For Erica and Bernard Pullicino, providing the best quality supplies for the construction and finishes industry is more than just a job. To them, it evolved into a passion which they inherited from their father who established the family-run business in the 80s.

Over the years, Firm B. Pullicino has established itself as a leader in the local field, providing quality supplies to all of Malta’s premier developments and construction projects, as well as hobbyists. The Pullicino siblings, who grew up helping their father - Founder Brian Pullicino - at their well-established Zabbar shop, absorbed his passion for the business and now have central roles in the operation.

“Our operation nowadays has developed a great deal from what it looked like a few years back,” explains Bernard Pullicino, Operations Manager at Firm B. Pullicino. “One of our main aims is to provide a vast variety of items at competitive prices, as we make sure that our client’s needs and demands are met through the products we import.”

Erica agrees with Bernard, as the firm these days commands a respectable percentage of the country’s construction and finishes sector.

Firm B. Pullicino are the preferred suppliers for all materials relating to construction, including building material, electrical and plumbing material, and finishing products, as well as a vast range of equipment to choose from. Furthermore, the firm is the exclusive distributor of Total Tools, suppliers of power tools, hand-held tools as well as quality safety products.

Erica Pullicino takes care of Business Development and makes sure that the firm is sending out the right messages at all times. “In an increasingly competitive world, we make it a point to continuously send out a clear message of reliability and quality, which are traits that have defined our business model since the very beginning.”

In a typically male-dominated industry, Erica has expertly grown to successfully navigate the waters, especially when meeting customers, who might be initially surprised to meet a woman who is able to provide them with the product solutions they may be seeking.

“The secret is to stay on top of things in terms of knowledge and know-how. When clients approach us, they want a professional service and good quality products at competitive prices, and they are not interested in who is delivering that service. My job is to put their mind at rest that I can help them as well as anyone else, and thankfully, I have thus far succeeded in doing this,” Ms Pullicino continues.

Turning to the current challenges of the market, both Erica and Bernard agree that while the country is experiencing a healthy rate of development, ensuring supply to customers from abroad has proven to be extremely challenging in the past months.

“The war in Ukraine has brought about complete changes to the way we do business and import goods from a number of countries. Prices in certain areas have skyrocketed, prompting us to seek alternative solutions that continue to provide the same excellent services to our customers. Brexit has also played a significant part to this game-change, which has characterised the last few years,” Bernard notes.

COVID-19, on the other hand, proved to be a great opportunity for the firm. “While many businesses experienced extended hardship during the months of pandemic in 2020 and 2021, people’s confinement at home meant that they had endless hours to kill, and many of them decided to embark on house renovation projects, which sent them for supplies to us!” Erica recalls.

Firm B. Pullicino hence made sure they were properly stocked up on all home-improvement goods and supplies, as the Maltese decided to spruce up their houses and gardens.

This drive towards home improvement luckily did not stop with the COVID spread though, as homeowners are increasingly understanding the importance of making one’s home greener.

“Often times, the concept of greening is used as a buzzword, however we can help with it becoming a reality that converts into some serious money-saving in the long run,” Bernard explains. “Better quality materials that render developments greener may be more expensive in the beginning, but are proven to save a great deal of energy, and hence money, in the lifetime of the building.”

Looking towards the future, the Pullicino siblings have exciting plans for the business as they seek to establish themselves further in the field.  “In the foreseeable future, we aim to reach new target audiences and subsequently continue to broaden our range of products,” they reveal.

“Having said that, we will continue to ensure that our customers find the personal quality assistance they are accustomed to, building working relationships that last. Furthermore, we are always on the lookout for new opportunities, such as introducing new equipment, and better-quality superior materials that provide our customers with a better product that ultimately benefit the end user,” Erica and Bernard Pullicino conclude.