Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive February 2018

CBI survey shows growth in hardware and DIY sector 26 February 2018

Retail sales growth slowed for the third month in a row in the year to February, according to the latest CBI Quarterly Distributive Trades Survey.Orders placed on suppliers were broadly flat over the year, but are expected to pick up slightly next ...


Screwfix celebrates successful store opening in Pontypool 26 February 2018

Screwfix has had a successful launch of its most recent store opening at Pontnewynydd Industrial Estate. The store officially opened its doors on Thursday 15th February with hundreds of eager customers ready to stock-up on the latest tools and trade ...


Squire’s opens new-look garden centre in Woking 23 February 2018

Squire’s Garden Centres has re-opened its Woking centre following a “significant extension”, which has seen the shop expanded and the catering offer completely revamped.The centre on Littlewick Road in Woking, has benefitted from a complete ...


Wesfarmers report huge loss in profits as Homebase failures come to light 21 February 2018

Wesfarmers Limited has reported a net profit after tax (NPAT) of $212 million for the half-year ended December 31, 2017. The reported profit includes post-tax significant items of $1,323 million relating to Bunnings United Kingdom and Ireland (BUKI) ...


The Range to take over Homebase store in Cardiff 21 February 2018

Expanding furniture to DIY retailer The Range has agreed a deal to open a new store at a soon-to-close Homebase outlet in Cardiff.Last week Homebase confirmed it was closing its flagship Cardiff store at Culverhouse Cross on March 10.The unit, which ...


Ikea set for new store opening in Exeter 20 February 2018

Diggers have been busy building IKEA Exeter since the official ground breaking ceremony in spring 2017.The store will be located just off Junction 30 on the M5, close to the A379 and will offer the full Ikea product range including a restaurant, ...


Grafton Group acquires Leyland SDM for £82.4million 19 February 2018

The deal will see the merchanting and DIY group enhance its estate of large-format Selco branches with the addition of Leyland’s ‘small-box’ style convenience outlets across central London. Grafton Group, which has operations in the UK, Ireland, ...


Aldi launches DIY range in its 'Specialbuys' section as consumers look to discount retailers 19 February 2018

Aldi has released an extended range of DIY tools and products in its Specialbuys section yesterday, as consumers flock to discount retailers for homeware goods.The range features a wide selection of "top-quality and excellent value tools and ...


BHETA to hold Exclusively briefing for exhibitors 16 February 2018

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) is to host a half-day briefing session for members planning to exhibit at this year’s Exclusively Housewares and Exclusively Electrical Shows. The briefing takes place on March 1 at Federation ...


Kingfisher to axe 400 jobs in France 16 February 2018

Europe's largest home improvement retailer, said on Tuesday it planned to cut more than 400 jobs at its Castorama and Brico Depot units in France as it seeks to reduce costs amid weak sales.Kingfisher, which is in the second year of a global plan to ...


GCA launches new Rising Star programme for catering staff 16 February 2018

Following the on-going success of the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) Rising Stars initiative, a new programme aimed at garden centre catering staff was launched at its conference last month.Sponsored by Creed Foodservice, the new programme has ...


Patlock secures listings in two major national retailers 16 February 2018

Following its appearance on Dragons’ Den, Patlock – the fitted French door lock, has landed deals with Argos and Robert Dyas nationwide.It’s a major coup for Rectella International, whose Bar-Be-Quick brand holds the retail distributorship for the ...


Home Hardware named Britain’s Best Housewares Wholesaler 16 February 2018

Dealer-owned buying group, Home Hardware Southwest won the Best Housewares Wholesaler accolade at the annual Housewares Innovation Awards hosted by DIY Week sister title, Housewares Magazine.It is the second year running that Home Hardware has taken ...


AkzoNobel receives triple recognition as Top Employer 15 February 2018

AkzoNobel's continued commitment to offering the best conditions for its employees has been recognized by the Top Employers Institute, with the company receiving official certification in three of its key markets - Brazil, China and the UK. The ...


Kelkay bought by Griffon Corporation 14 February 2018

Family-run garden landscaping brand, Kelkay has been acquired by the same US firm that took over La Hacienda last July. It now forms part of The AMES Companies, Inc - the largest supplier of non-powered lawn and garden tools in US, Canada and ...


Lasher Tools makes move into the UK market 14 February 2018

International gardening brand, Lasher Tools has entered the UK market and has appointed JAMP PR to help it target garden centres, builders merchants and home improvement retailers.Established in South Africa over 80 years ago, Lasher supplies ...


Toolstation opens 300th branch in Eastleigh with further plans for expansion 13 February 2018

Toolstation has announced that its landmark 300th branch will open in Eastleigh on 23rd February 2018.At a time when many national retailers are reducing their branch networks through closure, this milestone achievement demonstrates the success of ...


Residential RMI to underpin growth in the UK paint, wallcoverings and woodcare market 13 February 2018

The market for paint, wallcoverings and woodcare products was worth an estimated £925m in 2017. An upturn in the construction sector in 2014 stimulated demand for paint and wallcoverings and the market continued to grow to 2015, underpinned by ...


Squire’s capitalises on houseplant trend with ‘bottle garden’ masterclass 13 February 2018

The independent garden centre chain will run the seasonal planting masterclass next month in 14 of its centres in a bid to entice new customers and novice gardeners to turn their hands to horticulture with a low-maintenance, on-trend project ...


January sales hit five-year low, as rising costs put pressure on household income 13 February 2018

Sales in the first month of the year have dipped for the first time since 2013, with a sharp decline in high street spending (-4%) and slower growth in online (+1.5%). Household goods saw moderate declines in the month compared with the hardest-hit ...


HTA reveals Chelsea plans and urges retailers to get involved 13 February 2018

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) will be exhibiting within the Discovery Zone in the Great Pavilion at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show and promises an exhibit that UK garden centres can get behind and replicate in store to join in with ...


ManoMano closes 2017 with a turnover of €250 million 12 February 2018

ManoMano is confirmed as the largest European marketplace for home improvement and gardening as it closed 2017 with a global turnover of 250 million euros, and having doubled UK turnover year-over-year.Launched in 2013 in France, ManoMano.co.uk ...


Coatings, adhesives & sealants industry team up to host Brexit event 12 February 2018

The British Coatings Federation (BCF) and the British Adhesives and Sealants Association (BASA) have partnered in a bid to shed light on how Brexit is expected to impact the industries.The seminar, ‘Halfway to Brexit: government, supply chain and ...


Co-op partners with Silentnight to sell beds online 9 February 2018

The Co-op will sell beds, headboards and mattresses via its new e-commerce site beds.coop.co.ukThe retail group is keen to take its share of what it views as a growing market, quoting AMA figures that report increases of around 3% a year in a sector ...


Tough trading continued in January 9 February 2018

UK retail sales increased 1.4% last month in line with the year’s average but non-food categories, including big-ticket, struggled and posted declines against a “challenging backdrop”.On a total basis, sales rose 1.4% in January, against a growth of 0....


Wickes appoints Wincanton to manage bulky goods delivery across London 8 February 2018

The Travis Perkins-owned retail chain has brought in the logistics provider to manage its HIAB sub-contractor network across London, with a view to growing multi-channel offer further.”Wincanton has been working with Wickes since last February, ...


UK retailers are restricting their own growth potential due to limited payment options 8 February 2018

The UK’s top retailers are inhibiting their online sales potential by up to 30% by not offering a range of payment options for customers.These are the findings of a new study, carried out by ecommerce and digital agency Visualsoft, which reported ...


Squire’s sells Windsor centre but eyes other investment opportunities 8 February 2018

Squire’s Garden Centres says it is actively looking for further sites, having “taken the difficult decision” to part with its centre in Windsor, which will close in the autumn of 2018 and be developed into housing. Explaining the decision to sell the ...


Bathroom Takeaway due to open new store in the Midlands 8 February 2018

Birmingham has been named as the second city that Bathroom Takeaway will be putting down roots, opening a store and trade counter, at what was once the Plumb Center Minworth Industrial Site, creating at least five jobs in the local area.Following ...


Wesfarmers buckle under shocking performance from Homebase/Bunnings 5 February 2018

Bunnings UK and Ireland (BUKI) is expected to report an underlying loss before interest and tax of £97 million ($165 million) for the first-half of the 2018 financial year.“It is clear that a significant amount of change has been driven through ...


Harris and Stax in distribution deal for BIRA Direct members 5 February 2018

Paint brush and roller manufacturer, Harris has agreed a distribution deal with wholesaler, Stax, in conjunction with BIRA Direct members. The strategic partnership with Stax comes off the back of what the company describes as "a period of continued ...


Screwfix opens new store in Burntwood 2 February 2018

Leading trade retailer, Screwfix opened its first store in Burntwood on yesterday (Thursday February 1) at Burntwood Business Park. The new branch will create 13 new jobs in the area and will help local tradespeople get what they need as quickly as ...


B&Q to cut 200 head office jobs 2 February 2018

B&Q has recently announced it will cut 200 head office jobs as part of a scheme to bring down costs at the DIY chain. The retailer's HR director, Helena Feltham said: “The new structure will improve efficiency, simplify ways of working, and ...


Black Friday overtakes Boxing Day for online retail searches 2 February 2018

As retailers prolong their Black Friday promotions, the shopping week now ranks above Boxing Day for search volumes on Google, while overseas interest in UK products is also growing - particularly in Italy.


BREAKING NEWS: Bunnings opens four new stores in one day 1 February 2018

Wesfarmers-owned DIY chain Bunnings has, today, officially opened new Warehouses in High Wycombe, Newmarket, Walthamstow and Hanworth. Following DIY Week’s report last week that the Bunnings Warehouse in Hanworth was open and trading, the company ...


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