October 10, 2024, 10:59 am | Read time: 5 minutes
For several years now, the tool manufacturer Parkside has been competing with renowned brands such as Bosch, Makita and Einhell. Not on the DIY store shelves, however, but from discounters. myHOMEBOOK took a closer look at the brand.
Parkside tools have been available in supermarkets for several years now – including Lidl. And at relatively affordable prices, especially when compared to tools from other brands. Some time ago, Parkside also drew attention to itself with an advertising campaign in which Arnold Schwarzenegger was engaged as a brand ambassador. However, the brand maintains a low profile in many areas, including in terms of sharing its manufacturing location. myHOMEBOOK has investigated.
What makes Parkside so special?
Usually, you have to go to the DIY store for cordless screwdrivers, jigsaws, or other tools – not so with Parkside. These tools are available from the discounter. “Parkside has developed from Lidl’s own brand into an independent DIY brand,” the brand said when asked by myHOMEBOOK.
The tools are said to represent a “technically high-quality and at the same time affordable alternative,” for example, in comparison to Bosch or Makita tools. “Parkside has also been listed at Kaufland alongside Lidl since spring 2023,” Parkside stated. The products are also available to buy online at the Lidl and Kaufland online stores.
Who are Parkside tools suitable for?
When asked by myHOMEBOOK, Parkside replied that the tools are suitable for all people “who like to pick up tools and repair, build or garden in the house or garden themselves.” It doesn’t matter whether they are beginners or professionals. And indeed, the quality of the tools can certainly keep up with the competition – even in the higher-priced segments.
Which Parkside tools are available?
As far as the products are concerned, Parkside says it has something for everyone, “from small garden helpers and large machines such as chainsaws or lawnmowers to hand and power tools.” However, the brand also has more specialized tools, such as routers, in its range. Parkside is also oriented towards the typical product ranges of renowned brands.
In addition to the basic line, there is also a professional line, “Parkside Performance.” The line, according to Parkside, offers “particularly powerful power tools.” However, it remains to be seen whether professionals actually use Parkside tools on the construction site on a daily basis. It is also not entirely clear to what extent the product lines really differ.
Who is behind Parkside?
A look at the Parkside website and the imprint there quickly reveals that the Lidl Stiftung & Co KG is behind the brand. Like Kaufland, this is part of the Schwarz Group. This also explains why the tools are available in the respective stores and online stores. But who really makes the tools?
Some DIY enthusiasts suspect that Parkside is an offshoot of a larger manufacturer – something like Bosch Power Tools or Einhell. When asked by myHOMEBOOK, both Einhell and Bosch were able to refute this. According to a Bosch spokesperson, the “striking similarity to the power tools in our green line” is known at Bosch and is also being pursued “wherever legally possible”. Parkside also keeps the place of manufacture secret.
However: “Parkside has various suppliers who are also identified as manufacturers on the packaging of the individual products,” Parkside said in response to an inquiry from myHOMEBOOK. A look at the packaging of one of the brand’s cordless handheld vacuum cleaners shows that, in this case, the manufacturer behind it is “Grizzly.”
Several letters from readers reached the myHOMEBOOK editorial team, which also suggested a connection between Parkside and the Grizzly Tools and Scheppach brands. In fact, there is a separate Parkside category on the Grizzly website. And a Lidl press release from 2021 also links the two brands. Readers have also reported that some Scheppach tools are identical to Parkside tools. A request for verification is currently still pending.
“The definition of the product range, the development of product specifications, and quality assurance are in our hands,” Parkside states. However, it is unclear where the tools are actually produced. However, as many components in the tool sector now come from the Far East, it can be assumed that this is also the case for Parkside.
Are the batteries compatible with other manufacturers?
Most power tool manufacturers now offer their own range of batteries, such as the 20, 18 or 12 volt battery families. Corded tools are no longer as popular with DIY enthusiasts and gardeners as they were a few years ago. This is why Parkside relies primarily on cordless tools. While some manufacturers form battery alliances – such as Bosch and Gardena – where the batteries can also be used in tools from other manufacturers, this is not yet the case here. Parkside batteries currently (12.19.2023) only fit in its own devices.
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Parkside tools in the test
myHOMEBOOK has already examined and tested some Parkside devices in more detail – with interesting results. The test devices included a cordless impact drill, a cordless jigsaw and a cordless handheld vacuum cleaner. And in a major test conducted by Stiftung Warentest, Parkside’s rechargeable batteries performed surprisingly well.