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Company History

Selco was originally formed as Sewell & Co (Timber) Ltd in 1895. From a small, family owned business in Birmingham, the company has grown into a highly competitive and highly respected trade only builders’ merchant with branches spanning four regions in England and Wales and plans for further growth in the coming months. Keep an eye out for new branches and services near you!

See below to find out how far we've come!

  • src="https://www.selcobw.com/media/wysiwyg/Howard_Selco_Forest.png" alt="Selco CEO Howard Selco Forest" />

    2022– Sustainable Selco

    This year we strived to increase the sustainability of our 73-strong branch network. We introduced 24 electric forklift trucks across several branches, and the vehicles at our Delivery Hubs in Birmingham and Edmonton now run on Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). We even kitted out our Barking branch with more than 220 solar panels, and introduced a new recycling policy across all branches. This all came alongside the creation of our Selco Forest, where we planted over 100,000 trees across 100 acres. 2022 saw us launch two new branches in Exeter and Cheltenham. We continued to support the PDC, as well as supporting many other sports and charities through schemes such as our Selco Community Heroes campaign. We also introduced our brand new Dial & Deliver service, allowing customers to place their orders directly over the phone.

  • Selco 125th anniversary logo

    2021– Continuing our expansion

    We continued to expand in 2021 with the opening of 2 new branches in Liverpool and Canning Town. This came alongside the successful opening of a brand new Delivery Hub in Birmingham to help with local deliveries. We didn’t stop there - our Distribution Centre in Oxford, which delivers to all branches on a daily basis, has been extended from 65,000 to 110,000 sq ft. Our passion for supporting sports and charities is going strong as we are now official partners of the Rugby League World Cup 2021 as well as the Salford Red Devils. We are also continuing our long-standing relationship with the Professional Darts Corporation.

  • Selco 125th anniversary logo

    2020 – 125 years serving the trade

    Our 125th anniversary year got off to a flying start when we opened our first distribution centre - a 65,000 sq. ft. warehouse space in Cowley, Oxfordshire. Our branch network grew to 69 with new stores opening in Orpington and Salford, as well as the relocation of our Bristol Bedminster branch to Bishopsworth. To top it all off, we proudly achieved ‘Superbrands’ status - 2020 is certainly a year we’ll never forget for many reasons!

  • Selco begins sponsoring Professional Darts Corporation PDC

    2019 – Click & Deliver launches

    We hit the ground running with the successful launch of our Click & Deliver service, allowing customers to purchase bulky items for direct delivery to site. We opened the doors to a new branch in Kingston, as well as our Heavyside Delivery Hub in Edmonton - a first for the business – delivering to customers on behalf of six branches across London. We also stepped up to the oche as a sponsor for the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC).

  • Selco Builders Warehouse York branch with Bob the Builder

    2018 – Seven new branches

    York opens, another new area for Selco. As well as new branches in Leicester, St Albans, Bristol Filton, Leeds Roundhay Road, Milton Keynes and Chelmsford.

  • Selco Builders Warehouse store front

    2017 – Twelve new branches

    Selco opens a further twelve branches: Solihull, Basildon, Poole, Cardiff Hadfield Road, Thurrock, Crayford, Beckton in established areas from Hayes, Hemel Hempstead, Warrington, Camberley, and Guildford in new areas.

  • Selco Project Tool App logo

    2017 – The Project Tool App

    The Project Tool App is released and becomes transactional.

  • Selco Builders Warehouse in Watford

    2016 – Seven new branches

    Selco opens seven new branches: Chessington, Watford, Wolverhampton, Portsmouth, Mitcham, South Croydon & Wembley bringing the branch total to 47!

  • Click & Collect

    2015 – New transactional website

    Selco enhances its service offer by launching a new transactional website, giving tradespeople the ability to buy online for next working day courier delivery, or to buy online and collect in-branch with Click & Collect.

  • Selco Builders Warehouse Coventry store front

    2015 – Five new branches

    Selco opens five new branches; Redhill, Coventry, New Southgate, Southampton & Brooklands Weybridge, bringing the branch total to 40!

  • Selco Isleworth now open

    2014 – Isleworth Branch Opens

    35th branch opens in Isleworth and the hire service is rolled out across our London branch network.

  • Selco opened Old Kent Road and Wimbledon branches in 2013

    2013 – Two new branches for London

    Selco continues to grow in 2013 with two new branches at Old Kent Road and Wimbledon. This gives us 18 branches all serving the London area.

  • Man holding Selco price guide

    2012 – Continued London expansion

    New Selco branches open up in Hanworth and Tottenham. Selco now have 16 branches within the M25, serving the greater London area.

  • Selco Builders Warehouse in 2011

    2011 – Opening in Catford & Slough

    Selco Builders Warehouse continues to grow, opening up new branches in Catford, South London and at Slough in Berkshire. The existing Swansea branch also relocated to new larger premises and the Minworth branch in Birmingham relocated to new premises at Tyburn in Erdington.

  • Selco Builders Warehouse in 2009

    2009 – East Midlands

    Selco Builders Warehouse continued to grow, opening a further three new branches in Romford (East London), Nottingham (the first branch in the East Midlands) and in the Ruxley area of Sidcup, in South London.

  • Selco Builders Warehouse store front in 2008

    2008 – Opening in Yorkshire

    2008 saw Selco moving further across the country, opening up in Leeds and Bradford as well as at Ardwick in Manchester.

  • Map of Selco branches in central London

    2007 – North London expansion

    New Selco branches open up in Kingsbury, Southall and Cricklewood, all in North London. Selco now has 10 branches within the M25, serving the greater London area.

  • Selco opens in Baguley and Ashton Moss in Manchester in 2006

    2006 – Expanding into the North West

    Selco expands its geographical coverage to include the North West, opening up in Baguley and Ashton Moss in Manchester. Selco also opens up in South Ruislip in North London, Charlton in South London and Reading. Tyseley (Birmingham) branch undergoes a complete refurbishment and a 10,000 square foot extension is added.

  • Selco opens branches in Enfield and Hanger Lane

    2005 – Two new London branches

    Selco Enfield and Selco Hanger Lane both open their doors to the trade, taking the number of Selco branches in Greater London to five.

  • Selco opened first branch in London in 2004

    2004 – Expansion into London continues

    Selco opens at Barking in North East London. Selco's Cardiff branch also relocates to new larger premises, doubling in size.

  • Selco history timeline 2003

    2003 – Opening in Croydon

    Selco opens in Croydon for the first time and its Stirchley branch in Birmingham relocates to new larger premises, doubling in size.

  • Selco Builders Warehouse old store frontage in 2002

    2002 – London

    Selco opened up its first branch in London at Walthamstow in North London.

  • Selco opened Dudley branch in 2001

    2001 – More Midlands Expansion

    Selco opens up in Dudley, the first Selco store in the Black Country and at the time the fourth in the Midlands.

  • Selco Builders Warehouse in 2000

    2000 – Expansion in Birmingham

    Selco opens up a third store in Birmingham, this time in Tyseley, south Birmingham.

  • Grafton Group PLC logo

    1998 – Grafton Group Plc

    Selco is purchased by merchanting and DIY group Grafton Group Plc.

  • Selco expands into South West in 1995

    1995 – South West expansion

    Selco opens up for the first time in Bristol, continuing it's expansion into the South West.

  • Selco history timeline 1993

    1993 – Relocation for Minworth

    Minworth branch in Birmingham relocates to larger premises from the Fort Industrial Park.

  • Selco store business history 1992

    1992 – Expansion in Wales

    Selco continues to expand into Wales, opening up in Cardiff.

  • Selco store business history 1991

    1990 – Opening in Wales

    Selco expanded, opening it's first store outside of the Midlands in Swansea, South Wales.

  • Selco purchased by British Dredging Plc in 1990

    1990 – British Dredging Plc

    Selco is purchased by British Dredging Plc.

  • Man standing outside Selco Builders Warehouse in 1986

    1986 – Management Buy Out

    One of the Birmingham branch managers takes over the company as Managing Director through a management buy out.

  • Celebrating the history of Selco

    1982 – Selco

    Sewell & Co (Timber) change their name to Selco and begin to format a new business model akin to retail cash and carry but exclusively for the bonafide builder.

  • Sewell & Co receipt in 1938

    1938 – Builders Merchants

    The company develops itself into a fully fledged builders merchants.

  • Sewell & Co. (Timber) Ltd advert in 1895

    1895 – Sewell & Co (Timber) Ltd

    Selco's history begins with Sewell & Co. (Timber) Ltd., a small family business operating a modest timber mill and caravan fit-out business in Birmingham.

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