Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive September 2018

Rosebourne puts catering at the heart, as it opens second centre 28 September 2018

Having secured a Wyevale centre for its third Rosebourne site, the doors to its second centre have opened today, with a strong focus on food and catering in order to create 'an experience' for shoppers and fend off online competition. ...


Wyevale Garden Centres sells four more garden centres 25 September 2018

Wyevale Garden Centres has announced it has sold its garden centres in Croydon Purley Way, Sidmouth, Solihull and Windsor.Sidmouth and Solihull have been sold to operators who are expected to continue to run them as garden centres. Windsor will ...


New forums help homeware and DIY suppliers address industry challenges 25 September 2018

Two new forums have been launched to help homeware, garden and DIY manufacturers tackle the challenges presented by ongoing retail industry woes and a looming Brexit....


Toolstream buys Birchwood Price Tools 24 September 2018

Tools supplier and distributor, Toolstream has acquired the Nottingham-based workwear and site equipment manufacturer from Travis Perkins, and is “in talks” with other brands, as part of UK expansion plans.This morning Toolstream confirmed to DIY ...


Houzz UK launches new pop-up shop 21 September 2018

The online home improvement and design platform will welcome the public to browse and buy its products via a new pop-up shop in London over the next 10 days. Described by Houzz UK MD Marcus Hartwell as, “a new way to do retailing ...


Screwfix opens 600th store as business continues to build 21 September 2018

Screwfix has opened its 600th store – a major milestone for the UK retailer which has added 100 new stores to its network in the past 18 months.Since opening its first store in Yeovil in 2005, Screwfix has grown significantly, with 97% of the UK ...


UK Flooring Direct to increase job offer 21 September 2018

A national online flooring retailer headquartered in Leicestershire has increased its staff numbers past 100 for the first time and is to create 60 new jobs, Insider Media has reported.UK Flooring Direct, which moved to the Hinckley Commercial Park ...


Online spending on household goods soars in August 20 September 2018

Household goods stores reported year-on-year (YOY) growth of 27.3% online in August, as consumers chose to spend time in the garden and doing DIY, whilst spending online reached a new record proportion of all retail sales.According to the latest ...


Brassware and taps market sees 4% growth despite intense pricing pressures 20 September 2018

The brassware and taps market in the UK, which is worth in excess of £200million, is estimated to have grown by 4% in 2017, regardless of ongoing pricing pressures impacted by weak exchange rates and incerasing competition.Following a period of slow ...


Stax announces partnership with Rawlplug 19 September 2018

Stax Trade Centres has announced details of another new strategic partnership which will provide its customers with access to an increased range of fixings, fastenings, anchors, sealants and adhesives from Rawlplug. The partnership will see almost 1,...


Screwfix announces 600th store to open in Hoddesdon 19 September 2018

Screwfix is set to open its 600th UK store on the Trident Industrial Estate in Hoddesdon, making it its 100th store opening in the past 18 months.The new store, which has created 8 jobs in the town, officially opens its doors on Thursday September ...


B&Q sales dip 2.5%, as showroom sales decline 19 September 2018

The DIY chain reported a fall in like-for-like (LFL) sales in the first half in the UK & Ireland, impacted by a 5.4% drop in non-weather-related categories, including showroom.Total sales were down 2.3% to £1,833million for the trading period, ...


Tesco launches discount chain Jack's with 10-15 stores to open by 2019 19 September 2018

Tesco has today launched a new brand, and stores - Jack’s. Part of the Tesco Family, Jack’s offers great tasting food that is grown, reared or made in Britain at the lowest possible prices to bring customers outstanding value.The launch of Jack’s is ...


ManoMano rebrands its online marketplace 19 September 2018

ManoMano has announced a transformation as the e-tailer announces a rebrand in line with its evolution.ManoMano is the go-to place for every DIY need - an online marketplace dedicated to all things DIY and gardening. It has over two million products ...


Clas Ohlson urges consumers to tune back into their home life with new ‘A Better Home’ campaign 18 September 2018

Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson has debuted a new TV ad this month to support its A Better Home campaign, created to encourage people to use their smartphones more wisely and enjoy their home, when they’re at home.The TV ad, which you can see here, ...


Capital Gardens buys Studley Green from Hillview 18 September 2018

London independent garden centre, Capital has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Studley Green Garden Centre in High Wycombe.Studley Green was operated by Hillview Garden Centres for four years, and its acquisition forms part of Capital ...


Garden sector feeling positive at Glee 2018 14 September 2018

The sustained good weather this summer helped create a buoyant mood at this year’s show, whilst retailers and suppliers waxed lyrical about the uplift they have seen in sales thanks to consumers’ ongoing love of houseplants....


Dunelm announces second year of falling profits 14 September 2018

Dunelm Group plc has said it let "basic retail disciplines" slip as it reported a 6.7% fall in underlying pre-tax profits to £102m for the year to June 30.The company said it has been challenged by the recent Worldstores acquisition, but with strong ...


Housebuilding growth slows down in London 14 September 2018

London’s homebuilders have been outpaced by the rest of Great Britain, as investment in housebuilding dropped to its lowest value in six years. The number of residential contracts awarded in London in 2017 was 34% lower than the value awarded in 2016,...


Habitat opens first new flagship store in a decade 14 September 2018

Interiors retailer, Habitat has unveiled the first of its two new stand-alone flagship stores today at shopping centre, Westfield London.The opening represents an investment of £1.5million from owner Sainsbury’s, with Habitat celebrating the ...


Garden Re-Leaf Day 2019 kicks off at Glee 13 September 2018

The eighth Garden Re-Leaf Day was officially launched at Glee this week with Greenfingers Charity calling on all sectors of the garden industry to get involved.With Greenfingers celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019, organisers are working on ...


BIRA takes its business rates proposal to the Houses of Parliament 13 September 2018

The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), which represents thousands of independent retailers in the UK, has presented its plan for business rates reform to MPs at the Houses of Parliament. BIRA asked MPs to consider changing the current ...


New home management site launched to UK market 13 September 2018

Hoppy.co.uk has launched this week after its founders spied a gap in the market with Brits looking for for digital services to make their lives easier. The site is set up to provide consumers with a ‘one stop shop’ concept, aiming to simplify ...


“Challenging” home market and promotions wipe out profits at John Lewis 13 September 2018

Department store chain’s profits take a tumble, as home ranges struggle during the first half and margins are eaten away by the most promotional activity the business has seen in a decade.Gross sales were flat in the first half, up just 0.8%...


Toolstation introduces new AI technology into its omnichannel strategy 13 September 2018

Emarsys, the independent marketing platform, has announced that Toolstation has expanded its partnership with Emarsys to include personalised direct mail and link a highly-effective physical channel to its digital marketing strategy. The new deal ...


Argos introduces new voice service 12 September 2018

Argos has announced customers can use just their voice to reserve technology, toys and home essentials for same-day pick up from more than 850 Argos stores by using the Google Assistant (available on most Android phones, iOS or smart speakers like ...


The British Heart Foundation launch home makeover challenge 12 September 2018

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is this autumn calling on the nation to transform their homes and help beat heartbreak forever by taking on its Makeover Challenge.Launching this October, the BHF are asking shoppers to get creative and give their ...


Squire’s new look website makes it easy to choose the right lock 12 September 2018

Squire has given its website (www.squirelocks.co.uk) a complete makeover as it continues to enhance its service to retailers and make choosing the right security easier for customers. A user-friendly design reflects Squire’s new brand identity and ...


Garden King purchases site after reporting record trading 11 September 2018

The garden centre has just completed the purchase of its site in Newhall, Swadlincote, having rented from neighbouring Buildbase (Grafton Merchanting Ltd) since Garden King started trading in 2000. The news follows “fantastic year of trading”, says ...


Glee New Product Awards Winners announced 11 September 2018

A total of 11 new garden products have been confirmed as the winners of the 2018 Glee New Product Awards 2018, at a special award presentation at the leading gardening show. Selected from hundreds of entries showcased at Glee, the winning products ...


Graham Bell to head up B&Q as part of Kingfisher reshuffle 10 September 2018

Kingfisher has announced a number of senior appointments across the business, with former Screwfix CEO, Graham Bell taking up the helm of B&Q UK & Ireland, as Christian Mazauric looks set to take up top spot in Kingfisher France.The ...


Stax announces distribution deal with bird care supplier Marriage's 7 September 2018

Marriage’s Honeyfield’s range of bird food and feeders, and a selection of its RSPB-endorsed premium wild bird products, will now be distributed by Stax Trade Centres where they will complement Stax’s existing Ambassador bird-care lines.“Sealing a ...


JLP re-brands to acknowledge partners 5 September 2018

The 83,000 partners who work for the John Lewis Partnership have, for the first time in the business' history, been formally recognised in the company's name as both John Lewis and Waitrose have added '& Partners' to their names.


Dulux Trade reveals 2019 colour palettes 4 September 2018

Dulux Trade has announced its ColourFutures colour paletes for 2019, with 'Spiced Honey' taking pride of place as Dulux Colour of the Year


Wyevale Garden Centres agrees sale of four garden centres 4 September 2018

Wyevale Garden Centres has announced the sale of four garden centres to individual buyers.The centres are: World of Pets and Leisure (“WOPAL”); Codicote; Sudbury and Oxford. Sudbury and Oxford have been sold to operators who are expected to continue ...


Devon garden centre blames crippling roadworks for closure 4 September 2018

The owners of Eggesford Garden Centre in Devon have made the difficult decision to close down after nine weeks of roadworks on the nearby A377 had “a massive and devastating impact on the business” and proved “the tipping point” for the business' closure.


August brings spend increase, but garden centres see only marginal growth 4 September 2018

Britons spent 4.5% more this August compared with the same month last year, maintaining the strong levels seen over the summer as a whole, according to the latest data from Barclaycard. However, garden centre businesses only saw a 0.5% growth in stark contrast to double digit growth seen in earlier months.


Another DIY shop faces closure in Burnham-on-Sea 3 September 2018

Less than a week after it was revealed that Burnham-on-Sea's DIY shop IM Tools was up for sale, another DIY store has said it is in danger of closing down if a new owner cannot be found.


AkzoNobel acquires Doves Decorating Supplies 3 September 2018

AkzoNobel's Dulux Decorating Centre business has strengthened its position with the purchase of Surrey-based business Doves Decorating Supplies.


*

Latest reader comments

re: Latest update on Green Homes Grant and implications for homeowners and landlords

John Hart
After applying for a green homes how long will it take for a decision? thanks...

re: SX Rainproof Exterior Caulk

Wally
I need the exterior sx rain resistant caulk! Can't get it anywhere so please help! How can I order it? Need it yesterday...

re: BCT can replicate any material in a ceramic tile

Christina Tiritanou
Not sure if you can help as I require a tile which has the measurements of 6”x 6”? Thank you....

re: Latest update on Green Homes Grant and implications for homeowners and landlords

colin thompson
SarahVery clear and helpful information.Thanks...

Most read stories