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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May- 2021 -18 May
Topps Tiles ‘confident’ despite 2.8% revenue decline
Topps Tiles is remaining “confident” after it saw revenues decline by 2.8% in the six months to 27 March, due to lockdown restrictions. In an update, the retailer said the results reflect “two distinct and contrasting” periods of trading – with stores originally seeing like-for-like sales up 19.9% in Q1…
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10 May
Travis Perkins accelerates employee mental wellbeing initiatives
Travis Perkins has revealed that it has accelerated its commitment to ensure there are six times more mental health first aiders (MHFAs) in its business this summer than there were at the start of the year. The safety and wellbeing of colleagues is reportedly the group’s “number one priority”, with…
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6 May
Made.com expands warehouse operations
Made.com (Made) has announced that it will expand its UK operations with the development of an additional 350,000 sq ft warehouse at DP World’s London Gateway Logistics Park in Tilbury. The warehouse is expected to create up to 100 new jobs across the operative and administrative roles. The extension of…
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4 May
Loaf explores £70m sale
Furniture retailer Loaf has reportedly begun exploring a potential sale of the business that could value the business at around £70m. According to the Sunday Times, the retailer has appointed Grant Thornton to start the sales process and sound out any potential suitors. The news comes after the retailer saw…
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4 May
USDAW praises Ikea for continuation of living wage commitment
Ikea has been praised by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw) for its continued commitment to be a living wage employer and pay its employees at least £10 per hour. The news follows the Living Wage Foundation announcement of new rates for the “real” living wage last…
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Apr- 2021 -28 April
Travis Perkins completes Wickes demerger
Travis Perkins has announced that it has completed the demerger of Wickes Group following an approved shareholders general meeting. Following on from the demerger, the shares of Wickes were admitted at 8.00 a.m. today (28 April 2021) to trade on the main market of the London Stock Exchange. The group…
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21 April
Ikea owner to invest £3.4bn into renewable energy
Ingka Group, the holding company which owns the majority of Ikea stores has revealed it has invested of €4bn (£3.4bn) into renewable energy. The investment will support reducing the company’s climate footprint and a broader transition to a net-zero society. In the past decade the group has invested €2.5bn (£2.2bn)…
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16 April
Travis Perkins Q1 sales spike 17.4%
Builders merchant and home improvement retailer Travis Perkins saw like-for-like sales increase 17.4% year-on-year for the first quarter of FY 2021. The three month period also represented an 11.8% rise in sales when compared to the first quarter of FY 2019. The firm’s merchanting, and plumbing and heating arms saw…
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12 April
Hugh Osmond eyes £300m Homebase takeover bid
Hugh Osmond is reportedly one of a number of parties looking to launch a £300m takeover bid for DIY retailer Homebase. According to Sky News, the former Pizza Express owner’s investment vehicle, Osmond Capital, has emerged as a “serious bidder” for the home furnishings chain. If completed, the sale would…
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12 April
Homebase announces Next partnership
Homebase has announced a new partnership with Next in which its gardening products will be brought to selection of the retailers stores. The partnership will see six Homebase garden centres open in Shoreham, Ipswich, Warrington, Camberley, Bristol and Sheffield Next stores. Homebase is also set to open more of its…
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