News Archive January 2017
Bunnings St Albans to open this week
30 January 2017
The UK's first ever Bunnings store is to officially open on Thursday, February 2, following a “pre-opening event” held this weekend.
Shirebrook DIY store re-opens
30 January 2017
Jephsons DIY, the independent DIY store in the north-east Derbyshire market town of Shirebrook which closed down last autumn, is back in business - with a new name, and a new owner.
BHETA to continue support of Totally Innovation Zone
27 January 2017
Following extremely positive experiences over the last two years, The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) is to repeat its support for the pioneering Innovation Zone at the Totally DIY & Tools Exhibition next month.
Bostik returns to BHETA
27 January 2017
DIY adhesives and sealants producer Bostik has rejoined BHETA after a year’s absence. Both the Bostik and Evo-Stik brands enjoy an established reputation for high specification, innovation and customer service.
GCA golf challenges raises £30k for Greenfingers
26 January 2017
Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) are celebrating after being crowned the winners of a game of golf with a difference and helping raise £30,000 for Greenfingers.
ManoMano turns over £3.2m in first eight months of UK trading
26 January 2017
New online DIY & Gardening Marketplace, ManoMano, has announced its turnover reached £3.2m in its first eight months in the UK and €90M across Europe. Part of the Google Scale Up programme, the company forecasts £10M revenue in the UK and €250M internationally for 2017.
Local hardware store to host DIY clinics
25 January 2017
Worcestershire DIY shop Broad Street DIY is launching a new DIY Clinic on February 11 with the intention of helping local people who are having problems tackling home improvement tasks around the house.
Bunnings St Albans to hold a 'pre-opening' event this weekend
25 January 2017
The UK's first Bunnings warehouse is to open this Sunday in a “pre-opening, team member event” - but the store won't be open to the public until February.
GCA reveals ‘Garden Centres of Excellence’ winners
25 January 2017
This week the Garden Centre Association (GCA) revealed the winners of its most prestigious award at its 51st annual conference including its 10 Garden Centres of Excellence.
Garden centres scoop top awards at GCA conference
24 January 2017
Garden centres from across the country scooped awards at the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) 51st annual conference yesterday.
Report predicts death of the high st by 2030
24 January 2017
An industry report conducted by ParcelHero has predicted that the high street as we know it will be a memory within just 14 years.
Big ticket sales boost revenues at Homebase Ireland
23 January 2017
Homebase in Ireland has released sales figures for the year ending February 27, 2016, with revenues up 8% to €47.56m.
B&Q lorry blocks off Cornish village for 18 hours
23 January 2017
A massive B&Q lorry caused chaos in the small village of Pentewan in Cornwall last week as it became wedged in a narrow bend in the road.
Hillingdon Garden Centre to close at month's end
23 January 2017
Wyevale's Hillingdon Garden Centre, based in Uxbridge, North London, is closing down on January 31 because its landlords plan to build on the site.
UK retail sales drop dramatically in December
20 January 2017
Retail sales dropped by 1.9% in December, the biggest fall since April 2012, according to new figures released by the Office for National Statistics.
Wyevale launches new transactional website
19 January 2017
After a long time in development, Wyevale garden centres has launched its new transactional website, complete with offer of free deliveries for all orders placed before February 14.
Rainy Day Trust awarded Big Lottery Grant
19 January 2017
The Rainy Day Trust (RDT) has been awarded £8,790 by the Big Lottery through its Awards for All scheme to support the Trust's work with older people.
Plans for new garden centre in Colne postponed
19 January 2017
A major new garden centre planned for Colne, Lancashire, has been put on hold due to disputes over access arrangements for the site.
Argos pulls out of Redditch shopping centre
18 January 2017
Argos has confirmed it will be closing its branch in the Kingfisher shopping centre in Redditch this Friday.
Squire's prepares for launch of two Surrey garden centres
17 January 2017
Squire's Garden Centres will be opening a new garden centre in Chertsey this March, and relaunching its Hersham centre just two weeks later.
Plans submitted for new, Victorian-style Fermoys Garden Centre
16 January 2017
Fermoys Garden Centre in Ipplepen, Devon, could soon be undergoing a major Victorian palm house-style transformation, as per a recent planning application submitted by owner Blue Diamond.
Smash-and-grab B&Q burglar jailed
13 January 2017
A railway worker who carried out a smash-and-grab raid on B&Q Chippenham has been jailed for a year.
Squire's Badshot Lea opens new Pets & Aquatics centre
13 January 2017
Squire's Garden Centre, Badshot Lea, has launched its “bigger and better” Pets & Aquatics centre following an investment of more than £100,000.
Topps Tiles reports a positive first quarter
12 January 2017
Topps Tiles has released a trading update for its first quarter, with sales up 0.3% for the 13 weeks ending December 31, 2016.
Major retailers report on Christmas trading
12 January 2017
M&S, Tesco, John Lewis and Debenhams were among some of the country's biggest retailers reporting an upturn in sales over the Christmas period – but for some the increase was more marginal than exceptional.
Wilko fined £2.2m after worker is crushed
11 January 2017
Wilko has been fined £2.2m after a 23-year-old employee was crushed by a metal cage of paint, leaving her paralysed.
Argos helps boost sales at Sainsbury's
11 January 2017
Total sales nudged up 0.8% at Sainbury's during its third quarter - covering the 15 weeks to January 7, 2017 - helped by a 4.1% boost to total sales at newly acquired Argos.
Eliza Tinsley Ltd acquires RB UK
10 January 2017
Eliza Tinsley Ltd, supplier for agricultural hardware, ironmongery and office furniture has announced its successful acquisition of Bedfordshire based RB UK Ltd, who went into administration last month.
Global DIY Summit expected to be “most successful ever”
10 January 2017
This year's Global DIY Summit, which will take place in Berlin on June 8 – 9, is expected to be the “most successful home improvement congress ever organised” with several top names from the industry having already booked their place.
Garden centres invited to get creative to be competitive
9 January 2017
Garden centre owners, managers and teams attending the 51st Garden Centre Association (GCA) annual conference this month will be challenged to become more creative to cultivate a competitive edge.
Fire breaks out at Screwfix Sittingbourne
9 January 2017
Screwfix in Sittingbourne remained closed over the weekend following reports of a fire at the store during the evening of Friday, January 6.
Turnover falls at Robert Dyas as Theo Paphitis warns of “perfect storm” for retail
6 January 2017
Owner of Robert Dyas and former Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis has warned retailers that they are facing a “perfect storm” this year as his retail group posted its full year results.
B&Q in Plymouth to close its doors this week
5 January 2017
B&Q in Coypool, Plymouth, is having a final sale this week as it prepares to close its doors for the last time on Saturday, January 7.
Plant Plot Garden Centre changes hands
5 January 2017
Lichfield-based garden centre Plant Plot has been bought by David Rusholme, who has revealed plans for a new cafe bistro and digital sales platform for the business.
B&M has “best ever” Christmas but warns prices will still rise
4 January 2017
Discount retailer B&M delivered record sales over the Christmas trading period, with like-for-likes up 7.2% in the three months to December 24, but has warned that prices will still rise in 2017 due to the devaluation of the pound.
Next Christmas sales fail to live up to expectations
4 January 2017
Sales over the festive period at Next were down -0.4% on last year, a result which bosses admitted fell short of expectations.
Screwfix to open major new distribution centre
3 January 2017
More than 700 new jobs are to be created at a £50m distribution centre for Screwfix in Staffordshire.
New Year sales fail to perform on high st
3 January 2017
Footfall over the New Year weekend fell by 16% on the UK high street, and by 50% in shopping centres according to retail benchmark analyst Springboard.