Screwfix Live returned to the Farnborough exhibition centre in September 2022, its first in-person event since the COVID pandemic.
Installer caught up with Matt Compton, Commercial Director at Screwfix, to talk about the show, the Screwfix Top Tradesperson Awards, and what key trends will affect installers going into the heating season.
Q: How good is it to get back to large in-person gatherings?
Matt: The show has been brilliant so far. The last time we were here was in 2019 and the buzz is amazing, it’s a highlight for me this weekend.
The key takeout is that we can bring together customers, vendors and Screwfix employees. It’s so nice to be back together because the last few years have been difficult. To be able to meet people, play with tools, and talk to tech experts, it’s a great day.
Face-to-face meetings and in-person feedback are so valuable. Look at smart technology, there have been huge advances in that technology in the last three years and it could be the first time that tradespeople have the opportunity to see a new product, feel it and ask questions.
Q: It will be a big day for one particular tradesperson who will be crowned Screwfix Top Tradesperson for 2022, how has the competition been?
Matt: There are a lot of nervous tradespeople walking around who are the finalists. It’s judging today and it’s really full on, and then the winner will be announced.
We’ve got a hub in the centre of the show where we’re having regular trade talks, and the winner will be crowned there.
It’s great to be able to do it in person which we haven’t been able to do in the last couple of years. We’ve had a lot of interest this year, it’s definitely on people’s calendars.
The winner was announced as electrician Toby Peacock. Toby walks away with the prestigious title and ultimate trade bundle which includes £20,000 of tools, training and technology.
Q: For the last couple of years Screwfix Live has been digital, is that something you’re keen to keep investing in?
Matt: I’ve always felt quite passionate about this. We’re in Farnborough and we’ll get thousands of tradespeople through the door, but not everyone will be able to get to Farnborough.
What we wanted to do was take the best bits of Screwfix Live and make them available to everyone, whether you’re in Northern Ireland, Scotland or wherever.
For the first time this year, when the show is finished, we’ll put out the best of Screwfix Live digitally, with content from every day from the show, and some exclusives.
It’s the best of both worlds.
It’s not something we would have done pre-Covid. We went digital in 2020 and 2021 and the engagement was phenomenal. We were blown away, so we know there’s a market for it.
Q: That mix of digital and in-person is mirrored in the wider Screwfix business as well isn’t it?
Matt: Yeah, we’ve opened over 30 new stores so far this year, and will open at least 80 by the end of the financial year. It’s the most we’ve ever opened. It’s about making Screwfix more and more convenient and accessible to more people. We see bricks and mortar and physical stores as a key part of our strategy. It gives you access to click and collect. If you’re a tradesperson, time is money, so you want to be able to get the products you need as quickly as possible.
We’re always customer-led. If you want to shop online, brilliant, if you want to use the app, perfect, and if you want to come into a store and chat with our team then you can. We’ll do what’s best for each individual customer.
We’ve evolved from printed catalogues now to digital browse. You’ll see digital browse in our stores and it’s brilliant. The printed catalogue was limited with the amount you can put in it. Digital browse gives you access to over 38,000 products and live stock availability, and the feedback has been great.
Q: What key trends are you seeing from tradespeople and their customers this year?
Matt: Sustainability is a big trend we’re seeing. Customers are telling us they want to buy sustainable products in sustainable packaging. Our own brand, Light and Power, will be supplied in 100% recyclable and plastic-free packaging by the end of the year.
Energy saving as well. We’re seeing a rise in interest in products like draft exclusion, pipe insulation, and alternative heating sources. There’s a genuine interest in demand for these products which will be driven by the end user as well as the engineers.
One of the things we launched in January was selling refurbished power tools for the first time. We were blown away by the demand. We’re selling at least 500 a week, we have over 500 power tools listed and will have over 1000 next year. We were surprised by the demand. Now we’re taking power tools back, servicing, refurbishing and reselling. It’s really important because we’ve never done that before and otherwise they would end up in landfill.
Q: As we head into the heating season, what things do you think will affect heating, plumbing and electrical professionals?
Matt: Customers are going to want energy efficiency. Whether that’s insulation, a more efficient boiler, UFH or renewables. That’s a trend. They want to lower their bills and they want to act more sustainably, and those two are now coming together in a big way.
Smart technology is another big one. These products and more and more intuitive, and easier to use, and it’s creating exciting new opportunities for engineers.
Plus, the cost of living. Value is now so important, so in September we dropped over 1000 prices and we locked prices on some van essentials. We’re working to make sure our customers can do their jobs affordably for their customers.
Find out more at: www.screwfix.com
