ToolStore UK

What ToolStore UK does

ToolStore UK is a private, family-owned UK distributor of hand tools, power tools, accessories, workwear, and equipment/storage solutions, operating under the legal name Entwistle & Joynt Ltd. from a 16,000 sq ft headquarters at 62 Darlington Street East in Wigan, Lancashire. Founded in 1963 by Tom Entwistle and Graham Joynt, the business now operates under third-generation Entwistle family leadership (Beth, Iain, and Dave Entwistle) and serves three customer segments: trade professionals (builders, plumbers, electricians, joiners, landscapers, contractors), DIY enthusiasts, and businesses/merchants including chains of DIY stores. The company stocks more than 100 leading tool brands including Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Kreg, Toughbuilt, and V-TUF.

The core technology is a direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform (toolstoreuk.co.uk) complemented by a physical retail shop in Wigan, telephone ordering, and a national wholesale division (ToolStore UK Wholesale, rebranded in 2020). Order processing is supported by mainstream payment integrations (Checkout.com, World Pay, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay) and a Trustpilot-integrated review widget showing 4.87/5 across 3,747+ reviews. The product catalog is organized into four core categories — Power Tools (cordless and corded), Hand Tools, Equipment & Storage, and Accessories — with branded sub-catalogues for major OEMs and value-added services including a blog (buyers guides, how-tos, brand comparisons), a Trade Essentials Hub, special offers, clearance pricing, next-day delivery on orders placed before 4 PM, free UK delivery above £55, and a 30-day returns policy.

ToolStore UK generates revenue through one-time product sales (both retail and wholesale) at unit prices ranging from sub-£5 consumables to several-hundred-pound professional kits. The go-to-market motion is primarily self-serve e-commerce with multi-channel support (online, physical retail, phone, wholesale). The company owns two wholly-owned subsidiaries acquired in the mid-1990s — Alex Grade Ltd (trading as North West Tools, a hand-tools wholesaler) acquired 1995, and Little Sheffield, a Blackburn woodworking tool retailer acquired 1996 — and the business has operated without external investors, funding rounds, or a parent company across its 60+ year history.

Name

ToolStore UK

Legal name

Entwistle & Joynt Ltd.

Website

https://toolstoreuk.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ToolStore UK is a private, family-owned UK distributor of hand tools, power tools, accessories, workwear, and equipment/storage solutions, serving trade professionals, DIY enthusiasts, and wholesale/merchant customers through its e-commerce site, Wigan retail shop, and national wholesale division under the Entwistle & Joynt Ltd. legal entity.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tools and Hardware Retail

NAICS

Hardware, and Plumbing and Heating Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4237), Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4234)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware (5072), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Tools & Tool Accessories Retail (Hand, Power, Pneumatic) (CRAIADAB)

Keywords

• Power tools retail
• Hand tools supply
• Tool accessories wholesale
• Workwear safety equipment
• Trade tools distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Wigan

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Retail): Direct sales of power tools, hand tools, accessories, workwear and safety gear, and equipment and storage solutions to trade professionals, DIY enthusiasts, and businesses through their e-commerce platform and physical retail location.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ToolStore UK is a UK-based independent retailer and wholesale distributor of hand tools, power tools, accessories, workwear, safety gear, and equipment and storage solutions from over 100 leading brands. It sells to trade professionals, DIY enthusiasts, and businesses through its e-commerce website, physical shop in Wigan, phone ordering, and a dedicated wholesale division.

Product overview

ToolStore UK is an independent, family-owned B2C and B2B e-commerce retailer (brand of Entwistle & Joynt Ltd., established 1963) operating from Wigan, Lancashire. Its product portfolio consists of four interconnected core categories — Power Tools (cordless and corded), Hand Tools, Equipment & Storage (including workwear, PPE, ladders, outdoor living, and workshop), and Accessories (drill bits, blades, batteries, sanding, routing) — alongside the full brand ecosystem of over 100 tool manufacturers. The main branded sub-catalogues (Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Toughbuilt, V-TUF, and others) each offer their own platform ecosystems (DeWalt XR/FLEXVOLT, Makita LXT/XGT, etc.) and are available as body-only units, kits with batteries/chargers, or accessories. The platform layers in value-added services including a Blog (buyers guides, how-tos, brand comparisons), Trade Essentials Hub, Special Offers, Clearance, Next Day Delivery, and 30-Day Returns. No API, AI capabilities, or product launch events are mentioned in the provided source data.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Power Tools A comprehensive range of cordless and corded power tools including combi drills, circular saws, grinders, SDS hammers, jigsaws, impact drivers, mitre saws, planers, routers, and multi-tools, plus outdoor power tools such as lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, strimmers, pressure washers, and leaf blowers. Targeted at trade professionals and DIY enthusiasts.
• Hand Tools A broad selection of hand tools covering chisels, planes, decorating products, fastening tools, garden tools, hammers, knives, measuring and leveling instruments, pliers, clamps, plumbing tools, saws, screwdrivers, spanners, sockets, wrenches, and trowels for trade professionals and DIY users.
• Equipment and Storage Storage solutions, workwear and personal protection equipment, ladders and platforms, outdoor living products, manual handling equipment, electrical supplies and lighting, workshop tools, and hardware for trade professionals and DIY enthusiasts.
• Accessories Tool accessories including drill bits, saw blades, diamond products, sanding and grinding consumables, screwdriving bits, routing products, guide rails, dust extraction accessories, batteries and chargers, nail and fixings, and accessory sets.
• ToolStore UK Wholesale Wholesale distribution service supplying hand tools, power tools, and accessories in bulk to other businesses including chain DIY stores and merchants, with national delivery across the UK.
• ToolStore UK Retail Website Online retail platform at toolstoreuk.co.uk enabling self-serve browsing, filtering by brand/category/price, customer reviews, and secure checkout for trade professionals, DIY enthusiasts, and businesses.
• Multi-Brand Tool Catalogue Stocks over 100 leading brands of power tools, hand tools, workwear and safety gear, and equipment and storage solutions, including Bosch, DeWalt, Makita, Milwaukee, Toughbuilt, V-TUF, Kreg, Bahco, Bessey, Irwin, Stanley, STIHL, and Trend, among others.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.87 out of 5 average rating on Trustpilot from 3,747+ verified reviews

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Wickes: Wickes is a UK home improvement retailer and builder's merchant selling tools, fixings, workwear, and materials to trade and DIY customers. Comparable to ToolStore UK's trade and DIY overlap, though Wickes is broader across kitchens, bathrooms, and building materials.
• B&Q: B&Q (Kingfisher plc) is the UK's largest DIY and home improvement retailer with hundreds of superstores. While broader than ToolStore UK's specialist tool focus, B&Q sells overlapping power and hand tool ranges to the same DIY customer base.
• Amazon UK: Amazon UK is the largest online general merchandise marketplace and a major seller of power tools, hand tools, and accessories from the same brands ToolStore UK carries. It is a structural competitor on price, range, and delivery speed for online DIY and trade tool purchases in the UK.
• Halfords: Halfords is a UK high-street retailer of automotive, cycling, and DIY products including a meaningful power tool range. Comparable to ToolStore UK on consumer-facing tool retail in the UK, though Halfords is broader across auto parts and bikes.
• Travis Perkins: Travis Perkins is the UK's largest builders' merchant and parent of Toolstation. It supplies trade professionals with tools, materials, and site supplies nationally. Comparable to ToolStore UK's wholesale trade-customer strategy and brand portfolio, but at much greater scale.

Direct peers

• Axminster Tools: Axminster Tools is a UK specialist tool retailer focused on woodworking, engineering, and trade segments, operating both online and showrooms. Closely comparable to ToolStore UK in scale, family-era heritage, and specialist positioning across hand and power tools.
• Toolstation: Toolstation (owned by Travis Perkins) is a major UK tool and hardware retailer with hundreds of branches catering to trade and DIY customers. It competes directly with ToolStore UK on price, range, and convenience across power tools, hand tools, and accessories.
• Screwfix: Screwfix is the UK's largest trade-focused tool and hardware retailer, operating hundreds of branches with click-and-collect in minutes. It is the most direct competitor to ToolStore UK, serving overlapping trade and DIY customers with a similar multi-brand portfolio of power and hand tools.
• Machine Mart: Machine Mart is a long-established UK specialist retailer of power tools, machine tools, and workshop equipment. Comparable to ToolStore UK in its multi-decade heritage and focus on professional and serious DIY customers, though with a stronger workshop/machinery tilt.
• Cromwell Tools: Cromwell Tools is a UK-based industrial and trade supplies distributor offering hand tools, power tools, and consumables via catalogue and online channels. Comparable to ToolStore UK on B2B trade supply, multi-brand tooling range, and UK coverage, though with a stronger industrial wholesale tilt.

Market position

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/toolstore_uk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbIWmiggSec8Kd_CCH4HBJA
• Facebookfacebook.com/ToolStoreUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/toolstore_uk
• TikToktiktok.com/@toolstoreuk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 ToolStore UK