All Home & DIY articles – Page 208
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NewsCPI inflation rate reaches 4.5%
The rate of inflation rose to 4.5% in August from 4.4% in July as clothing prices climbed, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) showed.
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NewsHomebase launches painting and decorating service
Homebase is to launch a painter and decorator service to cash in on Britons who prefer not to do it themselves.
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GalleryIn pictures: M&S shows off first new-look store
Marks & Spencer has unveiled the first in-store changes initiated by chief executive Marc Bolland designed to better present brands, showcase the retailer’s exclusivity and make stores more easily shoppable.
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NewsBank holiday boosts John Lewis weekly sales
Shoppers turned out in force over the August bank holiday, enabling department store chain John Lewis to generate sales up 7.1% to £61.1m.
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NewsDobbies recruits operations director
Tesco-owned garden centre group Dobbies has hired Michael Hughes, former general manager of operations for Australian grocer Coles, to help drive its business.
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AnalysisExiting international markets
Tesco’s retreat from Japan is further evidence of how hard it is to grow businesses in the country
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NewsInvestor worry grows as trading stays tough
Grocers, led by Tesco, bucked a gloomy market, but it was a poor week for general retailers as investors continued to wring their hands about general prospects, not helped when fashion group Alexon warned on profits.
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AnalysisNext sows new seeds of growth
Its foray into diversification may have faltered in the 1980s, but Next’s latest move into garden and home may be on the money. By Gemma Goldfingle
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OpinionKingfisher turns the page
The collapses of furniture retailers such as Floors2Go in the last month served to show that the furniture and home sectors are in a run-down state – a verdict reinforced by the BRC retail sales data this week.
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AnalysisMichael Sharp
After almost 15 years at Debenhams the new chief executive is well placed to pick up where Rob Templeman left off. George MacDonald reports
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GalleryReinventing Waitrose
Almost four months, £15m of capital expenditure and a lot of hard work later, the refurbishment of Waitrose’s Canary Wharf flagship is complete. John Ryan visited before the grand reopening
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AnalysisActing on impulse
What constitutes impulse shopping? Is it just as prevalent at a time when budgets are tight? Charlotte Hardie finds out how retailers can boost the number of products bought on a whim
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NewsWickes sets up advice website for tradesmen
DIY retailer Wickes has launched an online advice hub for tradesmen to help improve their business skills and drive its sales.
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NewsLaura Ashley half year profits soar 28%
Laura Ashley half year profits surged 28% making the retailer confident about prospects despite the punishing trading environment.
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NewsSales slide at Argos
Argos suffered another big sales decline in its second quarter, but the retailer is confident that consumers will spend this Christmas.
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News
Joint venture between Woolworths and Lowe’s opens
Woolworths and US DIY retailer Lowe’s have opened their first store in Melbourne, Australia. The joint venture is a 145,315 sq ft hardware warehouse, and is the result of three years of planning. The store represents Lowe’s first foray outside North America and is the first joint venture of this ...
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NewsMarks & Spencer strengthens brand marketing team
Marks & Spencer has bolstered its marketing team to help achieve chief executive Marc Bolland’s aim of turning some of its ‘labels into real brands’.
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NewsRetail sales hold up in August, despite riots
Last month’s riots in English cities had little impact on retail sales, which edged down 0.6% like-for-like during August.
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Gallery
Dobbies, Peterborough
There are moments when it’s a little easy to be somewhat cynical about the green movement and its retail manifestations, but the eco department in Dobbies’ new garden centre in Peterborough goes some way towards restoring flagging faith.