Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive March 2018

BREAKING NEWS: Dunelm introduces DIY offering with Amtech in-store trial 29 March 2018

Homeware and furniture retailer, Dunelm Group, has taken the unprecedented step of approaching Amtech, to run a DIY trial in 40 of its stores.Dunelm’s new venture is a game changer for the DIY industry, as the retailer is keen to position itself as ...


DIY Week Awards retail finalists announced 28 March 2018

Following a successful judging day last week, we can finally reveal the home improvement and garden retailers shortlisted for the 2018 DIY Week Awards.Judges convened on Monday, March 19 week at Toolbank’s new purpose-built site in Wednesbury to ...


More supplier finalists revealed 28 March 2018

Following news of which innovative products made the shortlist for this year's DIY Week Awards, suppliers in the running for two non-product categories - Digital Investment and Retailer Support Initiative - can now also be revealed. The categories, ...


DIY Week Awards: Celebrity host revealed 28 March 2018

The DIY Week Awards 2018, taking place on Friday May 11 at the Park Plaza Victoria in London, has announced it will be hosted by major British comedy talent, Marcus Brigstocke.On television Marcus launched The Late Edition, the late night BBC4 ...


Gardman puts closure rumours to bed 28 March 2018

Garden products firm, Gardman has refuted rumours that it has already or is set to cease trading as a result of a huge blaze at its Daventry warehouse earlier this month.A spokesperson told DIY Week: “Following the fire at our warehouse in Daventry ...


QVC Garden Re-Leaf shows raises more than £30k 28 March 2018

An impressive £31,800 was raised for Greenfingers during Richard Jackson’s Garden Re-Leaf shows on QVC, thanks to donations from vendors and the support of customers to Greenfingers. The figure takes the total QVC has raised for the charity since ...


Wyevale Nurseries has the highest sales week in its history 26 March 2018

Members of staff at one of the UK’s leading nurseries are celebrating after announcing its highest sales week (March 12 until 18, 2018) in the company’s history.Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford beat its previous record breaking sales week, which was in ...


ONS retail sales figures show the market remains tough for retailers 23 March 2018

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released its retail sales figures for February 2018 yesterday (March 22), it showed the quantity bought in by retail sales increased by 0.8% when compared with the previous month, with increases seen across ...


Horticultural action plan launched in Scotland 23 March 2018

A Scottish Horticultural Action Plan, highlighting the contribution of parks and gardens to the wider Scottish economy, has been launched. The Plan, which sets out 10 asks of Scottish Government and pledges to support them in achieving these asks. ...


Crown Paints announces channel 5 sponsorship 22 March 2018

Crown Paints has announced its sponsorship of Channel 5 programming featuring great British stories.Planned and negotiated by Omnicom Media Group’s PHD Manchester and content agency Drum, the sponsorship includes a series of TV idents to align Crown’...


Axminster Tools moves up to top 100 retailer list 22 March 2018

Axminster Tools & Machinery has recently been listed in the top 100 ecommerce and cross-channel retailers as detailed in the Internet Retailing UK (IRUK) Top 500 report 2018, moving up two levels from the top 250 group where the company was ...


Carpetright set to for store closures ahead of CVA announcement 21 March 2018

Carpetright have announced it is considering a company voluntary agreement in a bid to rescue the business with a restructuring plan.Carpetright chief executive Wilf Walsh said: "I am pleased that we have secured this additional support from one of ...


D.W. Nye acquires Redhill business 21 March 2018

Independent builders’ merchant D.W. Nye has acquired Fixings and Powertool Center in Redhill, Surrey. This is the first acquisition for family-run D.W. Nye, which has been operating for over 30 years and is based in Kingsfold on the Sussex/Surrey ...


Softer sales at B&Q & Screwfix reflect “uncertain” UK outlook, says Kingfisher 21 March 2018

Despite Screwfix posting a robust performance for the year, with LFLs up 10.1%, “softer sales patterns” were reported across Screwfix and B&Q, as demand for big-ticket lines slowed. Sales across Kingfisher UK & Ireland operations were up 0.4% (...


HTA introduces recycling scheme for members 20 March 2018

The HTA has launched a Recycling Scheme for its members which will enable businesses of all sizes to responsibly recycle their plastic and other waste and enhance their green credentials.Partnering with Ecogen, based in Winchester, the scheme will ...


Distribution market for garden products in the UK worth around £5bn says AMA Research 16 March 2018

The UK domestic garden products distribution market was worth an estimated £4.9bn in 2017 at retail selling prices (RSP), representing an increase of 3% compared to the previous year. Both the weather and the state of the economy influence growth ...


Bunnings Warehouse opens for business in Walton-on-Thames 16 March 2018

Home improvement and garden retailer Bunnings Warehouse officially opened its doors in Walton-on-Thames on 15 March.The new store, which is on the site of the former Homebase on New Zealand Avenue, is 34,000 square feet and offers customers a wide ...


Number of homeowners renovating instead of moving increases five-fold in five years 14 March 2018

The number of homeowners choosing to stay put and invest in their existing property instead of moving has soared in the past five years, according to a new report from specialist insurer Hiscox.In 2013 just 3% of homeowners took the decision to ...


Chancellor's statement paints a mixed picture for retail 13 March 2018

Chancellor Philip Hammond, released the Spring Statement today, which although announced upgraded projections for growth, as well as predictions of falling inflation, debt and borrowing - his speech also addressed various issues in the retail sector,...


Huge blaze engulfes Gardman warehouse in Daventry 13 March 2018

More than 50 firefighters were called to the building, owned by garden centre suppliers Gardman, in Parsons Road late on Sunday (March 11 2018).The roof appears to have collapsed and smoke could be seen for miles around on Monday afternoon.Nobody is ...


Wyevale Nurseries staff celebrate two award wins 13 March 2018

Staff at one of the UK’s leading nurseries is celebrating this month (March, 2018) after winning two awards from two garden centre groups it supplies plants to.Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford was awarded Plant Supplier of the Year 2017 from Klondyke ...


Wilko to open new store in Meadowhall Centre 13 March 2018

One of Britain’s best loved value home and garden retailers, Wilko, will open the doors to its new store at Meadowhall Centre, on Wednesday March 21 at 10am.To mark the special occasion, Dancing on Ice star Jake Quickenden will be in attendance as ...


Global DIY Summit: Last chance for Early Bird Offer 12 March 2018

You only have until Thursday, March 15 to take advantage of the discounted rate to attend the sixth Global DIY Summit this June, which is themed ‘DIY Next – Reinventing Our Industry’. Book now to save up to 300 Euros.The international industry event ...


DIY Week Awards product finalists revealed 9 March 2018

Judges convened last month at the Dulux Academy at Akzo Nobel’s UK head office in Slough to discuss the entries and test out products, resulting in 27 products being shortlisted across nine categories.There were some tough decisions to be made ...


Home Hardware trade show raises £400 for charities 9 March 2018

A very successful draw held at Home Hardware Southwest’s Spring Trade Show raised £400 to be split equally between Cancer Research and The Rainy Day Trust.Home Hardware Southwest extended its thanks to all members, suppliers and staff who generously ...


Ocado forum explores new opportunities for BHETA members 9 March 2018

BHETA’s February 21 networking forum featured Ocado’s senior buying manager, Martin de la Fuente, Richard Butler from the CBI, Glynn Jones from the Bank of England, and Rob Ingram from Root 7. In a positive and entertaining session, each of the ...


QVC certified as top employer 9 March 2018

Home shopping channel QVC UK is one of only 85 companies to be certified as a Top Employer UK by the Top Employers Institute, the global certifier of excellence in employee conditions.The certification shows that QVC “provides exceptional employee ...


Bunnings Warehouse opens in Penge 8 March 2018

Home improvement and garden retailer Bunnings Warehouse officially opened its doors in Penge today (8 March 2018).The new store is over 40,000 square feet and offers customers leading home improvement and garden products from a wide range of global ...


John Lewis expect trading to be "volatile" in 2018/19 8 March 2018

John Lewis Partnership Plc has released its full year results for the 52 weeks ended January 27, 2018.For the first five weeks of the year, Partnership gross sales were up 0.6% on last year. Waitrose gross sales were up 2.7% (up 2.4% like-for-like, ...


Bathroom Takeaway awarded quadruple Feefo gold trusted service awards 7 March 2018

Bathroom Takeaway has been awarded four prestigious Feefo Gold Service awards across its European operations, recognising its exceptional multi-lingual customer service team.Feefo Gold Trusted Service is an independent seal of excellence that ...


New Screwfix store to arrive in Malton 7 March 2018

Trade retailer, Screwfix is set to officially open its first store in Malton on 8 March 2018 at Malton Enterprise Park. The new branch will create 12 new jobs in the area and will help local tradespeople get what they need as quickly as possible to ...


Carpetright issues second profit warning of the year 6 March 2018

British floor coverings retailer, Carpetright issued its second profit warning of the year, and warned investors on March 1 that trading conditions had remained difficult since its last update on 19 January, where it reported revised full year ...


Successful Garden Press Event despite snow 5 March 2018

The snowy weather in London didn’t dampen spirits at the Garden Press Event which took place on 28 February 2018. The 13th year of the event, which is dedicated to showcasing the garden industry to the media, saw the event move to a new venue – the ...


Wyevale Nurseries unveil three new plants 5 March 2018

One of the UK’s leading nurseries officially unveiled three new plants to consumers at the Garden Press Event in London on February 28 2018.Wyevale Nurseries in Hereford launched Daphne odora x bholua ‘Perfume Princess’, Dianella tasmanica Wyeena ...


New look website and resources for National Children's Gardening Week 2018 5 March 2018

To celebrate the fourth year of National Children’s Gardening week and it’s ‘adoption’ by the HTA, a new look website for National Children’s Gardening Week has been unveiled, along with a suite of free resources for the garden industry to get ...


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