This year, we proudly celebrate 60 years of successful collaboration between RIDGID and Pipe Tool Specialists, our trusted partner in the UK. Since 1964, our shared commitment to quality, innovation, and exceptional service has forged a partnership that has stood the test of time.

Together, we have equipped thousands of professionals with the tools and support they need to succeed in the trade. This important milestone reflects the strength of our relationship, the trust of our customers, and the continuous dedication of our teams.

On this extraordinary occasion, we engaged in conversation with Steve Stefaniuk and Dave Carless from PTS to discover more details related to the history of PTS and also to learn more about their present activities and future plans.

Happy reading!

RIDGID: 60 years of activity is a very impressive achievement. Let’s have a walk down memory lane. Where and how did it all start and what were the first steps of this successful story? 

STEVE: Our story begins in 1964. Ridge Tool approached us in London via the US Embassy. What happened was there were several USA companies who wanted to get a bridgehead into Europe and they wanted to start with England.

The US Embassy hosted a presentation of about half a dozen suppliers and manufacturers. Ridge Tool was one of them and they were hoping to attract the attention of entrepreneurs who were willing to back the product and launch into the UK with them.

One such entrepreneur was Derek Hugh Cutmore, the founder of this business. He was 32 at the time. He had a very successful career in sales. He was actually an award-winning salesman for various companies. At that time, RIDGID was an unknown force in the UK, completely unknown. And so our job was what is called pioneer selling.

There was no distribution channel, all that we had was a range of equipment and end users. So we would go the the end users and say “Can we have an hour of your time? We have a new product that may help you become more efficient, operate more safely and save money.” And luckily enough, they said yes, give us a time and a date and we'll see what you've got.

The business began very slowly, regionally based around Lincolnshire. Ten, maybe fifteen years later, when multiple outlet companies came along It was very much easier for us to establish ourselves with them because they would know that the demand had been built for RIDGID products and their customers would come in all over the place and say, can you get me a set of dies, a cutter wheel, a wrench, a 450 vice, because there weren't 460s in those days of course.

I joined PTS in 1985, at which point the company was 21 years old. Given that it's now 60, that tells you I've been here quite a number of years. Over time, because of the great work of our team, the company got stronger and stronger.

RIDGID: How did your partnership with RIDGID start? What made you choose us and what motivated you to make us a key partner? 

DAVE: Building a strong relationship with RIDGID was key to the success in the very beginning. We needed to have that bond and a partnership that was going to go together. And that was coupled with building a robust training program so that all of our guys here, they don't just sell a product, they know the product and they know the product well. So they can advise on what they are selling instead of just selling it as well.

At the same time, proper inventory/stock holding is key. What we have in stock and our stock value increases year on year with RIDGID, what we have there, if they order it today they can see it tomorrow.

Our customer-centric approach is that we work with our customers rather than for our customers. So at times, we have witnessed it many times in the past, we've advised customers to buy machinery or tools that are half the price of what they originally wanted to buy, simply because what they wanted was more than what they needed for the job that they wanted to do. Using digital technologies, we've had to move forward in a way now that allows us to sell in multiple channels, not just through distribution but also now using the digital sales of e-commerce to help us move forward.

RIDGID: What do you think is the key to longevity in the UK tool business? 

STEVE: Consistently brilliant service. In any company, in whatever sector, if you're able to do those three things week in, week out, year in, year out, you have a good chance of being around for many, many years. And I know that Ridge Tool sets the same standard for themselves as we do at Pipe Tool Specialists.

I think also... Never lose enthusiasm. And sixty years later, and in my case thirty-nine years later, I'm as enthusiastic every morning at the thought of coming to work as I ever have been.

RIDGID: Carrying over the business legacy over so many years may be a challenge for some companies. You did a very good job at PTS, can you please tell us more details about how you did it?  

DAVE: The way people do business changed quite significantly over the years. We've adapted to all those trends. The brand reputation, the reputation of Ridge is a global brand. People trust it, people know it's there. So they know they're getting from us a quality product. Our customer service is what the key to this business has always been. 60 years of longevity in this company has been about customer service. We supply quality products, we provide the right product to the right people with expertise. Our customer service and what happens after you've bought these products is key to everything. The fact that someone can pick up the phone and speak to a real person, get advice, be told how it will work when it will work, when it will be there, and we fulfil the delivery times is massively important. The innovation that we put behind it is also an important factor. Our innovation in looking at the logistics of carriers, how can we get things there quicker, and how can we get things there better, makes a huge difference to where people will come back to us and where customers trust us so much.

RIDGID: In recent years you have invested significantly in eCommerce. Do you believe that there will be a significant move online when it comes to buying plumbing and electrical solutions or do customers still give significant importance to meeting a seller in person and trying the tools in the shop before placing an order? 

DAVE: In recent years we have invested significantly in e-commerce and our way to market. While we can see e-commerce will be growing with the company and be a significant part of our company, it will, we envisage, turn into a hybrid model. The need for the warehouse side, the bulk purchasing and the expertise you can get from the end of a telephone is always going to be necessary through our trade merchants. Not everyone will buy online and not every product is available correctly online. So there will be a hybrid model moving forward, but we will continue to significantly invest in e-commerce because the market trend demands it.

RIDGID: How would you describe the average PTS customer? In your opinion, what makes a customer stay loyal to a seller? What about the RIDGID brand? 

STEVE: It's a good question. I think certain things are constants. Of course, somebody who buys a tape measure or vice will not be the same person exactly who buys a drain camera. But I think some things tie them together. Firstly, it's somebody who appreciates whole life's value for money. A RIDGID customer will understand the difference between A: that product being available for his use or her use for many years to come and secondly that it is more likely to not break unexpectedly or malfunction in some way when they're halfway through a job.

RIDGID We know that PTS are proud to support local charities, particularly the Linkage Community Trust. Can you tell me a bit more about that? 

DAVE: We partner with a charity called Linkage Community Trust. Linkage offers diverse support to people, young adults with learning disabilities and tries to put them into the workplace. We champion that and we employ and also fundraise for Linkage Community Trust because everyone should be given an opportunity in life no matter where or what when you start out in life you need help and support whether that's because you have learning disabilities or not you still need the help and support.

RIDGID: A successful 60 years in business is a credit to the staff you have working hard, week in, week out. You must have built up a significant knowledge base during that time. 

STEVE: Yes it's quite a record, one that I'm particularly proud of. It isn't about one individual, it isn't even about one product, it isn't about one location or one set of customers. At the core of it is people, this is a people business and the staff here are key, absolutely integral to our success over those years. I keep a note and currently, we have a total combined service of 298 years. So that is almost 300 years of product knowledge, which of course we pass on daily, hourly to any particular inquiry, an established customer or somebody that's just thought for the first time, “I wonder if a RIDGID tool is suitable for this job, can I talk to somebody about it?”

DAVE: I've been involved with RIDGID Products now for 30 years, exactly this year, and for 25 of those with Pipe Tools Specialists. And for 25 of those are Pipe Tool Specialists, yeah. The difference between working for a large merchant company and working for Pipe Tool Specialists is the family orientation that it’s put together, the being able to come together when there are problems, to sort things out and to diversify quickly and be able to turn with very little notice to meet the customer demand. The company itself is evolving all of the time and continues to be and I'm proud to be a part of that.

RIDGID: A successful 60 years in business is a credit to the staff you have working hard, week in, week out. You must have built up a significant knowledge base during that time. 

STEVE: Of course, I'm particularly proud of our achievement of 60 years in business on behalf of the team but I would say this is neither a beginning nor an end in much the same way that with RIDGE Tool reaching 100 years was a great achievement. It is another chapter in a long-running story.

Dear PTS team, we look forward to continuing to build on this legacy, advancing the industry and shaping the future—together.

Here’s to the next 60 years of excellence and trusted partnership!


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