COMMENT New neighbours Editor, Fiona Garcia: fgarcia@datateam.co.uk


“It’s time to tighten up your ship and provide an irresistible proposition”


We’ve news this week that another Australian player has set its sights on the UK retail market. With talk that consumer confidence is on the decline and people anxious over Brexit, you might wonder why the UK would seem such an enticing prospect. So, what do the Aussies know that we don’t? But that is when you realise that, with the headlines so often full of doom and gloom, if you focus on the negatives, you forget the opportunities that are still out there – opportunities that our friends Down Under are clearly seeing. Our lead story reports on homewares sales making a comeback, with comments from KPMG that the July retail sales are actually a departure from the latest consumer confidence figures and what people were expecting to be taken at the till. We’ve also news of furniture and flooring retailers making acquisitions and announcing big expansion plans, as well as core DIY retailers like Wickes reporting solid sales growth. Yes, there is an air of the unknown due to the political and economic uncertainty but consumers are still spending and international retailers are viewing the UK as an attractive market. So, with competition hotting up and customers faced with even more choice of where to spend their hard-earned cash, now is the time to tighten up your ship and provide an irresistible proposition. Take a look at our POS & merchandising special in this issue to help maximise the potential of your in-store environment. Within the feature, three retailers offer up their tricks of the trade, from show-stopping windows, to building full-scale roomsets. We also have a focus on impulse buys, complete with a simple step-by- step process for increasing sales potential in your store.


PEOPLE NEWS


Earlswood team drive for charities in Pavestone Rally


Four members of staff at Earlswood Garden & Landscape Centre are taking part in the Pavestone Rally, driving through 10 countries in just four days (September 7-10) in aid of Rainy Day Trust & Teenage Cancer Trust. “The car being used had to


be purchased for less than £500 so as you can imagine, it’s not


going to be a luxury trip,” said business development manager Brett Sheridan. “Each team has to raise a minimum of £1,500 but the total is expected to well in excess of £100,000 (split 50/50) so it’s going to be a great event for the charities.” The journey starts in Dover and culminates in Monte Carlo, with 100% of donations going


to the charity – all costs for the event are being paid by the team themselves.


uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ team/earlswood


ERA appoints Smartware manager


ERA has expanded its team with the appointment of Kevin Spencer as the new Smartware Product Manager. With expertise in intruder alarms and a wealth of experience in product innovation and market analysis, Mr Spencer has worked in the security industry for many years, most recently for Pyronix Ltd who are now owned by top CCTV manufacturers, Hikvision. He said of his role: “With the world shifting toward smart


4 DIY WEEK 11 AUGUST 2017


technology and smart connected products, I am excited to bring my expertise in APP enabled internet connected products to ERA, to help to continue to drive the company into the smart connected world.”


ERA marketing manager Tania


Tams said: “We are thrilled to welcome Kevin to the ever- expanding ERA team. We are sure his contribution will accelerate the ERA Smartware product offering.”


www.diyweek.net


Connett completes charity night ride


Faithfull Tools national account mananger John Connett completed a 100km bike ride to raise funds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Mr Connett completed the Liverpool Nightrider charity bike ride in just under six hours round a very wet, windy Liverpool and the Wirral on Saturday, July 15. However, it was an eventful night that began, he said, “with someone trying to pinch my bike off the roof rack”. The culprit was subsequently arrested by police but the attempted theft made Mr Connett and his team


late for the start of the race. They soon got moving through and Mr Connett said: “the adrenaline was pumping and got us all through the night,” despite double puctures from at pothole at 2.30am.


The team has raised over £2,000 so far for Alder Hey, which Mr Connett is delighted about. Last year Mr Connett and


more than 20 of his family and friends participated in the Praia da Luz Sprint Triathlon festival in Portugal, aiming to smash a £10,000 fundraising target along the way.


Editor: Fiona Garcia


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© 2015 Datateam Business Media Ltd. DIY Week incorporates Decor Retailing, DIY Retail Leaders, DIY Superstore, Do-It-Yourself Retailing, Domestic Electrical Appliances, Excellence In Garden Retailing, Excellence In Woodcare Retailing, Excellence In Timber Retailing, Excellence In Tile Retailing, Garden Retail Leaders, Garden Retailing, Hardware Merchandiser, Hardware Trade Journal, Homecentre, Home Storage Retailing, The Ironmonger, Ironmongery & Hardware, Lighting, Martineau & Smith’s Monthly Circular, Mercantile Guardian, Superstore Management, Tools Retailing, and Wholesale Leaders. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publishers. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in DIY Week. However, Datateam Business Media Ltd will not be liable for any inaccuracies. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. DIY Week is registered at Stationers’ Hall. ISSN 0954-8823. DIY Week is printed on environmentally friendly paper; both text paper and cover stock are elementary chlorine free and sourced from paper suppliers with a well planned environmental policy. This issue of DIY Week includes some editorial photographs provided and paid for by suppliers. Printed by Buxton Press.


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