Amazon, Target, and Walmart are now selling ToughBuilt StackTech tool boxes.
A reader (thank you, Saulac!) brought this development to my attention. I haven’t heard about ToughBuilt StackTech modular tool boxes being available outside of Lowe’s, and so the news came to me as a complete surprise.
ToughBuilt launched their StackTech tool box system at Lowe’s in late 2023. The company faced some road bumps since then, with inventory scarce and difficult to find at times, and expansions having been delayed.
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This isn’t ToughBuilt’s first foray outside of Lowe’s; they launched on Temu late last year (see ToughBuilt StackTech, SK Tool Boxes, More Appear on TEMU).
Looking deeper, all of the new ToughBuilt StackTech products at all of their new online marketplaces – at Amazon, Target, and Walmart – are sold and shipped by a 3rd party company, Spreetail.
Spreetail describes themselves as an “ecommerce growth platform,” and a “complete ecommerce solution for in-demand brands and manufacturers of big-&-bulk products.”
Basically, Spreetail is 3rd party online marketplace seller that ships larger products such as plastic tool boxes. Bulky products seem to be their specialty; it seems ToughBuilt and Spreetail might be a great fit.
I looked into Spreetail a few months ago when buying different brands and sizes of plastic totes than I could find at local retail stores. While my experiences weren’t perfect – some of the products were covered in what looked like road dust – I’d order from them again.
With the products being sold and shipped by a 3rd party warehouse and ecommerce company, the online marketplace doesn’t really matter.
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In other words, while ToughBuilt StackTech tool boxes are now available via Amazon, Target, and Walmart, you’re really just dealing with Spreetail, which I presume fulfills everything from their warehouse.
You could also still buy most StackTech products from Lowe’s, which ships directly, or in some cases direct from their stores.
With Lowe’s, ToughBuilt needs the inventory to stock every store and online fulfillment warehouses. But with Spreetail as their ecommerce and online marketplace partner, it seems they might only need to send inventory to one warehouse.
Frankly speaking, ToughBuilt’s future with Lowe’s has seemed uncertain, especially seeing as how the brand was all but hidden from view over the entire holiday shopping season.
But, with broader distribution via Spreetail and their presence on major online marketplace platforms, it seems that ToughBuilt has loosened their reliability on Lowe’s and secured a more independent path forward. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping.
Disclosure: At the time of this posting, I hold stock in Target.
In other news, ToughBuilt recently announced via social media that their StackTech products are now available at B&Q stores in the UK. (B&Q is basically the UK version of Home Depot.)
For “Yankees,” customers, ToughBuilt says their “hometown heroes have not gone forgotten,” and that they will have “a launch for you next month” and “much more to come this summer.” For Canadians, there’s “similarly good news heading your way very soon.”
They responded to followers’ questions, saying that Germany is “coming up next,” and that they “have a number of French retailers already online.”
A W
That’s good news! I’m still deciding between StackTech and Packout.
Having a distributor other than Lowes makes me more comfortable with their long term viability.
Stuart
I invested in 2 more towers of Packout drawer in December. They’re mostly standalone, and so I could have went with StackTech just the same.
Milwaukee’s Packout Buy More, Save More deal is still ongoing – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/best-milwaukee-packout-deal-holiday-2024/%3C/a%3E at least for a few more days.
Packout has served me well, but my decision to buy more came down to price. Packout being a much broader and well-established system with wide availability is important, but for my needs it wasn’t a high priority.
Evan
I am debating another Packout stack purchase while the deal is still active. The only real downside I hear everyone talk about with Packout is the price, and with the deal the price is comparable or even lower than many of the competitor systems.
Richard
Along with more outlets to purchase StackTech came a one more price increase really making pack out far more appealing and affordable I invested heavily in toughbuilt based on the promised products their shortcomings and continued price increases and lack of accessories is causing me to lean towards Milwaukee and get rid of TB I have had a fair number of hand tool failures from them and despite a warranty they’ve refused to replace the tools
Rog
I would buy into this line if I felt more confident they’ll be around long-term
Jared
It seems like a lot of people feel this way. I hope Toughbuilt sticks around.
The product is good – so it would be a shame to see it flounder because people perceive their financial woes as heralding future issues,
Do they have what you need now? I can see reasons why you wouldn’t want to buy into a “dying” platform, but it doesn’t seem like things are THAT dire and how much of it would you actually buy?
I bought a number of Toughsystem boxes… five years ago. Haven’t expanded my collection since then.
I also have a number of deep Milwaukee organizers (the non-Packout variety they discontinued). It’s not like I had to stop using them because I can’t buy more.
Jronman
Would be nice to see them in person at Walmarts. Walmart isn’t known for having quality tools at physical locations but this could be a start. I have seen the occasional Little Giant ladders in person but otherwise nothing comes to mind for in person pro grade tools. One location That could sell Stack Tech is Menards. Menards already sells Tough Built products including the Stack Tech compatible Clip Tech system.
will
Walmart sells all kinds of crap on there website. Makes it difficult to find what your looking for if you want an item from Walmart. I’m sorry but if want to buy from a 3rd party it won’t be Walmart, I’d rather use Amazon which has a much better website. Anyways ,yes it would be nice if they sold half decent tools,even Menards sells quality ha stools such as Knipex and other German hand tools that not even lowes offers.
S
Menards clearanced out all their toughbuilt stuff. It’s no longer available in store anywhere.
Now they have a similar but not identical master force variation on the cliptech design.
Dave
Spreetail is a joke. Come on, Stewart. Items available from 3rd parties on marketplace websites does NOT mean those items are available at Target, Walmart, or Amazon.
S
I’m confused. How are they not available?
Are you specifically talking about physical store availability at those sites? Because that still doesn’t make sense to me considering Amazon doesn’t really have physical stores.
Stuart
He’s basically implying that this doesn’t count as actually being available via those online marketplaces, since this is essentially just an arrangement with a 3rd party fulfillment and ecommerce management company, and not direct arrangements with any of those retailers.
There are different ways to interpret this development. I think it’s optimistic, or neutral at the least.
From what I’ve seen, many if not most consumers don’t much pay much attention to the seller anymore, only the platform, and so most won’t care that it’s coming from an intermediate seller.
To me, this arrangement looks to makes StackTech more easily purchasable, and also provides StackTech exposure and sales potential outside of Lowe’s. That this was accomplished via Spreetail rather than direct arrangements with the online retailers doesn’t change any of that.
Dave
Correct interpretation of my comment, Stuart. I should have said it in a more tactful way, however.
I assumed this was no different than someone going to Lowe’s, buying Toughbuilt stuff and then reselling on Amazon. If Spreetail actually has a direct relationship with Toughbuilt, then I might see it a bit differently.
Stuart
My understanding is that Spreetail only works directly with companies.
I’ve purchased Really Useful Box products from them, and there really area not avenues for them to buy in any other way than direct.
ToughBuilt has been looking to expand their distribution. We know this because I asked them after seeing the products on Temu.
Thus, I believe with high confidence that ToughBuilt contracted with Spreetail to handle their fulfillment at the online marketplaces mentioned in the post.
Objectively speaking, I can absolutely see where you’re coming from. Is this a big deal? Not really. But it does have impact.
For ToughBuilt, this would be a strategic partnership that puts their products in expanded online marketplaces without their having to expand their own fulfillment or inventory management capabilities. I’m guessing that they don’t even need warehousing for this and that they can ship directly from their factories to Spreetail’s warehouse(s).
For consumers, there’s going to be emotional impact, for lack of a better way to put it, because it helps to cement ToughBuilt’s presence in the market. I understand Spreetail as being one channel, but placement at different marketplaces could be seen by average consumers as multiple channels. Major distribution beyond just Lowe’s is already a big step and at least a minor victory for ToughBuilt.
This arrangement, if I’m interpreting everything correctly, allows ToughBuilt to focus on design, development, and marketing, and rely on Spreetail for distribution. That’s how I understand Spreetail’s business and services to work.
One would think that the same could have been true with Lowe’s, but I don’t believe Lowe’s works in that way. My understanding is that Lowe’s requires shipping to online warehouses and also to stores. If so, that could potentially help explain some of the inventory challenges ToughBuilt faced.
I appreciate that you realize your comment might have sounded a little strong but it was clear and succinct without being rude. There’s nothing wrong with being frank. =)
JR Ramos
This arrangement may have become somewhat of an absolute necessity, too. Remember that they had two lawsuits from landlords for warehouses/property that they defaulted on lease payments and both of those lawsuits….closed out…..with significant losses for Toughbuilt….lots of money down the drain and I think they bailed completely on one location. There was a reason they defaulted in the first place, and since their cash flow most certainly did not increase during or after that period of time, it may be likely that they simply cannot afford to lease warehousing space even if they could afford to fill it with product, to say nothing of the other logistics of shipping it out. They’re in a pretty deep hole, all things considered, and they’re still burning money in the courts with some other outstanding cases. Off the stock market so they can’t rely on their past games in that aspect now, either.
will
Amazon sales directly from Amazon warehouses while 3rd party is another site completely. The warranty is from a 3rd party and if you have to ship it back its through a 3rd party website. Amazon has 3rd party retailers as well but the Amazon items are warrantied and serviced through Amazon and not some 3rd party retailer. So when buying from these websites make sure it’s not coming from china.
JR Ramos
@Jronman: Menard’s dropped Toughbuilt entirely last year – and with that company, when something like that happens, you’re never getting your products in the store again.
Menard’s is the #3 retailer behind Lowe’s and HD. Toughbuilt has failed all of them unfortunately and as Stuart said, their present and future with Lowe’s is anything but certain. Ace Hardware still shows several items as available to order but nothing stocked in stores unless it’s remnants. The clearance pricing at Menard’s was stellar…really fantastic. I picked up several items.
Walmart and Target? Well…that’s one way to die. They’d better hope they can get some operating cash from sales at Lowe’s and rebuild quickly else Lowe’s does actually drop them or push them entirely online-order-only. Pricing at Amazon will either be considerably higher or TB will have to take a profit hit to keep the same pricing as in stores.
The Lowe’s around me emptied, then restocked, and then pulled some newly stocked items from sale over the last many months. Not much in there now. I am somewhat flabbergasted at the way the ClipTech pouches have been allowed to flounder. It’s kind of what built them and they’ve left an awful lot of people unhappy and clamoring for restocks of those products.
Could have something to do with their supplier issues overseas? But letting that halfway die out as they have while investing so much in a new product line like StackTech (and then having that be such a cluster of a launch…) has left a lot of people not really caring much about them anymore. The competition is plenty adequate in terms of function and quality and people can generally buy what is being advertised.
One of their directors recently parted ways…not sure that’s of any consequence but pretty much everything in their corporate news over the last couple years has been – not confidence inspiring, in terms of competence and a sure future.
JR Ramos
Harbor Freight and Northern Tool would be big obvious targets but maybe that’s been tried-and-denied or something…could just be an inability to have enough product available to stock stores, too, even though they are smaller than Lowe’s I think, storewise.
Bonnie
Does HF stock any notable 3rd-party brands? Basically everything in the store is a white-label-sourced house brand. Maybe if StackTech collapses someone will buy up and start running the old moulds for cheap.
I could *maybe* see Northern Tool, but I doubt they have the volume of sales to justify a modular storage line. All their 1st party stuff is fairly low-volume equipment.
KMR
HF 20+ years ago would stock and sell outside brands, including DeWalt and Makita for power tools. I recall seeing SK hand tools and also Ingersol Rand (impact stuff). The selections weren’t huge, but it was part of HF’s business model for that time period to sell these brands.
JR Ramos
They do still sell a handful, but one-off products rather than lines. Gorilla Glue and Slime come to mind but some others here and there. They’ve had what must have been a large batch of Toughbuilt knee pads available for sale for quite awhile now…who knows how they acquired those. But yeah, it would be more likely that HF would try to do their own thing with one of their labels.
Northern does pretty well with Packout…probably nowhere near the sales volume of that or other Milwaukee tools compared to HD (that sounds like a dumb obvious statement doesn’t it…).
JR Ramos
Randomly noticed that they are now stocking several of the Rustoleum auto and specialty rattle cans…that might come in handy for me since HD and Lowe’s don’t stock them and our Ace stores seem to be phasing them out. It’d be great if they had the hammerite products.
S
Harbor freight is out. As they’ve migrated to a focus on selling in-house brands.
Northern tool, or down south, Workshop Tools would be good sales partners next. But honestly all of them face similar floor space issues as Lowe’s does. There’s only so many products that can be supported in so much space, and all of them already have trouble overfilling the space they have.
Nathan
Northern tool might be an option. Harbor freight would have to clone it with their store brands
LE
Harbor Freight actually already sells a pair of toughbuilt knee pads in stores. Branded toughbuilt. It definitely took me by surprise at first when I saw them.
Bonnie
There’s nothing currently listed on their website for Toughbuilt. Looks like there was a brief moment in 2022 where they had some Toughbuilt kneepads, but nothing I can find since then.
https://go.harborfreight.com/coupons/2022/06/178806-57520/
Stuart
I spotted them during my visit to a HF store back in November 2024. Maybe they’re in-store only?
LE
They’ve still got them in the stores by me. They did have a listing online up until atleast a few weeks ago because I remember searching “toughbuilt” on the app after a visit and wondering if it was still the only product by them they carried (it was). The online page is definitely gone now though. FWIW they also have a single Cosco brand hand truck for sale next to their Franklin brand items. It’s odd to see a couple name brand items sprinkled in with 99.9% store brands.
will
HF would never be able to sell a $165 organizers. People go there to buy $30 organizers. Don’t get me wrong there’s a place for HF but I don’t think these prices would fly.
JR Ramos
I dunno. As they have been trying to “upscale” their available products with Icon and some of their other labels over the last few years – with a great amount of success and customer satisfaction – I think they know that people will spend money on good products, and surely they finally came to realize that the lowball end of things is not nearly as profitable over the long haul as selling higher ticket items (whether they are also higher margin or not). I think TB has the recognition and following, not to mention a bunch of new potential customers from HF’s base, that if they were to take them on (and could get stock…) it would probably do really well. And if HF were the only game in town then that almost seals the deal since many would rather buy in person than online for items like the boxes.
I don’t particularly like the combined result of HF’s new moves lately but they’ve definitely improved a lot, in several ways, so they’re a little more of a viable supplier for things now. My opinion. Some years back I basically swore them off as a waste of both time and money but now I’ll bop in to browse or pick up something, check their website periodically to see what’s new. They’ll never be a “real” supplier or sell pro- or industrial-quality stuff, though…can’t ever see that happening.
Mike S
Awesome development! I’m getting tired of my local Lowes showing things in stock that never make to the shelves.
ElectroAtletico
Hand truck not available. Workbench not available.
Toughbuilt, call me when you start carrying those two again.
will
They look solid but there are so many tool organizers already i don’t feel like we need more. Maybe there would be room for a cheaper product but these are high end of the price spectrum.