Screwfix
Encyclopedia
Screwfix Direct Limited is a UK direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. Founded in 1979 the company was acquired in 1999 by the Kingfisher plc
group, which also owns B&Q
and is listed on the London Stock Exchange
.
Based in Yeovil
, Somerset
, Screwfix started life as the Woodscrew Supply Company in 1979. The company’s first mail order
catalogue consisted of a single page, solely dedicated to screws and, in 1987, this was increased to a four page version offering hardware to DIY and Trade professionals in the name of Handimail. The first catalogue to be produced in the name of Screwfix Direct appeared in 1992 and, with a turnover of £4 million the company moved into larger premises at Pen Mill, Yeovil in 1994. In 1998, with a turnover that had virtually doubled year on year to £28 million, the company moved to a purpose built site at Houndstone Business Park in Yeovil, just five months prior to the company being acquired by Kingfisher. Later that year, the company expanded its Houndstone site with the opening of a new, dedicated Contact Centre employing 500 people. The 1000th employee joined the organisation in March 2000. Ongoing financial support from Kingfisher also meant that a third distribution centre could be opened in Leicester
. Turnover first exceeded £100 million in January 2001 and, following further expansion in the Contact Centre, Screwfix announced sales of £184.5 million in 2002.
In 2004 the three warehouses were consolidated into one site at Trentham
, Stoke on Trent. Screwfix first opened its doors to the public in late 2004, with its first official trade counter. Since the success of the first trade counter which is located in Yeovil
, the company has branched out with 174 trade counters across the United Kingdom
Prior to the takeover by Kingfisher, Screwfix had a "trade counter", (a basic shop), attached to the original warehouse in Houndstone. It was then moved to the present site on Oxford Road, Penmill Trading Estate. After the demolition of the warehouse, the shop became known as an official Trade Counter.
Kingfisher plc
Kingfisher plc is a multinational retailing company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the largest home improvement retailer in Europe and the third-largest in the world...
group, which also owns B&Q
B&Q
B&Q plc is a multinational DIY and home improvement retailer headquartered in Eastleigh, United Kingdom. It was founded in 1969 and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kingfisher plc, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange....
and is listed on the London Stock Exchange
London Stock Exchange
The London Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located in the City of London within the United Kingdom. , the Exchange had a market capitalisation of US$3.7495 trillion, making it the fourth-largest stock exchange in the world by this measurement...
.
History
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, Screwfix started life as the Woodscrew Supply Company in 1979. The company’s first mail order
Mail order
Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer...
catalogue consisted of a single page, solely dedicated to screws and, in 1987, this was increased to a four page version offering hardware to DIY and Trade professionals in the name of Handimail. The first catalogue to be produced in the name of Screwfix Direct appeared in 1992 and, with a turnover of £4 million the company moved into larger premises at Pen Mill, Yeovil in 1994. In 1998, with a turnover that had virtually doubled year on year to £28 million, the company moved to a purpose built site at Houndstone Business Park in Yeovil, just five months prior to the company being acquired by Kingfisher. Later that year, the company expanded its Houndstone site with the opening of a new, dedicated Contact Centre employing 500 people. The 1000th employee joined the organisation in March 2000. Ongoing financial support from Kingfisher also meant that a third distribution centre could be opened in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
. Turnover first exceeded £100 million in January 2001 and, following further expansion in the Contact Centre, Screwfix announced sales of £184.5 million in 2002.
In 2004 the three warehouses were consolidated into one site at Trentham
Trentham, Staffordshire
Trentham is a suburb of Stoke-on-Trent, located to the south-west of the city centre and to the south of the neighbouring town of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Although the majority of Trentham is within the city limits, it is mostly separated from the main urban area by surrounding open space and the...
, Stoke on Trent. Screwfix first opened its doors to the public in late 2004, with its first official trade counter. Since the success of the first trade counter which is located in Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
, the company has branched out with 174 trade counters across the United Kingdom
Prior to the takeover by Kingfisher, Screwfix had a "trade counter", (a basic shop), attached to the original warehouse in Houndstone. It was then moved to the present site on Oxford Road, Penmill Trading Estate. After the demolition of the warehouse, the shop became known as an official Trade Counter.
Management
All Management Staff below are based at the Headquarters in Yeovil| Member of Management | Appointed Position |
|---|---|
| Steve Willett | Managing Director |
| Robbie Bell | Finance Director |
| Dave Lowther | Operations Services Director |
| Graham Bell | Trade Counter Operations Director |
| Guy Eccles | HR Director |
| John Mewett | Marketing Director |
| Andrew Livingston | Commercial Director |