Toolstation has grown exponentially since it opened in 2003, demonstrated in its extensive store network now reaching over 500 branches.
In 2005 Toolstation hired SSI SCHAEFER for their first project together – supply for their distribution centre within their head office in Bridgwater. This saw the use of Pallet Racking, R 3000 and a mezzanine structure.
In 2007 SSI SCHAEFER for the first time supplied its R 3000 shelving directly to the Toolstation store located in Leeds. The project realisation went very smooth, and it helped to establish SSI SCHAEFER as a trusted supplier with prompt reaction time, a high degree of flexibility and willingness to tailor the solutions to the client’s individual business needs. Since 2007 every new Toolstation store has utilised storage solutions from SSI SCHAEFER.
In 2008, Toolstation was opening around 20 new stores per year. In recent years, the number of new stores has increased to 60-70 per year to reach a total of 500 across the UK in July 2021. As Toolstation’s demand has grown substantially over the years, SSI SCHAEFER in the UK has implemented procedures to cater for this and ensure our customer’s growth continues.
SSI SCHAEFER’s shelving solutions provided Toolstation with more storage capacity and less maintenance requirements.
Toolstation’s store concept has worked so well it has remained virtually unchanged since 2002. The general scope for each project is R 3000 shelving for storing small and medium items and pallet racks. R 3000 shelving works so well for Toolstation as it comes with a wide variety of accessories, which allow for a huge variety of products to be stored easily, it is adaptable and can be amended very easily - even by non-tradespeople.
SSI SCHAEFER supplies R 3000 in a wide range of depths and heights – which has given the customer scope to fit their store concept into a wide range of property – warehouses, retail park outlets, empty offices, high street stores. Where space has been very tight on multiple sites, SSI SCHAEFER has supplied Toolstation with Mobile Shelving Systems. This solution allows for more efficient use of space compared to standard static shelving. The majority of aisles are eliminated and become space for extra storage. This solution has been incredibly successful in this type of retail environment as it allows the customer to store more, it is simple and easy to use and install and requires minimal maintenance. This system enables the customer to have a wider choice of property to chose from when acquiring new sites.
With such a large number of openings yearly and shifting on-site dates, SSI SCHAEFER aims to be as dynamic as it can with the customer.
SSI SCHAEFER’s dedicated Design Engineers have also supported Toolstation over the years with CAD drawings and layouts, even at the property acquisition stage. When a prospective property is found by a customer, SSI SCHAEFER can produce a layout to ensure efficient use of space to meet the client’s storage needs.
Working so closely with Toolstation for over 15 years, handling multiple orders and projects every week, SSI SCHAEFER is happy to support Toolstation through every new milestone they reach.
In July 2021 Toolstation opened its 500th store in the UK in New Malden, London. SSI SCHAEFER looks forward to continuing the collaboration with Toolstation and its continued growth in the UK and on mainland Europe.
