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The essential news source for the home improvement industry HARDWARE SPECIAL


10 NOVEMBER 2017 8 pages of tips, products and retail insight p18


INSIDE THIS WEEK


SUSTAINABLE SALES How green issues are changing consumer behaviour and the industry


AWARD WINNER We catch up with DIY Week’s Retailer of the Year


BEING SERVED? Hardware with a difference at Mary’s Bar & Shop


WWW.DIYWEEK.NET


Retailers look toward Christmas, as October sees record decline


Latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reveal a 1% like-for-like drop in UK retail sales from October 2016, when they had increased 1.7% from the pre- ceding year.


On a total basis, sales rose 0.2% in October, against a growth of 2.4% in October 2016. This is the lowest growth since May and below the three-month and 12-month averages of 1.7% and 1.5% respectively. Over the three months to


October 2017, in-store sales of non-food items declined 2.2% on a total basis and 2.9% on a like-for-like basis. On a 12-month basis, the total decline was 2.1%, the deepest since BRC records began in January 2012. Over the three-months to


October, Non-Food retail sales in the UK decreased 0.4% on a like-for-like basis and increased 0.1% on a total basis, below the 12-month total average growth of 0.2%. The monthly decline is also the deepest since the BRC’s


records began. Online sales of Non-Food


products grew 4.0% in October, below both the 3-month and 12-month averages of 8.7% and 8.3% respectively. Online it was the lowest growth since BRC records began in December 2012. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson OBE said: “It was a meagre month in October for retail sales, as shopping activity slumped. With total growth at its lowest since May and below the 12-month average, retailers will


have cause for concern as they prepare for the crucial run up to Christmas.


“The decline was driven by the worst performance of non-food sales since our record began in January 2011, as consumers appear to have opted for outdoor experiences and excursions during half term, over visits to the shops.” With retailers showing a dependence on seasonal


shopping, Christmas sales have kicked off early and adverts have made an prompt entrance, with Argos, Currys and Asda now broadcasting their Christmas campaigns across television and social media in very early November. This has seen other companies follow suit, with Marks & Spencer, Lidl and Aldi to reveal their Christmas advertisements correspondingly.


DIY WEEK AWARDS: Don’t miss your chance to shine


With entry now in full swing, don’t miss out on the opportunity to get the recognition your company, team or product deserves. For retail businesses, there


are seven categories that can shine a light on your stand- out business and colleagues, as well as recognising your achievements over the past year. Why not consider competing for the Business Expansion Award,


Marketing Initiative Award, Training & Development Award or the coveted Retailer of the Year title? New categories this year include Team of the Year and Website/Digital Initiative of the Year.


As well as revamping our categories to reflect the changing home improvement and garden retail sector, we have also simplified the entry process, to make it even more


accessible to the busy suppliers and retailers in our industry – so it has never been easier to enter! There are 12 categories open to suppliers, including Hand Tool & Accessory of the Year, DIY Product of the Year, and Decorating Product of the Year, as well as the newly-launched Digital Investment of the Year and Retailer Support Initiative.


With our judging panels set to be announced very shortly,


this could be the perfect chance to get your product or initiative in front of buyers from leading high street names, as well as top independents.


The upcoming DIY Week


Awards take place lunchtime on Friday, May 11 at the Park Plaza Victoria in London. You too could be part of the major industry event, networking with peers from across the home improvement and garden sector,


and potentially even be up on stage celebrating a win. Read more about what a win can do for your business in our profile of Broad Street DIY (p16). For more information go to www.diyweekawards.co.uk


p12 p16 p20


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