Axminster Tools
Axminster Tools is a UK specialty retailer founded in 1970 selling woodworking, engineering and workshop machinery, hand tools and accessories through a Devon showroom, e-commerce site shipping to 200+ countries, and an eBay storefront, serving hobbyists, woodturners, engineers, educators and trades.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersAxminster, United Kingdom
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Axminster Tools does
Axminster Tools, trading name of Newhow Limited, is a UK-based specialty retailer of woodworking, engineering and workshop tooling founded in 1970 and headquartered in Axminster, Devon. The company sells machinery, power tools, hand tools and accessories across a price range of approximately £2 to £500+, distributed through a flagship physical showroom, an e-commerce website shipping to more than 200 countries, and a dedicated eBay marketplace storefront. Its own-label portfolio spans Axcaliber, the Axminster Engineer Series, Axminster Professional, Axminster Woodturning, Axminster Workshop, UJK and Perform, stocked alongside authorised premium third-party brands including Festool, Tormek, Lamello, Laguna, Fuji Spray, Veritas, Mirka, Chestnut Products, Liberon, Osmo and Stanley.
The business targets hobbyist woodworkers and woodturners, engineers, education customers and trade professionals, with an on-site training programme, a hosted community forum and the REWARDS loyalty scheme designed to support repeat engagement. Commercial credibility is reinforced by the King's Award for Enterprise, ISO 9001 registration and Buy with Confidence Trading Standards approval. There is no disclosed information on headcount, revenue, funding, leadership composition, or proprietary technology, and the company operates as an independent private limited company with no parent entity.
Axminster Tools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Axminster Tools
- Legal name
- Newhow Limited
- Website
- https://axminstertools.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Axminster Tools is a UK specialty retailer founded in 1970 selling woodworking, engineering and workshop machinery, hand tools and accessories through a Devon showroom, e-commerce site shipping to 200+ countries, and an eBay storefront, serving hobbyists, woodturners, engineers, educators and trades.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Axminster Tools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Axminster
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Axminster Tools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Tool Sales: Direct sales of woodworking tools, machinery, hand tools, power tools and accessories through e-commerce and physical retail stores. Revenue generated from one-time product purchases across categories including abrasives, adhesives, benches, clamps, chisels, saws, lathes, routers, and finishing products.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing across tool categories |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Axminster Tools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Axminster Tools is a UK specialist retailer that sells woodworking hand tools, power tools, workshop machinery, abrasives/finishing products, accessories and related workshop consumables under both its own proprietary sub-brands (Perform, Axminster Workshop, Axminster Professional, Axminster Woodturning, Axminster Engineer Series, UJK, Axcaliber) and a curated selection of third-party premium brands (Festool, Tormek, Lamello, Laguna, Veritas, Mirka, Chestnut Products, Liberon, Osmo, Stanley, Fuji Spray). It distributes via its own e-commerce platform (axminstertools.com), an eBay outlet, a flagship retail store in Axminster, Devon, click-and-collect, international shipping to 200+ countries, and dedicated Business & Education accounts, supported by in-store events, woodworking courses and a multi-tier REWARDS loyalty programme.
Product overview
Axminster Tools is a UK-based specialist retailer offering a comprehensive e-commerce platform for woodworking tools, machinery, and workshop equipment. The product portfolio is organized around two main pillars: (1) Core product categories including Power Tools, Hand Tools, Machinery, Abrasives/Cleaners/Finishing, and Accessories; and (2) Activity-based sections for specialized crafts like Woodturning, Routing, Sharpening, and Wood Joining. The company operates both an e-commerce platform (axminstertools.com) and a physical store in Axminster, Devon. Alongside its retail operations, Axminster offers own-brand products across multiple tiers (Perform for beginners, Axminster Workshop for hobbyists, Axminster Professional for professionals, and Axminster Woodturning/Axminster Engineer Series for specialists), plus complementary brands including UJK (precision engineering), Axcaliber (tooling), and third-party brands such as Festool, Tormek, Lamello, Laguna, Fuji Spray, Veritas, Stanley, and Rider. The company also provides educational resources through its Ideas & Advice platform and operates a loyalty programme (REWARDS) offering points per purchase.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Axminster Workshop: Own-brand hand tools and workshop accessories range
- Axminster Professional
- Axminster Woodturning
- Axminster Engineer Series
- UJK
- Axcaliber
- Perform
- REWARDS
Products and services
- Power Tools Range of mains and cordless power tools including drills, drivers, screwdrivers, routers and trimmers, sanders and polishers, circular, jigsaw, plunge and sabre saws, biscuit jointers, dowelling equipment, planers, angle grinders, air tools and compressors, plus vacuum cleaners - for woodworkers, tradespeople and serious DIY users.
- Machinery Heavy-duty workshop machinery including bench grinders/polishers/linishers, drills and mills, morticers, dust extractors, engineering and woodturning lathes, planers and thicknessers, powerfeeds, belt/bobbin/disc/drum sanders, bandsaws, mitre/panel/scroll/table saws, spindle moulders, tenoners and sharpening systems - aimed at professional and prosumer workshop users.
- Hand Tools Traditional hand tools including chisels, planes, saws, clamps, files and rasps, hammers and mallets, knives and scalpels, marking and measuring tools, and sharpening tools - for woodworking joinery, cabinetry and general craft use.
- Abrasives, Cleaners & Finishing Abrasives (hand sanding sheets, power tool and woodturning abrasives), wood dyes, wax polishes, oil finishes, varnish, lacquer, French polish, paint, casting resin, finish-application tools, fillers and metal finishing products.
- Accessories Hand-tool, machinery and power-tool accessories including brazing and soldering, clamping, honing guides, marking and measuring, planing and scraping, sawing, screwdriving, sharpening, drilling, milling, dust extraction, grinding, polishing, lathe, moulding, tenoning, sanding, angle-grinding, batteries, chargers and radios.
- Woodturning Activity-based curated woodturning selection: lathes, chucks, jaws, fitments, face shields, aprons, turning tools (gouges, chisels, scrapers, hollowers, beading tools), turning kits, blanks, turning abrasives and finishes for woodturning hobbyists and specialists.
- Routing Routing activity section offering CNC routers, router cutters (beading, dovetail, grooving, jointing, ogee, moulding), guide rails, jigs, router tables and routers.
- Sharpening Sharpening solutions for woodworking and engineering tools: bench grinders, diamond/oilstones/waterstones/slip stones, honing guides, hand and powered sharpening systems, CBN/diamond/grinding/honing wheels, lapping equipment and polishing compounds.
- Wood Joining Wood joining products and systems: adhesives, biscuit jointers and biscuits, Lamello P-System/Cabineo/Divario/Invis connectors, clamps, dowels and dowelling jigs, Festool DOMINO jointing, pocket hole joinery, and fixings.
- Perform Own-brand entry-level machinery and tools targeted at beginners, DIY enthusiasts, and light woodworking applications - reliability-focused products at accessible price points.
- Axminster Workshop Own-brand range of hand tools and workshop essentials positioned as quality tools at accessible prices for hobbyists and home workshops.
- Axminster Professional Premium own-brand line of higher-quality power tools, machinery and equipment for professional woodworkers and demanding trade users.
- Axminster Woodturning Specialised own-brand woodturning range including lathes, chucks, jaws, turning tools, finishes and accessories dedicated to woodturning.
- Axminster Engineer Series Engineering-focused own brand offering precision tools, instruments and equipment for metalworking and engineering applications.
- Axcaliber Own-brand tooling products including router cutters, bandsaw blades, circular saw blades and other cutting accessories.
- UJK Precision engineering brand offering the Parf Guide System for accurate drilling, plus woodworking jigs and templates for routing and joinery work.
- REWARDS Loyalty Programme Customer loyalty programme: members earn 1 point per £1 spent plus bonus points for reviews, social-media engagement and referrals, with tiered redemption (e.g. 100 points = £5 off, escalating to 2000 points = £100 off), referral rewards of 200 points, birthday rewards and exclusive member offers.
- Tool Sharpening Service In-store tool sharpening service offered at the Axminster, Devon flagship store to maintain and restore hand tools and blades for customers.
- Woodworking & Woodturning Courses In-store and online courses covering pen turning, bowl turning and other woodworking skill-development classes, plus bespoke online courses for woodturning and related crafts, delivered through the Axminster store and Ideas & Advice platform.
- Business & Education Services Dedicated account service for businesses and educational institutions (e.g. schools, colleges, training providers) providing volume purchasing, account management and tailored support for commercial tool and machinery procurement.
Companies that use Axminster Tools
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Axminster Tools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Axminster Tools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FestoolcoreAxminster Tools is an authorized retailer of Festool power tools, selling Festool DOMINO machines, drills, sanders, routers, and associated accessories. Festool is a leading German manufacturer of premium power tools.
- TormekcoreAxminster Tools sells Tormek sharpening systems and accessories. Tormek is a Swedish manufacturer of water-cooled sharpening systems for woodworking and other tools.
- LamellocoreAxminster Tools is an authorized dealer of Lamello wood joining products including the P-System, Cabineo CNC connectors, Divario connectors, and Invis Jointing solutions.
- LagunacoreAxminster Tools sells Laguna woodworking machinery including bandsaws and other workshop equipment. Laguna is a leading manufacturer of professional woodworking machinery.
- Fuji SprayminorAxminster Tools sells Fuji Spray HVLP spray systems and equipment for finishing applications.
- VeritascoreAxminster Tools sells Veritas hand tools including planes, marking tools, and workshop accessories. Veritas is a Canadian manufacturer of premium woodworking hand tools.
- MirkacoreAxminster Tools sells Mirka abrasives including the popular Abranet range of sanding discs and sheets.
- Chestnut ProductscoreAxminster Tools is a major retailer of Chestnut Products finishing solutions including sanding sealers, finishing oils, lacquers, waxes, and spray finishes.
- LiberoncoreAxminster Tools sells Liberon wood finishing products including finishing oils, waxes, French polishes, and wood dyes.
- OsmocoreAxminster Tools sells Osmo wood finishes including UV protection oils, decking oils, and polishes.
- StanleycoreAxminster Tools sells Stanley hand tools including chisels, planes, saws, and measuring tools.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Axminster Tools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Woodcraft: US specialty retailer of woodworking tools, machinery, hardware, and finishing supplies with both online and physical stores. Closest direct comparable to Axminster's specialty positioning, product depth, and hobbyist+professional customer mix, despite operating in a different geography.
- Screwfix: UK trade-focused tool and hardware retailer with dense branch network, click-and-collect, and broad assortment. Direct competitor to Axminster in the UK trade/professional segment, though it lacks Axminster's woodworking specialty depth.
- Rockler Woodworking and Hardware: North American specialty woodworking retailer with stores, e-commerce, exclusive brands, and a strong content/community program. Highly comparable to Axminster across product mix, own-brand strategy, and customer segments (hobbyists through professionals).
- Wickes: UK home improvement and DIY retailer with stores and online. Overlaps with Axminster in woodworking tools, machinery, and finishing categories for the DIY/hobbyist customer base.
- Toolstation: UK multi-channel trade tool and hardware retailer (Travis Perkins group). Competes with Axminster on price, convenience, and trade customer experience across power tools, hand tools, and accessories.
Broad incumbents
- Travis Perkins: UK's largest building materials distributor and parent of Toolstation. Overlaps with Axminster in trade tools and hardware but operates at much broader scale and across construction materials, not specialty woodworking.
- Bosch Power Tools: Global power tools manufacturer with broad DIY and professional ranges. Competes with Axminster's power tool assortment at the brand level and increasingly sells direct, similar to Festool's DTC push.
- Festool: German premium power tool manufacturer and one of Axminster's key authorized brand partners. Comparable as a premium tool brand, and is increasingly selling direct-to-consumer, creating a structural shift in Axminster's distribution relationship.
Emerging players
- Highland Woodworking: US specialty woodworking tool retailer focused on premium hand tools and traditional woodworking. Comparable as a niche online-first specialist with overlapping brands (Veritas, Festool) and similar content/community ethos.
Regional players
- Total Tools: Australia's largest independent trade tool retailer with store network and e-commerce. Closest regional analog to Axminster's specialist trade+DIY mix in a key served market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Axminster Tools social profiles
Digital presenceAxminster Tools compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Axminster Tools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Axminster Tools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Axminster Tools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Axminster Tools 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 Axminster Tools
What does Axminster Tools do?
Axminster Tools is a UK specialist retailer that sells woodworking hand tools, power tools, workshop machinery, abrasives/finishing products, accessories and related workshop consumables under both its own proprietary sub-brands (Perform, Axminster Workshop, Axminster Professional, Axminster Woodturning, Axminster Engineer Series, UJK, Axcaliber) and a curated selection of third-party premium brands (Festool, Tormek, Lamello, Laguna, Veritas, Mirka, Chestnut Products, Liberon, Osmo, Stanley, Fuji Spray). It distributes via its own e-commerce platform (axminstertools.com), an eBay outlet, a flagship retail store in Axminster, Devon, click-and-collect, international shipping to 200+ countries, and dedicated Business & Education accounts, supported by in-store events, woodworking courses and a multi-tier REWARDS loyalty programme.
Is Axminster Tools a public or private company?
Axminster Tools is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Axminster Tools founded?
Axminster Tools was founded in 1970. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Axminster Tools based?
Axminster Tools is headquartered in Axminster, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Axminster Tools make money?
One revenue line is on record: retail Tool Sales.
Who are Axminster Tools's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Woodcraft, Screwfix, Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, Wickes and Toolstation. Broad incumbents are Travis Perkins, Bosch Power Tools and Festool. Highland Woodworking is listed as an emerging player. Total Tools is listed as a regional player.
Does Axminster Tools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Axminster Tools.