Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive May 2019

Morrisons proposes new garden centre at Pinchbeck store 30 May 2019

In a bid to grow its garden offer at stores across the UK, the supermarket giant has applied for planning permission to erect a new glazed garden centre structure at its branch off Brenner Road, just north of Spalding.The proposal is for “a new PPC ...


Easter heatwave saw furniture and barbecue sales soar 30 May 2019

Garden centres across the country enjoyed positive sales in furniture and barbecue departments thanks to one of the hottest Easter breaks on record in April.Sales of furniture and barbecues were up 28.36% compared to the same month in 2018, ...


Top retailers are failing to capitalise on growing social media influence 30 May 2019

An industry report has found that almost a fifth of leading UK e-retailers are missing out on potential sales, due to a lack of connection with their customers’ extended social circles. These figures have worsened since a similar study was carried ...


John Lewis figures hit by cooler weather but Waitrose reports uplift in plant sales 29 May 2019

The high street retailer posted a total sales decline of -4.1% to £2.68million across the business for the week ended May 25, with home and outdoor living struggling in its department stores, whilst Waitrose saw sales of outdoor plants soar 21%....


DIY stores hit top 10 in Which? high street survey 29 May 2019

Department store, John Lewis and DIY chains, Toolstation and Screwfix all managed land take top-10 positions in the survey, showing customers received a positive experience when shopping in the sector ...


Toolstation roll-out continues apace 28 May 2019

The Travis Perkins-owned chain is ploughing ahead with its expansion programme, opening four new trade counters in a week next month.On June 10, Toolstation will open a trade counter on Buxton Road in Hazel Grove, less than five miles from its ...


Online retailers reveal top-10 plants selling out due to millennial gardeners 28 May 2019

Research from online outdoor living retailer, Internet Gardener, which included analysing thousands of Instagram posts, has revealed the indoor plants most favoured by millennials.Millennial interest in these plants is so great that plant retailers ...


Amazon partners with Next to offer click-and-collect service 28 May 2019

The online retail giant’s new Counter service, launched this month in the UK and Italy, enables quick and easy collection of Amazon parcels from popular retail outlets and convenience stores, including fashion, home and garden retailer, Next.Amazon ...


Cash-strapped retail workers put in longer hours but struggle to make ends meet 28 May 2019

Brand new research from independent job board, CV-Library reveals that, despite 64% of retail professionals working more hours than they’re contracted to, 68% struggle to make ends meet at the end of each month. The study surveyed 1,200 working ...


Covers swaps plastic for paper 28 May 2019

As part of its commitment to help sustain the environment, Covers Timber & Builders Merchants has announced it will no longer be providing plastic bags to its customers.The business, which has its headquarters on Quarry Lane in Chichester, West ...


Chelsea success for Hillier and Greenfingers 24 May 2019

Hillier has extended its incredible world record, winning a 74th consecutive gold medal at this years’ RHS Chelsea Flower Show, whilst Greenfingers had a hugely successful debut, with plenty of publicity around its garden, which earned a silver-gilt ...


Retail online sales see slight growth 23 May 2019

In the three months to March 2019, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed in its retail sales index that the quantity bought in retail sales increased by 1.6% when compared with Q4 in 2018, following sustained growth throughout the ...


B&M continues upward revenue growth 23 May 2019

UK variety goods value retailer, B&M, has announced its preliminary results for the 52 weeks to 30 March 2019. The results show group revenues increased by 17.1% to £3,486.3m, compared to 2018 which was £2,976.3m. B&M has seen revenue growth ...


Brits said to be spending £31billion on DIY projects 22 May 2019

home improvement has proved more costly than thought, according to a recent study by construction supplier Burton Roofing. By analysing monthly housing data from the Office of National Statistics and talking to 1,000 UK homeowners, the investigation ...


Helping Children Grow exhibit wins a bronze medal at Chelsea 21 May 2019

The ‘Helping Children Grow’ exhibit, supported by National Garden Gift Vouchers, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019 has been awarded a Bronze medal.The exhibit, which features in the Discovery Zone of the Great Pavilion, promotes National Children’...


Westland partners with the British Trust for Ornithology 21 May 2019

As a key partner in the supply of bird care products to garden centres, Westland has said it is committed to driving the sector and educating the public. And to further this, the company has announced a new partnership and has joined forces with the ...


GCA Conference 2020 venue announced 20 May 2019

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has announced that the location of its 2020 annual conference is to be Bristol (January 26 until 29, 2020). The GCA’s annual event will be held at the Mercure Bristol, Grand Hotel from January 26 until 29.Mike ...


Tech guru helps Brits get smart home savvy 20 May 2019

To mark the beginning of Smart Home Week, tech guru Jason Bradbury hosted a pop-up tech clinic at Charring Cross Station in Central London ahead of the week on Saturday 18 May.From 11am – 3pm inquisitive consumers dropped into the pop-up tech clinic,...


Waste compliance an important issue for BHETA members 20 May 2019

BHETA members logged on to a webinar set up by BHETA associate member, Wastepack, to provide updates on the latest government consultations on Defra’s Resource and Waste Strategy, which was launched at the end of 2018. There are currently several ...


Retailers, including Tesco, Amazon and Argos caught selling knives to underage shoppers 17 May 2019

As many as six in 10 retailers in some UK areas were found to be breaking the law and selling knives to children as young as 14, whilst Tesco, Amazon and Argos were also caught out by a BBC Watchdog.A test purchase operation by North Yorkshire ...


Kingfisher launches GoodHome to "solve the nightmare" 17 May 2019

Véronique Laury, CEO of Kingfisher, opens the Innovation Day at Olympia LondonKingfisher, the home improvement company, launched GoodHome yesterday, a new international brand and have said GoodHome will provide a simpler way of helping home ...


Wyevale Garden Centres identifies plant varieties set to see sales boost from Chelsea 16 May 2019

As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show gears up for its most popular edition yet, garden centres across the nation are bracing for a surge in sales, as Brits recreate their own show gardens at home. The world-renowned event has reported unprecedented ticket ...


Glee 2019 introduces the Taste Village 16 May 2019

With catering and food sales continuing to offer major add-on profit opportunities for garden centres, garden trade show Glee (10 – 12 September, NEC Birmingham), will be offering retailers extensive inspiration at the newly introduced Taste Village....


Original Poundworld founders continue ambitious roll out of new discount chain 16 May 2019

One Below, the new discount retail venture launched by Poundworld founder, Chris Edwards and his son, will be opening yet more stores later this week, with a view to reaching their target of 100 outlets across the UK.Chris Edwards (senior) launched ...


Ikea teams up with designer Tom Dixon to explore sustainable growing at Chelsea 15 May 2019

The Swedish home retailer is back at the famous flower show this year, this time with an exhibit exploring the importance of sustainable growing, looking at the contrast of the hyper-natural and hyper-tech – and showcasing exclusive prototypes of a ...


Kingfisher sees sales uplift but international business struggles 15 May 2019

Owner of DIY giant B&Q, and Screwfix, Kingfisher plc reported an increase of sales for the its first quarter ended 30 April 2019 with total sales for UK and Ireland +5.0%, with like-for-like sales having increased by 3.4%. B&Q UK & ...


Bridgford Garden Centre owner negotiates for Trespass to set up shop on former site 14 May 2019

Edward Tarbatt has completed a deal with the outdoor clothing retailer, which will see it take up a 10-year lease on 4,500sq ft unit on the former garden centre site in NottinghamIn 2017, Blue Diamond agreed a 35-year lease with Bridgford Garden ...


2019 DIY Week Awards winners revealed 14 May 2019

A host of innovative suppliers and forward-thinking retailers took home accolades at the annual lunchtime event, which brought together representatives from across the industry to celebrate at the Tower Hotel in London. Critically-acclaimed ...


LifestyleGarden opens new showroom and distribution centre 13 May 2019

LifestyleGarden has announed further growth with the opening of its new showroom and distribution centre. Located in the heart of Essex, the new LifestyleGarden showroom offers 14,000 sq ft of outdoor furniture. It was previously the home to ...


Ikea announced partnership with children's organisation Barnardo's 9 May 2019

Ikea UK and Barnardo’s today announce a new three-year national partnership to support children and young people across the UK, with a focus on young carers.The partnership brings together Ikea’s focus on creating better lives and better lives at ...


TV gardener to open new look garden at Tong Garden Centre 9 May 2019

TV gardener Katie Rushworth returns to Tong Garden Centre later this month to open her new look garden and outdoor living space. The ITV Love Your Garden co-presenter will officially open the show garden that has been brought to life by Ms Rushwroth ...


Tile Mountain acquires Walls and Floors 9 May 2019

The latest deal to take on Kettering-based business Walls and Floors has secured Tile Mountain Group’s place as the UK’s largest privately-owned tile retailerEstablished in 1987, Walls and Floors is headed up by Duncan Lewin and Richard Greenbank. ...


Travis Perkins delivers strong profit growth in Q1 results 9 May 2019

Builders' merchant Travis Perkins reported strong group revenue growth of 4.8%, and 4.9% on a like-for-like basis, in its Q1 results, showing continued market outperformance in the Contracts division and Toolstation, with LFL sales up 19%....


Is till-free the way forward? 3 May 2019

This week saw Sainsbury's launch the first-ever till-free store in the UK and Argos open its first self-service digital store. But some experts ask if digitalising the way consumers shop enough of a solution for bricks-and-mortar stores? On Monday, ...


Borrowing for home improvements on the rise 3 May 2019

The average home improvement loan has increased by 16% in 2019, with households in the South East borrowing more for home improvements than any other region in the first quarter of this year, whilst the East Midlands saw biggest spike in home ...


Kingfisher launches new brand GoodHome in Wallington 2 May 2019

On April 26 2019, the new GoodHome by B&Q store opened at 31 – 35 Stafford Road, Wallington offering a new simpler way of shopping for home improvement projects.Kingfisher describe the store as fresh, modern and a local store that offers much ...


The internet proves a powerful tool for millennial gardeners 1 May 2019

Latest research conducted by Common Sense Gardening, an initiative from the Garden Group of the Crop Protection Association (CPA), reveals that 75% of millennials who garden use search engines to source advice and tips on how to grow produce. ...


Tong Garden Centre announced as finalist in industry awards 1 May 2019

Tong Garden Centre has announced it is a finalist in two awards of a horticulture industry competition. The business has been shortlisted in the Best New-Build, Refurbishment, Refit or Extension and the Best Sales or Marketing Campaign Categories of ...


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