NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF


n Members of the Garden Industry Manufacturer’s Association (GIMA) team were delighted to be awarded silver at the inaugural Awards Awards ceremony last week. The accolade recognised GIMA’s continued efforts in delivering the annual GIMA Awards, with the event scooping silver in the ‘Best Event – less than 500 attendees’ category. n A recent survey conducted by Which? has ranked Toolstation as the top retailer in the country in terms of customer satisfaction and how likely they would be to recommend the retailer. Toolstation ranked joint top of the list of 100 retailers, alongside electrical specialist Richer Sounds, beating the likes of John Lewis, Apple and Harvey Nichols. n Plans are underway to redevelop Squire’s Garden Centres’ Woking site by extending the existing shop and improving the plant area with a new outdoor canopy. There will also be a new cafe bar. Said Squire’s deputy chairman Sarah Squire: “We are very excited about our redevelopment plans for Woking. The project has been a long time in gestation and we are so keen to get started. Next spring you will see a centre that has been transformed yet still remains one hundred percent true to our horticultural heritage.” n Dulux Trade has announced the winners of its highly acclaimed Select Decorator Awards at a ceremony held at Belton Woods Hotel in Lincolnshire. Open to members of the Dulux Select Decorator scheme, entrants for this year’s competition were required to submit details of their best projects, complemented with statements from their clients. n Two Rudridge employees are gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime to raise cash in memory of a much-missed colleague. Paul Duke and Peter Burrell, from the civil and engineering groundwork specialists, will cycle from Paris to Geneva this September to raise money for the Stroke Association. Their routemwill include hairpin bends and punishing climbs for 320 miles.


2 DIY WEEK 26 MAY 2017


Topps profits drop in “challenging” second half


Topps Tiles has seen its adjusted operating profit fall by 2.8% and its adjusted profit before tax drop to the tune of 1.9% year-on-year for the 26 weeks ending April 1, 2017. Group


revenue stood


during the sales period, bring the total number to 359. With the successful launch of a new employer brand, job applications were up 40% compared with last year.


at


£106.6m, down 1.3% year-on- year. Despite this, bosses said the retailer delivered a “solid performance” in the “more challenging


market” against


strong comparatives for 2016, when sales benefited from changes to Stamp Duty. The results saw a gross margin of 61.2%, with underlying gross margin “broadly in line with the prior year”. Net debt was reduced by £1.8m year-on-year to £26.6m. Eight new stores opened


Chief executive Matthew


Williams said: “Our results for the first half reflect the more challenging macro-economic environment we have traded through so far the strong


performance we


delivered in the corresponding period in 2016 when housing transactions were boosted ahead of the changes to Stamp Duty.


comparatives begin


While these tougher to ease


from the end of June, the key macro indicators for our market


are weaker year-on- year and we are taking a prudent view of the second half prospects. “Against this


background, we remain confident in the longer term outlook for the business, as evidenced by in


the the in 2017 and


We will continue to focus


interim on


10% increase dividend.


our proven strategy of “Out-Specialising


executing The


Specialists” and to invest in important sources of future growth.


Topps Tiles bosses described its performance in H2 as “strong” given the challenging market conditions


In particular, our


recently completed analysis of the UK commercial tile market has confirmed it as attractive and


Online garden centre Crocus buys first bricks and mortar store


Online garden centre and supplier Crocus has bought its first bricks and mortar outlet at Dorney, near Windsor in Berkshire. According to Crocus co-founder Peter Clay, changes to the Walled Garden Centre, Dorney, which was formerly a Blooms of Bressingham Centre, will not take place until next year. He said: “We want to make it in our own image. We’re keeping it going this year and will relaunch next year in slightly different clothes.


“It is part of our ambition to see if we can change the way garden centres are done to more reflect what we do at Crocus. It’s been something we’ve been thinking about for a while to see whether or not we can make going to a plant centre a bit more inspiring then perhaps what’s currently available and do something better and different to what’s out there.” The sale was handled by Alexander Mackie Associates on behalf of Ryan Wasmuth.


we are now evaluating a number of small acquisition opportunities to increase our reach into this part of the market.”


RDT charity CEO walks 186 miles in under 10 days


Crocus will no longer be a solely online operation with the purchase of its first bricks and mortar garden centre


Bridgford GC ploughs ahead with major redevelopment


Bridgford Garden Centre in Nottingham is to be redeveloped by its owner Edward Tarbatt and leased to Blue Diamond on a 35-year lease. The revamped centre is due to open for trade by spring 2018 and, at more than 140,000sq ft, the development will be one of the largest in the UK garden centre sector. The site will also feature a children’s play barn, as well as concession buildings and a veterinary practice. There will be more than 600 car parking spaces, plus overflow, on an overall site of some 18 acres. The new garden centre will be developed alongside the existing Bridgford Garden Centre, which has been trading on the site for many years, and is run by Edward Tarbatt. It will continue to trade


in the meantime


and will only close once Blue Diamond’s brand new flagship garden centre is ready to open.


Rainy Day Trust CEO Bryan Clover recently a


walk of the


completed entire


Pembrokeshire Coastal Path – a distance of 186 miles – in just nine and a half days, ahead of his original target of 10 days. The aim of the walk was to raise funds for the charity, but also to raise awareness of the work that the charity does in Wales, and


encourage more


The existing play barn will also continue to operate during the development period and is going to be significantly enlarged and then incorporated within the new garden centre. The new garden centre


features a bespoke design for Blue Diamond, creating an attractive ‘orangery’ feel. Blue Diamons managing director Alan Roper said of the plans: “It’s important for me to keep pushing the envelope in terms of garden centre design. This design matches our innovative proposals at our Fermoy’s centre and we will be designing the interior in an equally exciting and


innovative style.” Mr Tarbatt is responsible for the new development and will continue to run the existing garden centre during the construction phase. He said: “Pleydell Smithyman and I have worked on this project for many years and we’ve had the pleasure of working with the local councillors, local authorities and MP’s to create what will be a truly wonderful destination. The support has been


new garden centre will most certainly add great value to the area, together with hundreds of new jobs.


applications. Bridgend-based Addis Housewares sponsored the walk and offered PR and marketing assistance, as well as a £3,000 donation to kick things off. Mr Clover said: “Only five miles into the walk, I twisted my knee in a rabbit hole which was to cause difficulties for the remaining route and required strapping to be worn for the next nine days.” Aside from his twisted knee, Mr Clover also encountered painful blisters due to having to walk through heavy dew which soon soaked through his boots. The walk has so far raised more


tremendous and the


than £6,500 (including gift aid) for the RDT. Support Bryan at www. justgiving.com/fundraising/ PembsCoastalChallenge RainyDayTrust


www.diyweek.net


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24