Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive May 2022

Homebase opens in Chester with inspirational new store 30 May 2022

Homebase is bringing the best of its home and garden ranges to Chester with an inspirational new store on Greyhound Retail Park in time for the Jubilee bank holiday weekend.The new 30,500 sq. ft store is the one-stop-shop for the products, expertise ...


DIY Week Awards 2022 – Winners announced 30 May 2022

The winners of this year’s DIY Week Awards were announced at a glittering live presentation event held at the prestigious Tower Hotel in London on 20 May. After the challenges caused by the Covid pandemic over the last two years, it was great to be ...


Choosing internal doors: What you need to know 27 May 2022

Internal doors are an important part of any home. They provide privacy between rooms and can add a touch of personality to your décor. With so many styles and materials to choose from, it can be hard to know which type of internal door is right for ...


The best home office setups 26 May 2022

Cala Homes offers insights on how to style a home office for productivity. These include the theories that plants in an office workspace which can increase productivity by up to 15%, exposure to natural light can improve productivity by up to 40%, ...


Wickes Group plc – Trading Update for the 20 weeks to 21 May 26 May 2022

Ahead of its AGM later today, Wickes Group plc ("Wickes"), the market-leading home improvement retailer, announces year-to-date trading in line with expectations and reaffirms full year guidance. David Wood, CEO of Wickes, commented:“I am delighted ...


Weber Undertakes Nationwide Experiential Activity to Support Retailers During Peak Barbecue Season 25 May 2022

Weber,?the global leader in outdoor cooking innovation, technology, and products, has launched its biggest ever experiential event in partnership with retailers across the nation. The ‘Discover Weber’ tour showcases the latest Weber product offering ...


Toolstation Helps Fund Construction of New Communal Space at Wembdon Village Hall 23 May 2022

Toolstation, one of Britain’s fastest growing suppliers of tools, accessories and building supplies, has announced its latest tie-up with the Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) social enterprise, helping fund a construction project at Wembdon Village Hall, ...


Kingfisher plc - Q1 trading update 23 May 2022

Kingfisher plc has today provided its Q1 22/23 sales. Key pointsSales significantly ahead of pre-pandemic performance (3-year LFL +16.2%), supported by strong market share gainsSales of £3.2bn in line with our expectations (total sales -4.2% in ...


Coral Tools Joins BHETA 20 May 2022

Painting decorating tools supplier, Coral Tools has joined BHETA. With an excellent trade reputation, Coral’s retail mission is to be seen as a progressive tools brand, providing products that make projects easier, faster, and more affordable. ...


Fiskars Creates Bee-Friendly Garden to Mark World Bee Day 2022 19 May 2022

Fiskars, one of the UK’s leading gardening tool suppliers, has teamed up with several green fingered influencers to support the vital bee population as part of its Urban Gardening project. To mark World Bee Day on 20th May 2022, Fiskars worked with ...


New Research Shows Where The Biggest Opportunities Are For Tradespeople In 2022 19 May 2022

Last year saw an unprecedented rise in demand for home improvement – up by 32% in just 12 months*, and new data from the find-a-tradesperson platform, Rated People now reveals where the biggest opportunities are for tradespeople in 2022. Uniquely ...


HMG get their running shoes on for the Great Manchester Run 18 May 2022

For the first time since 2019 HMG Paints employees are heading into the heart of Manchester on Sunday 22nd May to take part in the annual Great Manchester 10K run. HMG colleagues will be raising money for the British Heart Foundation at this year’s ...


Interior accessories manufacturer Rothley launches range of Grab Rails, combining function and style 17 May 2022

Interior accessories manufacturer Rothley has developed a range of stylish Grab Rails, in a bid to combine function and fashion and increase inclusivity in interior design. For those in the assisted living sector, Rothley believes getting around ...


Walk Through Virtual Floor Plans with Houzz Pro 17 May 2022

Houzz Inc., the leading platform for home renovation and design, today introduced a new Augmented Reality (AR) feature for 3D Floor Plans in Houzz Pro, the all-in-one business management and marketing solution for residential construction and design ...


British Coatings Federation launches new Trace VOC Globe to recognise extremely low VOC paint products 13 May 2022

From May 2022, decorative paints manufacturers will be able to adopt the use of the statement ‘TRACE’ Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) as part of the British Coatings Federation (BCF)’s VOC Globe scheme to improve communication to consumers ...


CMO’s success keeps on building 12 May 2022

With the builders’ merchant market itself enjoying significant growth, CMO Group PLC, the UK’s largest online-only retailer of building materials has reported positive results for the year ending 31 December 2021, with increases in sales, gross ...


Football legends officially open MKM Aldershot 12 May 2022

Footballing legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and commentary supreme Martin Tyler have teamed up to launch MKM’s new Aldershot branch, which officially opened its doors to the trade and public this Monday (9th May). Customers, fans, and staff all ...


UK Flooring Direct invests in new Coventry showroom 11 May 2022

A major UK online retailer has invested £100,000 in a new showroom in Coventry as part of its continued expansion. UK Flooring Direct, which was founded by Nuneaton-based entrepreneur Jason Ashby and has been growing rapidly in recent years, has ...


Travis Perkins Hire wins award for diversity and inclusion policy 11 May 2022

Travis Perkins Hire, which is part of Travis Perkins plc and is the UK’s largest distributor of materials to the construction sector, won an award recognising its diversity and inclusion initiatives at the Hire Awards of Excellence. The judging ...


Counterfeiters target C.K Tools 10 May 2022

C.K Tools, the hand tool specialist, is warning the electrical trade to watch out for fake versions of its top-selling Cable Cutter (3963) after being targeted by counterfeiters.Carl Kammerling International, the parent company of C.K Tools was ...


Homebase achieves 20% reduction in stock loss with the SmartWater Group 9 May 2022

Homebase, the home and garden experts, is the latest name to team-up with the SmartWater Group to enhance the protection of valuable stock items and reduce theft in store. It is set to introduce forensic marking in more stores across the UK ...


DIY Week Awards 2022 – Tickets still available – Book your place now! 9 May 2022

As we return to the new normal following a challenging period and look forward to holding a live awards presentation lunch once again, it’s to reveal this year’s shortlisted entries in the DIY Week Awards. There are still a few tickets available for ...


Cordless Webb hedge & lawn care range with interchangeable batteries 9 May 2022

Now available for 2022, from British garden equipment manufacturer Webb, is the latest Webb Cordless range of hedge and lawn care products with new fast-charging and long-lasting interchangeable 20v Lithium-ion batteries for optimum performance. ...


Covers Bognor Regis to host Anniversary Challenge & Demonstration Morning 5 May 2022

As part of its 175th anniversary celebrations, Covers Timber & Builders Merchants in Bognor Regis will be hosting an Anniversary Challenge & Demonstration Morning at its depot on Tuesday 10th May from 7.30am to 1pm. This extra special trade ...


A leading Midlands-based online retailer has launched a major volunteering programme for its staff. 5 May 2022

UK Flooring Direct, which employs around 200 people across sites in Hinckley and Coventry, has developed a new Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV) programme that will see every member of the team given a fully-paid day to offer their services to a ...


MKM continues Scottish growth with Woodrow Timber acquisition 5 May 2022

MKM, the UK’s leading independent builders’ merchant, has announced further expansion of its branch network in Scotland with the purchase of Woodrow Timber & Supplies. Founded in 1979 as Rowan Timber Supplies, the business officially rebranded ...


Online Home Decor Retailer, Plank Hardware, Launches its First Brand Campaign 4 May 2022

Online home decor retailer, Plank Hardware launches its first campaign film on 29 April 2022 to motivate customers to "get a handle on your home”. Featuring authentic homeowners from the brand’s online community, the 50” film touches on themes of ...


Biophilic Beauties from Woodpecker Flooring 4 May 2022

Biophilic design might have first emerged on the interior stage in the 1980s but with sustainability now at the fore of homeowners’ decorating decisions the connection between nature and the home continues to flourish. Biophilia is the belief that ...


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