All Home & DIY articles – Page 206
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NewsWickes Q3 like-for-likes down 2% as big ticket items suffer
DIY retailer Wickes like-for-likes slipped 0.5% in the 39 weeks to October 1, but worsened in the most recent 13 week period, falling 2%.
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GallerySteamer Trading: Recipe for success
Cookware specialist Steamer Trading has continued its trend for unique stores by refurbishing a Grade II building in the North. John Ryan tours the store with managing director Ben Phillips
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DIY operator Hornbach reports net sales increase
DIY operator Hornbach reported net sales up 7.5% to e1.78bn (£1.53bn) for the six months to August 31. Total second-quarter sales rose 3.9% although net income was down 8.3% to e50m (£44.3m). Like-for-like sales dipped 0.2%. Hornbach’s international business was its main revenue driver, with second-quarter sales up 7.3%at its ...
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NewsIn focus: Laura Ashley
Laura Ashley has had a turbulent history since its launch in the 1960s by the eponymous fabric designer and her husband.
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OpinionLaura Ashley’s impressive revival
Despite a chequered history, descending from quintessential UK design icon of the 1960s and 1970s, enjoying international acceptance in the 1980s to spending much of the 1990s in deep trouble, Laura Ashley’s originally faltering but impressive 2000s revival is a textbook example of retail really being detail.
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NewsBig grocers avoid worst of price falls
Store stocks were down across the board over the week but food and general merchandisers’ declines were limited versus the wider market, although that was ahead of a Mothercare profit warning.
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NewsConsumers experiencing crisis of confidence, top retailers say
Leading retailers feel the squeeze as shoppers tighten their belts further and consumer confidence plummets, and fear no immediate improvement on the horizon.
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AnalysisWaitrose 'You’ll be surprised at what you’ll find'
Waitrose has a bit of a challenge on its hands when it comes to its food, fashion and home store in Canary Wharf.
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NewsDunelm store in flames on Coventry retail park
A large fire has broken out in a Dunelm store on the Orchard Retail Park, in the Willenhall area of Coventry.
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NewsH&M opens at Westfield Stratford City
H&M has opened its second-largest store in the UK at Westfield Stratford City.
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NewsCameron urges households to pay off credit and store card debt
Prime Minister David Cameron will today warn millions of cash-strapped households that they should pay off their credit card and store card debt as Britain aims to rebuild itself.
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NewsDunelm like-for-likes drop 2% in first quarter
Value homewares retailer Dunelm like-for-likes declined 2% in the 13 weeks to October 1.
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NewsWickes hires ex Sainsbury's executive as operations director
DIY retailer Wickes has hired former Sainsbury’s executive Martin Roberts as its new operations director.
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NewsGarden Centre Group sales bounce back as suitors circle
Garden Centre Group has benefited from the warm weather and a focus on plants to achieve a 7% rise in sales this year.
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Bed Bath & Beyond reports net sales increase
Home furnishings retailer Bed Bath & Beyond has reported net sales for the second quarter ended August 27, 2011 increased by 8.3% to $2.3bn (£1.5bn). Like-for-like store sales in the financial second quarter of 2011 increased by approximately 5.6% compared with the period the year before. Net earnings grew by ...
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NewsLakeland warns of "miserable" 2011 despite profits rise last year
Lakeland grew profits and sales last year but the homewares retailer has said that 2011 has been “miserable” in the last two months.
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NewsMorrisons eyes Garden Centre Group
Supermarket Morrisons is considering bidding for garden centre specialists Garden Centre Group, formerly known as Wyevale.
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News
Ikea reveals sales increase
Ikea has revealed that sales rose 6.9% in the year ended August 31, 2011 to reach nearly E25bn (£21.7bn). Over the year, the retailer cut prices and added stores to drive sales. The weak economy meant customers switched to smaller ticket items. Chief executive Mikael Ohlsson confirmed the company’s interest ...
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OpinionGrocery retailing isn’t just about price
It would have been hard for Tesco’s Big Price Drop to live up to the hype that built up before its launch.
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AnalysisOut of the ashes
B&Q’s new store in Witney is a former branch of DIY operator Focus. After visiting on a bank holiday Monday, John Ryan is convinced that, while its predecessor came unstuck, this one will do the job.