Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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Toolstream celebrates its 10th anniversary

Somerset-based tool supplier Toolstream has celebrated turning 10 years old.The company hosted an action-packed day a couple of weeks ago with masses of activities. A pallet wood building competition took centre stage, with entrants re-using timber ... 
3 June 2019

10 Amazon pop up shops to open in UK town centres

Online shopping giant Amazon has announced it plans to open 10 pop up shops in various UK town centre locations. The exact towns have not been announced however there will be openings in Wales, Scotland, The Midlands, Yorkshire and the South East of ... 
3 June 2019

ProCook to close Steamer Trading brand

Kitchenware retail chain ProCook announced it is closing the Steamer Trading brand, as the business explains it "needs to protect the rest of its portfolio", with the “best route to success to utilise the most profitable sites in expansion plans... 
31 May 2019

Garden retailers need to reach a new generation of screen-fingered gardeners

Research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that 78% of adults use smartphones but, according to one hi-tech horticultural company, most garden centres are failing to engage with their tech-savvy customers.The study found that mobiles ... 
31 May 2019

Home bargains and Aldi to open in Horsted Retail Park

The former Toys 'R Us unit in Chatham, Kent, will be subdivided between four businesses in spring 2020, two of which are an Aldi and Home Bargains.The development is set to create more than 190 new jobs and a Royal London spokesman said it will ... 
31 May 2019

Morrisons proposes new garden centre at Pinchbeck store

In a bid to grow its garden offer at stores across the UK, the supermarket giant has applied for planning permission to erect a new glazed garden centre structure at its branch off Brenner Road, just north of Spalding.The proposal is for “a new PPC ... 
30 May 2019

Easter heatwave saw furniture and barbecue sales soar

Garden centres across the country enjoyed positive sales in furniture and barbecue departments thanks to one of the hottest Easter breaks on record in April.Sales of furniture and barbecues were up 28.36% compared to the same month in 2018, ... 
30 May 2019

Top retailers are failing to capitalise on growing social media influence

An industry report has found that almost a fifth of leading UK e-retailers are missing out on potential sales, due to a lack of connection with their customers’ extended social circles. These figures have worsened since a similar study was carried ... 
30 May 2019

John Lewis figures hit by cooler weather but Waitrose reports uplift in plant sales

The high street retailer posted a total sales decline of -4.1% to £2.68million across the business for the week ended May 25, with home and outdoor living struggling in its department stores, whilst Waitrose saw sales of outdoor plants soar 21%.... 
29 May 2019

DIY stores hit top 10 in Which? high street survey

Department store, John Lewis and DIY chains, Toolstation and Screwfix all managed land take top-10 positions in the survey, showing customers received a positive experience when shopping in the sector ... 
29 May 2019

Toolstation roll-out continues apace

The Travis Perkins-owned chain is ploughing ahead with its expansion programme, opening four new trade counters in a week next month.On June 10, Toolstation will open a trade counter on Buxton Road in Hazel Grove, less than five miles from its ... 
28 May 2019

Online retailers reveal top-10 plants selling out due to millennial gardeners

Research from online outdoor living retailer, Internet Gardener, which included analysing thousands of Instagram posts, has revealed the indoor plants most favoured by millennials.Millennial interest in these plants is so great that plant retailers ... 
28 May 2019

Amazon partners with Next to offer click-and-collect service

The online retail giant’s new Counter service, launched this month in the UK and Italy, enables quick and easy collection of Amazon parcels from popular retail outlets and convenience stores, including fashion, home and garden retailer, Next.Amazon ... 
28 May 2019

Cash-strapped retail workers put in longer hours but struggle to make ends meet

Brand new research from independent job board, CV-Library reveals that, despite 64% of retail professionals working more hours than they’re contracted to, 68% struggle to make ends meet at the end of each month. The study surveyed 1,200 working ... 
28 May 2019

Covers swaps plastic for paper

As part of its commitment to help sustain the environment, Covers Timber & Builders Merchants has announced it will no longer be providing plastic bags to its customers.The business, which has its headquarters on Quarry Lane in Chichester, West ... 
28 May 2019

Chelsea success for Hillier and Greenfingers

Hillier has extended its incredible world record, winning a 74th consecutive gold medal at this years’ RHS Chelsea Flower Show, whilst Greenfingers had a hugely successful debut, with plenty of publicity around its garden, which earned a silver-gilt ... 
24 May 2019

Retail online sales see slight growth

In the three months to March 2019, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed in its retail sales index that the quantity bought in retail sales increased by 1.6% when compared with Q4 in 2018, following sustained growth throughout the ... 
23 May 2019

B&M continues upward revenue growth

UK variety goods value retailer, B&M, has announced its preliminary results for the 52 weeks to 30 March 2019. The results show group revenues increased by 17.1% to £3,486.3m, compared to 2018 which was £2,976.3m. B&M has seen revenue growth ... 
23 May 2019

Brits said to be spending £31billion on DIY projects

home improvement has proved more costly than thought, according to a recent study by construction supplier Burton Roofing. By analysing monthly housing data from the Office of National Statistics and talking to 1,000 UK homeowners, the investigation ... 
22 May 2019

Helping Children Grow exhibit wins a bronze medal at Chelsea

The ‘Helping Children Grow’ exhibit, supported by National Garden Gift Vouchers, at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019 has been awarded a Bronze medal.The exhibit, which features in the Discovery Zone of the Great Pavilion, promotes National Children’... 
21 May 2019
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