All Home & DIY articles – Page 281
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News
DIY chains take hammering over first quarter
The world’s two largest home improvement retailers, Home Depot and Lowe’s, have reported a meltdown in first-quarter profits as the US housing market continues to slump.
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News
Wilkinson to open first store in Scotland
Value retailer Wilkinson is to take its discount offer north of the border with the opening of its first store in Scotland this autumn.
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NewsBill Gates buys stake in Carpetright
Carpetright has been given an unexpected boost after Microsoft billionnaire Bill Gates bought a 3 per cent stake in the flooring and carpet specialist.
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News
Topps Tiles profits slide
Topps Tiles posted a fall in pre-tax profits of 16 per cent for the 26 weeks to March 29, as a tighter housing market feeds through into sales.
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News
Laura Ashley like-for-likes fall
Fashion and homewares retailer Laura Ashley today reported total UK sales had increased 7.9 per cent in the first 17 weeks of its present financial year, but like-for-likes had slumped.
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News
Debenhams to ramp up international arm
Debenhams is to more than double its international sales over the next four years.
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AnalysisM&S has no time to revel in its glory as share price plummets
Marks & Spencer may have made 1 billion, but there was no feelgood factor as its share price – and those of its general merchandise and food counterparts – slid.
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News
Ikea products to feature in virtual reality game
Swedish furniture retailer Ikea has taken its famous flat-pack products into the virtual world via a deal with publisher Electronic Arts to launch into its computer game The Sims 2 .
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AnalysisHomeSense: No-nonsense format could do well in tough times
The arrival of TJX’s HomeSense in the UK might appear untimely, but the no-nonsense format could do well in tough times. John Ryan samples the latest addition in Bristol
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NewsFocus to shrink 40 stores in turnaround plan
DIY retailer Focus is to downsize approximately 40 of its 176 stores as chief executive Bill Grimsey steers the business into the next phase of its recovery plan.
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News
ONS retail sales growth slows
Sales volume growth has slowed over the past three months as the household sector reported the largest fall in sales volumes for three years.
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News
Conran Shops poaches Natuzzi boss to be MD
Conran Shops has appointed former Natuzzi boss Nick Moore as managing director.
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News
Hunter to sell Dobbies stake to Tesco
Grocery giant Tesco aims to take full control of AIM-listed garden centre group Dobbies, in which it has a 65.5 per cent stake.
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News
Feather & Black plans to open 50 new-format mattress shops
Furniture retailer Feather & Black is to shake up the bed market by rolling out a new-format store selling its adjustable mattresses.
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Opinion
Will £1bn profit bring M&S joy?
The old retail adage that you’re only as good as last week’s sales isn’t quite right. Any quoted retailer is only as good as next year’s forecasts.
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News
OKA has designs on rapid growth
Furniture and interiors retailer OKA is seeking to open up to 20 stores in the next three years, as it bucked the downturn to post a 28 per cent increase in like-for-like sales for the 13 weeks to March 29.
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News
Tough market claims Habitat’s Irish stores
Habitat’s franchise partner in the Republic of Ireland has been forced to close its two stores because of a “severe downturn in sales”.
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News
New lows for New Heights, but five shops saved
A handful of New Heights stores have been rescued by Sofa Workshop after its sister furniture retailer collapsed into administration this week.
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News
MFI to slash a third of head office and support jobs
Furniture retailer MFI is to axe about a third of its head office and central support staff, as it enters a new phase of its five-year turnaround plan.
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News
John Lewis sales plummet
Sales at John Lewis fell during the spring sunshine, while sales at Waitrose soared.