Screwfix

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Screwfix Direct Limited

Type	Private (subsidiary of Kingfisher PLC)
Founded	Yeovil - as the Woodscrew Company (1979)
Headquarters	Yeovil, Somerset [1]
Key people	Steve Willett – Managing Director
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	Up 103,000% GBP (2007)
Employees	2,575 (2007)
Website	screwfix.com

Screwfix Direct Limited is the UK's largest direct and online supplier of trade tools, accessories and hardware products. ^[1] 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.

[edit] History

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.

Screwfix magazine cover.

The Screwfix website was launched in 1999, 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.^[2] Screwfix first opened its doors to the public in late 2004, with its first trade counter. Since the success of the first trade counter which is located in Yeovil, the company has branched out with over 120 trade counters across the U.K.^[3]

[edit] Management

Steve Willett (Managing Director), John Gill (Financial Director), John Colley (Commercial Director),Dave Lowther (Operations Director), John Mewett (Marketing Director), Graham Bell (Trade Counters Director), Guy Eccles (HR Director), Richard MacNamara (Company Secretary),