News Archive June 2016
DIY Week June 24 issue delay
30 June 2016
The June 24 issue of DIY Week has been delayed due to a printing error.
B&Q partners butterfly charity
30 June 2016
Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation is partnering with B&Q to encourage customers to help preserve and protect butterflies and other pollinators.
AkzoNobel opens "pioneering" customer centre
29 June 2016
Dulux' parent company opened a 6,400sq ft customer centre at its headquarters in Slough this week, incorporating a new virtual reality suite to "enable retailers to immerse themselves in the Dulux customer experience".
Burgon & Ball's starring TV role
29 June 2016
Garden tool manufacturer Burgon & Ball has been enjoying its continued starring role in ITV's Love Your Garden, where Alan Titchmarsh gives gardens a new lease of life.
Industry responses to Brexit: Fantastak Group
29 June 2016
Glue dots and niche adhesives manufacturer Fantastak Group has said it's "business as usual" following the UK's Brexit vote.
Industry responds to Brexit: Bonningtons
29 June 2016
Bonningtons has been preparing for a possible Brexit, and say it's now in a good position to "support customers through what is bound to be a turbulent few months."
Retailer shares begin to recover, but Carpetright's tumble
28 June 2016
After the initial shock of the EU referendum result, shares in retailers including Next and M&S have begun to recover, though Carpetright's share price has dropped by a fifth amid warnings of reduced consumer confidence.
Glee 2016: Registration now live
27 June 2016
Online registration for Glee (September 12 - 14, NEC Birmingham) is now live, enabling buyers and retailers to get online and book their free ticket to the leading showcase for the garden and leisure industry. Register online today to save £20 and receive free parking and show catalogue.
Leekes delivers £2m profit boost in end-of-year results
27 June 2016
Leekes department stores and the Vale Resort have delivered strong growth as part of the Leekes Retail and Leisure Group, achieving a £2m improvement in profitability in the year to March 31, 2016.
Home improvements set to rise in wake of Brexit vote
27 June 2016
A recent study has found that 12% of homeowners (a figure of 1.7m) are now less likely to sell their property in the next 3 years following the result of the EU referendum.
Britain votes OUT of the EU
24 June 2016
With a 52% majority and over one million votes up, Britain has voted to leave the European Union.
Bunnings to save up to 700 Homebase jobs
23 June 2016
Wesfarmers, parent group of Bunnings and now Homebase, held a strategy day this week, with bosses outlining plans to save as many Homebase jobs, put under threat by Home Retail Group's previous plans to close 18 stores, as possible.
Grange invests £30m in manufacturing
22 June 2016
Decorative garden structures and fencing company Grange is to benefit from a significant additional investment from its Polish parent company Stelmet in a considerably expanded supply chain capacity. This will create additional manufacturing capability and provide an additional UK distribution site in the south east of England.
Autumn Fair to return bigger and better than ever
22 June 2016
Autumn Fair is set to return this season with what organisers are promising to be "a stellar line-up of new brands and new engaging content through a full line-up of inspirational speakers and seminars, cementing the event as the season's No.1 Gift and Home Trade Show."
Garden Centres see Bank Holiday sales boost
22 June 2016
Sales in traditional and non-traditional categories were up during May thanks to the Bank Holidays according to the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) Barometer of Trade results.
BHS Update: Sir Philip Green to offer jobs to BHS staff
22 June 2016
Following his questioning by MPs last week, former BHS owner Sir Philip Green has pledged to offer 1,000 jobs to BHS staff at his Arcadia retail businesses.
Toolbank hosts regional trade show
21 June 2016
More than 200 retailers and merchants recently flocked to the Great Southern Show at Newbury Racecourse hosted by Toolbank.
Hillview acquires Scotland Nurseries
20 June 2016
Hillview Garden Centes has acquired its tenth garden centre, Scotland Nurseries in Matlock, Derbyshire.
Former Argos bidder Steinhoff eyes up Poundland
20 June 2016
South African retail giant Steinhoff, which
pulled out of the bidding for Argos at the eleventh hour earlier this year, has reportedly announced its interest in buying Poundland.
Wyevale has made the decision to close down Coley Garden Centre, which has been trading in Calderdale for nearly four decades, at the end of July.
BREAKING: Dobbies sold for £217m
17 June 2016
Tesco confirmed today that it has sold Dobbies Garden Centres - but not to Terra Firma or Edinburgh Woollen Mill owners as rumoured.
Wyevale smashes £750k charity target
17 June 2016
Wyevale Garden Centres are celebrating reaching their £750,000 fundraising target for charity partner Marie Curie, the UK's leading charity for people living with any terminal illness and their families, more than 12 months ahead of schedule.
Industry names go-kart for RDT
16 June 2016
Seventeen teams of competitive karters sweltered on the hottest day of the year at
Team Sport Go Karting in Warrington as they battled it out to win one of the many trophies in the 2016 Rainy Day Trust Karting Challenge.
Kingfisher bosses are expected to face a grilling over staff pay and conditions during the business' shareholder meeting this week.
Kitchen and bathroom worktop market reaches £200m
15 June 2016
The value of the overall kitchen and bathroom worktop market is estimated to have reached more than £200m in 2015, according to AMA Research.
Exclusively Housewares kicks off in style
14 June 2016
A full house of exhibitors and a healthy crowd of visitors kicked off this year's Exclusively Housewares and Exclusively Electrical shows in London today (June 14).
May sees welcome uptake in retail footfall
13 June 2016
Retail footfall increased by 0.3% year-on-year for the month of May, a significant improvement on April's 2.4% decline, according to the British Retail Consortium.
Global DIY Summit takes Stockholm by storm
13 June 2016
The fourth annual global DIY summit opened in Stockholm last week, with hundreds of delegates flooding to the Waterfront Congress Centre.
WernerCo invests over $1.8m in UK facility
13 June 2016
Ladder manufacturer WernerCo has invested more than $1.8m in its Maldon UK facility, including the installation of a state-of-the-art laser cutter.
HRG boss to step down when Sainsbury's deal completes
10 June 2016
Home Retail Group chief executive John Walden will be stepping down from his leading role once the business has been bought out by Sainsbury's, expected to happen during the third quarter.
B&Q to unveil new-concept 'big box' store
10 June 2016
B&Q will officially launch its first new-concept store at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol on June 16.
Argos sees strongest sales in two years
9 June 2016
Ahead of its takeover deal with Sainsbury's, Home Retail Group released sales results for the 13 weeks to May 28 this week, revealing good sales growth for Argos.
Explosive growth in LED lighting market
8 June 2016
The UK LED lighting market was estimated to have grown by 38% in 2015 in value terms according to AMA Research.
Discount stores grow by 52% over last five years
8 June 2016
Just short of 1,500 new discount stores were opened across the UK over the last five years according to the Local Data Company.
Decision on glyphosate delayed until end of the month
7 June 2016
The European Commission has failed to make a decision on whether to reapprove the license for the world's most widely-used weedkiller, glyphosate.
BHETA shortlisted for three prestigious awards
6 June 2016
The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has been shortlisted as finalists in three categories in the Trade Association Forum (TAF)'s Best Practice Awards 2016.
Independent electrical shop ordered to change logo by TfL
6 June 2016
An electrical shop called The Tube Station, which has featured a similar logo to the London Underground for the last six years, has been ordered by Transport for London to change its branding, despite being located in Blackpool, more than 250 miles from London.
BHETA credit forum series grows and grows
2 June 2016
The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) is holding its next Credit Forum on July 20th including its regular update on all current credit and risk management issues in the retail sector.
UPDATE: BHS to exit high street as rescue bids fail
2 June 2016
All 164 stores are to close and up to 11,000 jobs have been made redundant at beleaguered high street chain BHS, it has been announced.
BHETA and bira to tussle it out on the turf
1 June 2016
The British Independent Retailers Association (bira) and British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) have come together to present a friendly but competitive networking, business and social occasion in the calendar by way of a 'Tussle on the Turf' golf event. The event is to be held on July 20 in Stratford-upon-Avon at The Welcombe Golf Club.
Success for Meet the Buyer BHETA, GIMA, Wyevale event
1 June 2016
Following a series of successful Meet the Buyer events hosted by BHETA and GIMA with The Wyevale Garden Centre Group (TWGC), the latest supplier development event took place last week and was a great success.