Screwfix.com

Welcome to the Screwfix press office. Here you can see our latest press releases, coverage and images. If you're a journalist, you can also find out about how to make a press enquiry.

We are happy to take enquiries by email or call us direct if you are on a deadline on 0121 713 3500 and ask for the Screwfix press office. Details of the PR contacts are featured below.

About Screwfix

Type:
Private (subsidiary of Kingfisher PLC)
Founded:
1979 as the Woodscrew Supply Company

Headquarters:
Yeovil, Somerset

Key People:
Steve Willet – 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

Employees:
Employees: 3,303 (as of September 2009)

Industry:
Trade, Maintenance, Serious DIY

Products:
Screws, Power Tools, Hand Tools, Fixings and Accessories
Kitchens, Bathrooms and Flooring
Lighting, Building and Plumbing
Safety and Workwear, Security and Ironmongery

Revenue:
Turnover 2007/8 - £434m

Slogan:
Screwfix - Where the Trade Buys

Website:
www.screwfix.com

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 screws, fixings, hand tools, power tools, plumbing and electrical 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 can be accessed 7-days a week via a call to Freephone 0500 414141, a click onto screwfix.com, or a visit to one of the growing UK network of Trade Counters (full address details can be found at screwfix.com/tradecounters).

History:
Based in Yeovil, Somerset, Screwfix started life as the Woodscrew Supply Company in 1979. The company’s first 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 £4M the company moved into larger premises at Pen Mill, Yeovil in 1994. This was to herald the start of significant growth and 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, www.screwfix.com was launched in 1999, just five months prior to the company being acquired by Kingfisher plc. Later that year, and still maintaining its philosophy of providing high quality, low cost building, maintenance and refurbishment items to the trade, the company expanded its Houndstone site with the opening of a new, dedicated Contact Centre employing 500 people. In January 2000, Screwfix announced a turnover of £58M and trading hours were extended to 7-days a week. The 1000th employee joined the organisation in March and, a month later, next day deliveries within mainland UK were introduced. Ongoing financial support from Kingfisher plc also meant that a third distribution centre could be opened in Leicester.

Turnover first exceeded £100M in January 2001 and, following further expansion in the Contact Centre, Screwfix announced sales of £185M in 2002. Determined to retain its leading position, the company relaunched its website later that year, making it more interactive, secure 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, the three warehouses were consolidated into one site at Trentham, Stoke on Trent. The innovative Talk Forum, TalkScrewfix.com, was also launched later that year and, in 2005, the company trialled a new Trade Counters concept.

Today the company holds in excess of 4M customer records, carries out over 40% of transactions online and employs 857 people at its head office and contact centre, plus a further 2,446 more employees at its Trade Counters (146 sites as of September 2009).

The Future:
Concentrating on a fast, reliable service, Screwfix will also be further increasing its range of low cost, leading brand name items for the trade. The company will also continue to introduce innovative items aimed at helping the trades to work smarter and faster, whilst saving money and making each application simpler and easier. As well as continuing to improve its catalogue and website at screwfix.com, Screwfix will also be expanding its UK network of Trade Counters to bring even more accessibility to its customers. To support this, Screwfix has invested in a new warehouse at Stafford and it’s very own fleet of lorries.

External Links:
For a free catalogue, click screwfix.com or visit one of the many Screwfix Trade Counters. Visit screwfix.com/tradecounters for address information and opening times.

2009 Press Releases

January

Screwfix Unleashes The Big Bear Gardening Range

February

March

April

May

Shed Packed With Garden Goodies Up For Grabs

June

July

August

September

PR Contact Information

For further information please contact McCann Erickson , Screwfix Press Office
Email: screwfix@europe.mccann.com
Nicola Sutton - 0121 713 3785
Joanna Barnsley - 0121 713 3527

Check out our recent media highlights by clicking on the hyperlinked publication titles.

June

Western Gazette, 25 June - Pants Man joins forces with Yeovil-based Screwfix
Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk, 30 June - Screwfix Masters Look-a-Likes
Wirral News.co.uk, 30 June - Screwfix Masters Look-a-Likes

July

Plumbing & Heating Engineering, July/August - Plumbfix and the CIPHE
Liverpool Echo.co.uk 1 July - Screwfix Masters Look-a-Likes
Contract Flooring Journal, 1 July - Tools for floorlayers
Paisley Daily Express, 3 July - Scottish regional heat of Masters
Daily Record, 3 July - Screwfix Masters Look-a-Likes
Daily Express, 7 & 9 July - Best High Street Bargain Guide
www.devon24.co.uk, 8 July - Screwfix Barnstaple provide home comforts for troops
North Devon Gazette Online, 8 July - Screwfix Barnstaple provide home conforms for troops
North Devon Gazette & Advertiser, 8 July - Screwfix Barnstaple provide home comforts for troops
Buildingtalk.com, 9 July - Fischer Power-Fast exclusively at Screwfix
Western Gazette, 9 July - Firm hammers home male cancer warning
Great Yarmouth Mercury, 10 July - Player of the Month
HPM Online (Plumbzine), 10 July - OFTEC and Plumbfix joins forces to improve safety
Bury Free Press/Somerset County Gazette/Great Yarmouth Mercury/Newbury Weekly News - Player of the Month
Leicester Mercury, 21 July - Footy lookalikes can join legends (Screwfix Masters)
PHAM News, July - Plumbfix at show
The Mail, Loughborough, 30 July - Deadringers at Screwfix Masters

August

Ideal Home, August - Fresco chrome mixer tap in home makeover
House Beautiful, 1 August - Radiator covers
Exeter Express & Echo, 4 August - Exeter store opening
BBC Focus, 15 August - Ryobi ONE+ Nailer/Stapler
Express & Echo (Exeter), 19 August and Southwestbusiness.co.uk, 20 August - Trade counter opening in Exeter
Registered Gas Engineer, September - The Last word - John Mewett, Marketing Director, Plumbfix
Sunday Mirror, 23 August - To the test: Handsaws
Paisley Daily Express, 19 August and Bridgwater Times, 20 August Screwfix support of the Everyman Campaign
Sunday Telegraph, 30 August, Telegraph Online, 29 August, - White Van Man on the road to recovery
Sunday Mirror (Celebs on Sunday) and Mirror Online, 30 August - A funny 5 minutes with Paddy McGuinness - quoting ´Don´t be a Spanner, Check your Nuts´
Sunday Mirror (Homes & Holidays), 30 August - DIY like an expert - Dewalt 12V Drill Driver
Flooring Magazine, August - Fischer Power-Fast Woodscrew
British Woodworking, August - Fischer Power-Fast Woodscrew
Electrical Times, August - Keeping the rogue traders out
Bolton News Online, Beverley Advertiser, Scunthorpe Target, Lincoln Target, Hull Advertiser, Western Gazette, Shropshire Star - Screwfix support of the Everyman campaign
Electrical Contracting News, August - Electricfix teams up with SELECT to reward professionalism

September

Metro, 2 September - Lee Sharpe - quotes
Housebuilder & Developer Online & Architects Datafile Online, 17 September, Burton Mail, 11 September & Wirral News, 9 September - Screwfix Masters lookalikes final
Oil Installer, September - Plumbfix & OFTEC have reached an agreement to recognise professionalism in oil heating installations
HPM Online, 11 September - New low price products in latest Plumbfix catalogue
Your Home, September - £8,000 worth of fab prizes up for grabs
The Woodworker, September - On Test - Makita 4329 Corded Jigsaw