Builders Warehouse

Builders Warehouse, is a South African construction equipment and home improvement retail chain.
Founded in 2003, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of holding company Massmart, which, through its Massbuild division, operates various kinds of stores, including Builders Warehouse, Builders Express, Builders Trade Depot, and Builders Superstore.

History

Massmart began its acquisitions of the Builders brand when it acquired five Builders Warehouse stores operating in Johannesburg and Pretoria, in 2003.
In May 2011, retail corporation Walmart acquired 51% of parent company Massmart Group's stock, at a value of R17 million, after receiving regulatory approval from the South African Competition Tribunal. By November 2020, Walmart had finalized the purchase of the remaining 49% of shares, making Massmart a wholly owned subsidiary of Walmart.
In 2017, the company revealed its first store that is in part powered by renewable energy. Located in Northriding, Johannesburg, the store uses 400 roof-mounted photovoltaic panels to provide 16% of its annual energy consumption. According to Massmart Group's sustainability manager Alex Haw, serves to reduce the company's greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2019, Builders Warehouse revealed a new store prototype in Boksburg, Gauteng, offering, among other things, 3D printing; flatpack furniture; and a smart home hub for digital, in-store shopping and retrieving product information. The store was to serve as a benchmark for all future new store builds and renovations.

Operations

Builders Warehouse operates 117 stores in 4 countries across Southern and East Africa; South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia. It also provides an online shopping service.
Some Builders Warehouse stores offer services such as tool hire, pool water analysis, and car key programming, and have partnered with local coffee chain Vida e Caffè.