Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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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

Clas Ohlson to close Croydon store, as it continues to “optimise” UK store base

Swedish retailer, Clas Ohlson reported a slight dent in its profits due to a rationalisation of its store portfolio in the UK, revealing plans to shut its flagship Croydon outlet, as it continues plans to focus on small-format shops around London.... 
6 July 2017

Squire’s bags Silver-Gilt for RHS garden

A joint venture between Squire’s Garden Centres and Landform Consultants, The Urban Rain Garden has won a Silver-Gilt medal at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show this week.Squire’s and Landform Consultants joined forces to present the ... 
5 July 2017

HTA and APL members scoop awards at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

HTA and APL members are showcasing garden and plant displays at the RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, taking place this week, with many winning top awards at the show.This year APL members are responsible for over 60% of the gardens being built ... 
5 July 2017

Topps Tiles looks to make acquisitions as sales slump

Topps Tiles has pointed to a slowing housing sector and challenging market conditions after it reported a sales slump. The group said like-for-like sales fell 4.7% in the third quarter as "weaker macro-economic conditions" begin to bite.Chief ... 
5 July 2017

Weber Invests in seven-figure TV ad campaign

Weber has invested what it described as a “a sizeable seven-figure sum” in the TV advert, which showcases its Genesis II gas barbecue and is set to reach millions of people during the key barbecue season. The commercial was first broadcast at the end of April 2017 and will run until July 31 ... 
4 July 2017

Homesense to open in Union Square, Aberdeen

Hammerson has signed Homesense to open its first store in Aberdeen and its second in Scotland at Union Square.Part of the TK Maxx group, Homesense launched in 2008 offering branded and quality homeware at a discount to high street and department ... 
4 July 2017

Centurion Europe opens office in Middle East

The Doncaster-based supplier of DIY, garden, housewares and safety products has taken a bold step to boost its export sales of its fast-growing Spectrum Industrial brand by opening a sales office and distribution centre in Sharjah. Centurion ... 
4 July 2017

Travis Perkins launches programme to future-proof business operations

Travis Perkins plc has launched the BreakThru accelerator programme to help startup businesses grow through partnership and investment.BreakThru is part of a group-wide initiative (across 22 brands including Wickes) to self-disrupt and embrace ... 
4 July 2017

Home retailers feature in Sunday Times Top Track 100

Established with a single hardware shop in Leicester in 1930 Wilko is listed at number 36 in the Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100 table of Britain’s privately owned companies with the largest sales published yesterday. The retailer now sells goods ... 
3 July 2017

AkzoNobel strengthens position in performance coatings

One month after US paint firm PPG withdrew its takeover bid, Dulex parent AkzoNobel has announced the acquisition of UK-based Flexcrete Technologies Ltd and an agreement to acquire French manufacturer Disa Technology (Disatech) subject to regulatory ... 
3 July 2017

BREAKING NEWS: Bunnings to double number of pilot stores before year end

Bunnings UK and Ireland today announced it is to expand its pilot programme, and will have 20 stores by the end of 2017 – twice as many as previously expected. We understand that not all the new pilot stores will occupy former Homebase sites, with ... 
29 June 2017

Bunnings opens biggest store today

Australian DIY chain opens its fourth, and largest, Bunnings Warehouse in the UK and Ireland today in Milton Keynes.The new 90,000sq ft store, which occupies the site of the former Homebase on Snowdon Drive, continues Bunnings’ momentum of ... 
29 June 2017
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