PBM charts the history of Owlett-Jaton, which has grown to become one of the country’s largest wholesale suppliers of fasteners, fixings and associated products, offering merchants a huge portfolio of products and an array of support services.
Owlett-Jaton can trace its roots back to 1947 when W.M. Owlett & Sons Ltd was incorporated as a builders’ merchant supplier. Meanwhile Jaton, supplying engineers’ merchants, was formed in 1951.
The late nineties saw the Colburn family acquire both businesses, and Owlett merged with Jaton to create the company of today. They then went on to acquire multiple other fastener companies and brands, including Unifix, Vortex and Thunderbolt.
This unique history has led to Owlett-Jaton becoming a leading wholesale supplier of fasteners, fixings and associated products. A one-stop-shop for the builders’ merchant sector, supplying over 30,000 product lines under one roof, customers can order multiple items, in small quantities, from one source, up until 5.30 pm for next-day delivery.
This service level is thanks to “an unparalleled commitment to stock,” with Owlett-Jaton boasting an incredible 4-5 months of stockholding.
With well-known and trusted brands an integral part of the marketplace, Owlett-Jaton is home to popular names such as the aforementioned Unifix, Vortex and Thunderbolt alongside JCP, whilst it also works in partnership with over 30 other brands — including Blind Bolt, Action Can, Ultra-Grime and Bond-It — to provide a wide portfolio that allows customers to generate carriage paid orders for next-day delivery.
The business has five sales offices servicing the UK, with its Dartford office retaining its roots where it all began. And while many have predicted the end of the traditional face-to-face sales calls, Owlett-Jaton still believes in personal contact and service — rather than reducing numbers, it has grown its external team to 25, with 50 people available on the phones.
Sales Director Tony Williams, who has been with the company for 42 years, explained: “By maintaining our sales offices and investing in our field sales and merchandising teams, we aim to keep that great personal service alive. Our plans only see growth in this area, with more people on the road, ready to support merchants.
“We are currently growing our merchandising team at an extraordinary rate to meet customer requirements. Since we launched our new merchandising stands, the uptake has been phenomenal. Our range of brands, products, and configurations make the transition both easy, and successful for customers.”
Despite many suppliers setting up web shops during COVID-19 as a way to continue trading, Owlett-Jaton asserts the importance of maintaining the in-store environment has never been higher. With a dedicated merchandising team on hand, the BMF and NMBS member says it can facilitate plans to optimise space and presentation to ensure customer selection is at its optimum.
As Tony notes, “Your merchandising representative will then oversee the building of the stands, as well as stock implementation, all whilst minimising disruption.”
Indeed, all merchandising stands are designed to increase customer visibility, create an attractive in-store display, and ultimately encourage additional sales. In addition, Owlett-Jaton offers a tailored approach to marketing support. Supporting customers through in-store POS and data for their ecommerce platforms, the company “understands that the market is tough, and is keen to share its expertise to help customers grow.”
Fiona Beattie, National Commercial Manager, manages the relationship Owlett-Jaton has with the buying groups. She said: “Being a supplier to many of the market leading buying groups is a key strategic decision for us. I work closely with the sales and marketing teams to ensure that we provide the service expected from customers.
“Our teams have many years of expertise, and we pride ourselves on the number of employees who have been with the company for 20, 30 and 40-plus years. This knowledge and experience are invaluable — and we are keen to share it.”
CEO Ian Doherty added: “Reacting to the changing needs of customers is integral to our own growth and that of our customers. We are set up to support and service customers in a consistent, and most importantly, sustainable way. Batch traceability, carbon measuring, and threats of new and differing tariffs are all challenges that the industry is facing. As a wholesaler, we work hard to alleviate this impact on our customers.
“We are also working on several product innovations that we hope to launch towards the end of the year, as well as developing our ranges under our trusted brand names.”
For more information on the Owlett-Jaton product portfolio and its support services for merchants, use the shortcode www.rdr.link/mbpXXX
Owlett-Jaton Fact File:
Key Contacts: Fiona Beattie, National Commercial Manager; Neil Kitching, Field Sales Manager; Tony Williams, Sales Director
Company Address: Owlett-Jaton (a trading division of Hexstone Ltd.), Opal Way, Stone Business Park, Stone, Staffordshire ST15 0SW
Turnover (UK): Circa £70m
No of staff: 270
Trade Associations: BMF, NMBS, Fortis Group, IBC, NBG, H&B, IBMG
Distribution / Delivery Lead time: Next working day
Product range: Owlett-Jaton supplies fasteners, fixings, and associated products under many brand names.
Vortex® screws are recognised in the industry for their premium quality and tailored product features. Technical advancements combine to provide users with versatility and assurance in almost any application.
Established in 1963, Unifix is a strong and recognised brand which has been embraced by the market. Trusted by tradesmen for over 60 years, Unifix has built up a considerable reputation for quality and reliability.
The one and only Thunderbolt™ is the original self-tapping anchor with the power to be used on a whole range of construction materials including concrete, brick and stone.
JCP Construction Products supplies a wide range of high-quality anchoring products for use within the construction industry. Established in 2001, JCP offers unrivalled technical support.
Marketing / POS support / Current promotions: Owlett-Jaton offers a tailored approach to marketing support. Our merchandising solutions and POS support are extensive, and we can adapt to meet customer needs. We run continuous promotions throughout the year through buying groups and independently.
Closing comment: Our product range, stock depth, experience and customer service put us in an ideal position to service the builders’ merchant sector. Our range of trusted brands, all under one roof, is unprecedented. This in turn helps customers streamline their buying process, with one order, one delivery and, one invoice.
