Gardening

The UK gardening hand tools market was worth an estimated £77 million in 2005.

The relatively low technological barriers into this market has encouraged a large number of suppliers and the most recognised brands have seen their market shares gradually eroded over the last decade.

The gardening hand tools market was worth an estimated £77 million in 2005 and can be split into three broad segments:

Digging and cultivating tools (spades, trowels, forks, hoes etc.)

Cutting tools (secateurs, pruners, shears, loppers, saws etc.)

Lawn Care (lawn rakes, edging irons, aerators, brushes etc.)

The relatively low technological barriers into this market has encouraged a large number of suppliers and the most recognised brands have seen their market shares gradually eroded over the last decade. It has become cost-effective for domestic brands to supplement their ranges with factored products from Far Eastern suppliers who will also supply as OEM for re-badging by retailers and distributors. Most of the suppliers in this sector offer a comprehensive range of garden hand tools although some specialise in the cutting sector where their expertise in producing sharpened blades lies at the core of product offer. A notable development in the sector has been the introduction of a range of products designed to reduce strain on the back, a particular concern to many older gardeners. An example is the 'Garden Claw' promoted heavily by its UK distributor H Burden Limited with television and even cinema advertising.

Almost all manufacturers of gardening power tools also operate in the home DIY sector since most products are based on the same essential characteristics just adapted to slightly different environments. However, there has been a trend in recent years of companies with strong brand recognition in other sectors of the UK gardening market (especially hand tools) extending their product ranges into the power tools sector using OEM manufacturers and re-badging. Some of the larger multiple retailers have also begun to sell own-brand products.

UK Gardening Hand Tools Market by Segment Share, 2005

Segment	% Share by Value (RSP)	% Share by Volume
Digging and Cultivating Tools	16	19
Cutting Tools	81	75
Lawn Care	3	6

Most of the suppliers listed in this section offer a comprehensive range of garden tools across all segments of the market.

However, there are specialists who focus on areas such as cutting instruments (such as Felco or Wilkinson Sword) or are experts in stainless steel manufacturing (such as Sneeboer or Burgon & Ball).

Spear & Jackson - One of the most long established hand tools manufacturers in the UK market with strong brand recognition, especially amongst the older gardeners and national distribution. A UK company it is owned by Neill Tools of the USA. 'Heritage', 'Neverbend' 'Proactive' and 'Backsaver' ranges. The company has leveraged its brand into the gardening power tools and lawnmower sectors in order to counter-act the gradual erosion of its market position.

Draper Tools - A long established UK company that has high brand recognition within the gardening sector for its hand tools but is also a key player in industrial and profession sectors such as plumbing and wire. Similar to S&J it has moved into gardening power tools and lawnmowers in order to leverage its brand power.

Wolf Garten - The UK arm of Wolf-Garten GmbH, Germany, which is a strong player in the European gardening market, it supplies products in all sectors and segments.

Gardena UK Ltd - The parent company is of German origin and it provides a complete range of gardening products.

Fiskars Garden Tools - Fiskars Brands is based in the USA and is a global manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer products. Amongst its garden tools and accessories brands sold in the UK are: Wilkinson Sword, Fiskars, Zinck Lysbro (landscape tools' -i.e spades etc.) and Ebert watering cans.

Felco Tools - The company is a Swiss based (Felco S.A.) cutting implements specialist. Its secateurs and saws are one of the most popular brands in UK gardening and are distributed her by Burton McCall Ltd.

Other Gardening Hand Tool Makers

Ames True Temper Company - USA manufacturer of a compete range of gardening tools.

ARS - Saws and pruners specialist.

Bahco - A global brand present in more than 40 countries it is a part of the Snap-on Inc. group of companies.

Barnel International Inc. - USA brand of saws and cutting instruments.

Burgon & Ball - A Sheffield steel manufacturer it is a shears specialists (the market leader in providing equipment to the sheep shearing sector).

C.K. Tools - Germany cutting and cultivating tools and watering equipment.

Corona - Pruners and shears specialist.

Darlac Products - Lightweight tools specialist.

Eden Tools Ltd.

Get-Digging - Azadas-style digging and hoeing tools, primarily a mail order business.

GrowTech - Multi-purpose shears and pruning tools.

Herramientas el Agricultor - Spanish manufacturer of gardening and cultivating tools. Labrador brand.

Rollins Bulldog Tools Ltd. - A Sheffield steel company it is strongest in the garden forks and spades segments. (www.rollins.co.uk / www.bulldogtools.co.uk)

Senator Garden Tools - Complete range of gardening hand tools.

Sheen Garden Tools

Sneeboer - Netherlands brand distributed by Harrod Horticulture in the UK it produces stainless steel tools such as forks, cultivators, rakes, weeders etc.

Standard Garden Tools

Yeoman & Company (USA) - Manufactures a complete range of gardening hand tools such as secateurs, spades, hoes, rakes etc.