MILESTONE ANNIVERSARY FOR INDEPENDENT FASTENING SPECIALISTS
Having survived the market turbulence and disruption that Brexit, a global pandemic, Trump’s tari!s and the conflict in Ukraine have brought in their first decade, the next 10 years can only be easier, can’t they?
FIRSTFIX FASTENERS® first appeared in the market as the new kids on the block back in 2015, and it’s fair to say a lot has happened since then, not only in the Fencing & Landscaping sector, but on a global scale. We spoke to Founder and Managing Director of FIRST FIX ® Adam Kippen on the first ten years of running a new business and the challenges faced in the world of fastening.
What made you enter the competitive world of Fastening?
“Well, I was already in it. After working for the market leader in nailing and stapling tools in the world for over 25 years, I knew we could offer everything the large brands do but with a more specialised service to the fencing, pallet and construction sectors. So FIRSTFIX FASTENERS ® was born.”
People talk about businesses needing a USP, so what is the unique selling point for your business?
“I can’t say it is truly unique, but our experience of manufacturing, sourcing and engineering combined with good old service means we can offer things that some of our competitors simply can’t or won’t.
I believe that customers get the best service when you work with them to understand what they really need, this includes honest advice before and after the purchase, that for us includes technical advice, support on tool repairs, spare-parts and even operator safety.
We don’t compromise on quality, our tools are UKCA approved and we can offer equal or better quality on things like nails, staples than most of our peers in the industry. Doing that while maintaining great everyday pricing seems to be the winning formula.
What is your top tip for anyone setting up their own business?
“To build good relationships with the right people, whether that is with suppliers, customers or employees. During difficult times where the global supply chain was severely disrupted, we were able to navigate that more easily and serve our customers better because of the strong relationships we had within our team and our wider network. We treat people well and generally we are treated the same.
How do you see the sector in the rest of 2026?
“That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? The supply chain for us is much more settled in 2025 than in previous years but there has been lots of other pressures on businesses, employers and families alike. The economy still presents challenges to most; Lower interest rates and inflation will be key in a return to consumer confidence, that partnered with government development targets in both residential and industrial sectors could see some overall improvement in the general outlook, but for now it looks like another challenging year ahead for everyone.
So, what is in store for the next 10 years?
“For our business in 2026, we want growth to come from new customers AND new products, of course we want to continue our growth across the Fencing & Landscaping sector and will be attending more trade events and increasing our social media presence. But will continue to serve customers of all sizes whether that is with a few boxes of staples or nails here and there or a Loan Tool agreement with tools on loan and service/repair on site. We invite anyone making or installing fencing or manufacturing outdoor products including agricultural and equestrian applications to reach out to us to see where we can help them, as we are sure working with us will complement their business.
Whether that is improving the quality of their finished product or through increasing manufacturing efficiency through reduced downtime or improved operator safety.
In terms of our product portfolio, this has grown considerably over the last decade, we started 10 years ago with a core range of nails and staples under the PALLETNAIL® brand and complimented that by working key brands like Milwaukee, Dewalt, Bostitch, etc to ensure we have a full offering for the Fencing and Landscaping sector. However, we are still developing and sourcing new products to meet the changing demands of our customers including extending our range of nails, staples, hog rings and ringing tools in 2026.
Even though we have up to 100’s of pallets of solutions available off the shelf in our Peterborough warehouse, if a customer still can’t find the right sized nail or staple needed for a specific project, we can help. Talk to us, as we can make bespoke products which are made to customer specification in as little as 6 weeks, including Jumbo Coils and Stainless Steel options on most coil and stick nails. What is seen as uninteresting & low volume for some, is quite a nice niche where we can grow through a more flexible approach. So if you are working with rabbit or pest netting, post & rail, making garden or equestrian buildings, installing fencing ,making panels or need fasteners for landscaping projects, look at our range of tools and fasteners for some of the best deals in the market, with a minimum of 10% off everything for FLN readers every month at www.1stfixfasteners.com
For us the future looks positive, and we look forward to the next 10 years!”
Adam Kippen,
Founder and Managing Director
First Fix Fasteners Ltd
www.1stfixfasteners.com
