Protrade
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersDerby, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Protrade firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Protrade
- Legal name
- Protrade Limited
- Website
- https://protrade.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Protrade industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Trade Tools Distribution
- NAICS
- Hardware Retailers (44414), Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers (444)
- SIC
- Retail-Auto & Home Supply Stores (5531)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tools & Tool Accessories Retail (Hand, Power, Pneumatic) (CRAIADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fasteners, Nails, Screws & Anchors Retail (CRAIADAC), Adhesives, Sealants, Caulks & Tapes Retail (CRAIADAL), Workplace/Jobsite Supplies Retail (Site Consumables, Tarps, Ropes, Chains) (CRAIADAN)
Keywords
Where Protrade is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Derby
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
Protrade business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales: One-time sales of power tools, hand tools, accessories, and consumables to professional tradespeople and industry. Also offers tool hire/rental services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing with volume-based free delivery threshold |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Protrade product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Protrade distributes and retails a comprehensive range of professional trade tools, equipment, and consumables to UK professional tradespeople, industrial buyers, and DIY customers. Core product lines include power tools (cordless, corded, air, petrol), power tool accessories, hand tools, adhesives and sealants, fastenings and fixings, PPE and workwear, tool storage, site electrical and lighting, and welding supplies sourced from major brands such as Milwaukee, DeWalt, Festool, Lamello, Makita, Metabo, Paslode, ToughBuilt, and Trend. The company sells primarily through its own e-commerce storefront with five physical depots for click-and-collect and FedEx-powered nationwide next-day delivery, supplemented by tool repair services, extended warranty support packages, and Klarna-based financing options.
Product overview
Protrade is a UK-based trade tools and equipment distributor offering a comprehensive portfolio of power tools, hand tools, accessories, and consumables from over 15 major brands including Milwaukee, DeWalt, Festool, Lamello, Makita, ToughBuilt, and Metabo. The offering operates through dedicated brand megastores (Milwaukee, DeWalt, Festool, Lamello, Makita, ToughBuilt) that provide curated access to specific brand ecosystems alongside a general product catalog. Product categories span Power Tools & Equipment (cordless, corded, air, batteries), Power Tool Accessories (drilling, sanding, sawing), Hand Tools (bolsters, chisels, pliers, screwdrivers), Adhesives & Sealants, Fastenings & Fixings, PPE & Workwear, Storage (ToughBuilt StackTech, Milwaukee Packout, DeWalt TSTAK), Site Electrical & Lighting, and Welding Supplies. The company provides additional services including tool repair, extended warranties, and Klarna financing options.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Power Tools & Equipment
- Power Tool Accessories
- Hand Tools
- Adhesives & Sealants
- Fastenings & Fixings
- PPE & Workwear
- Workbenches, Tool Storage & Security
- Site Electrical & Lighting
- Welding Supplies
- Abrasives
- Ladders, Steps & Platforms
- Cleaning Supplies
- Tool Repair Service
- Power Tool Support Package
- Power Tool Finance Options
- Lubricants, Paints & Accessories
- Packing, Tapes & Films
- Cable & Pipe Support
- Branded Merchandise
Companies that use Protrade
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Protrade technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Protrade partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FedExcoreLogistics partnership for nationwide delivery services. FedEx Delivery Manager System allows customers to customise delivery date and location options.
- MailchimpminorEmail marketing platform for newsletter distribution and promotional communications to customers.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Protrade competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Screwfix: Screwfix is the UK's largest trade tools and hardware retailer (owned by Kingfisher), operating 800+ branches and a major e-commerce platform. It directly competes with Protrade across power tools, hand tools, fixings, and trade consumables, serving the same professional tradesperson customer base.
- Axminster Tools: Axminster Tools is a UK specialist retailer of woodworking machinery, power tools, and hand tools with showrooms and online sales. It overlaps Protrade particularly in the Festool, Trend, and woodworking-focused brand portfolio.
- Toolstation: Toolstation is a UK trade tools and building supplies retailer (part of Travis Perkins) with 560+ branches, competing head-on with Protrade on power tools, fixings, and consumables for trade customers via click-and-collect and next-day delivery.
- ITS (Industrial Tooling Supplies): Industrial Tooling Supplies is a UK-based online distributor of power tools, hand tools, and accessories for trade and industrial customers, with a comparable brand-led catalogue structure and free delivery thresholds.
- Machine Mart: Machine Mart is a UK retailer of power tools, machinery, and workshop equipment with both physical superstores and an online presence, directly competing with Protrade in the power tools and equipment segment.
- Cromwell Tools: Cromwell Tools is a UK distributor of industrial supplies including cutting tools, hand tools, PPE, and MRO products, serving a comparable customer base of tradespeople and industrial buyers via catalogue and online channels.
Broad incumbents
- Travis Perkins: Travis Perkins is the UK's largest builders' merchant, operating Toolstation plus Travis Perkins, Benchmarx, and Keyline branches. It overlaps Protrade in tools, fixings, and trade supplies but operates at much larger scale across heavier construction materials.
- Jewson: Jewson is a UK builders' merchant with hundreds of branches, part of the Stark Group. It overlaps Protrade in hand tools, power tools, fixings, and site consumables, primarily serving trade and contractor customers.
- Wickes: Wickes is a UK home improvement retailer serving both DIY and trade customers across kitchens, bathrooms, building materials, and tools. It overlaps Protrade in the tools and fixings categories, though Wickes' core focus is broader home improvement.
Emerging players
- FFX Tools: FFX Tools is a UK online-only power tools retailer focused on trade customers, offering competitive pricing on major brands. It competes with Protrade's e-commerce channel and represents the growing online-only threat to traditional depot-based distributors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Protrade social profiles
Digital presenceProtrade financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Protrade leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Protrade funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Protrade 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 Protrade
What does Protrade do?
Protrade distributes and retails a comprehensive range of professional trade tools, equipment, and consumables to UK professional tradespeople, industrial buyers, and DIY customers. Core product lines include power tools (cordless, corded, air, petrol), power tool accessories, hand tools, adhesives and sealants, fastenings and fixings, PPE and workwear, tool storage, site electrical and lighting, and welding supplies sourced from major brands such as Milwaukee, DeWalt, Festool, Lamello, Makita, Metabo, Paslode, ToughBuilt, and Trend. The company sells primarily through its own e-commerce storefront with five physical depots for click-and-collect and FedEx-powered nationwide next-day delivery, supplemented by tool repair services, extended warranty support packages, and Klarna-based financing options.
Is Protrade a public or private company?
Protrade is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Protrade founded?
Protrade was founded in 1973. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Protrade based?
Protrade is headquartered in Derby, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Protrade make money?
One revenue line is on record: product Sales.
Who are Protrade's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Screwfix, Axminster Tools, Toolstation, ITS (Industrial Tooling Supplies), Machine Mart and Cromwell Tools. Broad incumbents are Travis Perkins, Jewson and Wickes. FFX Tools is listed as an emerging player.
Does Protrade have an API?
No public API is recorded for Protrade.
What industry is Protrade in?
Protrade's product category is Trade Tools Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAIADAB, Tools & Tool Accessories Retail (Hand, Power, Pneumatic), with a secondary code of CRAIADAC, Fasteners, Nails, Screws & Anchors Retail. Its NAICS code is 44414 and its SIC code is 5531.