TB Davies Launches in Wickes

TB Davies, the fourth-generation Cardiff ladder manufacturer, has secured a listing with home improvement retailer Wickes. The listing will see TB Davies’ Xtend+Climb Pro telescopic ladder range stocked across Wickes stores, with the Little Giant A-Force fibreglass step ladder range also available through selected Wickes locations. 

TB Davies estimates the agreement will contribute annual sales of more than £750,000, with around 10,000 units per year across the listed ranges. Category cycles of this kind typically span four to five years, making this one of the most significant retail commitments the Cardiff business has secured.

The Xtend+Climb Pro range, which includes 2.9m and 3.2m telescopic ladders, is fully certified to the EN131-6 standard and features automatic locking stabilising bars, green rung indicators and the Lightning Latch retraction system. The A-Force fibreglass step ladder range is distributed exclusively in the UK by TB Davies under licence from Little Giant Ladder Systems.

The listing reflects growing demand from retailers for access equipment that meets independently verified safety standards. Research by the Ladder Association has found that more than 80% of telescopic ladders tested in recent market surveillance exercises failed critical safety assessments, with many falsely advertised as compliant. TB Davies’ Xtend+Climb range, certified to EN131-6:2019, was brought to market in direct response to that problem.

Simon Blisset, Key Account Manager of TB Davies, said: “Wickes is one of the most trusted names in the UK trade and DIY market, and we are proud that they have chosen to stock our products, which are built to a genuine safety standard.

“We are a fourth-generation family business that has been making and distributing ladders from Cardiff since 1945. Agreements of this scale and duration reflect the confidence retailers place in quality products that carry proper certification. We believe customers deserve to know that the ladder they buy from a home improvement retailer has been independently tested and will perform safely.”

Chris Moorhouse, Category Director at Wickes, said: "Whether you're a trade professional or taking on a DIY project at home, having the right equipment is essential. Our customers trust us to offer products that help them get the job done with confidence, and we're pleased to be bringing the TB Davies range into our stores. As a long-established British manufacturer with a strong focus on safety and product quality, they are a great fit for Wickes and our customers."

TB Davies employs 27 people from its 3.5-acre site in Splott, Cardiff, and turned over £9.3m in its most recent financial year. The company holds the exclusive UK distribution licence for Little Giant Ladder Systems and is ISO 14001 certified. Its Technical Director, Francis Camilleri, chairs the BSI B512 Committee on Ladder Standards and sits on the Ladder Association Technical Committee, giving the business a direct role in shaping UK ladder safety standards.

TB Davies products are available through a growing network of trade, industrial and retail channels across the UK, including Screwfix, Toolstation and Dulux Decorator Centre.

Source: TB Davies/Wickes

Images: TB Davies/Wickes

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