Maplin Electronics
Maplin Electronics is a UK-based digital-first omnichannel retailer of consumer and professional electronics, serving individual consumers and B2B customers across education, healthcare, retail/hospitality, and maker segments via a Shopify e-commerce site, nationwide stores, and a dedicated B2B account program with Net 30 terms.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1972
- HeadquartersRotherham, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Maplin Electronics does
Maplin Electronics is a UK-based electronics retailer operating as Digital-First Retail Limited, a private company owned by OYOD Holdings Ltd. Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Rotherham, it runs a digital-first omnichannel model serving both individual consumers and business customers across the United Kingdom. The product offering spans nine main categories — Power & Solar, Smart Tech & Lighting, Security & Safety, Computing & Mobile, Photo & Video, Audio & Entertainment, Car Tech, Cables & Adapters, and Components & Maker (Maplin Pro) — covering consumer electronics accessories as well as professional components for makers and engineers.
The business is built on a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront (www.maplin.co.uk), supplemented by nationwide physical retail stores and instant-delivery partnerships with Deliveroo and GoPuff. A separate Maplin Pro portal (pro.maplin.co.uk) supplies components, connectors, enclosures, and tools to professional buyers, while the Business & Education Services program delivers Net 30 payment terms, bulk discounts, and dedicated account management to enterprise, education, healthcare, and retail/hospitality customers spending over £500/month. Payment processing is handled through Shopify with PayPal, major credit cards, Apple Pay, and Google Pay, with Signifyd providing fraud detection. The business model is predominantly transactional, one-time hardware sales, with multi-year contracted pricing for qualified B2B accounts.
Management includes managing director Ollie Marshall alongside founders Doug Simmons, Roger Allen, and Sandra Allen. The company monetises a long-standing UK brand in electronics retail through content marketing (expert advice blog), email, SEO, affiliate, and seasonal promotional campaigns, with notable third-party brand stocking including Fujifilm, Kodak, Shelly, Swann, Reolink, and Road Angel. Maplin & Maplin Electronics trademarks are registered IP of OYOD Holdings Ltd.
Maplin Electronics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Maplin Electronics
- Legal name
- Digital-First Retail Limited
- Website
- http://www.maplin.co.uk/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1972
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Maplin Electronics is a UK-based digital-first omnichannel retailer of consumer and professional electronics, serving individual consumers and B2B customers across education, healthcare, retail/hospitality, and maker segments via a Shopify e-commerce site, nationwide stores, and a dedicated B2B account program with Net 30 terms.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Maplin Electronics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Consumer Electronics Retail
- SIC
- Wholesale-Computers & Peripheral Equipment & Software (5045), Wholesale-Hardware (5072)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Big-Box Electronics + Wearables & Personal Tech Retail (CRACAAAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Sensors & Modules (IMU, GPS, Camera, RF) Retail (CRACAKAC)
Keywords
Where Maplin Electronics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rotherham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Maplin Electronics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Consumer Electronics Retail: Traditional retail revenue from selling electronics products directly to consumers and businesses through e-commerce and physical stores. Products include batteries, cables, accessories, smart tech, security cameras, computing accessories, photo/video equipment, audio gear, and components. Free UK delivery on orders over £35 with various bulk discount options for business customers.
- B2B Business Accounts: Business accounts offering Net 30 payment terms for qualified businesses spending over £500/month. Dedicated account managers provided for high-value business customers. Bulk purchase discounts on select items for enterprise, education, healthcare, and retail/hospitality sectors.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard consumer pricing with free delivery threshold |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Business account with bulk discounts and Net 30 terms |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Maplin Electronics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Maplin Electronics is a UK-based omnichannel retailer of consumer electronics, accessories, batteries, cables, smart tech, security products, photo/video equipment, audio gear, and electronic components. The company sells through a Shopify-powered e-commerce website, a network of physical retail stores across the UK, instant delivery partners (Deliveroo, GoPuff), a dedicated Maplin Pro portal (pro.maplin.co.uk) serving makers and engineers, and a Business Account Program for enterprise, education, healthcare, and retail/hospitality buyers offering Net 30 payment terms, bulk discounts, and dedicated account managers.
Product overview
Maplin Electronics is a UK-based electronics retailer operating primarily as an e-commerce platform, offering a comprehensive portfolio of consumer electronics and technology products organized across nine main categories: Power & Solar (batteries, chargers, portable power, solar solutions), Smart Tech & Lighting (smart bulbs, smart living devices, heating/cooling), Security & Safety (cameras, alarms, trackers), Computing & Mobile (accessories, networking, furniture), Photo & Video (cameras, printers, optics), Audio & Entertainment (headphones, speakers, studio equipment), Car Tech (dash cams, sat navs), Cables & Adapters, and Components & Maker (Maplin Pro for professional/industrial components). The company operates primarily online with physical store presence, selling both own-brand Maplin products and third-party branded electronics from partners including Fujifilm, Kodak, Shelly, Swann, Reolink, and Road Angel. A dedicated Maplin Pro site serves professional and industrial buyers with components, while Business & Education services cater to B2B customers requiring bulk purchases and account management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Maplin Pro: Professional supplies division offering components, connectors, enclosures, cables, tools and equipment for makers, engineers and industrial customers.
Products and services
- Power & Solar
- Smart Tech & Lighting
- Security & Safety
- Computing & Mobile
- Photo & Video
- Audio & Entertainment
- Car Tech
- Cables & Adapters
- Components & Maker (Maplin Pro)
- Business & Education Services
Companies that use Maplin Electronics
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Maplin Electronics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Maplin Electronics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OYOD Holdings LtdcoreParent company. Digital-First Retail Limited operates under the trading name Maplin. OYOD Holdings Ltd owns the Maplin and Maplin Electronics trademarks.
- ShopifycoreE-commerce platform provider powering the Maplin online store. All cookies reference Shopify infrastructure including checkout, cart, and customer account functionality.
- SignifydcoreFraud prevention partner. Personal information including contact details and transaction information is shared with Signifyd to detect and prevent fraudulent transactions.
- PayPalcorePayment processing partner. PayPal cookies enable secure payment transactions on the website.
- Deliveroo & GoPuffminorInstant delivery partners offering rapid delivery of select items through their respective platforms.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Maplin Electronics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Scan Computers: Scan is a UK specialist retailer of PC components, computing hardware, and electronics aimed at enthusiasts and professionals. It is closely comparable to Maplin Pro and Maplin's computing/networking categories.
- Currys: Currys is the UK's largest specialist electrical retailer with both physical stores and a strong e-commerce platform. It directly competes with Maplin across consumer electronics, computing accessories, smart home, and audio categories, with similar omnichannel positioning.
- Argos (Sainsbury's): Argos operates a UK-wide click-and-collect and online catalogue model selling electronics, computing accessories, audio, and small appliances. It overlaps directly with Maplin's consumer accessory range and omnichannel convenience proposition.
- Ebuyer: Ebuyer is a UK online retailer specialising in computing, electronics, components, and accessories. It competes directly with Maplin on consumer and prosumer electronics, particularly in the computing and components categories.
- RS Components: RS Components is a major UK and global distributor of electronic, electrical, and industrial components. Its product range and B2B focus are highly comparable to Maplin Pro and the business account program.
- Box.co.uk: Box is a UK-based online consumer electronics retailer offering computing, audio, networking, and accessories. It overlaps with Maplin's broader consumer electronics catalogue and e-commerce-led model.
- Rapid Electronics: Rapid Electronics is a UK distributor of electronic components, tools, and maker supplies serving education, industry, and hobbyists. It is closely comparable to Maplin Pro's components and maker offering.
- CPC Farnell: CPC Farnell is a UK-based distributor of electronic components, cables, connectors, and maker supplies serving engineers and businesses. It directly overlaps with Maplin Pro's components and maker offering.
Broad incumbents
- John Lewis & Partners: John Lewis is a UK department store and online retailer with a strong electronics, smart home, and audio category. While broader in scope, it competes for similar premium-positioned UK electronics customers.
- Amazon UK: Amazon UK is the dominant online retailer in consumer electronics, accessories, cables, smart home, and components. While broader in scope, it competes with Maplin across virtually every category and exerts significant pricing pressure on commodity items.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Maplin Electronics social profiles
Digital presenceMaplin Electronics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Maplin Electronics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Maplin Electronics subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Maplin Electronics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Maplin Electronics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Maplin Electronics
What does Maplin Electronics do?
Maplin Electronics is a UK-based omnichannel retailer of consumer electronics, accessories, batteries, cables, smart tech, security products, photo/video equipment, audio gear, and electronic components. The company sells through a Shopify-powered e-commerce website, a network of physical retail stores across the UK, instant delivery partners (Deliveroo, GoPuff), a dedicated Maplin Pro portal (pro.maplin.co.uk) serving makers and engineers, and a Business Account Program for enterprise, education, healthcare, and retail/hospitality buyers offering Net 30 payment terms, bulk discounts, and dedicated account managers.
Is Maplin Electronics a public or private company?
Maplin Electronics is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Maplin Electronics founded?
Maplin Electronics was founded in 1972. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Maplin Electronics based?
Maplin Electronics is headquartered in Rotherham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Maplin Electronics make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Consumer Electronics Retail is the primary driver. The others are B2B Business Accounts.
Who are Maplin Electronics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Scan Computers, Currys, Argos (Sainsbury's), Ebuyer, RS Components, Box.co.uk, Rapid Electronics and CPC Farnell. Broad incumbents are John Lewis & Partners and Amazon UK.
Does Maplin Electronics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Maplin Electronics.
What industry is Maplin Electronics in?
Maplin Electronics's product category is Consumer Electronics Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAAAJ, Big-Box Electronics + Wearables & Personal Tech Retail, with a secondary code of CRACAKAC, Sensors & Modules (IMU, GPS, Camera, RF) Retail. Its SIC code is 5045.