into our industry. Interest rate rises, new home builds slowing, builders going under and the cost of living increases, have started to take their toll on some plumbers and the industry. 

In these slower times Trade Only becomes even more of an imperative. Its proven that when times are getting tough and the general public feeling the pinch and licensed trade use drops. 

Not only is this a safety risk it trickles down to the plumber who loses out on work. 

What is 2024 going to bring? The industry has always had its peaks and troughs; we hope 2024 is a good year for all and for Trade Only. 

Luke Bolton
Director, Plumbers Choice

ALL WE WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A TRADE ONLY INDUSTRY

What a year it has been in the plumbing industry. Plenty of plumbers have felt the pinch from the flow on effect of interest rate rises, multiple builders collapsing and cost of living increases. It’s been a tough year for many which exemplifies the need to look after our livelihood and push for a Trade Only industry. Anything sold to a builder or the general public is money out of the plumbers’ pocket through missing work due to a DIY job, or missing the opportunity to add your mark-up on supplies.

We here at Plumbers Choice appreciate all the support you have given the Trade Only philosophy and us throughout 2023. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and may 2024 be a great year for our industry and Trade Only!

Luke Bolton
Director, Plumbers Choice

Stick it to DIY

Its estimated 34% of plumbing goods are still sold to the general public. Which clearly reflects the amount of unlicensed, unsafe plumbing work still being completed by DIYers. 

We at Plumbers Choice know you, the plumbers, have bought into Trade Only. You clearly see the benefits to yourself, the industry and the community. But with so much DIY plumbing work still taking place the message is obviously not clear to everyone else. 

So it’s time to spread the word. And you can get your hands on a $500 Plumbers Choice Gift Voucher by doing so. We have included a “Stay safe, call a Licensed Plumber” sticker with every edition of this magazine. 

Simply stick your sticker on your truck, the local hardware counter, or heck, even your apprentice and then send a photo of where you’ve stuck it to: [email protected] before October 31st 2023 for your chance to win! 

Let’s stick it to DIY and support Trade Only! 

Luke Bolton
Director, Plumbers Choice

Is Trade Only clear to you?

Plumbers Choice first opened its doors in 1996. Back then many plumbers din’t understand the Trade Only concepts they couldn’t see the benefit to both themselves and the industry as a whole, that supporting Trade Only not only protected the community but also their own livelihoods.

Back in the ’90’s when we started the Trade Only message, Magic Eye books were new and exciting. If you focused on the image enough you would see the hidden image emerge. Our front cover of this Edition is not only a nostalgic representation of when we started but it also represents how many of you can now clearly see the benefits of Trade Only.

We want to thank all you plumbers who support Trade Only. We were the original Trade Only Plumbing Supplier in Australia but with your support for the cause we have now seen other Merchants becoming Trade Only which is great for you, and the industry itself!