Thomas Graham and Sons

What Thomas Graham and Sons does

Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd is an independent, family-owned industrial supplies company headquartered in Carlisle, Cumbria, England, founded in 1892 and operating continuously for over 130 years. The company is structured around six divisions — Industrial Supplies, Steel, Welding, PPE & Workwear, Cutting Tools, and Hygiene — covering fasteners, hardware, hand and power tools, abrasives, cutting tools and lubricants, electrical supplies, silicones and adhesives, ladders and storage, a full steel product range (aluminium, bright bar, galvanised, stainless, sheets, plates, mesh, reinforcement), welding equipment and hire, workwear and footwear, cleaning and hygiene supplies, and paint and decorating products. The Steel division is supported by in-house processing capabilities including galvanising, laser cutting, profiling, and fleet delivery.

The company operates an omnichannel distribution model comprising six physical branch locations across North West England and Cumbria (Carlisle as headquarters, plus Egremont, Kendal, Morecambe, Barrow, and Blackburn) alongside a full e-commerce storefront offering click & collect and delivery. It serves two principal customer segments — trade professionals (builders, engineers, steelworkers, welders, maintenance professionals) and general consumer/DIY buyers — and is an authorized dealer and warranty provider for major brands including Makita, Milwaukee, Draper, C.K Tools, and Stanley, supplemented by an additional ~12 specialist brand partnerships.

Revenue is generated through direct unit-priced retail sales across the broad SKU range, with both trade and public pricing and VAT-inclusive/exclusive display options. In-store value-added services include key cutting, paint mixing, repairs and validation, weld fume extraction, face fit testing, prescription eyewear, fall rescue and confined space services, and catering/housekeeping supply. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications (LRQA UKAS), Cyber Essentials Plus, BSIF Registered Safety Supplier status, SSIP pre-qualification, and Crown Commercial Service supplier approval, positioning it for both private trade and public sector procurement. Ownership remains private within the founding family with no institutional investors, subsidiaries, or public market presence identified.

Name

Thomas Graham and Sons

Legal name

Thomas Graham & Sons Ltd

Website

https://thomas-graham.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1892

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlisle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Sales of Tools and Supplies: Revenue generated from direct sales of industrial supplies, steel, welding equipment, PPE & workwear, cutting tools, and hygiene products to trade customers and the public through physical stores and online platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Thomas Graham & Sons is a family-owned multi-divisional industrial supplies retailer selling tools, hardware, fasteners, steel, welding equipment, PPE & workwear, cutting tools, and cleaning & hygiene products to trade customers and the general public. The company operates six UK branch locations plus an e-commerce storefront with click & collect and delivery, and provides value-added services including key cutting, paint mixing, weld fume extraction, and steel processing (galvanising, laser cutting, profiling). The business is structured around six specialist divisions: Industrial Supplies, Steel, Welding & Hire, PPE & Workwear, Cutting Tools, and Hygiene.

Product overview

Thomas Graham and Sons is an independent family business established in 1892, operating as a multi-divisional industrial supplies company serving trade and public customers across the UK. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized into six core divisions: Industrial Supplies (encompassing fasteners, hardware, hand tools, power tools, abrasives, electrical, silicones & adhesives, ladders & storage), Steel (including aluminium, bright bar, galvanised products, heavy sections, mesh, reinforcement, sheets, plates, and stainless steel with processing services such as galvanising, laser cutting, and profiling), Welding & Hire (MIG, TIG, MMA welding, plasma cutting, generators, gas equipment, and equipment hire), PPE & Workwear (safety equipment, clothing, and footwear), Cutting Tools (drill bits, saw blades, taps, dies, and lubricants), and Hygiene (cleaning chemicals, janitorial supplies, and waste management). The company operates multiple retail locations across Cumbria and Lancashire with shop services including key cutting, paint mixing, repairs, and weld fume extraction. Thomas Graham stocks major tool brands including Milwaukee, Makita, Draper, C.K Tools, Stanley, and others, positioning itself as a one-stop supplier for industrial, construction, and trade professionals requiring tools, materials, and related services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Supplies Division Core retail division supplying fasteners and fixings, hand tools, power tools, hardware, abrasives, cutting tools and lubricants, electrical supplies, silicones and adhesives, ladders, and storage to trade customers and the general public. Customers include builders, engineers, welders, and DIY consumers across the UK.
• Steel Division Supply of aluminium, bright bar, galvanised products, heavy sections, hollow sections, mesh, reinforcement, sheets and plates, stainless steel, and specialist steel products to trade customers and industrial buyers in the UK.
• Welding & Hire Division Supply and hire of MIG, TIG, and MMA welding machines, plasma cutters, welding accessories, safety equipment, generators, and gas equipment for trade welders and industrial customers.
• PPE & Workwear Division Supply of disposable PPE, eye and face protection, fall arrest systems, first aid, hand protection, head protection, hearing protection, respiratory protection, site safety equipment, workwear, hi-vis clothing, corporate workwear, women's workwear, winter workwear, and footwear for industrial and trade professionals.
• Cutting Tools Division Supply of industrial cutting tools including bandsaw blades, core drill bits, hole saws, metal drills, masonry drills, SDS drill bits, taps, dies, saw blades, and lubricant products to metalworking and fabrication customers.
• Cleaning & Hygiene Division Supply of professional cleaning chemicals, brushware, containers, cloths and wipes, gloves, air care, toiletries, pest control, skincare, spill control, vehicle valeting, and waste disposal products for commercial and industrial customers.
• Shop Services In-branch services including hire, key cutting, repairs and validation, paint mixing, washroom services, weld fume extraction, face fit testing, prescription eyewear, fall rescue and confined space services, catering, and housekeeping for trade and consumer customers.
• Steel Processing Services Bespoke steel processing capabilities including galvanising, laser cutting, profiling and processing, and fleet deliveries for steel products purchased from the Steel Division.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MakitacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThomas Graham is an authorized stockist and reseller of Makita power tools and equipment. They offer Makita products across multiple categories including the XGT 40V range. The partnership includes warranty support services for Makita products.
• MilwaukeecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThomas Graham stocks the full Milwaukee M18 and MX Fuel power tool ranges. They are an authorized Milwaukee dealer providing warranty services and promotional offers including free battery deals.
• DrapercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor supplier of Draper tools and equipment across hand tools, power tools accessories, and workshop equipment. Extensive Draper product range including Expert quality tools.
• C.K Tools (Carl Kammerling International)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of C.K Tools branded hand tools, measuring equipment, and specialty tools for professional trade use.
• NedermanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGold Partner status for Nederman fume extraction and air filtration equipment, particularly for welding applications.
• FeinminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Fein power tools including multi-tools and specialty cutting equipment.
• NumaticminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor of Numatic cleaning and janitorial equipment for industrial and commercial applications.
• ArmegminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Armeg precision tools and accessories for professional use.
• DormerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Dormer cutting tools including drill bits and machining equipment.
• BetaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Beta professional hand tools and workshop equipment.
• BisleyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Bisley storage solutions and workshop furniture.
• Bolle SafetyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Bolle safety eyewear and eye protection equipment.
• MoldexminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Moldex hearing protection and respiratory safety equipment.
• JangrominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Jangro professional cleaning chemicals and hygiene products.
• KlingsporminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Klingspor abrasive products including discs, wheels, and sheets for grinding and finishing.
• Stanley (Facom)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStockist of Stanley hand tools, measuring equipment, and storage solutions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• EH Smith Builders Merchants: Midlands-based regional builders' merchant chain with branches across central England. Closely comparable regional multi-branch trade-supply model to Thomas Graham, but operating in a different geography (Midlands vs NW England).

Broad incumbents

• Travis Perkins: UK's largest builders' merchant and parent of Toolstation and Tile Giant. Competes with Thomas Graham in steel, fasteners, building materials, and trade supply, but at a much larger national scale with broader product depth and B2B-focused branches.
• Wickes: UK home improvement retailer and builders' merchant with national branch network. Overlaps with Thomas Graham on DIY and trade tools, hardware, and basic building materials, though Wickes is more skewed to consumer/DIY than professional trade.
• City Plumbing Supplies: UK trade plumbing, heating, and bathroom supplies distributor with ~350 branches (owned by Highbourne Group). Adjacent to Thomas Graham's trade-customer base and multi-branch distribution model, though with stronger specialisation in plumbing/heating rather than general industrial supplies.
• BSS Industrial: UK industrial and trade supplies distributor (part of Travis Perkins group) serving MRO, facilities management, and engineering customers with technical product expertise. Comparable B2B industrial-supply positioning to Thomas Graham's Industrial Supplies and Cutting Tools divisions.

Emerging players

• IronmongeryDirect: UK online-first trade supplier of ironmongery, hardware, and fixings for trade and commercial customers. Highly comparable product overlap with Thomas Graham's Fasteners and Fixings and Hardware categories; competes via pure-play e-commerce model without physical branches.

Direct peers

• Screwfix: UK's largest trade tools and hardware retailer with ~800+ branches and strong online presence. Directly competes with Thomas Graham in serving trade customers and DIY buyers for fasteners, power tools, hand tools, and PPE; Screwfix is the dominant national-scale competitor that Thomas Graham must defend against in NW England.
• Machine Mart: UK specialist retailer of power tools, machinery, and workshop equipment with ~20 stores plus online. Closely comparable on power tool and machinery product mix with Thomas Graham; operates at slightly smaller scale but with national coverage.
• Toolstation: National trade and DIY tools/hardware chain owned by Travis Perkins, with ~550+ UK branches. Overlaps directly with Thomas Graham across power tools, hand tools, fasteners, and hardware, competing for the same trade and consumer segments with comparable omnichannel capability.
• Cromwell Tools: UK industrial supplies distributor (now part of a larger group) serving maintenance, engineering, and production customers with cutting tools, hand tools, PPE, and abrasives. Direct overlap with Thomas Graham's Industrial Supplies, Cutting Tools, and PPE divisions, primarily via B2B catalogue and online channels.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Thomas Graham and Sons