march 2011
diary dates
March 2011
22–23 MARCH PATS
www.patshow.co.uk SANDOWN, SURREY A key show for the pet and aquatic market, new exhibitors for 2011 include: Best Pets, Trixie, R & L Pet Products, Alpha Feeds, Ortiga, Sureflap, Dorwest Herbs, Peregrine Livefoods, Hamish Macbeth and TopLife Formula.
15-17 MARCH Natural Stone Show
www.stoneshow.co.uk LONDON, EXCEL The event promises to showcase an exciting selection of natural stone tiles, slab and block from across the globe, including Italian, Spanish, Brazilian, Australian, South African, Turkish, Indian, Egyptian, Iranian, Welsh and Chinese.
16-17 MARCH Retail Business Technology Expo
www.retailbusinesstechno
logyexpo.com
LONDON, EARLS COURT A new event “combining an exhibition with an independent education programme incorporating seminars and workshops”. Product areas include: epos, merchandising, supply chain, online, payments, CRM, ERP, finance, hospitality systems, digital signage, scanners, cash management, mobile, multichannel and cards & payment systems.
5-6 APRIL PATS
www.patshow.co.uk HARROGATE
The second leg of the show continues in Harrogate’s International Conference Centre.
To publicise your event, please send details via email to
naomi.davis@onecoms.co.uk.
Discounts lessen inflation rise
A survey by the British Retail Consortium has shown that shop price inflation hit 2.5 per cent in January following increases in commodity costs which have pushed up food bills.
T he figure is in
comparison to an annual 2.1 per cent rise in
December. According to the survey the VAT rise had little impact on non-food inflation due to retailers cutting prices in the January sales; the rate of annual inflation for non- food goods rose to 1.3 per cent in January from 1.1 per cent in December, suggesting that much of the VAT increase was absorbed. BRC director Stephen Robertson explained, “The VAT rise had little effect on shop prices in January. Poor Christmas trading left
retailers with stock to shift. The impact of the increase was almost entirely lost among the unusually high number of post-Christmas discounts and promotions. "The rate of inflation for non-food goods - mainly the ones subject to VAT - was only 0.2 percentage points higher after the VAT rise than before, showing retailers generally took the hit on behalf of customers.
"But, with a range of other cost pressures also squeezing margins, retailers will struggle to go on absorbing it.” Whilst discounts prevented a further rise, food price inflation rose by 4.6 per cent, it’s highest since June 2009, due to hikes in agricultural commodities. The costs of corn and wheat have risen 92 per cent and 80 per cent
respectively since last year. Concluding, Robertson commented: “Rising
commodity prices continue to push up food inflation, now to its highest for a year and a half. Even so, shop prices are still rising more slowly than other wider measures of inflation that include petrol, utilities and services.” However, Mike Watkins, senior manager of retailer services at Nielsen added, “With over two thirds of shoppers looking to make further savings on household bills to compensate for rising utility bills, travel costs and now the rise in VAT, and faced with a squeeze on disposable income this year, we can expect shoppers to manage their household budgets tightly during 2011.”
B&Q to support youth DIY projects
Hardware retailer B&Q has announced plans to develop its CSR policy by launching a three-year partnership with national youth work charity, UK Youth. The alliance will help give young people tackle DIY and home improvement projects, by providing opportunities and support. Each of the 321 B&Q stores is to be twinned with a local youth group and will embark on community projects. B&Q employees will work alongside young people at a local level, teaching them a wide range of skills. The retailer is already known for its help in improving skills with young people in the UK, such
Movers and shakers
Steve Mullarkey has been appointed to York depot and lawn care products manager for Rolawn. He will manage the York depot and will also be responsible for the national distribution of the company’s lawn seed and fertilizer
as the Job Done! initiative which gives 11-14-year- olds basic DIY and home improvement skills. B&Q CEO Euan Sutherland commented on the partnership: "There is a huge skills gap in this country with the younger generation lacking the skills their grandparents have when it comes to basic DIY skills. We recognise this and the work we are now doing in communities across the UK is focused on young people, with whom we can share our expertise to make a positive difference. We look forward to working with UK Youth to build on the work we've been doing."
products. Steve is returning to the UK after several years in Australia, and brings with him an in-depth knowledge of Rolawn’s customers and product range. Managing director of Frosts
Garden Centres, Paul Wright has stepped down. The business is now under the direction of single group MD, James Frost. Paul joined the Frosts Garden Centre Group in 2004, leaving the role of
operations director at Choices UK. Solus Garden & Leisure was
awarded the Haskins Stewart Cup at this year’s Garden Centre Association (GCA) Awards on January 24. The award is given to an Associate GCA member, voted for by GCA members, in recognition of the hard work, development and dedication that a company has shown over the last 12 months.
4 Garden & Hardware News
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