DIYWEEK.net

A Norfolk town has a new hardware shop now that a husband-and-wife team of independent retailers have grown their duo of outlets to three.
Carl and Tina Wilby opened Wilbys Home Hardware in Diss on Friday in former hairdresser's premises. The new shop extends to 1,500sq ft across two floors.

The original Wilbys Home Hardware is in Brandon, Suffolk, which the Wilbys bought in 2007 as a pet shop, later introducing hardware and DIY. Then, 18 months ago, they opened Hilltop Hardware in Botesdale, also in Suffolk, and again selling DIY and pet foods. This outlet will also shortly be rebranded as Wilbys Home Hardware.

Mr Wilby told diyweek.net that he believed there was a gap in the market for a DIY outlet in Diss following the demise of Godfrey DIY, which went into liquidation in January 2013. He therefore jumped at the opportunity "when I saw a shop in a very busy location come up in Diss. Footfall was the deciding factor. We're sandwiched between The Factory Shop and Poundstretcher and they drive a lot of traffic here," he said.

"We're out of town on a very small retail park, and there is a need out of town. Paint seems to be a big necessity that people can't get anywhere bar builders merchants. So paint, electricals, ironmongery and plumbing are the areas I'm trying to major on."

He went on: "We've been buying from Home Hardware from the start but only became corporate members last year. I like being a corporate member - the marketing works fantastically well and the brochures work exceptionally well for us."

The Diss store offered special deals and a prize draw raffle to celebrate last week's opening. Mr and Mrs Wilby are running the new outlet and have just recruited a manager to look after the Brandon shop.