Ever gone shopping for a tie and come home with a suit as well? Or, have you ever gone shopping for a hammer and come home with a whole tool kit? Both situations may be the product of real need or just good salesmanship, but the second scenario differs from the first in one big way: money.
It doesn’t cost a lot more to buy a whole tool kit than it does to buy just one tool. And that may explain the popularity of new tool kits among American consumers.
“Let’s say that you’re in a Menard’s or a Home Depot or a Target or some other store and you’re looking for one adjustable wrench and the cost is $10,” says Sue Heisler, vice president of sales at Alltrade Inc. “Then all of a sudden you see a tool set that has multiple items that costs $15, so you would get a lot more value by buying the set.”
Joe Pomerantz, vice president of KR Tools, points to another reason why tools kits have become best-sellers. “A hammer was a hammer 100 years ago and it will be the same 100 years from now,” he says, “but the configuration of the tool kits keeps changing.” Many tool kits now come in blow-molded cases that are designed with built-in compartments to hold the tools that they come with. The kits are easy to carry around and easy to store.
Tools that have their proper place in a kit are also easier to find. “People have so little time today,” says Heisler, “and they don’t want to spend that time looking for a 3/8-inch socket because without a case it could end up anywhere.”
If you’re interested in adding a whole kit to your tool collection, read on. The prices listed for products are suggested retail prices. You can contact the listed manufacturers for help in finding a retailer in your area that carries a specific items.
Looks like a book
Alltrade, Inc. recently unveiled a number of new tool sets. The Shopbuddy line includes nine tool sets that contain anywhere from 4 to 22 items. All designed to open like a book, the line includes an all-purpose set, a home and office set, and sets that contain pliers, screwdrivers or a series of other similar tools. Shopbuddy sets can be hung from the wall, but they can also be stored upright, stacked or put away in drawers. The new Powerbuilt sets offer everything from similar tools to all-purpose assortments stored in molded cases. In addition, the Tool House is a compact case that opens to reveal 401 tools and accessories. When closed it is 15 by 14 by 5 inches, yet it opens up to reveal 5 square feet of storage area. Tools in all the sets carry an unconditional lifetime warranty. Prices: $14.99 per Shopbuddy; $29.99 to $99.99 for the Powerbuilt sets; $70 for the Tool House. Alltrade Inc., 1431 Via Plata, Long Beach, Calif. 90810-1462. Phone: 800-423-3598.
The Tim Allen line
Tim Allen is not content to win awards for his starring role in ABC-TV’s sitcom “Home Improvement” or to write the book “Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man,” which appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List. Now he has launched the Tim Allen Signature Tool Line. It’s not surprising that he even contributed to the design of some of the tools, because Allen studied industrial design and is an avid tool collector as well. The tool kit in his series, with products from some top manufacturers, include a hammer, scissors and a tape measure. The line also includes two kits for children: Tim’s Little Contractor, with tools and a pouch, and Tim’s Little Helper, with gloves, a hard hat and a flashlight. Prices: $89 for the Tool Kit; $29 for Tim’s Little Contractor; $23.95 for Tim’s Little Helper. Tim Allen Signature Tool Line, 290 E. Wyoming Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45215. Phone: 888-862-5536.
High visibility
KR Tools has developed a series of six Jobmates kits that are designed to snap together with the tools still visible. Each one holds a different set of tools, ranging from pliers to screwdrivers to wrenches. Each has a built-in handle. The Stackables series offers a molded case with compartments for various kinds of tools. A Household Tool Kit in the line contains all the basic tools needed around the house and can be stored in a drawer. The Stackables can, of course, be stacked for storage or hung on a wall. Price: $11.99 each of the Jobmates; $9.99 each for Stackables. KR Tools Inc., 486 Constitution Ave., Camarillo, Calif. 93012. Phone: 800-423-5471.
Can’t miss ’em
Allied International has launched a series of eye-catching tool sets. The kits themselves are purple and the tools they hold have fluorescent green accents. The Home & Office Tool Set is molded to hold a set of basic tools. It has a built-in handle and is shaped to fit easily into a drawer or to hang on the wall. The Junior Handyman Tool Set snaps open to reveal a set of neatly organized, commonly used tools. The Bicycle Tool Set is shaped like a water bottle and also snaps open to present tools needed for bicycle repair and maintenance. Prices: $15 each for the Home & Office and Junior Handyman Tool Sets, $12.50 for the Bicycle Tool Set (mail order only). Allied International, 13207 Bradley Ave., Sylmar, Calif. 91342. Phone: 800-533-8333.
Pages of tools
Black & Decker has introduced a new way to store accessories for drills or cordless screwdrivers. This red case, called Build-a-Set, opens like a book to reveal “pages” with slots designed to hold various parts. The pages can be snapped in and out so that only the ones needed can be removed and taken to the site of the project. There is extra space so that new pages can be purchased separately and snapped into the case. Build-a-Set is available in four choices: The 28- and 46-piece sets hold 1- and 2-inch double-ended screwdriving bits for power drills and cordless screwdrivers. The 32- and 47-piece sets house drill bits, sockets and common screwdriving accessories for power drills. The compact carrying case can fit into a toolbox or a drawer or can be hung on a workshop wall. Prices: $17.99 for the 28- and the 32-piece sets; $23.99 for the 46- and 47-piece sets. Black & Decker Consumer Services, P.O. Box 618, Hampstead, Md. 21074. Phone: 800-544-6986.
Easy to carry
Sears has two tool sets in handy blow-molded carrying cases. The Homeowner’s Tool Kit is a red case that contains 25 pieces ranging from a 7-ounce claw hammer and various screwdrivers to a 12-foot tape measure. The Craftsman Tool Set comes in a black case that holds 38 pieces, including 13 screwdrivers, 3 pliers, a 16-piece socket set and 6 wrenches. Prices: $79.97 for the Homeowner’s Tool Kit; $99.99 for the Craftsman Tool Set. Available at Sears stores.
