Calgary Fasteners & Tools
Calgary Fasteners & Tools (Calfast) is a Calgary-based distributor of fasteners, power tools, hand tools, and safety supplies, serving construction trades, MRO, welding, and woodworking customers across Canada through three retail locations and an e-commerce platform, founded in 1979.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersCalgary, Canada
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Calgary Fasteners & Tools does
Calgary Fasteners & Tools Ltd. (operating as Calfast) is a Calgary-based B2B/B2C distributor of fasteners, power tools, hand tools, safety equipment, and related construction supplies, founded on February 19, 1979 by Mel Soloway and Jerry Miller, with Ron Hall and Moe Gagnon joining as early partners. The company serves construction trades, MRO, welding/fabrication, and woodworking segments across Calgary and ships e-commerce orders nationwide across Canada through the Calfast.com platform. It carries 50,000+ SKUs spanning anchors, screws, structural screws (including Simpson Strong-Tie), abrasives, adhesives, cutting tools, pneumatic tools, and major power tool brands such as Milwaukee (M18 FUEL, PACKOUT), Makita (18V LXT), and DeWalt.
The business operates through three Calgary retail locations (a 63,000 sq. ft. flagship at 1288 42 Ave SE, a Foothills Industrial store at 7139 40 St SE, and a North Calgary branch), a trade sales counter, an outside sales team, and the in-house-built CAPSCR multi-store e-commerce and eBusiness platform. Revenue is generated primarily through unit-pricing on fasteners (per 100PC, 1000PC), standard retail pricing on tools, and contractor/TCA account pricing for registered trade customers, supplemented by phone-order inside sales for large quotes. The company does not operate a credit-accounts program online as of January 31, 2025.
Calgary Fasteners is a founding member of The Fastener Group of Companies, a network of 18 fastener and tool stores across Canada sharing the CAPSCR platform and combined 390+ staff. It is a privately held Canadian corporation domiciled in Alberta, led by Ron Hall following the passing of original founders Soloway and Miller. The company is differentiated by long-tenured staff (nearly 50% with 20+ years), brand partnerships (Calgary's first Milwaukee Store-Within-A-Store), and an event-driven GTM motion anchored by the annual Customer Appreciation Day and Cut the Cord/Milwaukee Innovation Tour.
Calgary Fasteners & Tools firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Calgary Fasteners & Tools
- Legal name
- Calgary Fasteners & Tools ltd.
- Website
- https://calfast.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Calgary Fasteners & Tools (Calfast) is a Calgary-based distributor of fasteners, power tools, hand tools, and safety supplies, serving construction trades, MRO, welding, and woodworking customers across Canada through three retail locations and an e-commerce platform, founded in 1979.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Calgary Fasteners & Tools industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Supplies Distribution
- NAICS
- Hardware Retailers (44414), Hardware Retailers (444140), Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers (423510)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Wholesale-Durable Goods, Nec (5099)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Tools & Tool Accessories Retail (Hand, Power, Pneumatic) (CRAIADAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fasteners, Nails, Screws & Anchors Retail (CRAIADAC), Fasteners, Adhesives & Sealants Retail (Nails, Screws, Glues, Caulks) (CRAIAEAK)
Keywords
Where Calgary Fasteners & Tools is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Calgary
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Calgary Fasteners & Tools business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hardware and Tool Sales: Primary revenue from selling fasteners, power tools, hand tools, and related supplies to trade professionals. Products sold in various quantities including individual units, bulk (100PC, 1000PC).
- E-commerce Sales: Online ordering through calfast.com with shipping across Canada. Prices displayed in CAD. Free shipping over $149.
- Account/Credit Program: TCA (Total Customer Accounts) program offering account credit and contractor pricing. Online program deactivated January 31, 2025; in-store only.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for individual customers |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Contractor/Trade Account Pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Simpson Strong-Tie Structural Screws |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Calgary Fasteners & Tools product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Calgary Fasteners & Tools distributes and retails over 50,000 SKUs of fasteners, power tools, hand tools, safety equipment, abrasives, adhesives, cutting tools, and job site supplies through three Calgary storefronts and the calfast.com e-commerce platform shipping across Canada. The business is part of The Fastener Group of Companies, an 18-store Canadian network sharing the in-house CAPSCR e-business platform. Core customer segments are construction trades, MRO, welding/fabrication, and woodworking professionals, with retail walk-in and account/credit programs for contractors.
Product overview
Calgary Fasteners & Tools is a distributor of fasteners, tools, and industrial supplies operating as a B2B/B2C hardware retailer. The company offers a comprehensive product portfolio organized into core categories including Fasteners (anchors, nails, nuts/bolts/washers, screws), Power Tools (cordless and electric from Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita, Ridgid, Bosch), Hand Tools, Safety Equipment, Abrasives, Adhesives & Sealants, Cutting Tools, and Pneumatic Tools. The business operates an eCommerce platform (Calfast.com) launched in 2017, which integrates with their physical store locations for online purchasing, in-store pickup, and delivery services. They carry major professional tool brands including Milwaukee (M18 FUEL platform, PACKOUT storage system), Makita (18V LXT), DeWalt, and specialty brands like Simpson Strong-Tie for structural screws, 3M for safety products, and Walter Surface Technologies for abrasives. Additional services include an SDS Search database and trade-specific account pricing.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fasteners
- Power Tools
- Hand Tools
- Safety Equipment
- Abrasives
- Adhesives & Sealants
- Cutting Tools
- Pneumatic Tools
- Structural Screws
- Milwaukee PACKOUT Modular Storage System
- Makita 18V LXT Cordless Tool Collection
- Milwaukee M18 FUEL Power Tools
- Ice Melt & Traction Aids
Quantifiable outcome
- 50,000+ fasteners, tools, and supplies in inventory
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Calgary Fasteners & Tools
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Calgary Fasteners & Tools technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Calgary Fasteners & Tools partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- The Fastener Group of CompaniescoreCalgary Fasteners & Tools is a founding member of The Fastener Group of Companies, a network of fastener and tool stores across Canada. Started with Calgary location in 1979, expanded to Edmonton in 1983, and grew to 18 stores across Canada by 2018. The group operates under a unified brand and shared e-commerce platform (CAPSCR).
- Milwaukee ToolcoreCalgary's first Milwaukee Store-Within-A-Store located at Main store (1288 42 Ave SE). Hosts annual Cut the Cord (formerly Milwaukee Innovation Tour) events. Milwaukee Authorized Dealer with dedicated showroom space featuring M12, M18, PACKOUT, lighting, and PPE product lines.
- PurolatorminorPrimary shipping carrier for ground shipping across Canada. Company reserves right to choose, update, or change to any courier or freight service as needed.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Calgary Fasteners & Tools competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Amazon Business: B2B procurement platform with deep fastener and tool assortment, fast shipping, and business-account features. Represents the most disruptive e-commerce force against Calfast's online channel.
Direct peers
- Princess Auto: Canadian family-owned retailer of tools, hardware, and industrial supplies with both physical stores and a strong e-commerce platform. Directly comparable to Calfast in product mix (fasteners, tools, safety, MRO) and target customer (trades, contractors, DIY).
- Brock White (Brafasco): Canadian construction supply distributor carrying fasteners, sealants, tools, and safety products to contractors across Western Canada. Highly comparable regional peer for Calfast's trade and construction customers.
- Home Hardware Stores: Canada's largest dealer-owned hardware retail network. Directly comparable on fasteners, hand tools, and trade-account offerings; competes with Calfast on contractor pricing and store proximity in Alberta.
- Lee Valley Tools: Canadian specialty retailer of high-quality hand tools, woodworking tools, and hardware with strong e-commerce. Comparable on curated tool selection, content-driven merchandising, and Canadian B2C/B2B trade audience.
- Fastenal Company: North American leader in fasteners, tools, and MRO supplies with on-site vending and branch network. Most direct product overlap with Calfast's fastener core, and an instructive benchmark for B2B trade distribution at scale.
- Acklands-Grainger: Canadian industrial distribution arm of Grainger, supplying fasteners, hand tools, safety equipment, and MRO supplies to industrial and construction customers. Directly comparable assortment and B2B trade model.
- Edmonton Fasteners & Tools: Sister store and founding member of The Fastener Group, opened 1983 in Edmonton. Operates on the same CAPSCR platform and business model as Calfast — the closest internal comparable and most directly aligned peer.
Broad incumbents
- Lowe's Canada: Major big-box home improvement retailer operating RONA, Réno-Dépôt, and Lowe's stores across Canada. Broad overlap in tools, fasteners, and contractor pricing programs — sets the price ceiling Calfast must work within.
- Home Depot Canada: Dominant big-box home improvement retailer in Canada offering fasteners, tools, and safety equipment at scale. Competes with Calfast on assortment breadth and price, particularly in commercial contractor accounts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Calgary Fasteners & Tools social profiles
Digital presenceCalgary Fasteners & Tools financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Calgary Fasteners & Tools leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Calgary Fasteners & Tools funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Calgary Fasteners & 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 Calgary Fasteners & Tools
What does Calgary Fasteners & Tools do?
Calgary Fasteners & Tools distributes and retails over 50,000 SKUs of fasteners, power tools, hand tools, safety equipment, abrasives, adhesives, cutting tools, and job site supplies through three Calgary storefronts and the calfast.com e-commerce platform shipping across Canada. The business is part of The Fastener Group of Companies, an 18-store Canadian network sharing the in-house CAPSCR e-business platform. Core customer segments are construction trades, MRO, welding/fabrication, and woodworking professionals, with retail walk-in and account/credit programs for contractors.
Is Calgary Fasteners & Tools a public or private company?
Calgary Fasteners & Tools is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Calgary Fasteners & Tools founded?
Calgary Fasteners & Tools was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Calgary Fasteners & Tools based?
Calgary Fasteners & Tools is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Calgary Fasteners & Tools make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware and Tool Sales are the primary driver. The others are E-commerce Sales and account/Credit Program.
Who are Calgary Fasteners & Tools's main competitors?
Amazon Business is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Princess Auto, Brock White (Brafasco), Home Hardware Stores, Lee Valley Tools, Fastenal Company, Acklands-Grainger and Edmonton Fasteners & Tools. Broad incumbents are Lowe's Canada and Home Depot Canada.
Does Calgary Fasteners & Tools have an API?
No public API is recorded for Calgary Fasteners & Tools.
What industry is Calgary Fasteners & Tools in?
Calgary Fasteners & Tools's product category is Industrial Supplies 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 5070.