All Home & DIY articles – Page 250
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NewsMydeco gets great response from early bird emails
Homewares shopping site Mydeco has introduced a second weekly e-mail newsletter to a proportion of its user base offering early access to special deals and exclusive offers.
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NewsLowe’s makes first international move with Woolworths Australia
Lowe’s, America’s second biggest DIY chain, is making its first international move through a joint venture with Australia’s Woolworths.
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NewsFocus wins backing for CVA
The future of embattled DIY group Focus has been secured after creditors today supported a proposal for a company voluntary arrangement (CVA).
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NewsConsumer loyalty to own-brand products here to stay
The growth in sales of retailers’ own-brand products is likely to slow although the shift in loyalty away from branded lines is permanent, according to retail consultancy Verdict Research.
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OpinionRubbish service means a rubbish store
Everybody knows that good store design is really only a starting point. If a walk through the doors means entering a slapdash operational environment where stock, staff and service all militate against getting what you want or need, then the design effort has been utterly wasted.
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NewsJohn Lewis fashion holds out amid sales dip
John Lewis sales fell 1.4% in the week to August 15 with fashion showing resilience despite the good weather keeping shoppers out of the stores for a large part of the week.While fashion remained flat, the decline in sales of beds, bedroom furniture and white goods showed signs of slowing.The ...
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NewsHome Retail Group sounds alarm on credit insurance risks
Argos and Homebase parent Home Retail Group has written to its suppliers urging them not to do business with retailers that have had their credit insurance removed.
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News
Costco opens first Australian store in Melbourne
US-based warehouse club Costco has opened the doors of its first Australian store.Located in Melbourne, the 155,000 sq ft store attracted more than 1,000 shoppers within the first hour of trading. The store features about 3,600 SKUs comprising groceries, electronics, clothing, DVDs, books and furnishings.Fresh food is predominantly sourced locally, ...
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NewsB&Q tests email discount voucher to clear stock
B&Q has embarked on its first viral marketing campaign in an attempt to drive sales and clear stock.
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NewsEuropean comeback to lift Kingfisher and Kesa
France and Germany’s emergence from recession is likely to benefit Kingfisher and Kesa, which both have big operations in the countries.
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Home Depot’s sales plummet
DIY giant Home Depot’s sales plummeted 9.1% to $19.1bn (£11.7bn) during its second quarter. Like-for-like sales were down 8.5%.“Concerns about the housing market, rising unemployment and softness in the overall economy continue to pressure consumers,” said chairman and chief executive Frank Blake. “Our business performed well in a down market, ...
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NewsRetail sales up 3.3% in July, ONS reports
The volume of retail sales in July was 3.3% higher than in July last year as deep discounting drove sales.
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NewsFocus CVA plan has ‘strong chance of success’
DIY group Focus’s CVA proposal has “a strong chance of success”, said Seymour Pierce analyst Freddie George after a company visit.
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NewsTK Maxx enjoys like-for-like sales growth
TK Maxx is continuing to benefit from its value position with growing like-for-like sales in its second quarter.
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NewsWeak consumer confidence continues to hit US retail sales
There was little sign of improvement in consumer confidence in the US as many retailers reported second quarter results yesterday.
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NewsHalfords finance boss joins Dunelm as non-executive director
Halfords finance director Nick Wharton has been appointed a non-executive director of value homeware group Dunelm.
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Williams-Sonoma signs franchise agreement with MH Alshaya Co
San Francisco-based home furnishings and kitchen equipment retailer Williams-Sonoma has signed a franchise agreement with MH Alshaya Co covering the Middle East region. The partnership is expected to open its first four stores under the Pottery Barn and Pottery Barn Kids banners in Dubai and Kuwait next year.The move marks ...
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NewsBest Buy threat to UK players overblown, analyst says
The threat posed by US giant Best Buy’s UK launch to electricals specialists DSGi and Kesa has been overblown, believes broker Shore Capital.
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GalleryRobert Dyas: Playing hard ball with hardware
Following Robert Dyas’s management buyout the hardware retailer wants to declutter its stores. John Ryan visits the Maidenhead test bed
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OpinionHome comforts
There are new signs of bounce in the hard-pressed homewares and furniture market, on which the springs went more than a year ago.