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In this edition, we celebrate a major milestone as our Fast Track delivery service is officially named a retail ‘gamechanger’ at the 2026 Retail Week Awards. We also mark the beginning of our nationwide Trade Roadshow, which kicked off this week to bring exclusive deals directly to your local branch. We share a moving story from our colleague Mark Pullen on why CPR training is so vital, look back at the 19th-century invention that transformed the British garden, and finally, we challenge you to test your knowledge with our Sunday morning wordsearch. Read on for the full story!

On Tuesday 14th April, in Merthyr Tydfil, our 2026 Trade Roadshows kicked off. The tour is set to travel across the country, visiting up to 55 different store locations over the next 20 weeks.

Attendees can expect a hands-on experience with industry-leading suppliers, including names such as Milwaukee, DEWALT, and Bosch. Each will be showcasing products and offering practical advice to help tradespeople stay up to date with developments in the sector.

Visitors will also be able to take advantage of exclusive on-the-day deals, including a 10% discount on purchases over £75*, as well as free refreshments, competitions and product giveaways.

Alongside the suppliers, teams from TradeKart and SumUp will be present to highlight services designed to support tradespeople, from rapid product delivery to mobile payment solutions.

A prize draw will also be held on the day in aid of British Heart Foundation, with attendees invited to donate in-store for a chance to win a bundle of tools and equipment.

Monitor your local store posters and keep a close watch on your email and social media feeds to see when the tour will be arriving in your area.

As part of our ongoing partnership with the British Heart Foundation, we have committed to training all 5,000 of our colleagues in lifesaving CPR using the free online RevivR tool. This initiative is a vital step in supporting the health of our teams and the wider trade community, but for one of our own, the importance of these skills is more than just a company commitment, it is the reason he is here today.

Mark Pullen, a Toolstation Store Assistant, is a cardiac arrest survivor who understands that these skills are "one of the most important things anyone can learn." While on holiday in a remote area of Lincolnshire in 2023, Mark suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while asleep. His wife, Cheryl, was woken by the sound of his breathing and, after failing to wake him, immediately called 999 and began CPR.

Cheryl performed CPR for roughly 30 minutes until paramedics arrived to use a defibrillator. Mark later spent ten days in hospital, including three in a medically induced coma. He remains a vocal advocate for heart health awareness, as his story serves as a powerful reminder that cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, at any time. Reflecting on the ordeal and the life-saving actions of his wife, Mark said:

“If my wife hadn't done CPR I wouldn’t be here.”

We are continuing to share stories like Mark’s to help raise awareness across the industry. Your story could be the catalyst that encourages a colleague to get a check-up. If you would like to help us make a difference, please get in touch at: brand@toolstation.com.

We are proud to share that Toolstation recently secured a major win at the Retail Week Awards 2026. Our Fast Track delivery service was officially awarded the 'Customer Experience Gamechanger Award' by industry experts, a title that recognises our efforts to lead the way in delivering an outstanding experience for our customers.

We were up against some stiff competition from major household names, including John Lewis, Lidl, and Uber Eats, so taking home the top prize is a huge achievement for the whole team.

The award recognises how much of a transformative tool Fast Track has become for the UK's tradespeople. We know that for our customers, time is money. Fast Track allows you to choose from over 10,000 products and have them delivered directly to your site or home address in as little as 30 minutes. What makes Fast Track different from standard rapid delivery services is that it doesn't just rely on bikes or cars for small items; the system supports deliveries of products up to three metres in length and weighing up to 1,000kg.

Speaking on the win, Chris Other, Toolstation’s Customer Director, said: "Having access to over 10,000 products from 505 stores in as little as 30 minutes means they don't have to sit in traffic to pick up an essential item—they can stay on the job and stay productive."

Last Tuesday marked National Gardening Day, a date that usually signals the beginning of the seasonal rush for landscapers and gardeners across the country. While the modern petrol and battery-powered mowers we use today are high-tech pieces of kit, the very first lawnmower was actually inspired by a machine used in a completely different trade: the textile industry.

In 1830, an engineer named Edwin Budding was working in a cloth mill in Stroud when he noticed a machine used to trim the irregular nap off woollen cloth. He realised that if he could adapt this cylindrical blade to work on grass, he could offer a more efficient alternative to the traditional scythe. His 'accidental' invention was initially met with some scepticism, but it quickly revolutionised the way British estates and sporting greens were maintained.

For the trade, this invention was a turning point. Before Budding’s mower, keeping a lawn level was a labour-intensive task that required a team of skilled scythe-men working at dawn while the grass was still damp. The introduction of a mechanical blade meant that one person could achieve a superior finish in a fraction of the time, allowing landscaping businesses to take on more clients and deliver better results.

Today, that same cylindrical cutting principle is still seen in the high-end mowers used on professional sports pitches, though modern petrol and cordless alternatives have made the job even more efficient.

As you head out to your first garden jobs of the season this week, it is worth remembering that the gear in the back of your van started with a simple observation in a Gloucestershire Wool Mill nearly 200 years ago.

Whether you are looking to replace an old favourite or upgrade to the latest battery tech, ensuring you have the right mower for the job is the first step to a successful spring season.

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*Terms & conditions: This offer is exclusively redeemable at the participating store on the day of the roadshow only. Can be used on full-price, reduced, and promotional products. The offer is not cumulative with Trade Club Credit Account or Toolstation Club discount. Cannot be used with affiliate offers such as cashback or other incentives. Minimum spend £75 applies. Maximum discount of £50. There is no cash alternative.

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