Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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Squire’s opens new café at Washington centre

Family-run chain Squire’s Garden Centres has announced the latest in a series of revamps across its portfolio, with the opening of a stylish new Café Bar at its branch in Washington, West Sussex.The new-look eatery features beautiful new furniture ... 
1 August 2018

Travis Perkins faces decline in "challenging period"

Wickes parent company Travis Perkins plc has today announced its half year results for the six months ended 30 June 2018.The company reported a revenue growth of 4.4% with like-for-like growth of 4.2%. Good trading performance in the trade focused ... 
31 July 2018

Kelkay acquires wooden furniture and garden structures firm, Anchor Fast

Kelkay Ltd, which was bought by US public company, Griffon Corporation earlier this year, has announced the acquisition of the Doncaster-based outdoor wooden furniture and garden structures manufacturer, Anchor Fast. The deal marks another step in ... 
31 July 2018

Kingfisher introduces energy storage batteries in B&Q

Kingfisher plc, the international home improvement company, has unveiled plans to install energy storage batteries at B&Q’s Swindon distribution centre. The installation is the latest milestone in Kingfisher’s strategic roadmap for sustainable ... 
30 July 2018

Dobbies announces new CEO, confirming Nicholas Marshall’s departure

After months of speculation in the industry, Dobbies Garden Centres confirms Nicholas Marshall has left the business, with an announcement that chief operating officer Graeme Jenkins is stepping into the role.Rumours began circulating in January ... 
27 July 2018

Yorkshire grower leads fight against plastic waste

Commercial horticultural nursery Johnsons of Whixley is trailing a new type of plant pot that is detectable by recycling centres, to help lead the fight against plastic waste in the industry.Johnsons’ new cream-coloured plant pots are detectable by ... 
27 July 2018

B&Q kicks off kitchen & bathroom recruitment drive

Following a shake-up of its kitchen and bathroom sales process, DIY giant, B&Q has now begun recruiting 800 new colleagues to its showroom areas. The retailer says the move “reinforces its commitment to the kitchens and bathrooms market”. It ... 
26 July 2018

BREAKING NEWS: Blue Diamond to take on eight Wyevale centres

Wyevale Garden Centres has agreed the sale of eight of its largest garden centres to Alan Roper’s Blue Diamond chain.Currently the UK’s third biggest garden centre operator, Blue Diamond will grow its portfolio to 29 with the acquisition ... 
25 July 2018

SCA Timber changes name to SCA Wood

SCA has officially changed its business name from SCA Timber and will now be called SCA Wood.The SCA Group has six business areas: wood products, forestry, pulp, paper, energy and logistics. The company believes the name change from SCA Timber ... 
25 July 2018

Businesses being held back by UK tax system

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling for a cut to tax complexity and the ‘red tape’ that it says is hindering British businesses.The vast majority of UK businesses believe the cost of complying with the UK tax system has escalated over ... 
25 July 2018

Hultafors Group acquires Hellberg Safety

The Hultafors Group which owns Snickers Workwear, Solid Gear Safety Footwear and Hultafors Tools has acquired Scandinavia’s Leading PPE Innovator, Hellberg Safety. Hellberg Safety has been manufacturing specialist PPE Equipment since 1962 . Its range ... 
25 July 2018

SP Group in administration

The Redditch-based POS and retail display firm, which has worked with a number of major high streets retailers and brands, has called in administrators after losing key contracts, including Sainsbury’s, and suffering “a significant decline in ... 
25 July 2018

Tile Mountain targets 15 locations across UK

The online tile retailer’s chairman Mo Iqbal revealed plans for 15 physical showrooms within the UK, following the success of its two branches in Stoke and Manchester.Speaking to DIY Week, Mr Iqbal said: “We believe, if we put 15 locations across ... 
24 July 2018

ERA achieves Investors in People gold accreditation

Home security experts, ERA, has achieved the prestigious Investors in People Gold accreditation.The Investors in People standard, which ERA first achieved in 2014, measures how well an organisation meets three key criteria, namely leading, ... 
24 July 2018

All Poundworld stores to close by next month

Poundworld is set to vanish from high streets as its administrator announces all stores will close by August.The Administrators of Poundworld Retail Limited, Deloitte UK, has announced that the distribution centre operations will close on Friday 20 ... 
23 July 2018

Disappointing figures, as heatwave and World Cup keep shoppers away

Non-food sales suffered in June, according to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index (RSI), falling 0.6% in volume terms, whilst online reported some uplifts. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that retail sales in June grew 2.9% on an ... 
19 July 2018

Akzo reports loss of revenue in Q2

Akzo Nobel has announced its operating income fell 23% to 225 million euros (£199.92 million), however Decorative Paints return on sales1 up at 12.2% (2017: 11.6%) driven by 5% higher selling prices. The first wave of price increases were successful ... 
19 July 2018

Valspar partners with B&Q and Screwfix to offer exclusive trade range

Valspar Trade has announced it is launching a range of new trade products aimed at professional decorators with the two major retailers nationwide.The Sherwin-Williams-owned brand has a long-standing exclusive relationship with B&Q, since it was ... 
19 July 2018

£1billion VAT bombshell for building supplies

A £1billion VAT bombshell will hit building supplies to the UK if builders merchants are forced to pay 20% VAT upfront on European timber and other materials. Parliament voted this week to ban the UK from raising taxes bound for the EU unless the EU ... 
19 July 2018

Bradfords Building Supplies posts 19% sales jump

The merchant group says it is reaping the rewards of expansion, with turnover set to pass £150million in FY2018/19. Bradfords Building Supplies (BBS) reported a 19% year-on-year increase in total sales for 2017/18. The business continues to expand ... 
19 July 2018
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