Selco Builders Warehouse

Selco Builders Warehouse is a British trade exclusive, self-select service builders' merchant. Founded in 1895 as Sewell & Co. (Timber) Ltd. It later became a builder's merchant and was acquired by the Grafton Group in 1998.

History

The company began in 1895 and was owned by Sewell & Co. (Timber) Ltd. In 1938, Sewell & Co. (Timber) Ltd. became a builders' merchant. By 1982, Sewell & Co. (Timber) Ltd. became Selco the Builders Warehouse, and formatted a new business model akin to retail cash and carry, but exclusively for tradespeople.

Eight years later in 1990, Selco the Builders Warehouse was purchased by British Dredging Plc. In 1991 it expanded opening its first branch outside of the Midlands in Swansea, South Wales. Come 1998, Selco the Builders Warehouse was acquired by the Grafton Group, after which a third branch was opened in Birmingham.

Selco the Builders Warehouse was soon shortened to Selco Builders Warehouse. As of March 2017, Selco Builders Warehouse has 48 open and operating branches in England and Wales.

Branches

Selco Builders Warehouse has a network of 48 branches across the North and Midlands, East Midlands, South East, North West, and South West. In 2014 Selco invited former darts champion Mark Webster to open their new Isleworth store . As of 2016, all branches began operating a tool, plant & machinery hire service. 2017 has seen the launch of a number of different new branches including a branch in the city of Leicester

Support Centre

The Selco Support Centre is based in Wythall, south Birmingham, and contains a variety of branch support departments including customer service, marketing, finance, and IT, amongst others.

Operations

The company operates a retail-style model whereby customers can pick trade products from the shelves and take them to checkout, similarly to the way a supermarket is operated, making Selco Builders Warehouse a self-select trade-only merchant.

Charity activities

Macmillan Cancer Support has been Selco Builders Warehouse's nominated charity since 2014, and during this time has to date raised £378,689.09. The company also offers support to local communities, charities and initiatives through funding, material donations and volunteers.