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Research highlights consumer interest in retailer return schemes

New research from WRAP reveals that £1.5-£3 billion worth of electrical products are returned in the UK each year. Sales of electrical products are expected to increase by 19% up to 2020 with UK households already purchasing four products for every ... 
18 July 2017

BREAKING NEWS: Totally organisers confirm “show on hold”

Following DIY Week’s story on Friday, the organisers of The National DIY Show, formerly Totally DIY & Tools have confirmed that the 2018 exhibition is being cancelled but that it could be back the following year.Organiser, Brintex, which is part ... 
18 July 2017

Business as usual for Thorpes of Gosforth

A Gosforth-based hardware business will continue trading under the name Thorpes after being sold to a local family.Opened as a supplier of household ironmongery in 1947 by Edward Thorpe, Thorpes of Gosforth is currently owned and run by the third ... 
17 July 2017

Tong Garden centre joins Y30 partnership

Tong Garden Centre has joined Welcome to Yorkshire’s Y30 partnership, a group of Yorkshire-based businesses working with the UK’s leading tourism agency to achieve more together for the county.“It’s been an incredibly busy two years,” said co-owner ... 
17 July 2017

BREAKING NEWS: Totally shows axed

Sources have revealed that the Totally DIY and Totally Tools shows have been discontinued, with the events team made redundant. No one at Hemming Group, which owns the Totally Shows, could be reached for comment this afternoon but it is understood ... 
14 July 2017

John Lewis sees record outdoor living sales in July

The department store chain reported an increase in home sales for the week to July 8, with outdoor living up 55% - a record for the month of July.Total sales for the week were £86.7m, up 2% compared to last year, supported by strong clearance sales. ... 
14 July 2017

The Furniture Ombudsman reports rise in disputes

The Furniture Ombudsman saw a 49% rise in the number of disputes it handled in 2016, although believes this was due to more traders joining the scheme and taking greater responsibility for their customers.The ombudsman said it managed a total of 5,... 
14 July 2017

Wesfarmers pleased with Bunnings progress in UK

Australian retail giant’s shareholders are “very comfortable” with how the pilot Warehouse stores are performing, says UK & Ireland managing director PJ Davis, as he lays out plans for the chain and stresses he “does not see a long-term future for Homebase”.... 
13 July 2017

Card payments increase, while new £5 note costs retailers millions

For the first time the volume of retail purchases made by card now accounts for more than half of all customer transactions by volume, according to the BRC’s latest annual Payments Survey, which also reveals the cost to retailers of the new polymer ... 
13 July 2017

BHETA forms Export Committee

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has created a new committee to drive initiatives in support of the export opportunities throughout its membership. The new Export Committee, which held its first meeting on June 7, is chaired by ... 
12 July 2017

B&M reports strongest first quarter for three years

Against a backdrop of challenging trading conditions and general economic uncertainty, B&M has reported strong, profitable growth in its trading update for the first quarter of its current financial year from March 26 to June 24 2017. This ... 
12 July 2017

M&S sees home and clothing sales drop in Q1

Marks & Spencer has reported declines in its home and clothing categories in the first quarter but is pleased with progress of transformation plan, as it reduces promotions and encourages full-price transactions.Sales in the high street retailer’... 
11 July 2017

Amazon reveals Prime deals

The online retail giant has leaked several of the deals on home and DIY products ahead of Prime Day shopping event, which kicks off at 6pm this evening.Some of the deals unveiled today include at least 50% off the De’Longhi Nespresso Lattissima ... 
10 July 2017

Buildbase launches first virtual reality showroom 

Builders merchant Buildbase has launched its first virtual reality kitchen, bathroom and lighting showroom at its Oxford branch.Customers using the virtual reality (VR) headset will be able to walk around a life-size kitchen, bathroom and lighting ... 
10 July 2017

Dunelm reports growing market share

Dunelm has released its year-end trading update, reporting a growth in its market share with a fifth of its sales now taking place online.Dunelm said that total revenue in the fourth quarter of its financial year rose by 17.7% to £240m and excluding ... 
10 July 2017

Weather impacted on May garden centre sales

Results of the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) May Barometer of Trade showed that the weather was a big factor in sales during May (2017) and divided the country. Compared to the same month last year (2016) sales in the south were 9-13% down; the ... 
10 July 2017

Home Bargains opens in Llangollen

Home Bargains and Aldi open this week at the 'ghost supermarket' site in Llangollen.The site was completed at the end of 2015 but with no occupier to move in after the Sainsbury’s chain withdrew from the project.Home Bargains opened its store on ... 
10 July 2017

Topps Tiles opens new store in Gloucestershire

Topps Tiles has invested more than £170,000 in a new store in Gloucestershire as part of its UK-wide expansion plans. The 2,800 sq ft unit on Fosseway Business Park in Moreton-in-Marsh opened its doors today.The store forms part of the company's ... 
7 July 2017

Ebay unveils price match in UK

Online auction site, Ebay has announced it will launch a price match guarantee on more than 20,000 deals on its UK site.The news follows hot on the heels of a similar announcement on its US site last month, which saw the launch of a price match ... 
6 July 2017
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