Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive October 2017

B&M opens stores in Llanelli and Skelton 30 October 2017

B&M has increased its presence in South Wales with the opening of a new store in Llanelli.The B&M Home Store with Garden Centre is located at the new Cross Hands Business Park, opening its doors to the public on Saturday with the help of ...


BREAKING NEWS: Akzo Nobel in merger talks with Axalta 30 October 2017

Dutch coatings firm, Akzo has today confirmed it is in “constructive discussions” with US rival Axalta with a view to creating a “leading global paints & coatings company through a merger of equals”.Akzo made its statement this morning in “in ...


Ideabright Ltd bought back in pre-pack deal 27 October 2017

Retailer Ideabright Ltd, which operates three stores in Fulham under the Dibranto, PoshRosh and Cleanup names, has been bought out of administration by one of its directors.According to documents from Duff & Phelps, Ideabright, which went into ...


BREAKING NEWS: Top brands partner with BHETA for National Home Improvement Week 27 October 2017

DIY WEEK EXCLUSIVE The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has told DIY Week exclusively that it is launching a new consumer-facing marketing campaign for Spring 2018: National Home Improvement Week. It is expected to make a wider ...


Coleman's unveils new £5 million garden centre in Templepatrick 27 October 2017

The first stage of the new £5 million garden centre in County Antrim has been declared open this week, by the Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey.Colemans Garden Centre, which earlier this year announced its multimillion pound renovation project, was ...


CBI reports increase of sales in hardware and DIY sector 26 October 2017

Retail sales declined sharply in the year to October, disappointing expectations for a solid expansion, according to the latest monthly CBI Distributive Trades Survey, however the hardware and DIY sector saw a 43% increase in sales, performing well ...


Tile Trader launches ‘Tiling for a Good Cause’ campaign 25 October 2017

‘Tiling for a Good Cause’ - a nationwide initiative launched by online retailer Tile Trader, is asking members of the public to nominate a small space in their local area in need of a makeover. Local spaces and projects may include the addition of ...


Bunnings Warehouse opens store in Worle 25 October 2017

Home improvement and garden retailer Bunnings Warehouse opened the doors to its new 76,000sq ft store in Worle today – it’s ninth pilot store in the UK.The new Bunnings outlet is on the site of the former Homebase at Queensway Centre and carries the ...


"Difficult trading" for Homebase dents Bunnings' UK sales 25 October 2017

Australian retail giant, Wesfarmers Limited has today announced its Q1 results for FY18, which saw declines in its Bunnings proposition in the UK.Bunnings UK & Ireland (BUKI) reported total sales of £276 million, down 17.5% (-13.8% in local ...


Wyevale to enhance the customer experience with the oracle retail stores suite of solutions 24 October 2017

Today, Oracle announced that Wyevale Garden Centres ("Wyevale") has invested in the Oracle Retail Stores suite of solutions including the latest version of Oracle Retail Xstore Point-of-Service, Oracle MICROS Hardware and Oracle Retail Customer ...


Carpetright reports 0.8% like-for-like sales growth 24 October 2017

Carpetright has announced total Group sales are up by 1.8% in its trading update for the 25 weeks ended 21 October 2017.In the UK?there was o like-for like sales growth of 0.8%, with an increase of 2.1% within the flooring category, offset in part ...


Dunelm moves Warrington store out of town 24 October 2017

Dunelm is closing its town centre store in Warrington and moving to Junction Nine Retail Park, formerly the Alban Retail Park. The new 34,000sq ft store will feature a Pausa Café.Dunelm’s outlet on Parker Street will close when the store moves to ...


Benjamin Moore opens debut UK showroom 23 October 2017

Two years since their exclusive launch of Benjamin Moore paints into the UK market, Shaw Paints Ltd, has announced the opening of the Benjamin Moore Chelsea Showroom. Situated in the heart of Chelsea at 263 Fulham Road, the 1,300 sq ft showroom has ...


Watson home hardware wins cookshop window dressing competition 23 October 2017

Watson Home Hardware (Sutton-on-Sea) has won Home Hardware’s Cookshop Window Dressing Competition. Abbotts DIY (Ottery St Mary) and Danum Home Hardware (Doncaster) received joint runner’s up prizes. The competition was introduced this year (...


Oak Furniture Land opens showroom in Llandudno 20 October 2017

Oak Furniture Land will open a 18,122 sq ft showroom at the Mostyn Champneys Retail Park in Llandudno where Staples used to be, creating seven jobs. The retailer features more than 23 furniture ranges including Shay, Canterbury and St Ives. It is ...


John Lewis introduces concierge style shopping experience 20 October 2017

Today, John Lewis has revealed details of a new 'concierge style' shopping experience which the retailer will trial at its new service-led shop in Oxford which opens its doors next Tuesday. The initiative forms part of the company’s plans to ...


Indie hardware shop pays homage to Two Ronnies sketch 19 October 2017

Following regular requests for ‘four candles’, a hardware shop owner in Croxley Green has made a unique set of candles from fork handles, much to the delight of his customers.Inspired by the famous Two Ronnies comedy sketch, Tony Walker, the owner ...


Wickes owner sees like-for-like growth from price increase 19 October 2017

The owner of home and DIY retailers Wickes and Toolstation saw like-for-like sales jump 4.1% in third quarter of the year, up from 2.7% in the first six months, alongside total sales growth of 3.5%, with a 5% growth specifically in the consumer ...


Akzo misses Q3 earnings due to "strong headwinds" 18 October 2017

Akzo Nobel released its Q3 2017 results today, reporting a second profit warning since the failed takeover approach from PPG industries earlier this year. The report showed volumes were 2% higher overall, driven by Decorative Paints and Performance ...


Oak Furniture Land opens first showroom in Derry and second store in Northern Ireland 18 October 2017

Oak Furniture Land opened its first showroom in Derry on Saturday 14 October 2017 and its second store in Northern Ireland. The 8,708 sq ft showroom located at the Crescent Link Retail Park, has created six new jobs and forms part of the company’s ...


The Range announces new stores 18 October 2017

The Range has announced a new concept of stores in Cornwall. The Range on the Beach, which will have more seasonal opening hours than the larger outlets in the UK, will be tested out for the first time in Cornwall next year in time for the new ...


BHETA attracts new DIY members 18 October 2017

Robinson Young and Milliamp are the latest companies to sign up to The British Home Enhancement Trade Association’s (BHETA) many membership benefits.Robinson Young is a UK-dedicated largescale specialist distributor of non-food FMCG products. It ...


Squire’s opens stylish new café bar in Shepperton centre 17 October 2017

Family-run garden retailer Squire’s Garden Centres has revamped the café at its centre in Shepperton, Middlesex to create a striking new café bar, complete with afternoon tea area and piano.The new eatery boasts stylish new decor and there are now ...


DLF Seeds lands exclusive distribution deal on MossOff chemical free 17 October 2017

DLF Seeds Ltd has announced a new partnership with VivaGreen Group and will act as a distributor of VivaGreen’s products in the UK, representing the range of MossOff Chemical Free products.The deal will see DLF start selling the products via the ...


Retail footfall down third month in a row 16 October 2017

Footfall in September decreased by 1.2% year-on-year, the same decrease as in August, in line with the three-month rolling average of -1.2% and below the 12-month rolling average of -0.4%, according to figures produced by the British Retail ...


The Range hopes for go-ahead on new superstore 16 October 2017

Discount retailer The Range's plans for a superstore and new headquarters on a former Ministry of Defence (MoD) site in Plymouth hopes to get the green light from councillors at a meeting on October 19, 2017. The new development could create about ...


IKEA hikes prices by 3% 16 October 2017

Furniture retailer IKEA Group has increased prices by 3% in Britain to compensate for a slump in sterling after the country’s decision to leave the EU, which has pushed up import costs. The Group imports many of the products it sells in Britain, ...


ERA Homeguard shortlisted for security award 16 October 2017

Home security specialist, ERA has impressed judges of the IFSEC Security & Fire Excellence Awards with its new cloud-based alert and monitoring alarm system, Homeguard, which has been shortlisted for the Intruder Alarm or Exterior Deterrent ...


Profits up for Home Bargains 16 October 2017

Home Bargains owner TJ Morris has increased turnover to almost £1.9bn, while the family-owned retailers profits have risen by a quarter.The company has reported a turnover of £1.87bn for the year ending 30 June 2017, which is 17% higher than a year ...


Akzo Nobel decorative paints UK awarded carbon trust triple standard 13 October 2017

Akzo Nobel’s Decorative Paints UK business has been awarded the Carbon Trust Triple Standard?—?the second time that AkzoNobel has won this prestigious award.This award recognises AkzoNobel as having the greatest positive impact on the environment, ...


DIY Week Awards: Entry has never been simpler 13 October 2017

With a new-look website and exciting new categories, it has never been easier to enter the DIY Week Awards.As well as revamping our categories to reflect the changing home improvement and garden retail sector, we have simplified the entry process to ...


Tesco and Aldi joins list of retailers defying £1 cut off date 13 October 2017

The discount supermarket chain Aldi is to accept the old £1 coins in its UK stores for two weeks after the cut off date where they stop circulation.The UK’s largest retailer, Tesco, also said earlier this week that it would allow its shoppers to pay ...


Perrywood GC on a mission to bring houseplants to classrooms in Essex 13 October 2017

As part of its Green Up Your Home campaign, award-winning Perrywood Garden Centre is hoping to boost concentration, improve air quality and reduce stress levels by visiting local schools in the area and providing them with free houseplants.The ...


John Lewis reports dip in home sales 11 October 2017

In the weekly sales figures John Lewis reported total sales were £89.1m, down 0.9% on last year.Home sales were down 2.5%. However, the Christmas Villages continue to perform strongly and Halloween products were up 30% on last year.Electricals and ...


Housewares feature at BHETA networking forum 11 October 2017

BHETA’s next networking forum is to feature the latest news from Steamer Trading as well as a survey of other aspects of today’s housewares market. The forum will be held on Thursday November 9 November at Federation House.Steamer Trading chairman, ...


Bake-Off boosts bakeware sales at Robert Dyas 11 October 2017

Latest figures from Robert Dyas reveal the homeware retailer has seen a significant increase in visitors to the bakeware section on its website since the start of the new Channel 4 series of The Great British Bake Off. “Since the show has been aired ...


Dunelm reports total revenue rise of 24.8% 11 October 2017

British homewares retailer Dunelm reported total revenue for the first quarter rose by 24.8% to £247.9 million, showing a growth of £49.2 million.Total like-for-like revenue grew by 9.3%.Commenting on Dunelm's performance, Chairman Andy Harrison ...


Sale of Selby Garden Centre 10 October 2017

Alexander Mackie Associates Ltd. are delighted to announce the private and confidential sale of Selby Garden Centre located at Hull Road, Osgodby, Selby, North Yorkshire on behalf of their clients Mr. & Mrs. Ward to Mr. Noble of Victoria Farm ...


Bunnings opens first Warehouse store in Essex 10 October 2017

Australian home improvement retailer Bunnings Warehouse officially opened its doors to the first store in Essex today on the site of the former Homebase in Basildon. The overhauled store on the London Road in Vange, occupies a footprint of 57,000sq ...


Growing proportion of online sales in September 10 October 2017

Some 22.4% of retail sales took place online in September, the highest proportion since January this year, according to the BRC– KPMG Retail Sales Monitor for September.The rise from 21.5% in September 2016 came as online sales of non-food products ...


Retailers losing £800 million per year to shoplifters 9 October 2017

Britain’s shops collectively lose £800 million per year due to shoplifting, according to data derived from data.police.co.uk. OnBuy.com investigated the total number of offences that were recorded by 43 police forces/constabularies across England ...


Poundland will accept old coins until end of October 9 October 2017

As the deadline looms for Brits to empty their pockets and homes of the much-loved round £1 coins, Poundland has today announced that it will be the first retailer in the country to accept the old coins after they are taken out of circulation on ...


Queue of almost 100 for new Wilko store in Llandudno 6 October 2017

Retailer Wilko has opened in Llandudno - with nearly 100 people queuing up to be among the first to get inside.The retailer has signed a lease for a new 8,300 sq ft shop at Mostyn Champneys retail park.There are 45 staff at the unit, creating ...


BHETA explores today's routes to market 6 October 2017

BHETA’s networking forum on September 26 provided insight into all the potential routes to market for home improvement suppliers, especially those seeking options to complement their traditional multiples’ business. It also reinforced the need for ...


ASA rules Wickes and Better Bathrooms sale ads are misleading 5 October 2017

The Advertising Sales Authority (ASA) has upheld challenges against both Wickes and Better Bathrooms, which claim adverts for their respective kitchen and bathroom sales misled consumers, ruling that the ads and promotional material must not ...


DFS profits slashed by 22% 5 October 2017

Sofa giants DFS has announced a huge annual profit decrease in its full year results for 2017 today, amid a "challenging" year. Pre-tax profits at DFS, which accounts for a quarter of the £3bn upholstered furniture market, fell 22.3 per cent to £50....


Tesco reports positive first half 5 October 2017

The grocer and general merchandise retailer recorded a rise in sales and profits in its interim results, with UK like-for-likes up 2.2%, as its turnaround strategy stays on track.Tesco plc recorded a group sales increase of 3.3% to £25.2billion for ...


Home Depot joins Google Express 5 October 2017

The Home Depot will join Google Express this autumn, adding the ability for its customers to shop through voice with the Assistant on Google Home, making it more convenient than ever for customers to shop however they want. In the US Google Express ...


Topps Tiles issues profits warning 4 October 2017

Shares in Topps Tiles fell over 5% earlier this morning, down 2.5% to 72.88p, after the company issued a profits warning ahead of its full year results.In a trading update, the group said 'challenging' market conditions meant it now expected full-...


Acid sales to under 18s will be banned 3 October 2017

Home Secretary Amber Rudd says it will be an offence to sell corrosive substances to anyone under the age of 18 and announces crackdown on online knife sales.Her promise, announced at the Conservative Party Conference today, has been prompted by an ...


Sales and profits up for SCS as it reaches portfolio milestone 3 October 2017

The furniture and flooring retailer opened its 100th store during the financial year – a trading period which also saw sales climb 4.4% to £349.5million and pre-tax profit up nearly 10% to £12million.Sofa Carpet Specialist’s (SCS) performance for ...


Wilko opens new store in Edinburgh 3 October 2017

Home and garden retailer Wilko is expected to open a new 8,900 square foot store at Fort Kinnaird Shopping Park in Edinburgh in November.“We are delighted to have signed the lease at Fort Kinnaird Shopping Park and looking forward to serving the ...


Covers Chichester celebrates official opening 3 October 2017

Timber & builders merchant Covers invited local Conservative MP Gillian Keegan to cut the ribbon, officially opening its new-look Home Ideas store in ChichesterMrs Keegan was given a tour of the showroom on Quarry Lane by store manager Richard ...


Scotts fails in challenge of Westland Safelawn ad 3 October 2017

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company filed a complaint about Westland Horticulture’s viral ad promoting its Safelawn product, questioning whether its claim that lawncare item was “safe for children and pets” was misleading.The complaint was raised with ...


Thornbury hardware store acquires premises with HSBC funding 2 October 2017

A Gloucestershire hardware store has used funding from HSBC to acquire its premises outright.Hawkins of Thornbury has acquired a property that includes the DIY merchants, space for two offices and three units that are sub-let to other businesses.The ...


Dunelm creates 100 Chelmsford jobs at Clock Tower retail park 2 October 2017

Dunelm, one of the UK’s leading homewares retailer, will be moving into the new Clock Tower Retail Park in Chelmsford in December, creating 100 new jobs as part of the move.The new 30,500 sq. ft. store at the former Britvic factory site will feature ...


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