B&Q Tradepoint

[BradNaylor]

I've just been down to B&Q and they've completely revamped the trade counter area. It is now something called 'Tradepoint' and works like a Screwfix store with a similar catalogue. In addition building materials can be selected from the store and paid for at the Tradepoint counter at (allegedly) trade prices. You need to prove 'trade' status to use the facility by handing over a business card.

It seems like a good idea if it works, but given that B&Q and Screwfix are both owned by Kingfisher what future can there be for the Screwfix trade counters?

I suspect that Screwfix will revert to being an internet only company.

 

[woodsworth]

I suspect that Screwfix will revert to being an internet only company.

I don't see any reason it needs to be a counter company. While on a trip somewhere i thought i'd stop in to a Screwfix just to see if there were some good deals or hands on so i can see what some of the things they sell are actually like, but there was nothing there but a counter and an argus style work station.

What's the point? It is a waste of resources that could be made into profit.

What is interesting is that B&Q and Screwfix are owned by the same people or person. Some things at B&Q are 5 times the cost of Screwfix so that would suggest a deliberate pillaging of people's wallets.

I rarely shop at B&Q as i'm always angered by the prices there, but some times it is the only option as other companies are even more dim to see an opportunity to help people out of their wallets by actually stocking what people need.

 

[BradNaylor]

I would imagine that B&Q are levelling their sights at Travis Perkins, Jewsons, and independent builders' merchents.

There is a huge amount of business to be had from small builders and tradesmen; these guys tend to want to pick up their supplies themselves in the morning on their way to a job. If B&Q can offer a Screwfix type operation in all their stores coupled with supplies of timber and building materials at below TP prices then they will probably clean up.

 

[chingerspy]

I think the Screwfix trade counters are brilliant, I have one only a 5 minute walk away and have bought a lot of odds and ends and power tools from there. Are they are opening up the B&Q counters in towns where there isn't a Screwfix one? That would make sense. I was in Stevenage B&Q recently and there wasn't one, Screwfix have one not too far away though.

 

[wizer]

It seems sensible to combine their SF operation with their BQ operation. But to get rid of the SF counters would be a bad move. The SF premises can be much smaller (relatively speaking) and so can be more conveniently placed within small industrial parks. But to make the BQ operation a seemingly separate operation appears to be a strange choice. Everyone knows about SF so having a BQ, SF counter seems more obvious to people. I can only assume that they don't want the majority of their customers to know that SF & BQ are the same company.

Perhaps good news for Toolstation in a way. If SF reduce their counters then Toolstation will get more business. Although TS has a smaller selection then SF, I tend to prefer it. Their prices can be keener too. The good thing for us is that SF and TS are right next door to each other. So, if you can be bothered, you can get the best of both prices.

 

[woodsworth]

There is a huge amount of business to be had from small builders and tradesmen; these guys tend to want to pick up their supplies themselves in the morning on their way to a job.

I tend to buy fixings in advance and in bulk and just top off as i need. Probably because of the lack of cheap available goods where i live. The online service is a valuable service for me. I find this business of stopping to pick things up in the morning to be a waste of valuable billing time. I have a daily rate and it isn't cheap so people want as much value as they can get out of each visit. Not having appropriate fixings on hand means you have to make extra visits.

There is the odd time i have to make a special visit because it is impossible to think of everything but i feel those are legitimate times one can take a trip at the customers expense.

I would imagine that B&Q are leveling their sights at Travis Perkins, Jewsons, and independent builders' merchants.

I think B&Q would have to do a lot more to attract me as a customer. Most of what they have in the store is aimed at DIY people and not trades people. They do have a good selection of paints, stains, dye's and waxes though. I'd like to see full size sheets of Plywood, better range of timber, higher end doors and trims, not the seconds they sell, bulk plumbing supplies at reasonable prices, waste pipe, drainage pipe etc... A professional line of tools would be nice as well. Most of the tools they sell i wouldn't touch.

maybe some of the B&Q's do stock such items but ours doesn't.

 

[petermillard]

Sounds like an interesting idea from B&Q, though I can't believe Screwfix would close their trade counters - the one I go to is always heaving with people. I stopped buying from SFX mail order after being let down by deliveries so many times - if they closed the trade counters they'd lose my business for sure.

As others have said, B&Q don't really cover the same ground - at least, not yet anyway; there's always Toolstation TCs I guess...

Kingfisher's Chief Exec claims there a £20Bn market to go after the "driven by better pricing and greater convenience for trade buyers than was available at independent builders' merchants."

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/091490ea-3876 ... abdc0.html

Who'd have thought the odd packet of wall plugs could add up to so much. :shock:

Cheers, Pete