YEAR IN REVIEW


PRESENTS 2018 DIY WEEK


The industry reacts to the growing concern of Brexit, a number of successful and unsuccessful acquisitions, head office reshuffles, and more that has been hitting the headlines this year.


JANUARY


• Bunnings Warehouse opens biggest store yet in Greater Manchester


• Business as usual at Bunnings despite boss’ three-month break


• Bunnings opens new store in Chichester • Major blaze at Rustins paint factory • John Colley returns to Kingfisher after seven years


• Andrew Livingston to join Howdens as CEO by end of the month


FEBRUARY


• Wesfarmers buckle under shocking performance from Homebase/Bunnings


• Bathroom Takeaway due to open new store in the midlands


• ManoMano closes 2017 with a turnover of €250 million


• Toolstation opens 300th branch in Eastleigh with further plans for expansion • Kingfisher to axe 400 jobs in France


MARCH


• Huge blaze engulfs Gardman warehouse in Daventry


• Bunnings Warehouse opens for business in Walton-on-Thames


• Crown Paints announces channel 5 sponsorship


• Axminster Tools moves up to top 100 retailer list


• Wyevale Nurseries has the highest sales week in its history


APRIL


• Bunnings’ potential plans to exit UK unfold


• Gender pay gap in the DIY and Garden industry revealed


• Fire at Strikes garden centre has “destroyed most of the centre”


• Gardman announces move back to old warehouse after fire at Daventry


• New distribution centre for B&Q in Swindon to create 100 new jobs


• Trago Mills opens mega store in Merthyr Tydfil


www.diyweek.net MAY


• Cherry Lane acquires David’s Nurseries in Worcester


• Akzo Nobel boosts Dulux Decorator Centre Network in the UK to 203 stores


• Wickes to cut 100 head office jobs • Wyevale Garden Centres put up for sale by Terra Firmer


• Sugru parent company bought by Tesa • Wesfarmers sells Homebase, describing business as “disappointing investment”


JUNE


• Ultra Furniture Ltd in administration, as business is hit by Tesco Direct closure


• B&Q overhauls kitchen and bathroom sales process


• Toolbank parent makes Irish acquisitions • Taylor Grange Retail acquires Flooring Republic in a bid to rescue the company


• Amazon launches home services in the UK • Wickes targets 900 B&Q colleagues, as it ramps up kitchen and bathroom offer


JULY


• B&Q sweeps the board at Hampton Court with award-winning Bizzie Lizzie garden


• Amazon secures top spot for customer satisfaction for sixth year in a row


• Valspar partners with B&Q and Screwfix to offer exclusive trade range


• All Poundworld stores to close by next month


• Blue Diamond to take on eight Wyevale centres


AUGUST


• House of Fraser saved by Sports Direct in £90m deal


• Homebase announces CVA proposal and will cut thousands of jobs


• Akzo Nobel acquires Trade Paints • Toolstation opens its new distribution centre in Middleton


• Wyevale agrees sale of five garden centres


• Cardiff garden centre goes up in flames again


NOVEMBER


• Rosebourne completes purchases of Wyevale centre


• Wilko continues revamp of portfolio with new-look Morley store


• Tile Mountain chairman buys wholesale tile business


• House of Fraser to close more stores over rent wrangle


• B&Q UK sales slide, as Kingfisher exits Russian and Iberian markets


• Homebase completes financing with £95m DECEMBER


• Wyevale announces sale of Wellingborough and Wolds View centres


• Travis Perkins to review struggling DIY chain, Wickes


• Dobbies reports double-digit sales growth following head office shake-up


• Homebase agrees concession partnership with Tapi


14 DECEMBER 2018 DIY WEEK 15 SEPTEMBER


• Akzo Nobel acquires Doves Decorating Supplies


• Dunelm Group to rollout Amtech DIY proposition instore and online


• Graham Bell to head up B&Q as part of Kingfisher reshuffle


• BIRA takes its business rates proposal to the Houses of Parliament


• Habitat opens first new flagship store in a decade


• Houzz UK launches new pop-up shop OCTOBER


• Akzo Nobel finalises sale of specialty chemicals business for €10.1billion


• Wyevale garden centres sells five of its largest centres to Dobbies


• Kingfisher CFO resigns • Westland Horticulture acquires Gardman • Homebase appoints Ian Topping as chairman


• Drews the Ironmongers to close after 87 years


• Woodcote Green sold to Dobbies garden centres


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