Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

News Archive September 2016

Leekes launches 'new way of sofa shopping' 29 September 2016

Department store Leekes has launched what it is calling a "revolutionary new concept in sofa buying" in the form of The Lounge Co. sofa gallery.


Trago set to become major DIY player with £3m expansion 29 September 2016

South West discount retailer Trago Mills is substantially expanding its DIY offer, with construction starting this week on a £3m Build Centre at its Newton Abbott branch.


BHS.com goes live 29 September 2016

The new face of BHS - an all-new website selling the retailer's most popular lines - has officially gone live.


Broad St DIY goes for gold 28 September 2016

Family run, independent DIY store Broad Street DIY has secured a place in the final stage of the prestigious 2016 Midlands Family Business Awards - which celebrate the work and achievements of family businesses across the region.


Henkel rejoins BHETA 27 September 2016

Henkel Adhesives has rejoined The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) after an absence of six years.


B&Q recalls dangerous hedge trimmer 27 September 2016

B&Q has reportedly issued a recall over a hedge trimmer which carries a risk of injury to the user from the ejection of motor fragments through the casing vents.


Home Hardware cooks up Bake Off window challenge 26 September 2016

Home Hardware Scotland recently held a Bake Off window competition for its 60 plus independently owned shops throughout Scotland and the north of England.


Homebase store in Omagh saved from closure 26 September 2016

Staff at a Homebase store in Omagh, Northern Ireland, have been told that their jobs are now safe after the store was brought back from the chopping block.


BHS to relaunch in UK as new online retailer 26 September 2016

Following its collapse into administration earlier this year, BHS is set to relaunch in the UK as an online retailer selling a range of lighting and home furnishing products.


Pirates, ballet dancers and cowboys drive 1.3k miles for RDT 23 September 2016

More than 120 members of the home improvement industry donned fancy dress and took part in a variety of hair-raising challenges, all whilst driving 1,300 miles through eight countries for the 2016 VADO Rally, raising money for the Rainy Day Trust.


DIY multiples market worth £7.2bn last year 23 September 2016

The home improvement multiple retail market grew by approximately 4% last year, according to a new report from AMA Research.


Glee 2017 breaks re-booking records 23 September 2016

Just a week past the closure of Glee 2016, organisers have confirmed that re-bookings for next year's event have broken all the show's previous records.


Thieves raid £15k worth of stock from Great Bridge DIY shop 22 September 2016

Great Bridge DIY store in Tipton was recently targeted by thieves who stole £15,000 worth of goods including hammers, lock cutters and even the store's CCTV cameras.


MICA award nominees revealed 21 September 2016

Mica retailers will gather for their annual mix of business and pleasure in the Channel Islands next week for the Mica Gala Dinner & Awards evening. Mica has announced exclusively to DIY Week the nominees in four of the categories.


Wholesale nursery sees rise in garden design sector 21 September 2016

One of the UK’s leading nurseries has announced that it has seen a 45% increase in sales year-on-year this month (September, 2016) from the garden design sector.


Kingfisher profits up 21 September 2016

B&Q owner Kingfisher has posted strong results for the first six months of its financial year and said there is "no clear evidence" the EU referendum result impacted its performance.


Argos outlet to close 21 September 2016

Argos is to close its outlet in Hessle near Hull, reports the Hull Daily Mail.


New Bunnings Warehouse for Plymouth 21 September 2016

Plymouth could be set to get a massive new Bunnings Warehouse store by the end of the year – with the Aussie chain poised to move into the city, reports the Plymouth Herald.


Sunbury takes top spot 19 September 2016

The 300 year-old historic Sunbury Walled Garden, in Surrey, has been declared the overall winner in the Small Park category for the fourth year running in the South & South East in Bloom Awards.


A new look for diyweek.net  19 September 2016

DIYweek.net readers will have noticed our website has been given a makeover with a fresh look and design. 


Dunelm's profits are up 14 September 2016

Home retail specialist Dunelm has reported another  strong year, maintaining its record of growing sales and profit every year since IPO in 2006

Glee Buyers Power List - winners revealed 14 September 2016

The winners of the 2016 Glee Buyers Power List have been announced during an awards ceremony at the heart of Glee 2016 within the Inside Retail Theatre.

Glee new product winners announced 14 September 2016
The winners of the 2016 Glee New Product awards have been announced at the show this week. They are as follows:

Sainsbury's launches 200 in-store digital collection points 13 September 2016
Following its recent acquisition of Home Retail Group plc, owner of Argos and Habitat, Sainsbury's has unveiled plans for customers to shop whenever and wherever they like, by launching up to 200 newly-designed digital Click & Collect points in stores across the UK.

The DIY Awards are back! 12 September 2016

The DIY & garden sector boasts a host of outstanding examples of great products; retailers and people but who or what will be named winners at the DIY Week Awards 2017?

GCA Scottish and NI winners revealed 12 September 2016

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) revealed its Scottish and Northern Irish regional winners at a presentation recently at Creative Gardens Galgorm Castle.

GCA in search of new inspectors 12 September 2016


THE GARDEN Centre Association (GCA) is this month stepping up its hunt for three new inspectors to help its members retain the highest of standards in service and expertise.


Tesco to end 24-hour trading at 30 more stores 12 September 2016

Thirty 24-hour Tesco stores are to have their opening hours cut, it has been widely reported this week.

Champion's champion prepares to soar for charity 7 September 2016


Kraig Seymour, yard sales manager of the new Weybridge Champion Timber branch is readying himself for his second and final charity fundraising challenge of the summer.  


GCA Plant Area Workshop success at Ball Colegrave 7 September 2016

THE GARDEN Centre Association (GCA) held a successful Plant Area Workshop at Ball Colegrave this summer.

John Lewis to create 500 jobs with online sales investment 6 September 2016

John Lewis has invested in its online services by opening two new distribution centres in Milton Keynes, expanding its Magna Park location, the Retail Gazette reports.

Marks & Spencer set to cut up to 500 jobs 5 September 2016

Retail giant Marks & Spencer is set to cut up to 500 jobs at its head office in London as part of efforts to reduce costs, it has been widely reported over the weekend.

More Argos stores in Sainsbury's by Christmas 5 September 2016

Sainsbury's is to more than double the number of Argos outlets in its supermarkets by Christmas and introduce home furnishings retailer Habitat into its stores for the first time, reports the Belfast Telegraph.

Orkla's acquisition of Harris completed 2 September 2016

Orkla House Care has doubled the size of its operations with the now completed acquisition of DIY painting tools supplier L.G. Harris & Co (Harris).

Bunnings to present at BHETA forum 2 September 2016

Bunnings UK and Ireland managing director PJ Davis will make the first public presentation of the UK Bunnings business since its acquisition of Homebase, in the next in the series of British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) networking forums.

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