Press Office

Welcome

Welcome to the Screwfix Press Office.

For further details on Screwfix, to order product samples, request images, product details and user advice, please contact the Screwfix press office. All Screwfix products can be delivered to a chosen location for photography, product placement or testing features.

Please contact the Screwfix press office on: Nicola Sutton 0121 713 3785 or Gemma Williams on 0121 713 3775.

2012 Press Releases

February

January

2011 Press Releases

December

Rise of the Technical Tradesman

November

Screwfix Helps Raise Donations For BBC Children in Need

September

August

July

June

May

April

March

February

January

2010 Press Releases

December

November

October

September

August

July

June

May

April

Screwfix Goes for GOLD and represents the UK's Contact Centre Industry in Global Competition

March

January

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: Almost 3,500

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 2010 - £479m

Slogan: Screwfix - Where the Trade Buys

Website: www.screwfix.com

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 Screwfix Community, 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 20% of transactions online and employs 750 people at its head office and contact centre, plus a further 2,836 more employees at its Trade Counters.