Now in its fifth year, the Screwfix Live event is set to attract thousands of visitors from today and during its weekend run. DIY Week catches up with marketing director Graham Smith while he is at the event.

Screwfix CEO Graham Bell and his team have thrown open the doors to welcome the first of many guests to the event at Farnborough Exhibition Centre, Farnborough today. Speaking to DIY Week this afternoon, Marketing director Graham Smith said 27,000 Screwfix customers had pre-registered to attend, which is 50% up on last year, adding “it looms like we are in for a busy weekend”.

The show will run until October 1, with 170 suppliers showcasing the latest and greatest product innovations, as well as demonstrations, competitions and on-stand offers.

Brands exhibiting include DeWalt, Karcher, Bosch, Hive, Evolution and Nest, while Flomasta will also make its debut.

CEO Graham Bell said of the show:  “We have vastly increased the size of our exhibition to be able to accommodate lots more of our suppliers... This is a fantastic event not just for our customers and suppliers, but it also serves as an opportunity for Screwfix employees to show how proud they are of the Screwfix brand.”

Speaking to DIY Week today following the announcement of Kingfisher’s H1 results, which revealed an 18.7% sales uplift at Screwfix in the UK & Ireland, marketing director Graham Smith attributed the impressive results to a strong performance by the chain’s specialist trade counters, as well as robust digital growth. “Click and collect was particularly strong. It is our fastest-growing channel and customers really value it.” With products available with one minute of ordering, Mr Smith asks, “what could be more convenient?”

He confirmed that Screwfix would be ploughing ahead with its expansion plan, as reported in Kingfisher’s results, and said the business was “on track to open 60 trade counters by the end of the year, as we have done over the past three, four, even five years.” Kingfisher previously revealed plans to have 700 Screwfix stores trading across the UK and Mr Bell believes there is still plenty of scope to reach that, with 534 Screwfix trade counters in operation currently.

Read the full interview in the October 13 issue of DIY Week. Click here to register to receive the magazine.