Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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Colour confidence powers downloads of Akzo Nobel's Visualizer app past 20 million

Akzo Nobel has announced that downloads of its Visualizer decorating app has surpassed the 20 million mark, attributing its success to "giving people the simple pleasure of making confident colour choice". The award-winning digital colour tool was ... 
22 June 2018

Delegates delighted with 6th Global DIY Summit 2018

Feedback from the annual international event was overwhelmingly positive, say organisers, as the sixth Global DIY Summit came to a close in Barcelona last week. A record of 1,100 delegates from 55 countries attended this year’s congress, including ... 
21 June 2018

Rose ‘Timeless Purple’ wins Visitor Vote Award

Visitors to the HTA National Plant Show has voted Rose ‘Timeless Purple’ from Whartons Roses as Best in Show at the New Plant Awards. The Visitor Vote Award proved extremely popular and with over 100 entries for visitors to choose from.The rose is ... 
21 June 2018

Barclaycard partners with Travis Perkins and Toolstation on co-branded business credit cards

The financial services provider is partnering with selected companies within the Travis Perkins Group to launch a new range of co-branded business credit cards that offer customers extended interest-free periods on payments. The rollout of the new ... 
21 June 2018

Habitat to open two new stores

Habitat will open two new stand-alone stores this autumn – one in Westfield London this September, followed by another in Brighton’s busy town centre in October.Sainsbury’s, which acquired Habitat in September 2016, is investing £1.5 million in the ... 
20 June 2018

May sees strongest growth in online retail since 2010

Retailers reported a year-on-year (YOY) increase of 19.4% in online sales, continuing a stellar year for the retail channel, with garden amongst the strongest-performing sectors. While the sun was shining on the high street last month, internet ... 
19 June 2018

Fire at Farnborough Hardware

Firefighters tackled a blaze at an independent hardware store in the centre of Farnborough yesterday, where a woman was treated for smoke inhalation.Firefighters from Rushmoor, Basingstoke and Surrey tackled a fire on the ground floor of Farnborough ... 
18 June 2018

Amazon launches Home Services in the UK

Amazon has announced the launch of Home Services in the UK. Customers buying more than 4 million products on Amazon.co.uk, ranging from TVs and household appliances to garden furniture and exercise equipment, can now schedule installation or ... 
18 June 2018

BHETA shortlisted for award

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) is a finalist in the Trade Association Forum (TAF) 2018 Awards.  The association has been shortlisted in the Marketing Campaign of the Year category for its inaugural National Home Improvement ... 
18 June 2018

Shortlist for Jewson building better communities trade hero announced

Jewson has revealed the five finalists in its Trade Hero category of Building Better Communities awards. After being selected by a panel of industry judges, the shortlist now needs public votes to be in with a chance of winning up to £50,000 in ... 
15 June 2018

Stephen Mangan to host 2018 GIMA Awards

The Garden Industry Manufacturer's Association (GIMA) has announced that TV, film and stage actor Stephen Mangan will compered its annual awards event this year. Best known for his role as Sean in the hit transatlantic comedy series Episodes, and as ... 
15 June 2018

Scheurich enhances outdoor offer with Deroma takeover

Leading indoor plant pot manufacturer, Scheurich GmbH & Co KG has received backing from German private investors, the Bavaria Industries Group AG (Baikap) to acquire Deroma, the world‘s leader in terracotta pottery. The company, located in the ... 
15 June 2018

Taylor Grange Retail acquires Flooring Republic in a bid to rescue the company

The Manchester office of national law firm Shoosmiths has advised on a rescue deal for a flooring business with more than 20 stores across the country.Taylor Grange Retail Limited, a new business set up by the owner of long-standing client, property ... 
15 June 2018

Kingfisher opens first net zero energy store

Kingfisher, the international home improvement company, has announced that the recently opened Peterborough Screwfix store will be the first in its estate to be net zero in its energy usage. The news comes as Kingfisher publishes its annual ... 
15 June 2018

Retailers need to do more to target rising number of female DIYers

Although four in 10 shoppers think home improvement stores are aimed at men, British women are the biggest spenders, splashing out over £300 a yearNew research released today by Barclaycard reveals a rise in females doing it for themselves as one in ... 
25 May 2018

71% of homeowners suffer from renovation uncertainty says DigitalBridge

Almost three-quarters (71%) of UK homeowners wouldn’t know where to start if they wanted to complete a bathroom refurbishment, new research has revealed.The survey, completed on 1,100 consumers by DigitalBridge, found that just 5% of people would ... 
25 May 2018

ERA teams up with security app developer Safeland

ERA, the UK’s home security specialist, has teamed up with Safeland, a company that has designed a unique app to help communities feel safer and better protected against crime. Focusing on the idea that crimes may be reduced or prevented if members ... 
25 May 2018

BREAKING NEWS: Wesfarmers sells Homebase, describing business as "disappointing investment"

Bunnings parent Wesfarmers today announced it has agreed to divest the Homebase business to Hilco Capital for just £1, as it said the “risks associated with a turnaround don’t justify the additional investment and management required”.Under the ... 
25 May 2018

Sugru parent company bought by Tesa

The London-based company FormFormForm Ltd which launched kneadable glue product, Sugru, is set to become a fully-owned subsidiary of German firm, Tesa SE. Thus.Adhesive manufacturer Tesa says the acquisition “strengthens its market position in self-... 
24 May 2018

April retail figures show welcome boost in sales

Retail sales for April increased by 1.6%, as figures from the Office for National Statistics shows a positive step for UK high streets, after adverse weather conditions and economic difficulties caused a lack of footfall and consumer spending.Month-... 
24 May 2018
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