Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive October 2019

Homebase appoints M&C Saatchi Public Relations 30 October 2019

Homebase has selected M&C Saatchi Public Relations to run its consumer PR, corporate PR and social media activity for the next two years. The agency joins a newly appointed roster of marketing and creative agencies working with Homebase to support the retailer’s turnaround plan.


BMA pledges to make compliance number one priority 29 October 2019

Incoming BMA CEO, Tom Reynolds laid out bold plans to tackle non-compliance in the bathroom industry at a Compliance Seminar, held the day before The 2019 Bathroom & Kitchen Business Conference.Reynolds promised that the BMA was determined to ...


Aggregate Industries celebrates success at MPA Restoration and Biodiversity Awards 29 October 2019

Aggregate Industries has won a number of industry awards for its outstanding work on restoring and improving biodiversity at its sites. The leading construction materials supplier has been recognised for its achievements in six separate categories ...


Covers host meet and greet with Portsmouth FC 29 October 2019

Covers in Chichester, the specialist timber and builders’ merchants, but also supplier of products and services for both the building trade and for home DIY, will be hosting a Portsmouth FC 'Players Meet and Greet' session at its depot on Quarry Lane on Thursday 31st October. 


Bushboard Evolve used in DIY SOS Big Build 25 October 2019

Bushboard Evolve, solid-core laminate worksurface has been chosen for DIY SOS Big Build.


Re-claimed, re-engineered - recycled paint for decorators  25 October 2019

Dulux Trade becomes first major paint brand to launch recycled paint in partnership with Veolia UK.As part of its ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of paint on the environment, experts at Dulux Trade with Veolia have created a ground-...


Modest outlook for UK wood floorcoverings market as confidence and spending levels remain subdued 25 October 2019

The wood floorcoverings market is now more diverse than ever, with a high level of competition between the main product groups, as well as competing with floorcoverings products, such as floor tiles and LVT, according the latest research. In terms ...


GIMA expands its autumn Knowledge Exchange Workshop schedule 24 October 2019

GIMA’s Knowledge Exchange Workshop autumn schedule is returning with Negotiation Skills and Sales Development Planning sessions.


Berkshire is home to Britain’s most expensive tradespeople, according to new survey 24 October 2019

The cost of hiring a tradesperson is highest in Berkshire, research from the tradesperson comparison website HaMuch.com reveals.HaMuch.com looked at the current average cost of hiring a tradesperson for those DIY jobs in the house, looking at the ...


Travis Perkins plugs plumbing side sale 23 October 2019

Merchanting group Travis Perkins has put the sale of its plumbing and heating division on hold “given the current unprecedented level of uncertainty”, a trading update said yesterday (October 22).


20,000 visitors at Screwfix Live 2019 23 October 2019

At Farnborough Exhibition Centre, 150 suppliers came together under one roof, including Milwaukee, DeWalt, Makita, Karcher and Mountfield, to give customers the opportunity to take part in demonstrations, activities and get hands on with the latest products.


IPPS show success 22 October 2019

The 2019 annual IPPS (International Plant Propagators Conference) Europe Conference took place in October in Stratford Upon Avon, attracting over 70 delegates across the three days.


Expansion for garden and retail specialists 22 October 2019

Work is underway for the £1.5million extension at Selby Garden Centre in Yorkshire, UK, after Malcolm Scott Consultants obtained planning permission for a series of improvements, which will allow the business to double its turnover and create up to 30 jobs in the East Riding area.


Bostik launches #BluHacks campaign with Blu Tack TV ads 22 October 2019

Bostik has launched a new TV advertising campaign to promote alternative uses of its iconic reusable adhesive, Blu Tack. The £3/4 million campaign, which includes a mixture of 30 second and 10 second slots, goes live on 21 October until 16 December....


International DIY industry prepare to meet for Creativeworld 2020 21 October 2019

Creativeworld, the international  DIY trade fair, specialising in Hobby, Arts and Crafts Supplies, is set to take place at Messe Frankfurt from 25-28 January 2020.


Cautious approval of Brexit deal from Coatings Federation 21 October 2019

The coatings industry has cautiously welcomed the new Brexit deal, but expressed concerns about border delays and separating from European chemical regulations in the event of a no deal or harder Brexit.


BHETA to hold meet the buyer day with Wilko 18 October 2019

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) its ‘Meet The Buyer’ retail networking days with Wilko, the home and hardware retailer which now has over 400, mostly High Street, stores in the UK.


Scruffs’ social investment sends sales soaring 18 October 2019

Scruffs, one of the UK’s fastest growing performance workwear brand, is reaping the rewards for itsinvestment in social media for its viral ‘fly on the wall’ videos of tradespeople in their ‘natural habitats.’The entertaining videos delivered by ...


Buy It Direct rescues Better Bathrooms in another turn around win 18 October 2019

The Buy it Direct Group, one of the UK’s leading online appliance, IT and home retailers, has turned around bathroom retailer, Better Bathrooms from administration to being a profitable company in six months, since acquiring the business in March ...


Stax and Primeur agree exclusive distribution deal on recycled range 18 October 2019

Pictured from left are Primeur’s Sarah McLafferty, Simon Wright of Stax, Primeur’s Jenny Douthwaite and Stax’s Matthew BallOne of the UK’s leading producers of garden products manufactured from recycled rubber has signed an exclusive new ...


Nicola Lewis wins Dulux Academy’s ultimate wallpapering challenge 18 October 2019

Dulux Academy has crowned Nicola Lewis of Mrs Lewis’ Decorating Company from Matlock the winner of the third annual Dulux Academy Design and Decorate Challenge.Acclaimed for her unique craftsmanship, eye for design plus expert wallpapering skills - ...


The Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show is set to re-build property ambitions for the region 17 October 2019

Taking place on 1-3 November, Harrogate Convention Centre, Harrogate, the Northern Homebuilding & Renovating Show is set to re-build property ambitions for the region.The popularity of self-build in the Northern region has hit at an all-time ...


Dulux Decorator Centre expands specialist product range 15 October 2019

Dulux Decorator Centre has announced new additions to its specialist paint range making it bigger, better and wider than ever. Painters and decorators will now have access to specialist products from brands including Dulux Trade, Zinsser, Bedec, Coo-...


Bradford garden centre to host half term charity family planting event 15 October 2019

L-R Andrew Brown, Colin Wood, Jamie Maxwell Little daffodils at Tong Garden CentreA Bradford garden centre is hosting a charity bulb planting event during the October half term holiday.Tong Garden Centre is teaming up with Taylors Bulbs to host ...


Fenwick to headline at BHETA Forum 14 October 2019

BHETA’s next retailer networking forum takes place on Thursday, October 31 and will feature Kieran McBride, Fenwick’s Director of Buying for furniture, home and food. After a year of much change at the independent department store chain, Kieran will ...


First time buyers and renters go months without furniture when moving into a new property 14 October 2019

Thousands of renters and first-time buyers are going without key furniture items for weeks or months after moving in, according to a new British Heart Foundation (BHF) survey. The survey of over 2000 first time buyers and renters in the UK found ...


Successful Bathroom and Kitchen Conference delivers tools for success in the brave new world 11 October 2019

The 2019 Bathroom & Kitchen Business Conference was hailed a resounding success by delegates, who gathered at the Carden Park Hotel, Cheshire on 08 October.The sell-out conference featured a programme of speakers on a range of topics, all aimed ...


New report - How can DIY retailers reactivate abandoned online shopping baskets? 11 October 2019

Go Inspire Group have just launched a revealing new report providing evidence that the combination of email and postal mail can double reactivation of abandoned baskets compared to email reactivation activity alone. In an age where e-commerce has ...


Major pet companies book their stands at PATS Sandown 10 October 2019

Following a hugely successful show at Telford last month, PATS Sandown on 9-10 February 2020 looks set to be another must-visit event for pet retailers and buyers.Bookings for the Sandown Park showpiece in Surrey are impressive, with many industry-...


BHETA secures Chicago grants for exporters 9 October 2019

BHETA has secured several exhibitor grants from the Department for International Trade which can help towards the cost of exhibiting at the IHA Chicago show in March 2020 – to the tune of £2000 per applicant. With more than 2,100 exhibitors and 62,...


Excitement builds as AQUA 2019 gets set to open 8 October 2019

Final preparations are being made as the AQUA 2019 industry exhibition gets set to open its doors at Telford International Centre at 9.00am on Wednesday, October 16th.With an impressive number of exhibitors and a packed showcase of new products, ...


The future of home heating 8 October 2019

Time is running out for the UK to meet its carbon reduction targets and the way we live has to change. A big part of that will be saying goodbye to our gas and oil boilers, which the UK is looking to phase out almost completely by 2050. Indeed, in ...


£100,000 given to horticulture students by the David Colegrave Foundation  7 October 2019

In the last ten years, the David Colegrave Foundation has awarded almost £100,000 through scholarships, trip bursaries and other educational initiatives. Applications for further funding are already coming in for the current scholarship season from ...


Grand Designs Live to play host to eco-innovations  7 October 2019

Kevin McCloud’s ‘Green Heroes’ will return to Grand Designs Live at The NEC, sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements from 9 – 13 October 2019. These ground-breaking products have been hand-picked by design guru Kevin McCloud, to showcase the very ...


REVEALED: Top 20 bathroom trends according to Instagram  4 October 2019

New research from Harvey Water Softeners has revealed the top bathroom interior design trends on social media. The top 50 posts from over 3.3 million images across five hashtags were analysed to see which interior design features appeared frequently ...


Styling living space with the top interior trends this autumn 4 October 2019

As the sunny shades of summer transition to earthy autumnal tones, it’s time to switch the bright patterned cushions for warm knitted blankets and cosy throws. The changing of the seasons brings with it the chance to refresh your home interior, and ...


Industry leaders comment on government's new housebuilding figures 4 October 2019

The Government has just released new housebuilding stats covering the past 12 months. It says the number of new homes completed by developers in the year ending June 2019 had surged to over 170,000 – the highest number built over the same period in ...


Squire’s announce winners of ‘I Love Gardening’ competition 3 October 2019

Squire’s in Woking won 'Best Focal Point' for their garden. L-R: Fiona Copper, John Jary. Lawrence Peake & Andy WebbEach of Squire’s sixteen garden centres across the South East has been engaged in friendly competition designing a garden that ...


British group presents new product launches at CIPS 2019 3 October 2019

A collection of pet product suppliers is exhibiting in the PetQuip trade association’s group at CIPS 2019, the China International Pet Show (CIPS) being held in Shanghai, China on 20 – 23 November 2019This is the second British group presence at the ...


Benjamin Moore announces Homeflair as new stockist 2 October 2019

From left, Shaun Shah, Craig Shaw, Managing Director of Benjamin Moore UK, Kush Shah and Vihar ShahBenjamin Moore has announced Homeflair in Ruislip, Greater London, as a newly appointed Authorised Stockist of its high quality range of paints, from ...


John Lewis Partnership accelerates plans to deliver differentiation and innovation 1 October 2019

The John Lewis Partnership is announcing changes that will enable the organisation to be managed and operated as a single business. The integration of the teams behind the two brands of John Lewis & Partners and Waitrose & Partners, is set ...


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