Boys and Boden

What Boys and Boden does

Boys & Boden Ltd is a UK private limited company (Company No. 215444) that operates as a regional builders' merchant. Founded in 1895 by cousins Henry Boys Boden and Frank Albert Boys as a sawmill in Darlaston, Staffordshire, the company has evolved into a multi-branch building supplies business now headquartered in Welshpool, UK. It operates five physical branches located in Chester, Shrewsbury, Newtown, Welshpool, and Llandrindod Wells, serving customers across the Cheshire, Shropshire, and Mid Wales regions of England and Wales. The business is family-owned and has operated continuously for over 129 years.

The company runs both physical retail branches and an e-commerce website built on the Magento platform (designed and developed by gloversure). It serves trade and DIY customers with building materials, timber, and related supplies — a product and channel mix consistent with traditional UK independent builders' merchants. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. Pricing mechanics, customer segment splits, and supplier relationships are not detailed in available sources. The dual physical/online channel indicates an omnichannel go-to-market approach extending the catchment beyond the immediate branch geographies, though no online sales traction data is provided.

The underlying business model is straightforward merchanting: procurement of building supplies and materials from upstream manufacturers and wholesalers, held at branch level for collection, delivery, or click-and-collect via the Magento storefront. No proprietary manufacturing, no specialty technical platform, and no disclosed AI/automation layer is evident in the input data.

Name

Boys and Boden

Legal name

Boys & Boden Ltd

Website

https://boysandboden.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Short description

UK regional builders' merchant founded in 1895, operating five physical branches across Cheshire, Shropshire, and Mid Wales, complemented by a Magento-based e-commerce platform, serving trade and DIY customers with building materials.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Materials Retail

NAICS

Home Centers (444110), Building Material and Supplies Dealers (4441)

SIC

Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers (5211), Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

Structural & Framing Components Retail (Trusses, Joists, Beams, Engineered Wood) (CRAIAEAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Doors, Windows & Millwork Retail (Interior/Exterior Doors, Windows, Moulding) (CRAIAEAI), Sheet Goods & Panels Retail (Drywall, Cement Board, Sheathing) (CRAIAEAB)

Keywords

• Building materials supply
• Timber merchants
• Builders merchant
• Plumbing supplies
• DIY retail

Headquarters

HQ city

Welshpool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Building Materials Retail: Sale of building materials including timber, sheet materials, building supplies, tools, plumbing, roofing, and related products to trade professionals and DIY customers through physical branches and e-commerce.
2. Trade Accounts: Credit and cash account facilities for regular trade customers, allowing for ongoing purchasing relationships with payment terms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Boys & Boden is a UK builders' merchant supplying building materials, timber, sheet materials, roofing, plumbing, bathrooms, kitchens, doors, windows, staircases, tools, and decorating supplies to trade professionals and DIY customers. The company operates five physical branches across Cheshire, Shropshire, and Mid Wales, supplemented by an e-commerce website, and offers value-added services such as in-branch timber cutting and shaping to specification. Trade customers are supported with credit accounts, while retail customers can purchase without an account.

Product overview

Boys & Boden is a UK builders' merchant operating since 1895, originally a sawmill, now providing an extensive range of building materials and trade supplies through both physical branches and e-commerce. The core offering encompasses 14 main product categories: Building Materials, Timber, Sheet Materials, Civils and Drainage, Roofing (via Boden Roofing Supplies), Bathrooms/Plumbing (via The Plumbline), Windows/Doors/Staircases (including partner brands Crystal Direct and Pear Stairs), Security/Ironmongery, Flooring/Tiling, Tools/Workwear/Safety, Painting/Decorating, Garden/Landscaping, and Worktops/Kitchens (via Kitchens by Boys and Boden). The company operates 5 branches across the UK (Chester, Shrewsbury, Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells) and offers value-added services including timber cutting/shaping, a brick library display, and an online information hub. They partner with numerous brands including Garador (garage doors), Cedral (cladding), K Rend (renders), ZClad (stone cladding), From the Anvil (ironmongery), and Interclamp (pipe fittings). An online Crystal Design Tool enables customer configuration of windows and doors for quotes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Plumbline: Bathroom and plumbing division offering bathrooms, showers, tiles, and plumbing fixtures
• Boden Roofing Supplies
• Kitchens by Boys and Boden
• Pear Stairs

Products and services

• Building Materials Core building supplies including bricks, blocks, lintels, sand, aggregates, plasterboard, cement, insulation, cladding, fascias, and builders metalwork for trade builders and DIY customers.
• Timber Sawn timber, CLS, roofing batten, scaffold boards, palings, architrave, skirting, and planed all round timbers in C16 and C24 grades for structural and decorative purposes.
• Sheet Materials Plywood, MDF, chipboard, hardboard, OSB, ECO board, resistant board, galvanised sheeting, and expansion joint filler for construction and roofing applications.
• Civils and Drainage Civil engineering and drainage supplies including chamber rings, manhole covers, septic tanks, ACO drainage systems, guttering, and plastic drainage pipes and fittings.
• Roofing Tiles, Slates & Supplies Pitched roofing options including Spanish and Welsh slate, various tile designs, roofing battens, membranes, and underlays supplied through Boden Roofing Supplies division.
• Bathrooms, Showers and Tiles Bathroom fixtures including electric showers, wet rooms, shower trays, shower boarding, baths, and bathroom furniture supplied through The Plumbline sister company.
• Windows, Doors, Joinery and Staircases Windows (PVC-U and timber), doors, mouldings, architrave, window boards, and staircases featuring brands such as Velux, Keylite, Jeld-Wen, Crystal Direct, Premdor, XL Joinery, LPD Doors, and Pear Stairs.
• Security and Ironmongery Security equipment, locks, padlocks, bolts, door and window furniture, hinges, latches, storage containers, and traditional ironmongery including From the Anvil handmade products.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• The PlumblinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company specializing in bathrooms, showers, and plumbing supplies. Operates as a separate division with its own website and branch showrooms. Shares account systems with Boys and Boden.
• Boden Roofing SuppliescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company specializing in pitched roofing, flat roofing, and commercial roofing supplies. Offers Spanish and Welsh slate and variety of tile designs. Separate website and branding.
• Kitchens by Boys and BodencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company specializing in kitchen supply and installation. Offers flat-packed kitchen units, granite and quartz worktops. Available through Chester branch.
• Pear StairsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading UK manufacturer and supplier of bespoke staircases. Claims to be the largest stair parts provider in the UK. Offers curved, straight, winder, and landing staircases in various timbers including oak, sapele, ash, walnut, and pine. FSC certified. UK-wide delivery within 10 days.
• Crystal DirectmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum Partner Supplier of Crystal Direct windows, doors, conservatories, and roof systems. Boys and Boden offers the full product range with large displays in Chester branch and fully trained branch champions. Crystal Direct is a quality British manufacturer based in Letchworth Hertfordshire, trading since 1990.
• From the AnvilminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorManufacturer of handmade ironmongery using traditional techniques based in Llandrindod Wells, Mid Wales. Products include door furnishings, brackets, locks, and accessories with traditional styling and modern innovations.
• K RendminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrusted manufacturer of silicone render for protecting walls from weather and moisture. Over 25 years of experience. Products include silicone thin coat and scraped texture renders in various colors.
• CedralminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMarley Cedral fibre cement cladding system. Low maintenance, rot-free alternative to traditional cladding materials. Available in Lap and Click formats with multiple color ranges including Mineral, Forest, Earth, and Ocean.
• ZCladminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStone cladding system for interior and exterior walls. Offers rough and smooth options. Modular panels provide uniform finish with easy installation.
• TobermoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrick supplier featured in the Boys and Boden Brick Library. Provides functional and affordable bricks as well as decorative brickwork and masonry samples.
• GaradorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Garage Door People, trading since 1948. UK industry leader in garage door manufacture. Products include Up and Over, Sectional, Side-Hinged, and GaraRoll roller garage doors. Based in Yeovil with 10-year limited warranty on most products.
• DEWALTminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved DEWALT Premier Centre stocking power tools, accessories, and equipment.
• TrendminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGold Stockist of Trend routing tools and bits at selected branches.
• Mammoth Memory LearningminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCharitable sponsorship recipient. Boys and Boden is a proud sponsor of Mammoth Memory Learning.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Travis Perkins: UK's largest builders' merchant with national branch network serving trade builders, plumbers, and DIY across all regions. Most directly comparable incumbent to Boys and Boden given the trade-focused builders' merchant model, though operates at vastly greater scale.
• Jewson: Major UK builders' merchant with national footprint serving trade and DIY customers with timber, building materials, kitchens, and bathrooms. Closely mirrors Boys and Boden's product mix and B2B trade account model, but at much larger scale and with a stronger national brand.
• Buildbase: UK builders' merchant group (part of Grafton Group) operating regional branches focused on trade customers with timber, building materials, and landscaping supplies. Closely comparable merchant model and product range, though operates across multiple regional brands nationally.
• Wickes: UK home improvement retailer with branches serving both trade and DIY customers across building materials, kitchens, bathrooms, and timber. Comparable product mix and dual trade/DIY go-to-market, though Wickes operates nationally and has a much larger store footprint.
• Screwfix: UK trade-focused retailer specializing in tools, hardware, and maintenance products with nationwide branch network and strong digital/click-and-collect proposition. Comparable in serving trade customers, though narrower product range focused on maintenance rather than full building materials.

Direct peers

• Huws Gray: UK builders' merchant with strong regional presence in Wales, the Midlands, and the North West, directly overlapping Boys and Boden's core Welsh and border geography. Operates trade accounts, timber, building materials, and DIY under a similar regional merchant model.
• Selco Builders Warehouse: Trade-focused builders' merchant with cash-and-carry warehouse format serving builders, tradespeople, and serious DIY customers across the UK. Comparable in customer base, product range, and trade-only purchasing experience, though warehouse format is distinct from Boys and Boden's traditional branch store model.
• Bradfords: Regional builders' merchant operating in the South West of England with a heritage similar to Boys and Boden, serving trade and DIY with building materials, timber, landscaping, and plumbing. Closely comparable mid-sized regional merchant with a long operating history.
• MKM Building Supplies: UK independent builders' merchant with a growing network of branches across England, Scotland, and Wales serving trade and retail customers. Comparable regional merchant model with timber, building materials, kitchens, and bathrooms, and a similar multi-divisional specialist approach.

Regional players

• Northgate Timber (and similar regional Welsh/border merchants): Independent regional timber and builders' merchants operating in geographies adjacent to Boys and Boden in Wales and the border counties. Comparable in product mix and local trade relationships, though smaller scale and narrower geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boys-and-boden

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Boys and Boden