DIY
DIY covers the latest business developments and trends across the UK home improvement and hardware retail sector. This section reports on trading performance, consumer demand, sustainability initiatives, and supply chain management among leading DIY and home retail brands. Retail Sector’s DIY coverage provides insight into how retailers are adapting to shifts in housing, lifestyle, and economic conditions — offering practical analysis for executives, suppliers, and category managers shaping strategy and operations in this competitive market.
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Apr- 2024 -24 April
Dobbies appoints new board advisor for its restaurant business
Dobbies, the UK’s garden centre retailer, has appointed hospitality professional Robert Cook as a board advisor to support the strategic development of its restaurant business. Cook has led a number of the UK’s hospitality and leisure businesses including TGI Fridays, Malmaison and Hotel du Vin, and Virgin Active. Dobbies has…
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18 April
Bensons for Beds appoints new CCO
Bensons for Beds has announced the appointment of Mark Slater as chief commercial officer (CCO), which will see him become part of the retailer’s executive team. Having joined the business in an interim capacity in February, Slater brings with him experience from the executive team of Howdens. Prior to that,…
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5 April
Carpetright calls in advisers to cut costs
Carpetright has reportedly called in advisers to help it explore cost cutting measures as demand weakens and competition increases, according to The Times. The carpet retailer has appointed Teneo to consider a number of options which could include store closures. In recent years the company has struggled to deal with…
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Mar- 2024 -25 March
Kingfisher profits drop amid poor international performance
Kingfisher has seen its pre-tax profits drop 25% to £568m for the year ended 31 January, down from £758m the year prior. The company has put this drop down to poor international sales specifically in France and Poland. As a result, the company is now predicting full year profits of…
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21 March
Kingfisher mulls bid for Homebase stores in Ireland
Kingfisher, the owner of B&Q, is reportedly mulling a bid for Homebase’s stores in the Republic of Ireland, following reports the wider Homebase business is up for sale. According to The Times, the move would see the end of Homebase stores in the country, as Kingfisher would most likely rebrand…
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19 March
Wickes welcomes ‘robust’ FY23 trading amid Solar Fast acquisition
Wickes has announced a “robust” trading performance for the year ended 30 December 2023 as it confirms that it has acquired a 51% stake in Gas Fast Limited, parent company of Solar Fast. In FY23, statutory profit before tax increased 2% to £41m as the group reported an 11% increase…
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19 March
Ikea introduces new round of price cuts ahead of Easter
Ikea has announced its next wave of price cuts on hundreds of its most popular items ahead of the Easter holidays, to provide customers with a more affordable life at home. The group is passing on £125m in savings as cost pressures ease out. As a result, 400 items are…
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15 March
Bensons For Beds returns to profitability in FY23
Bensons For Beds has reported a return to profitability as turnover grew by 7.5% to £257.5m for the 53 weeks to September 2023, along with reported EBITDA profits of just over £1.5m from a previous loss of £15.4m. The bed retailer has attributed its performance to the implementation of its…
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12 March
Matalan fell to £100m loss before takeover, filings reveal
Matalan fell to a pre-tax loss of £103.4m in FY23, widening from a £7m loss the prior period, in a year that saw the group rescued by a group of investors. According to newly-filed accounts with Companies House, EBITDA fell to £124.1m in the year ended 25 February 2023, down…
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Feb- 2024 -27 February
Homebase owner eyes second sale in four years
Hilco Capital has reportedly put Homebase up for sale for the second time in four years after acquiring the business for £1 in 2018. According to reports from The Times, Hilco has already sounded out potential buyers such as B&M and The Range. Hilco originally acquired Homebase from Australian firm…
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