Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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Screwfix opens 600th store as business continues to build

Screwfix has opened its 600th store – a major milestone for the UK retailer which has added 100 new stores to its network in the past 18 months.Since opening its first store in Yeovil in 2005, Screwfix has grown significantly, with 97% of the UK ... 
21 September 2018

UK Flooring Direct to increase job offer

A national online flooring retailer headquartered in Leicestershire has increased its staff numbers past 100 for the first time and is to create 60 new jobs, Insider Media has reported.UK Flooring Direct, which moved to the Hinckley Commercial Park ... 
21 September 2018

Online spending on household goods soars in August

Household goods stores reported year-on-year (YOY) growth of 27.3% online in August, as consumers chose to spend time in the garden and doing DIY, whilst spending online reached a new record proportion of all retail sales.According to the latest ... 
20 September 2018

Brassware and taps market sees 4% growth despite intense pricing pressures

The brassware and taps market in the UK, which is worth in excess of £200million, is estimated to have grown by 4% in 2017, regardless of ongoing pricing pressures impacted by weak exchange rates and incerasing competition.Following a period of slow ... 
20 September 2018

Stax announces partnership with Rawlplug

Stax Trade Centres has announced details of another new strategic partnership which will provide its customers with access to an increased range of fixings, fastenings, anchors, sealants and adhesives from Rawlplug. The partnership will see almost 1,... 
19 September 2018

Screwfix announces 600th store to open in Hoddesdon

Screwfix is set to open its 600th UK store on the Trident Industrial Estate in Hoddesdon, making it its 100th store opening in the past 18 months.The new store, which has created 8 jobs in the town, officially opens its doors on Thursday September ... 
19 September 2018

B&Q sales dip 2.5%, as showroom sales decline

The DIY chain reported a fall in like-for-like (LFL) sales in the first half in the UK & Ireland, impacted by a 5.4% drop in non-weather-related categories, including showroom.Total sales were down 2.3% to £1,833million for the trading period, ... 
19 September 2018

Tesco launches discount chain Jack's with 10-15 stores to open by 2019

Tesco has today launched a new brand, and stores - Jack’s. Part of the Tesco Family, Jack’s offers great tasting food that is grown, reared or made in Britain at the lowest possible prices to bring customers outstanding value.The launch of Jack’s is ... 
19 September 2018

ManoMano rebrands its online marketplace

ManoMano has announced a transformation as the e-tailer announces a rebrand in line with its evolution.ManoMano is the go-to place for every DIY need - an online marketplace dedicated to all things DIY and gardening. It has over two million products ... 
19 September 2018

Clas Ohlson urges consumers to tune back into their home life with new ‘A Better Home’ campaign

Swedish retailer Clas Ohlson has debuted a new TV ad this month to support its A Better Home campaign, created to encourage people to use their smartphones more wisely and enjoy their home, when they’re at home.The TV ad, which you can see here, ... 
18 September 2018

Capital Gardens buys Studley Green from Hillview

London independent garden centre, Capital has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Studley Green Garden Centre in High Wycombe.Studley Green was operated by Hillview Garden Centres for four years, and its acquisition forms part of Capital ... 
18 September 2018

Garden sector feeling positive at Glee 2018

The sustained good weather this summer helped create a buoyant mood at this year’s show, whilst retailers and suppliers waxed lyrical about the uplift they have seen in sales thanks to consumers’ ongoing love of houseplants.... 
14 September 2018

Dunelm announces second year of falling profits

Dunelm Group plc has said it let "basic retail disciplines" slip as it reported a 6.7% fall in underlying pre-tax profits to £102m for the year to June 30.The company said it has been challenged by the recent Worldstores acquisition, but with strong ... 
14 September 2018

Housebuilding growth slows down in London

London’s homebuilders have been outpaced by the rest of Great Britain, as investment in housebuilding dropped to its lowest value in six years. The number of residential contracts awarded in London in 2017 was 34% lower than the value awarded in 2016,... 
14 September 2018

Habitat opens first new flagship store in a decade

Interiors retailer, Habitat has unveiled the first of its two new stand-alone flagship stores today at shopping centre, Westfield London.The opening represents an investment of £1.5million from owner Sainsbury’s, with Habitat celebrating the ... 
14 September 2018

Garden Re-Leaf Day 2019 kicks off at Glee

The eighth Garden Re-Leaf Day was officially launched at Glee this week with Greenfingers Charity calling on all sectors of the garden industry to get involved.With Greenfingers celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019, organisers are working on ... 
13 September 2018

BIRA takes its business rates proposal to the Houses of Parliament

The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), which represents thousands of independent retailers in the UK, has presented its plan for business rates reform to MPs at the Houses of Parliament. BIRA asked MPs to consider changing the current ... 
13 September 2018

New home management site launched to UK market

Hoppy.co.uk has launched this week after its founders spied a gap in the market with Brits looking for for digital services to make their lives easier. The site is set up to provide consumers with a ‘one stop shop’ concept, aiming to simplify ... 
13 September 2018

“Challenging” home market and promotions wipe out profits at John Lewis

Department store chain’s profits take a tumble, as home ranges struggle during the first half and margins are eaten away by the most promotional activity the business has seen in a decade.Gross sales were flat in the first half, up just 0.8%... 
13 September 2018

Toolstation introduces new AI technology into its omnichannel strategy

Emarsys, the independent marketing platform, has announced that Toolstation has expanded its partnership with Emarsys to include personalised direct mail and link a highly-effective physical channel to its digital marketing strategy. The new deal ... 
13 September 2018
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