Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive November 2020

New study reveals 90% of tradespeople have introduced new services as a result of Covid-19  27 November 2020

Yell Business has today released new research into how small businesses have adapted to survive in light of Covid-19 and how the pandemic is changing the way businesses and consumers communicate. The new study reveals the scale of the challenge ...


Notcutts media release: Profits up at Notcutts in Year to February 2020 26 November 2020

Notcutts recorded another year of profit growth in the year ending February 2020 with operating profit up 13.5% to £1.72m. This followed a 52.5% increase in operating profit on the prior year. Gross margin improved by 1.4% points to 48.9%. Total ...


Kingfisher plc acquires NeedHelp services marketplace 25 November 2020

Kingfisher plc has announced that it has acquired NeedHelp, one of Europe’s leading home improvement services marketplaces, for a total cash consideration of c.€10 million. As part of the transaction, Guillaume de Kergariou, the founder of NeedHelp, ...


2020 is declared a ‘record year’ for compost by The Greener Gardening Company 25 November 2020

Leading growing media supplier, The Greener Gardening Company has hailed 2020 as a record year for sales of its portfolio of peat-reduced and peat-free growing media, despite the immense challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The company behind ...


Government’s heat pumps plan “doomed to failure” without massive increase in training  24 November 2020

The Government’s plan to increase heat pump installations is “doomed to failure” without a substantial increase in training for installers, according to consumer advice specialists at The Heating Hub. Last week the Government outlined its 10-step ...


Kbsa welcomes level playing field for independent showrooms 24 November 2020

The Kbsa has welcomed the news that Wren and Magnet are to close their stores in accordance with the latest government guidelines. Kbsa national chair Richard Hibbert said, “We have been relentless in our pursuit of Trading Standards to clarify the ...


Horticultural businesses optimistic but cautious for 2021, says HTA’s new Business Confidence Index  24 November 2020

Business confidence is returning to UK garden industry after the record crash in confidence in spring, says the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), as shown by its new Business Confidence Index survey of members and supported by positive garden ...


Almost a third of tradespeople have experienced mental health during the pandemic 24 November 2020

Toolstation has partnered with Time to Change to support mental health amongst customers as a recent survey reveals the impact of the pandemic on tradespeople A recent customer survey* by Toolstation reveals:· 27% of all those surveyed ...


U turn on gas boiler phase out in 2023 welcome say Gas Users 23 November 2020

Government U-turn on gas boiler ban in new homes welcome but further clarity needed to protect consumers, says Gas Users Organisation, which speaks for the 24 million households who use gas for their central heating. In a remarkable last minute ...


BHETA to ‘walk 500 miles’ for Rainy Day Trust 23 November 2020

A British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) team is set to walk (or run) over 500 miles between now and Christmas to raise money for the industry charity, The Rainy Day Trust. The specific target is 509 miles, that being the distance ...


Poinsettias hold the key to supercharging houseplant departments this festive season 23 November 2020

Covid-19 has been relentless in its determination to throw a spanner in retailers’ plans throughout much of 2020, but despite the economic uncertainty, come rain or snow, over the next few weeks shoppers will be flocking to garden centres in their ...


AkzoNobel’s sustainability ambitions heat up with two new solar projects 23 November 2020

Thousands of solar panels have been installed at two AkzoNobel sites on two continents as the company continues to accelerate towards its ambition of cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030.The two recent projects have been taking place in Garcia, ...


Green refurb grants should be available up to 2040, says FMB and RICS 20 November 2020

Boris Johnson's decision to extend green homes grants by another year should be stretched to the next two decades, urges the construction industry. Getting existing buildings more energy-efficient is going to take longer than a year warn builders ...


BGF backs fast-growth ecommerce business 19 November 2020

BGF – the UK-based growth capital investor – has invested £8 million into Midlands-headquartered UK Flooring Direct to support its ongoing growth ambitions.Jason Ashby, CEO of UK Flooring DirectUK Flooring Direct is an online retailer supplying ...


Bespoke new service launched to help consumers choose the right heating system and save money 19 November 2020

The UK has one of the highest domestic boiler replacement rates in Europe, but a new website (www.theheatinghub.co.uk) and suite of services launched by The Heating Hub aims to help consumers select the right boiler for their homes and reduce the ...


Half of Brits set to spend £47 billion on home improvements in 2021 18 November 2020

2021 is set to be a year of transformations for British homes, with more than half of Brits (59%) claiming they will be making home improvements, with the average spend at £6,531 per household. Decorating is revealed as the top home improvement (69%)...


What More UK selected for The Forbes Solicitors Reinvention and Resilience Top 50 report 17 November 2020

What More UK has joined an elite group of businesses, after being included in The Forbes Solicitors Reinvention and Resilience top 50. The report features British companies that have innovated and diversified during the Coronavirus pandemic. Leading ...


Bradford Centre wins Outstanding Employer award 17 November 2020

The team at a Bradford Garden Centre are celebrating after winning the Outstanding Employer award at the 15th annual Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business awards.Tong Garden Centre's Head of People and Culture, Neil Barwise-Carr represented the team ...


Government confirms the construction industry and trades still able to work under latest Covid-19 restrictions 16 November 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt the UK, tradespeople are among those who have been advised they are still able to work under the national restrictions that came into effect on 5 November, including workingin and around people’s ...


J’adore Cottagecore: New research reveals 2021’s biggest décor trends around the world  16 November 2020

The home décor trends that are in and out for 2021 have been revealed in new research by Roofing Megastore. The research analysed Google Trends data throughout 2020, for a range of different interior design styles, colours, furniture, home ...


Cistermiser partners with Lockdown Loo      13 November 2020

As one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of smart water management solutions, Cistermiser and Keraflo welcomed the recent news that the Non-Domestic (Public Lavatories) Bill received unanimous approval. Having now been passed through the House of ...


Chancellor must deliver comprehensive plan for green homes, urges FMB 13 November 2020

In response to today’s update from the ONS, showing that construction recovery has slowed, the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has called on the Chancellor to use this month’s Spending Review to lay the groundwork for an ambitious long-term ...


Bradford Garden Centre keeps it local for new uniform 13 November 2020

A Bradford Garden Centre has reinforced its ethos of supporting local businesses wherever possible by sourcing its new uniform from a fellow West Yorkshire business.Team Tong in their new workwear - L-R: Victoria Kinder-Naylor, Dennis Keen, Lesley ...


Global Home Improvement Report: Global DIY Market grows 4.2%, breaking the €600 billion ceiling 12 November 2020

In 2019, the DIY/home improvement world market turnover reached €618 billion, breaking through the €600 billion ceiling, an increase of 4,22% compared to last year (€593 billion), according to the latest Global Home Improvement Report which has just ...


Choose the right radiator with MARC’s Heat Calculator 12 November 2020

The Manufacturers Association of Radiators and Convectors (MARC), have launched an online ‘Heat Calculator’ to help consumers choose the right radiator for each room in their home. Launching today, 10th November 2020, the handy tool is part of the ‘...


HMG Paints wins UK Business Hero Award 11 November 2020

Manchester-based HMG Paints has been awarded a UK Business Hero Award from the British Chambers of Commerce. Announced by The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, HMG was honoured with the award after converting alcohol stocks into hand sanitiser,...


Crown Trade gives apprentice decorators chance to shine 10 November 2020

Earlier this year, it was announced that the 2020 Apprentice Decorator of the Year competition, which Crown Paints has sponsored for over 40 years, was being put on hold due to the Covid-19 outbreak. While that means that the best and brightest ...


October sees consumer spending decline by 0.1 per cent as restrictions and colder weather encourage Brits to stay indoors 10 November 2020

Consumer spending declined 0.1 per cent year-on-year in October, as the introduction of further restrictions and the arrival of colder weather encouraged Brits to stay at home and turn to online shopping. Data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly ...


Latest issue of DIY Week available to read online 9 November 2020

The latest issue of DIY Week has been published and is now available to read online here. Features in this issue include:News - The latest headlines and breaking news from across the home improvement and garden sectorsKitchens & Bathrooms - Easy ...


Mini-boom in the lead up to Lockdown 2 is followed by plummeting footfall from Thursday 9 November 2020

Latest data from retail experts Springboard reveals that footfall across all retail destinations declined last week by -15.4% from the week before, a complete volte-face from the week before when footfall had increased by +6.2%.However, the result ...


Advice from sustainable brand owners spearheading growth through lockdown 9 November 2020

Image courtesy https://thecheekypanda.com/UKWhen the nation went into lockdown on 23rd March, air pollution levels in some of our busiest cities dropped significantly; a positive side-effect of the severe decrease in traffic. Environmentalists and ...


Bathroom Brands Group reinforces commitment to independent retailers 9 November 2020

Following the Government announcement on the 31st October, Bathroom Brands Group has announced that it will remain fully operational throughout the second lockdown, whilst continuing to work closely with its independent retailers. Throughout Covid-...


HTA reacts to regulations on second lockdown in England  6 November 2020

James Clark, HTA Director of Policy and Communications, said: “Now that we have the Government regulations for this second period of lockdown we know for certain that concessions within garden centres must close, unless they are selling aquatic, pet ...


Airtech encourages households to protect their lungs by taking action during UK Radon Awareness Week 6 November 2020

Airtech, the condensation, mould and radon specialists, has been supporting UK Radon Awareness Week (2-8 November 2020) which is run by the UK Radon Association, by encouraging households to protect their lungs by being Radon Aware and taking action....


Toolstation to remain open as an essential retailer during lockdown 5 November 2020

In line with government guidelines, as an essential retailer of tools, DIY and hardware and a critical part of the supply chain for the construction industry, all Toolstation stores will remain open across the UK to provide its trade and retail ...


Radon Awareness Week aims to highlight the risk of radon exposure to health 5 November 2020

This week, from the 2nd to 9th November, marks Radon Awareness Week in the UK and the campaigns’ primary goal is to raise the public’s awareness and knowledge of what radon is and the risks it presents to our health. 2020 has been a year when lung ...


MKM Building Supplies Limited Acquires DTC Merchants Limited 2 November 2020

MKM Building Supplies, the UK's largest independent builder's merchant, is extending its geographic coverage in Scotland through the acquisition of DTC Merchants Limited. The transaction completed on 30th October and it will be business as usual for ...


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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

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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

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

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