Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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Automation increases efficiency and capacity at A Perry

A. Perry Ltd, one of the the UK’s largest suppliers and manufacturers of hinges and ironmongery, will now be able to process orders more than four times quicker after investing seven figures in new automation technology. The £1.2m investment in ... 
21 May 2021

Kingfisher plc is today providing its Q1 21/22 sales update

Key points of this latest trading update from Kingfisher include:Continuing to make significant progress against ‘Powered by Kingfisher’ strategic prioritiesGrowing sales ahead of the market in the UK and FranceTotal sales up 61.9% in constant ... 
20 May 2021

Take advantage of the rise in demand for garden rooms with Windowlink software

With BBC news reporting that some companies have seen a 300 percent rise in garden room sales, a service from software specialists Windowlink is helping landscapers secure high-profile garden building projects. Recent studies have shown that 60 ... 
19 May 2021

Human, Building and Planet - Creating Indoor Environments for modern society

Human, Building and Planet - Creating Indoor Environments for modern society“The Industry Challenge Keynote” May 25th 14:00, Online Today, and in the future, the building industry faces major challenges. Health-related, economic and environmental ... 
18 May 2021

Painting the outside of a property can reduce air pollution says Graphenstone

Painting the outside of a house can be transformative, increasing its value by more than 20%*, according to Graphenstone. However, Graphenstone, the world’s most certified eco paint will also actively capture carbon dioxide, with just three 15L ... 
18 May 2021

BHETA to hold second Q&A on international freight

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) is to hold a second question and answer session on the topical issue of international freight, following the popularity of the first one back in March. Again, the event will enable members to ... 
17 May 2021

Queen’s speech marks Government intent to build back better

The State Opening of Parliament saw a number of new laws unveiled in the Queen’s speech, to ensure the UK ‘builds back better’ in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With 30 new laws set to be passed in this new parliamentary session, the ... 
17 May 2021

Metex online joins BHETA

Online tools and fixings supplier, Metex has joined The British Home Enhancement Association. With UK and international manufacturing facilities, the company provides innovative construction, self-build and DIY related products. Its wide range ... 
14 May 2021

Retailers unite to call for Government to avoid a “life sentence” of violence and abuse for shopworkers

A coalition which consists of more than 30 major retail businesses, are urging MPs to avoid shackling over three million shopworkers to a “life sentence” of violence, abuse and anti-social behaviour by encouraging them to back an amendment to a ... 
13 May 2021

Keter focusses on its people to boost wellbeing

Keter, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of home and garden products, is launching a group-wide challenge in the UK to help with employee wellbeing. Employees from both the Banbury and Redruth sites are being encouraged to take part in a ‘... 
13 May 2021

Norbord Europe is now part of West Fraser

Norbord Europe Ltd has announced that it is to join the West Fraser organisation. As one of the UK's leading engineered wood panel manufacturers and serving the housebuilding and construction industry with a vast array of board products for ... 
12 May 2021

HALF of UK tradespeople experience mental health problems due to work 

The research, commissioned for Mental Health Awareness Week (May 10th-16th) by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, found that nearly three in five (58%) experience some form of mental health problem, such as ... 
11 May 2021

Wet weather delays footfall bounce back across the UK, but Northern Ireland benefits from the reopening of retail

Latest data from retail experts Springboard reveals that footfall in UK retail destinations declined by -4.1% last week from the week before. This was largely due to a drop in activity in high streets of -6.6%, whilst in retail parks and shopping ... 
10 May 2021

Online bathroom retailer Victoria Plum announces record 46% increase in sales to £103m and ebitda up 115% to £4.5m in 20th year

Online bathroom retailer Victoria Plum has announced that its sales rose by a record 46 per cent to £103m for the year ended 28 February 2021.In addition, the Doncaster, South Yorkshire, headquartered business saw its EBITDA increase by 115 per cent ... 
10 May 2021

Pretty shades of grey

Grey looks to be the colour of the summer according to new research by eco paint specialists Thorndown Paints. Analysis of sales of their 2.5-litre tins of exterior wood paint reveal nine spots in the top 20 are taken up by grey shades, followed ... 
10 May 2021

Online retailer eSpares launches customer video consultations to tap up bricks-and-mortar specialists

eSpares, the UK’s leading online parts store for home appliances, has announced a new partnership with technology provider ConferWith. The partnership will provide customers with real time advice from experts over live video as they browse online. ... 
10 May 2021

Lockdown triggers 'Generation Renovation', with two fifths of homeowners looking to upgrade their homes

The pandemic has made many homeowners reconsider their living environment as they’ve been told to stay at home for the best part of a year. It’s clear that renovations are high on the priority list as two fifths (41%) of homeowners have plans to ... 
5 May 2021

Hartley Botanic recognised with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise as their English, handmade glasshouses boom overseas

Heritage Glasshouse and Greenhouse manufacturer Hartley Botanic has been recognised in this year’s prestigious Queen’s Awards for Enterprise for its work growing sales of its English, handmade structures abroad.The Lancashire-based, 83 year old ... 
4 May 2021

Completion of demerger and admission of shares in Wickes

Wickes has announced the completion of the demerger of Wickes from Travis Perkins plc (“Travis Perkins”) following the General Meeting of Travis Perkins shareholders on 27 April who approved the demerger.The shares of Wickes were admitted at 8.00am ... 
30 April 2021

One in five UK tradespeople believe they’ll need to work beyond state pension age

The study*, conducted by IronmongeryDirect, the UK’s largest supplier of specialist ironmongery, surveyed 500 tradespeople about their plans for retirement and found that a large proportion are pessimistic about their chances of finishing work when ... 
29 April 2021
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