The hardware store Poores of Chorleywood has a new owner - the second in less than a year.
The shop has been sold to the Lords group of companies by independent builders merchant Lawsons, which bought the two Poores stores, in Chorleywood and Acton, at the end of last year from John Poore.

At the time, Lawsons' procurement and marketing director Mike Hillier told DIY Week that the Chorleywood branch "is in a high street location and...a very different model to a traditional Lawsons branch".

Now, Lawsons says it soon identified that it would not suit its business model and so has sold it to what it describes as its "friendly competitor" Lords, which it sees as having the same family values as itself.

Lords has a significant presence in the builders merchants and housewares market and is building a strong reputation as an innovative housewares retailer, launching its first Lords of Notting Hill store in West London a year ago, which aims to emulate John Lewis and Selfridge's.

Lords ceo Shanker Patel commented: "Lords is pleased to take over Poores of Chorleywood as it is in line with the retail business model we have developed in London, and this is a significant step as a part of our overall expansion plan."