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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Jul- 2025 -24 July
IKEA opens first new small-format store in Harlow as part of UK expansion
IKEA has opened a new small-format store in Harlow, Essex, the first of three such sites due this year, just over 100 days after acquiring the lease. The new store, which opened on 24 July, is located in a retail park and designed to offer a quicker and more accessible…
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24 July
Wickes hits record market share as H1 sales rise 5.6%
Wickes has “gone from strength to strength” in the first half of the year, with sales up by 5.6% year-on-year to £847.9m, as the group also hit a “record” market share. Over the period, volume-led growth momentum was reported across all areas of the business, and retail sales rose by…
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23 July
Portmeirion H1 sales rise 1.3% to £37.1m despite US tariffs
Homeware retailer Portmeirion Group has reported a sales rise of 1.3% to £37.1m in the six months to 30 June, thanks to a rebound in South Korea and strong international demand despite disruption in the US, its largest market. The group, which operates brands Spode, Portmeirion, Royal Worcester, Nambé, Pimpernel…
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17 July
DFS annual profits to exceed guidance for FY25
DFS Furniture expects its full-year profits before tax to be “slightly above” the top end of its £25m to £29m guidance range, and up by about £20m year-on-year, for the year to 29 June. The retailer of upholstered furniture attributed its performance to a combination of strong trading and tighter…
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16 July
Pottery Barn to launch UK website
Pottery Barn has announced it will launch a UK website this autumn, marking the American home furnishings retailer’s first direct entry into the market. The company said its UK website will offer a selection of furniture, bedding, lighting and decorative accessories from its core range, with an emphasis on what…
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4 July
Bensons for Beds losses widen as market pressures persist
Bensons for Beds has reported widening losses of £22m for the year ended 28 September 2024, up from £19.9m the previous year, as it continues to face external market pressures and internal operational issues. The group’s pre-tax loss included £8.8m in interest payments, £5.6m in depreciation, and £4.4m in International…
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2 July
Topps Tiles Q3 sales jump 10% amid boost in trade customers
Topps Tiles has revealed that its group adjusted sales increased 10.1% in the third quarter of the year, up 4.1% compared with H1 and 6.1% higher year-on-year. The tile retailer said its sales trajectory has improved across all divisions in the group, with Topps Tiles, Parkside and Online Pure Play…
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Jun- 2025 -27 June
Dobbies reopens Hungerford store after refurbishment
Dobbies has relaunched its garden centre in Hungerford following refurbishment, marking the third upgrade in the chain’s national investment programme. The overhaul includes a wider selection of plants and gardening products, with the company working with new and existing suppliers to expand its range. New compost lines and a bespoke…
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27 June
Søstrene Grene to open 500 stores amid ‘record’ trading
Danish homewares brand Søstrene Grene is set to expand into Italy and Poland in 2026, as it plans to operate 500 stores by 2027. The news comes on the heels of the group’s strong trading across the UK and wider European markets. According to Søstrene Grene, it expects to deliver…
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25 June
Halfords profits rise 6.4% to £38.4m in FY25
Halfords has reported that its underlying profit before tax rose 6.4% to £38.4m for the year ended 28 March 2025, above the previously guided £32m to £37m range. Alongside this, its group sales rose 2.5% on a like-for-like basis while its overall revenues inched up 0.1% to £1.72bn. However, the…
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