All Home & DIY articles – Page 235
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AnalysisNick Worthington: Dreams’ driven chief executive
He may not have the profile of the retailer’s flamboyant founder Mike Clare, but Dreams’ chief executive has continued its strong growth despite the recession
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NewsPrivate equity firm Advent International acquires DFS
Sofas tycooon Lord Kirkham has sold his DFS chain to private equity firm Advent International for an undisclosed sum.
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NewsDobbies reports record sales at £104m
Tesco-owned garden centre retailer Dobbies recorded a 6.2% increase in like-for-like sales in the year to February.
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NewsB&Q co-founder David Quayle dies
Kingfisher bosses have paid tribute to David Quayle, the co-founder and the ‘Q’ behind B&Q, who has died, aged 73.
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NewsDebenhams to ramp up own-label home ranges as it drives margins
Debenhams will bolster its homewares with the introduction of a raft of own-label ranges from autumn.
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NewsLombok bolsters management as turnaround plan bears fruit
Furniture retailer Lombok has drafted in a former Tesco executive as it strengthens its management team and returns to profitability.
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OpinionBanish cynicism – it’s sincerity we want
Why do people think that running a garden centre is so jolly easy? The countryside is littered with examples of experienced entrepreneurs, many from the high street and DIY industry, having trodden the primrose path without realising they are heading to the compost heap rather than the Garden of Eden.
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NewsCargo profits rocket after drive to cut costs
Furniture retailer Cargo - which operates the Cargo and Homestyle fascias - more than tripled its pre-tax profits in the year to June 27, 2009, as it slashed costs and benefited from the buying power of its parent, Steinhoff.
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NewsAsda plans 150 Living stores in bid to be UK’s leading non-food retailer
Asda has confirmed that it is aiming to become the UK’s biggest non-food retailer by growing the number of Asda Living stores fivefold to 150.
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AnalysisLillian Tan: The low-profile chief revitalising Laura Ashley
Laura Ashley’s chief executive may keep a low profile, but her revival of what had become a tired brand has thrust her into the spotlight.
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NewsFood inflation falls to three-year low
Food inflation fell to a three-year low and overall shop price inflation slowed in March to 1.2% from 1.7% in February according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
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NewsCath Kidston confirms sale and lays out international expansion plans
Cath Kidston has confirmed it has been bought by TA Associates as it lays out plans for international expansion.
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NewsLaura Ashley profit rise driven by strong UK performance
Home furnishings and fashion chain Laura Ashley’s group pre-tax profit climbed 7.8% to £11m in the year to January 30, driven by a strong performance in the UK.
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NewsWickes to cash in on MFI gap with new-format trial
DIY retailer Wickes is opening standalone kitchen and bathroom stores to expand geographically and soak up market share left by MFI’s collapse in 2008.
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Analysis
An Easter battle come rain or shine
Recent unpredictable weather has only heightened pressures on the DIY sector and an Easter washout could spell disaster. Nicola Harrison looks at retailers’ fightbacks and asks if the looming price war will help
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NewsFindel pre-tax losses to be higher after restatement
Home shopping group Findel is to restate results for the year to April 3, 2009, following a review of accounting entries within its education division.
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NewsTopps Tiles cautious about outlook as like-for-likes slow
Topps Tiles has reported that consumer confidence remains shaky and trading patterns were lacklustre in its second quarter.
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NewsRetail chiefs forecast slow consumer recovery
Retail chiefs including Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose, Next chief executive Simon Wolfson and New Look chief executive Carl McPhail have warned against expecting a consumer recovery this year, a report has found.
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NewsLord Kirkham calls off DFS auction
Sofa king Lord Kirkham has ended the £500m auction of his DFS chain and said he has no interest in selling it.