News Archive July 2016
Longacres buys Bybrook Garden Centre
29 July 2016
Bybrook Barn Garden Centre is being sold to Longacres, with owner Terry Burch shaking hands on the deal after 41 years at the helm of the Kent business.
Language blunder directs B&Q shoppers to USA instead of Camarthen
28 July 2016
Shoppers in Ceredigion, Wales, have been told they must fly to the USA to find their nearest B&Q store due to a Welsh language translation gaffe, according to the BBC.
Argos shareholders approve Sainsbury's takeover
28 July 2016
Shareholders at Home Retail Group voted 99.95% in favour of the £1.4bn Sainsbury's takeover at its AGM this week.
Bents celebrates two major wins
27 July 2016
Bents Garden & Home is celebrating not only being awarded Best Show Feature at this year's RHS Tatton Flower Show, but being named Best Destination Garden Centre in the North West 2016 by the Garden Centre Association.
Tile Mountain is fastest growing online tile retailer
27 July 2016
Online tile retailer Tile Mountain has revealed a 60% year-on-year increase in turnover for its 2015 financial results, confirming it is the fasted growing online tile retailer.
Competitions authority approves Sainsbury's HRG takeover
26 July 2016
The Competitions and Markets Authority has given Sainsbury's the green light for its takeover of Argos.
Deco-Pak manager raises £1k for late mother's hospice
26 July 2016
The staff of Hipperholme-based decorative aggregates and bird box suppliers Deco-Pak joined over 1,600 runners in a 5k colour run to raise money for Overgate Hospice in Elland.
Wrights Home Hardware wins best window display
25 July 2016
Wrights Home Hardware is celebrating after winning the South Ayrshire Council best window display competition.
Glee and Spring Fair organiser launches online retail hub
25 July 2016
Ascential Events - the organisers of retail trade shows Pure London, Spring Fair, Autumn Fair, Jewellery and Watch, and Glee - today launches Inside Retail, an online hub designed to deliver insight and inspiration to the UK's brilliant retail sector and its thousands of independent businesses.
Wet weather brings traditional garden sales down
25 July 2016
Sales in non-traditional categories at garden centres across the country were up during June (2016) but due to wet weather traditional categories were down according to the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) Barometer of Trade (BoT) report.
Bira and BHETA 'Tussle on the Turf'
22 July 2016
The industry's two leading trade associations The British Independent Retailers Association (bira) and British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) came together this week for a 'Tussle on the Turf' golf tournament.
Retail predicted to decline, but Brexit isn't to blame
21 July 2016
The decline of UK retail is predicted to accelerate in the third quarter of 2016, with all three drivers of retail health - demand, margins and cost - expected to turn negative for the first time since 2011, warns the KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank.
First Bunnings to open in the UK in October
21 July 2016
Wesfarmers has announced that the first Homebase store will be transformed into Bunnings in October this year, and has hired retail veteran Archie Norman and former Kingfisher executive Matt Tyson to advise.
B&Q Sprucefield dodges closure culling
20 July 2016
Despite Kingfisher bosses earmarking the B&Q at Sprucefield for closure last year along with others at Derry, Ballymena and Craigavon, the store will now remain open.
Wickes: More complaints from employees
20 July 2016
Following DIY Week's
recent report on a dissatisfied Wickes employee, another worker has stepped forward.
Builders' merchant Jewson has helped bring the Isle of Wight's Ryde Arena back to its best after severe weather damaged the building and its roof last winter.
Almost 90% of all UK retail sales touch a physical store
18 July 2016
A new study by Verdict and British Land has revealed that 89% of all retail UK sales touch a physical store, with click and collect and online sales browsed in store boosting physical sales by 5%.
Garden Re-Leaf 2016 brings in £140k
18 July 2016
Industry charity Greenfingers' Garden Re-Leaf Day 2016 brought in the largest ever fundraising total, £140,000, as announced at the GIMA Awards.
Major re-launch for Bonningtons
18 July 2016
Bonningtons has re-launched its business under a new brand identity aiming to drive the core values of integrity, quality and trust throughout the whole operation.
GIMA Awards 2016: a sell-out success
15 July 2016
The Garden Industry Manufacturers' Association (GIMA) Awards took place last night at Celtic Manor, bringing together manufacturers, retailers and all the top industry names.
John Lewis heads down under with six Aussie stores
15 July 2016
John Lewis is going to open six concessions in Australian department store Myer with the first expected to open before Christmas, according to reports.
Greenfingers completes landmark 50th garden
14 July 2016
Greenfingers has completed its 50th hospice garden project this month as the charity finishes work on two tranquil garden spaces at the Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice in Sheffield.
B&M sees 20% sales growth but UK LfL flat for Q1
14 July 2016
The thirteen weeks from March 27 to June 25 saw B&M's total group revenue up by 21.5% to £554.8m.
Steinhoff snaps up Poundland for £597m
14 July 2016
Poundland has accepted a 220p-a-share bid from South African retailer Steinhoff after reportedly rejecting an undisclosed cash offer from the company last month.
DIY Week is joining forces with Spring Fair
13 July 2016
Spring Fair is launching an all new DIY sector for 2017, and is joining forces with DIY Week to host the prestigious DIY Week Awards.
Wickes employee weighs in on wage debate
13 July 2016
In response to DIY Week's recent reportings of dissatisfied employees at
B&Q and
Homebase, Wickes has now been put under the spotlight by one of its workers.
A number of Homebase customers have been left disappointed after taking advantage of dramatic price drops among some of Homebase's soft furnishings.
Grafton Group reveals revenue up 13.3%
12 July 2016
Revenue for the Grafton Group, owner of Irish DIY retailer Woodies, was up 13.3% to £1.23bn during the six months to June 30.
New Romney garden centre burgled and set ablaze
11 July 2016
Police in Kent are investigating after a garden centre on Cockreed Lane, New Romney, was burgled and set on fire in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Brexit delivers worst June in a decade for retailers
8 July 2016
The recent Brexit outcome had an immediate and devastating effect on the high street, according to a recent report by the BDO.
BRC EU Statement: Clarity is key
7 July 2016
The British Retail Consortium has released the following statement in response to the recent Brexit vote:
Vintage light bulbs, bee keeping and home smokers top Amazon best sellers
7 July 2016
Old-fashioned light bulbs have proven the third best seller of 2016 so far for online retail giant Amazon, with other emerging trends including home smokers and bee keeping paraphernalia.
Like-for-likes at Topps Tiles up by 6.2%
6 July 2016
Topps Tiles has announced the financial results for its third quarter - the 13 weeks to July 2 - with like-for-likes up 6.2%.
Squires strikes gold at Hampton Court
6 July 2016
Squire's Garden Centres is celebrating after winning a gold medal for its Show Garden at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.
BBQ and furniture retailing awarded at Solex
6 July 2016
This year's Summer Outdoor Living Exhibition opened at the NEC yesterday, with a record-breaking number of first day visitors.
DIY shop's tools recycling scheme gets stellar response
5 July 2016
Broad Street DIY in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, held a special recycle week from June 13 to 19, where members of the public were encouraged to take their old or unwanted DIY tools in an initiative to help disadvantaged people in the local community.
Exclusively Housewares: industry review
5 July 2016
With its highest number of exhibitor stand rebookings already in place by the time the Exclusively Shows closed last month, organisers Brooke House Exhibitions (BHE), were delighted with this year's positive exhibitor response.
Broad St DIY draws in the ladies
4 July 2016
Local ladies of Bromsgrove seized the opportunity to brush up on essential DIY skills last week when Broad Street DIY hosted its third DIY Ladies Night.
BHS international stores and website bought
1 July 2016
Duff & Phelps, the BHS administrators, have sold 70 overseas BHS stores and its online business to Qatari buyer Al Mana Group.
Bunnings and Kingfisher give BHETA members a snapshot of the future
1 July 2016
Members of BHETA were recently treated to a vision of the future of the biggest DIY multiples in the country, with the association's latest forum featuring exclusive presentations from Bunnings and Kingfisher.