Jewson has officially opened the doors to its new Luton branch – its biggest in the UK, and a depot “that truly raises the bar when it comes to merchanting.”
In a vibrant festival-themed celebration, hundreds of builders, tradespeople and young people came together to get a first look at everything the new 6.5 acre branch has to offer, including over 11,000 products on site, the most in any Jewson branch across the country.
The new branch showcases a wide range of services to help customers with their projects such as drive in loading, covered timber, a huge tool hire range, 24/7 collection lockers, electric vehicle chargers, extended workwear and power tool ranges, paint mixing, workwear printing and project estimating, in addition to the provision of free food and drink for customers visiting throughout the day.
The branch is also home to Jewson’s first-ever Sustainability House, a full-scale mock home showcasing products from the merchant’s Building for the Future range. The Sustainability House serves as a hands-on learning space to arm builders and tradespeople in the local area with information and guidance on the latest regulations and environmental standards.
As part of the event, darts legend James Wade, Sky Sports presenter Emma Paton and Luton footballing heroes John Hartson, Tom Lockyer and Mick Harford (who can be seen in one of the images below if you look very carefully…) were in attendance to play games with the guests, alongside musical performances, food trucks and much more. Industry suppliers were on hand to showcase their most popular products, whilst the event also provided an opportunity to learn more about Jewson’s commitment to combat tool theft, with a Tool Marking service available to attendees.
Luke Samples, Jewson Luton’s Branch Director, said: “The launch of our new Luton branch has been an incredible moment not just for the local community, but for our business and the wider industry, too. Jewson is proud to partner the trades, so it was fantastic to see so many people come together under one roof, not just to explore the branch and its products and services, but to celebrate the pride and passion that drives construction forward.
“Our aim was to create a hub that truly raises the bar when it comes to merchanting, and the response we’ve seen so far shows that we’ve achieved that. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to growing alongside the Luton community for decades to come.”
John Carter, CEO of STARK Building Materials UK, said: “The launch of the new Jewson Luton branch is not only our largest and flagship branch in our logistics network, it also marks a significant moment for the industry, because it represents a step-change to the form of merchanting business that will help the trades build, renovate, maintain and improve the new and existing homes stock the UK needs.
“Our customers told us what they need from their preferred builders’ merchant – and we’ve built the Jewson proposition around that, offering a great range, great stock, great service and great value.”
John continued: “From Jewson Luton, we will be serving the many hard-working general builders and professional tradespeople who live and work in the town and the surrounding areas. It’s the latest development in our ongoing investment programme that continues to demonstrate that Jewson is proud to partner the trades.”
The branch was officially opened by Councillor Amy Nicholls, the Mayor of Luton, who described the site as “more than just a builders’ merchant”. Instead, she said, it is a “hub of opportunity, supporting the hardworking construction professionals who keep the town growing, improving and thriving.”
She added: “This morning, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the brilliant team behind this branch, as well as the many local businesses and tradespeople who are embracing new ways of working, striving for a more sustainable future, and driving economic growth with energy and vision.
“By investing so significantly into this branch, Jewson is making a powerful statement that there is strong confidence in the construction sector, and that Luton is at the very heart of its progress. It places our town firmly on the map as being at the epicentre of the future of the building industry, and that’s something we should all be proud of.”
