Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive May 2021

Kingspan launches inaugural Planet Passionate Sustainability Report and targets net zero carbon manufacturing by 2030 28 May 2021

Kingspan has published its inaugural ‘Planet Passionate’ Sustainability Report, reviewing the first year of progress in the 10-year strategy it launched in December 2019.The report outlines Kingspan’s industry-leading decarbonisation programme, ...


British tech start-up takes on Amazon in the battle for the High Street 27 May 2021

Forbes 30-under-30 alumnus goes head-to-head with Amazon with smartphone-based retail checkout solution. In 2015, MishiPay CEO Mustafa Khanwala waited 20 minutes in a supermarket line to pay for a can of drink. The queue gave him time to consider ...


Homebase opens its first new store in over six years 24 May 2021

Homebase has opened its first brand-new store in Cheltenham. The opening marks a milestone moment for the home and garden experts being the first new store to open in six years. Located on Tewkesbury Road, the new 36,591 sq. ft store is the one-stop-...


Dulux Decorator Centre hits sustainability milestone by recycling over half a million paint cans 21 May 2021

Dulux Decorator Centre has successfully diverted more than half a million cans of paint away from landfill through its in-store recycling scheme. The initiative allows professional decorators to safely and simply dispose of cans of both solvent and ...


Automation increases efficiency and capacity at A Perry 21 May 2021

A. Perry Ltd, one of the the UK’s largest suppliers and manufacturers of hinges and ironmongery, will now be able to process orders more than four times quicker after investing seven figures in new automation technology. The £1.2m investment in ...


Kingfisher plc is today providing its Q1 21/22 sales update 20 May 2021

Key points of this latest trading update from Kingfisher include:Continuing to make significant progress against ‘Powered by Kingfisher’ strategic prioritiesGrowing sales ahead of the market in the UK and FranceTotal sales up 61.9% in constant ...


Take advantage of the rise in demand for garden rooms with Windowlink software 19 May 2021

With BBC news reporting that some companies have seen a 300 percent rise in garden room sales, a service from software specialists Windowlink is helping landscapers secure high-profile garden building projects. Recent studies have shown that 60 ...


Human, Building and Planet - Creating Indoor Environments for modern society 18 May 2021

Human, Building and Planet - Creating Indoor Environments for modern society“The Industry Challenge Keynote” May 25th 14:00, Online Today, and in the future, the building industry faces major challenges. Health-related, economic and environmental ...


Painting the outside of a property can reduce air pollution says Graphenstone 18 May 2021

Painting the outside of a house can be transformative, increasing its value by more than 20%*, according to Graphenstone. However, Graphenstone, the world’s most certified eco paint will also actively capture carbon dioxide, with just three 15L ...


BHETA to hold second Q&A on international freight 17 May 2021

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) is to hold a second question and answer session on the topical issue of international freight, following the popularity of the first one back in March. Again, the event will enable members to ...


Queen’s speech marks Government intent to build back better 17 May 2021

The State Opening of Parliament saw a number of new laws unveiled in the Queen’s speech, to ensure the UK ‘builds back better’ in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With 30 new laws set to be passed in this new parliamentary session, the ...


Metex online joins BHETA 14 May 2021

Online tools and fixings supplier, Metex has joined The British Home Enhancement Association. With UK and international manufacturing facilities, the company provides innovative construction, self-build and DIY related products. Its wide range ...


Retailers unite to call for Government to avoid a “life sentence” of violence and abuse for shopworkers 13 May 2021

A coalition which consists of more than 30 major retail businesses, are urging MPs to avoid shackling over three million shopworkers to a “life sentence” of violence, abuse and anti-social behaviour by encouraging them to back an amendment to a ...


Keter focusses on its people to boost wellbeing 13 May 2021

Keter, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of home and garden products, is launching a group-wide challenge in the UK to help with employee wellbeing. Employees from both the Banbury and Redruth sites are being encouraged to take part in a ‘...


Norbord Europe is now part of West Fraser 12 May 2021

Norbord Europe Ltd has announced that it is to join the West Fraser organisation. As one of the UK's leading engineered wood panel manufacturers and serving the housebuilding and construction industry with a vast array of board products for ...


HALF of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work  11 May 2021

The research, commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week (May 10th-16th) by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, found that nearly three in five (58%) experience some form of mental health problem, such as ...


Wet weather delays footfall bounce back across the UK, but Northern Ireland benefits from the reopening of retail 10 May 2021

Latest data from retail experts Springboard reveals that footfall in UK retail destinations declined by -4.1% last week from the week before. This was largely due to a drop in activity in high streets of -6.6%, whilst in retail parks and shopping ...


Online bathroom retailer Victoria Plum announces record 46% increase in sales to £103m and ebitda up 115% to £4.5m in 20th year 10 May 2021

Online bathroom retailer Victoria Plum has announced that its sales rose by a record 46 per cent to £103m for the year ended 28 February 2021.In addition, the Doncaster, South Yorkshire, headquartered business saw its EBITDA increase by 115 per cent ...


Pretty shades of grey 10 May 2021

Grey looks to be the colour of the summer according to new research by eco paint specialists Thorndown Paints. Analysis of sales of their 2.5-litre tins of exterior wood paint reveal nine spots in the top 20 are taken up by grey shades, followed ...


Online retailer eSpares launches customer video consultations to tap up bricks-and-mortar specialists 10 May 2021

eSpares, the UK’s leading online parts store for home appliances, has announced a new partnership with technology provider ConferWith. The partnership will provide customers with real time advice from experts over live video as they browse online. ...


Lockdown triggers 'Generation Renovation', with two fifths of homeowners looking to upgrade their homes 5 May 2021

The pandemic has made many homeowners reconsider their living environment as they’ve been told to stay at home for the best part of a year. It’s clear that renovations are high on the priority list as two fifths (41%) of homeowners have plans to ...


Hartley Botanic recognised with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise as their English, handmade glasshouses boom overseas 4 May 2021

Heritage Glasshouse and Greenhouse manufacturer Hartley Botanic has been recognised in this year’s prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for its work growing sales of its English, handmade structures abroad.The Lancashire-based, 83 year old ...


*

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