All Home & DIY articles – Page 209
-
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.
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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 ...
-
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’.
-
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.
-
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.
-
NewsElectricals drive weekly sales rise at John Lewis
Sales at department store chain John Lewis rose 1.4% last week to £58.6m, when electricals and home technology was once again the top performing category.
-
NewsTopps’ tumble spells trouble for sector
Analysts warned that Topps Tiles’ profit warning last week could signal weak trading for the wider home-related retail sector.
-
NewsWalmsley Furnishing bought by SKG Capital
UPDATED: Parts of furniture chain Walmsley Furnishing, which collapsed into administration yesterday, have been acquired by turnaround specialist SKG Capital.
-
NewsHomebase brings its best offer to the table
Homebase has launched a premium homewares brand as part of an overhaul of the DIY retailer’s homewares offering that includes a spring launch of the Habitat brand.
-
News
Williams-Sonoma revenue up 5.1%
Home furnishings retailer Williams-Sonoma has reported net revenues up 5.1% to $815m (£498m) for the second quarter ended July 31. Net earnings were up 4.8% to $39m (£24m). The consolidated revenues were driven by a strong comparable brand growth rate, a measure that includes both like-for-like net revenues and total ...
-
News
Home Depot to roll out click and collect
Home Depot is to roll out its Buy Online, Pickup In-Store service across its US stores during the third quarter of 2011. The service currently runs in around 100 Home Depot stores. The move is in line with the retailers’s stated focus on “interconnected retail”, based on the view that ...
-
NewsIkea Foundation donates $62m to East Africa relief effort
The Ikea Foundation has donated $62m (£38m) towards the relief effort in East Africa.
-
NewsCrate & Barrel to start brand building as it prepares for first UK store opening
US furniture giant Crate & Barrel is to start brand building and will launch a UK website as it prepares to open its first store in the country.
-
NewsRiot-hit Reeves furniture business re-opens
Croydon furniture store House of Reeves, one of the most high profile casualties of the London riots, has opened for business again.