Axminster Tools Warrington & Newcastle CLOSURES.

[XTiffy]

menatarms,
When I made a similar comment not long after joining I was quickly told that like the Tv, I could turn it off!
Jacob would be lost if he could not pontificate on every subject under the sun.

 

[niall Y]

Having and maintaining lots of stores, was always going to be a policy fraught with risk. I have dealt with Axminster from the very early days. Their familiar logo, in all its changing forms, is on much of my workshop equipment Because I lived in London they were to all intents and purposes , always a mail order firm, simply because I had no access to their original shop in Axminster. All credit to them, that they managed to build up a business from such an out of the way location. Their catalogue was the key, which I'm sure many of us looked forward to receiving each year.
I could never, then, fully understand their need to set up stores across the country, Especially at a time when many other specialist stores, were switching to on-line only and closing their premises. Perhaps it was a form of nostalgia on part of their directors, which has now come to bite them on their rear-ends.

 

[Spectric]

and whenever I’ve been in one of their stores it’s not exactly been busy.

This is just a sign of the times, a change in how children grow up and what they get involved in. Woodworking and other hobbies are really an extension to what we got involved in years earlier and I bet that for many round here born in the sixties & seventies that visiting a model shop was very common growing up and that it was these pastimes that sparked our interest today, we were just so much more hands on and are leaving a void behind us and is why we have lost so many model shops, Maplins gone and unfortunately the likes of Axminster are paying the price.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

We also grew up in environments where things were repaired ot rebuilt - if someone in your family couldn't do it they probably knew a man in the village who could. Sheds full of tools weren't uncommon. Most young people now wouldn't know where to start even if they had the tools.
(Having said that my neighbour's eleven year old went home and told his father that his friend's dad had built a room in the attic - "you'll never guess what he did, dad - he cut the Fink Trusses.")

 

[Sachakins]

his friend's dad had built a room in the attic - "you'll never guess what he did, dad - he cut the Fink Trusses.")

, what a tosser.
But you don't know what you don't know.

 

[Blister]

I think they have left the downsizing far too long , Should have started this when covid arrived.
The massive amount of money they need to pay rental / rates / advertising / heating / lighting / wages must be a killer .

 

[Sachakins]

I think they have left the downsizing far too long , Should have started this when covid arrived.
The massive amount of money they need to pay rental / rates / advertising / heating / lighting / wages must be a killer .

It's always a trade off between customer service, reputation and support versus business costs.

You can read on this forum and elsewhere how woeful service is from online only dealers as there is rarely anyone knowledgeable.
Daresay these are same people who complain retail shop is so expensive to online prices.

It's hard for any business to compete on reputation and customer service in stores nowadays, since the majority of today's buyers just search for the cheapest price and don't consider after support, until it blows up in their face, then watch them moan, squeal and rant on a forum.

 

[Mike Fletcher]

And, We (Men's Shed) need a 150mm tool rest for our old Record Power No. 1 lathe, now known as CL1. Looked everywhere for a 5/8 post and everything is either 16mm or one inch. Then I looked at Axminster. They offer the 5/8 (19mm) post that accept any length of tool rest you would ever want. You buy one post and can have interchangeable tool rests. What a good idea! If the quality of the post and tool rest is anything like their SK100 chuck we'll be set for life, as they say.

 

[Thedog]

It is sad to hear the closure of these store. I live in Cornwall but enjoy having a day trip to Axminster and then on to Yandles (Sommerset), always come back with far more than what I needed but stuff I wanted.
You just can't beat walking round a store like Axminster tools. Its very inspirational. Chatting to the store workers and other customers and about 'stuff'.

The last time I went to the Axminster store, I was at the doors when they opened, the first think they said was, come in get your self a free tea or coffee and enjoy your visit, let me know if you need any advice of help with anything.

I was never pressured to buy anything. Which is really nice, unlike many other stores.

And of course, Axminster have their own engineering development and workshops plus the CNC production line, where they make many of the products themselves in Axminster. That is amazing really, and fantastic. Not many places like that left. And that's why some of their own branded products are very well engineered and high quality. Sometimes, its just worth paying that bit extra for UK manufactured, high quality products, instead of cheap low cost imported rubbish.

Shame to hear. I hope they survive and just go from strength to strength and become a leader for UK produced engineering and woodworking products.

 

[RJM]

It is sad to hear the closure of these store. I live in Cornwall but enjoy having a day trip to Axminster and then on to Yandles (Sommerset), always come back with far more than what I needed but stuff I wanted.
You just can't beat walking round a store like Axminster tools. Its very inspirational. Chatting to the store workers and other customers and about 'stuff'.

The last time I went to the Axminster store, I was at the doors when they opened, the first think they said was, come in get your self a free tea or coffee and enjoy your visit, let me know if you need any advice of help with anything.

I was never pressured to buy anything. Which is really nice, unlike many other stores.

And of course, Axminster have their own engineering development and workshops plus the CNC production line, where they make many of the products themselves in Axminster. That is amazing really, and fantastic. Not many places like that left. And that's why some of their own branded products are very well engineered and high quality. Sometimes, its just worth paying that bit extra for UK manufactured, high quality products, instead of cheap low cost imported rubbish.

Shame to hear. I hope they survive and just go from strength to strength and become a leader for UK produced engineering and woodworking products.

Benchdogs has been making their products in the uk aswell.

 

[Thedog]

Ah, yes, another good example of UK manufacturing.
I have some Benchdogs products, which are excellent.
Of course Axminster are not the only company producing excellent products here in the UK.
I

 

[akirk]

I have always seen them as a slightly mixed company - on the one hand they have some good business ideas and the products they produce are generally good - on the other they seem to offer some things which just don't make sense:
- in store they have an attempt at crossing into the hobby market tackled by stores such as Hobby Craft - but just don't get that market all that well - so HobbyCraft can run big stores because they are generally pile it high / give the appearance of offering everything / sell cheaply - whereas Axminster are very half-hearted in comparison.
- I have a business account with them - I am yet to see any difference in business pricing from normal pricing - other than that it is shown exc. VAT - if they don't care about businesses then they won't do well..

 

[Spectric]

Benchdogs has been making their products in the uk aswell.

Yes you have to give it to Benchdogs that if you can deliver great products at a competative price then there is a market, it is also great that they don't just sit still and keep coming out with new products so they must have a good business model. I will say that I am not sure why they went down the spirit level route for two reasons, more of a builders type tool and the fact it is a pretty crowded market but then why not if you can.

 

[LewisB]

No way. I visited the Newcastle store for the first time just the other day and spent a good hour in there. Very disappointed to hear it's now closing.

 

[Terry - Somerset]

I wonder where the market Axminster serves is going. The following thoughts are generalities, not absolute observations.

Those 60+ grew up at a time when any self respecting lad could fix their motorbike or car. On buying a property they were capable of decorating, renovating and fixing it. Many would have served traditional engineering, building, carpentry apprenticeships.

Their numbers are inevitably getting smaller. Younger folk were bought up in the Ikea (first UK store 1987) and post Thatcher UK de-industrialisation era. Schools closed wood and metal workshops and filled rooms with computers instead.

For many trades Screwfix and Toolstation have a store in every town. Builders merchants, bathroom and kitchen suppliers etc have a far bigger product base to sell tools etc alongside.

There is ongoing demand from specialist woodworking firms, but insufficient to keep a dozen stores open stocked and staffed when challenged for delivery and pricing by the internet.

Genuine hand made by skilled craftsmen is costly. The market is small and Ikea (and others) can sell a finished item for much less than most could even source the raw materials.

At the same time as many stores are closing, decent woodworking shows have also reduced.

I regularly visited Yandles shows which included number of demonstrators, manufacturers and suppliers. Thoroughly disappointed to find that it has morphed into an unremarkable craft fair of little interest. Fortunately they still have timber selection and a reasonable machine and tool shop.

A somewhat naïve hope - to ensure their survival UK stores collaborate to hold (say) half a dozen full regional shows to sell the benefits of having local spares and other back up, and allow punters to appreciate the quality of the kit.

Otherwise I think we face an internet only future if that is all we are prepared to pay for.

 

[Sachakins]

Those 60+ grew up at a time when any self respecting lad could fix their motorbike or car. On buying a property they were capable of decorating, renovating and fixing it. Many would have served traditional engineering, building, carpentry apprenticeships.

Think this one observation nails it very well.

 

[Blackswanwood]

I see Axminster's latest e-mail announces that they are now stocking Stanley, Bahco, Faithful, Hultafors and Roughneck tools.

 

[Sachakins]

I see Axminster's latest e-mail announces that they are now stocking Stanley, Bahco, Faithful, Hultafors and Roughneck tools.

Range widening is always a risky strategy, specially when products overlap with existing ltems!

 

[RJM]

Yes you have to give it to Benchdogs that if you can deliver great products at a competative price then there is a market, it is also great that they don't just sit still and keep coming out with new products so they must have a good business model. I will say that I am not sure why they went down the spirit level route for two reasons, more of a builders type tool and the fact it is a pretty crowded market but then why not if you can.

Thanks. We are trying to build a brand that will keep UK manufacturing alive; too many are opting for rebranded Chinese tools to stay in the market. Not at Benchdogs; we manufacture 99% of our products except our extrusion, which will always remain the same as it goes against our plan. We may be more expensive than the Chinese tools, but that is just the cost of manufacturing in the UK. Axminster is also making some great tools here in the UK, which is excellent, but I understand why they also buy in from China as their operation is a lot bigger than ours, and they have to keep it flowing. Not everyone can afford the UK tool prices, and we get that, but we hope that customers realise that from us, it's not just a product but the support you get with it as well. The spirit levels are something I have wanted to do for some time, and we were never going to be competitive but wanted to add our range and to keep within our brand design, but come on they do look rather sexy! lol

 

[Spectric]

Yes I will say that your spirit levels do stand out amongst the crowd and are unique, is there a digital version on the horizon ? No one would expect any UK company to manufacture aluminium extrusion in house when you consider the price of UK energy, it is a very energy demanding process.

We may be more expensive than the Chinese tools, but that is just the cost of manufacturing in the UK.

Again high energy cost and I would imagine a large capital expense on the machines but quality engineering will always come at a cost and it is good that when you buy say a benchdogs router template jig that there are no surprises and it does what it says on the tin without any issues unlike the other option available from a well known brand which is really atrocious and failed to deliver due to poor engineering design so in that context it is better to buy something that meets your expectations than something that is just some expensive straight edges.

Not all non Chinese brands are great and some even though really expensive european products don't fully meet expectations as demonstrated by the aftermarket add ons that are available so leaving nice gaps for benchdogs to fill !