About Us
Recognised as being "where the trade buys" and promising a fast, reliable service, Screwfix is the UK's leading multi-channel supplier of thousands of high quality fixings and fastenings, hand tools, power tools, plumbing and electrical supplies, kitchens and bathrooms, landscaping and outdoor products, safety products and workwear, and building supplies.
Combining trade prices and a massive range of leading brand name items, Screwfix offers over 18,000 products and is fully committed to customer care and support. Each item is supplied with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and all stock items can be purchased seven days a week via a call to our freephone customer service hotline, a click onto our website www.screwfix.com, or a visit to one of our growing network of Trade Counters.
Company History
Based in Somerset, Screwfix originally started life in 1979 as the Woodscrew Supply Company. Our first catalogue consisted of a single page, solely dedicated to screws. In 1987 this was increased to a four page version, offering hardware to Do-It-Yourself and Trade professionals and going by the name of Handimail.
Our first catalogue produced in the name of Screwfix Direct appeared in 1992. This led to an increase in turnover to £4m, and in 1994 we moved into larger premises at Pen Mill, Yeovil. This was to herald the start of significant growth and in 1998, with a turnover that had virtually doubled year on year to £28m, we moved to a purpose built site at Houndstone Business Park in Yeovil.
In 1999, our first website, www.screwfix.com was launched – this was just five months prior to the company being acquired by Kingfisher plc. Later that year, and still maintaining our philosophy of providing high quality, low cost building, maintenance and refurbishment items to the trade, we expanded our Houndstone site with the opening of a new, dedicated Contact Centre.
In January 2000, we announced an increased turnover of £58m and trading hours were extended to seven days a week. The 1000th employee joined us in March and, a month later, next day deliveries within mainland UK were introduced.
Turnover first exceeded £100m in January 2001 and, following further expansion across the business, Screwfix announced sales of £185m in 2002. Determined to retain our leading position, we relaunched our website later that year, making it secure, more interactive and quicker and easier to use. This was rewarded by the accolade of E-tailer of the year.
In 2004, and to continue to meet the increased demand that came with a growing turnover of £221m, our three warehouses were consolidated into one site at Trentham, Stoke-on-Trent. By 2005, we were ready to trial a new Trade Counters concept. The first such store was opened in Yeovil, and was hugely successful. Many more Trade Counters were opened across the UK in the months and years that followed.
In recent years, Plumbfix and Electricfix were launched. These were specialist stores dedicated solely to the trade, allowing plumbers and electricians to enjoy specialist catalogues and special prices while shopping in an environment designed to meet their needs.
Today the annual turnover of Screwfix has increased to over £520m with over 235 Trade Counters nationwide. We employ over 780 people in our Head Office and Contact Centre, plus a further 3900 more employees in our Trade Counters.
The Future
Concentrating on a fast, reliable service, Screwfix will also be further increasing our range of low cost, leading brand name items for the trade. We will also continue to introduce innovative items aimed at helping the trade to work smarter and faster, saving money and making each application simpler and easier. As well as continuing to improve our catalogue and website at www.screwfix.com, we will also be expanding our UK network of Trade Counters and specialist units to bring even more accessibility to our customers.
