Screwfix

Screwfix
Private (subsidiary of Kingfisher plc)
Industry Trade, Maintenance & Serious DIY
Founded Yeovil — as the Woodscrew Company (1979)
Headquarters Yeovil, Somerset[1]
Products Screws, Power Tools, Hand Tools, Fixings & Accessories, Kitchens & Bathrooms, Electrical & Lighting, Building & Joinery, Heating & Plumbing, Safety & Workwear, Security & Ironmongery, Outdoor & Gardening
Revenue £835M (2014/15)
Number of employees
 7000 (2015)
Slogan Where the Trade Buys
Website www.screwfix.com

Screwfix is the UK's largest multi-channel retailer of trade tools, accessories and hardware products.[2] Founded in 1979 as the Woodscrew Supply Company, the company was acquired in July 1999, by Kingfisher plc, who also owns B&Q, and is listed on the London Stock Exchange.

History

Screwfix store in Bedminster
Screwfix Volvo FH distribution lorry in Bristol
Screwfix store in Stratford-upon-Avon

Based in Yeovil, Somerset, Screwfix started life as the Woodscrew Supply Company in 1979.[3] 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. This was to herald the start of significant growth, in 1998, with a turnover that had virtually doubled year on year to £28M, the company moved to a purpose built site at Houndstone Business Park in Yeovil.

The first website was launched in 1999, just five months prior to the company being acquired by Kingfisher Plc.[3][4] Later that year, the company expanded its Houndstone site with the opening of a new Contact Centre, employing 500 people. In January 2000, Screwfix announced a turnover of £58 million and trading hours were extended to 7 days a week. The 1000th employee joined the organisation in March 2000 and a month later, next day deliveries within mainland UK were introduced.

In January 2001, turnover first exceeded £100M, and after further expansion in the contact centre. Screwfix announced sales of £185M in 2002. The company re-launched the website later that year, and was awarded Retailer Of the Year.[5] In September 2004, to continue to meet the increased demand, a fully automated, 325,000 sq ft distribution centre was opened in Trentham, Stoke on Trent, fulfilling next day orders.[6] The innovative Screwfix Community, an online forum pre-dating Facebook, was also launched later that year.

In 2008 there was the launch of Plumbfix, offering qualified plumbers a wider range of specialist goods at better prices, this was followed by the launch of Electricfix the next year. In July 2011, Screwfix launched its Click & Collect service which enables customers to order and pay securely online and collect in-store in 5 minutes. Also that year Screwfix's mobile website was set up enabling customers with an easier shopping experience when not at home. click & Collect was introduced onto this platform in January 2012, since then sales from mobiles have increased by 250%.

By 2013 Screwfix launched its 300th store and with this success they moved into new markets in 2014, opening seven stores in Northern Ireland and four stores in Germany. In the same year, the web and mobile site extended the range to include 23,000 products available online and the contact centre extended their opening hours to deliver a 24/7 service. 2015 saw the launch of Screwfix's Quickshop app, which allows customers to build their order on their smartphone and generates a QR code which can be scanned at the till point in store.

Screwfix currently has a network of over 450 stores across the UK and 9 stores in Germany (as at February 2016) with a further 200 UK stores planned to open in the next couple of years.

Stores

In August 2005, the first Screwfix store opened in Yeovil, Somerset, followed by further stores, and a new distribution centre. In 2008, there was an aggressive rollout of stores, including the 100th store opening. In January 2014, the company moved into Northern Ireland, opening seven stores and Germany, opening four. Screwfix currently has a network of over 400 stores across the UK (as at June 2015) with a further 200 planned to open in the next couple of years.

Contact

In 1998, Screwfix's Contact Centre opened, it is based in Yeovil, Somerset. In 2010 the contact centre were finalists in the Top 50 Call Centre Awards and in 2014 they won two accolades at the South West Contact Centre Awards; Contact Centre of the Year and Support Person of the Year. The centre handles up to 45,000 calls per week and 90% of calls are answered within 10 seconds.

The Screwfix Foundation

In April 2013, Screwfix launched its first charity, The Screwfix Foundation, which supports charity projects involved in building, fixing, maintaining, or improving the charity buildings or facilities for those in need throughout the UK. The Screwfix Foundation works with Macmillan & Barnardos and also donates to local charities throughout the United Kingdom (As of April 2015: 96). The Screwfix Foundation has raised over £950,000 since it was launched and it has donated to hundreds of charities including Macmillan and Barnardo’s.

Awards

2016

• 2016 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Multichannel Retailer of the Year (Winner)

• 2016 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Speciality Retailer of the Year (Finalist)

• 2016 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Supply Chain of the Year (Finalist)

• 2016 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Employer of the Year (Winner)

2015

• 2015 Retail Week Supply Chain Awards – Supply Chain Team of the Year (Winner)

• 2015 Verdict's Satisfaction Awards | Best DIY & Gardening Retailer (Winner)

• 2015 Gallup | Great Workplace Award (Winner)

• 2015 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Multichannel Retailer of the Year (Finalist)

• 2015 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Speciality Retailer of the Year (Finalist)

• 2015 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Customer Service Initiative of the Year (Finalist)

• 2015 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Own Brand of the Year (Finalist)

2014

• 2014 DIY Week Awards | Tool Retailer of the Year (Winner)

• 2014 South West Contact Centre Awards | Contact Centre of the Year (Winner)

• 2014 South West Contact Centre Awards | Support Person of the Year (Winner)

• 2014 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Speciality Retailer of the Year (Winner)

• 2014 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Multichannel Retailer of the Year (Finalist)

• 2014 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Store Manager of the Year (Finalist)

2013

• 2013 Mobile Marketing Magazine | Best mCommerce site (Winner)

• 2013 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Speciality Retailer of the Year (Finalist)

• 2013 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Multichannel Retailer of the Year (Finalist)

2012

• 2012 Oracle Retail Week Awards | Multichannel Retailer of the Year (Finalist)

2010

• 2010 Top 50 Call Centre Awards (Finalist)

References

  1. ↑ "Ex-warehouse is new company HQ". BBC News. 7 July 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Screwfix still in fix over orders". BBC News. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 Screwifx Press Centre, Screwfix Media Release Regarding Staff
  4. ↑ Cunliffe, Peter (19 October 2013). "From online to high street: How Screwfix found DIY success". Express. Retrieved 18 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Cuthbertson, Christine (2012). Retail Strategy. Routledge. ISBN 9781136368462.
  6. ↑ "Staff fix needed at DIY website". BBC News. 27 September 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2008.

External links

Coordinates: 50°56′51″N 2°40′29″W / 50.94750°N 2.67472°W / 50.94750; -2.67472

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