Builders Merchants Journal – BMJ Publishing to Builders Merchants and the UK merchanting industry for more than 95 years
Family-run tool firm, Draper Tools, launched its first-ever tool advent calendar earlier this year, with 24 doors of tools to open in the countdown to Christmas. With Christmas being the season of goodwill, Draper has been donating £1 from the sale of every calendar to its 2019 charity partner, Care for Veterans. The calendar has been so popular that Draper Tools was able to present the 100-year-old charity with a cheque for £3,000. 
Draper Tools, which also celebrates its centenary this year, made the presentation to Care for Veterans at its Chandler’s Ford head office. A special cake and Christmas card sale was also held on the day to mark the occasion and raise further funds for the charity. Clive Richardson, marketing director at Draper Tools, who presented the cheque to Care for Veterans said:
“Reaching our centenary has made 2019 a very special year for Draper Tools. While there has been plenty of activity to celebrate this milestone, we also wanted this year to be about giving back. That’s why we have been supporting Care for Veterans throughout the year. When the time came to launch our first ever advent calendar, we all felt it made sense to donate some of the proceeds to charity as a further way to honour our joint centenary year. We’re pleased to say the calendar has been a huge success! We’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who bought one. The £3,000 raised will mean a lot to Care for Veterans – who provide long term nursing care, rehabilitation, respite and award-winning end of life care to disabled ex-Servicemen and women.” 
The Draper Advent Calendar was named as one of the best by The Sun and The Daily Star and was even featured on the Chris Moyles Show on Radio X. It features 24 doors of specially selected tools to open and build your own screwdriver bit set, with an added Draper bottle opener too. It has been so successful that Draper Tools has now completely sold out of advent calendars, though any tool-lovers keen to get their hands on one may still find a limited number available from local retailers and online sellers.
