NEWS DIY Week Awards: Deadline for entries extended


Wite the lead up to Christmas such a busy period for retailers and suppliers alike, finding time to put an awards entry together can prove difficult for some businesses, so we have taken the pressure off by extending the deadline. Retailers and suppliers now have until Friday, January 18 to get their awards entries in online. Whilst this will be welcome


news to those of you who were struggling to meet the original deadline, be sure not to lose momentum – and get thinking about your entry today. It


has never been easier


to enter, with the whole process done online at www.diyweekawards.co.uk, plus


the option to save as you go and come back to the form, as and when you have time; so there is no need to panic about doing it all in one sitting. Entry to the DIY Week


Awards is open to retailers and suppliers from across the home improvement and garden sector – don’t miss the chance to put a spotlight on your business, products or people. The 2019 awards lunch will take place at the Tower Hotel, London on Friday, May 10.


As well as being a key networking opportunity, the event gives you the platform to showcase your brand to key individuals in the market, as well as the potential for your retail business, product or campaign to be heralded as the best in class across the industry. The awards celebrate innovation and best practise and we strive to recognise the businesses that keep the market moving and growing, despite a tough climate.


Whether it is top-class customer service, inspiring retail environments, exciting new


products, or creative marketing initiatives, there is plenty to highlight – not mention those retailers making a difference by reducing their carbon footprint. With categories like, Digital Innovation, Business Expansion, Team of the Year, and the overall Retailer of the Year, the DIY Week Awards cover all angles when it comes to the exciting


developments taking place within our sector. If you’re wondering about entering your business, team, product or initiative, take a look at www.diyweekawards.co.uk to see comments from just a few of our 2018 winners about what winning a DIY Week Award has done for their business. Just think of the doors that could be opened to you by being shortlisted and recognised as one of the best in your sector. In an increasingly competitive market, now is not the time to be shy and keep your achievements to yourself.


Travis Perkins to review struggling DIY chain, Wickes


Wickes parent company, Travis Perkins


has announced it will


begin


(TP), a


comprehensive review of the business and look to simplify the model in order to “improve returns.” The company has said the fundamental long-term growth drivers of the business


remain robust,


with a continued shortage of housing in the UK and underinvestment in the maintenance and improvement of the existing, ageing, housing stock. However, in the shorter term, market conditions remain uncertain, impacting secondary housing


market transactions and consumer confidence. Following a


comprehensive


review, the board has concluded that the group will focus on serving trade customers through advantaged businesses in attractive markets, and will simplify the group to reduce complexity and cost to drive returns.


TP said it will focus on


delivering best in class service to trade customers through businesses with clear competitive advantages in their markets. The group aims to deliver sales growth through market outperformance, building on the momentum in the ontract merchanting businesses, the continuing strong growth in Toolstation, and a reinvigoration of its general merchanting business.


Tong Garden Centre announces £4m investment


Tong Garden Centre in Bradford has secured planning permission for the next stage of its growth plans. Bradford Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee unanimously voted to approve Tong’s £4million plans that include a new two-storey building, a plant canopy, a bespoke soft play and event space, and the development of the lakeside area with log cabins for educational and horticultural use.


Tong managing director Mark Farnsworth said: “We are delighted to have been granted permission to continue with the work that we started three years ago to turn Tong into one of the top destination garden centres in the UK. “We have had such positive feedback from our customers about our progress so far that we have taken these plans to the council well ahead of our original plan.”


Contractors have been


appointed and work will start in January, with plans for the 1811sq m plant canopy to be completed by March and the 1155sq m soft play and event space to be open by the summer. Mr


Farnsworth “Whilst we are, and


concluded: always


will be, a garden centre led by gardening products, we will now be so much more than a garden centre.”


Since Mr Farnsworth and his Strong trading at Leekes Retail & Leisure Group


Leekes Retail and Leisure Group, based in South Wales, has reported another year of strong results. The family-run business which has been operating for over 120 years advised that the excellent trading reported in the year to 31 March 2018 had continued into the first half of the current financial year. The Leekes Retail and Leisure Group comprises a portfolio of Leekes home department stores together with the Vale Resort at Hensol. The retail


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business built upon its expansion into England with the acquisition of Park Furnishers Bristol in 2016 whilst the Vale Resort has benefited considerably from the investment in the world class wedding and event venue at Hensol Castle. The Group achieved turnover of more than £85 million in the year to 31 March 2018 which resulted in an EBITDA of £4.3m and strong pre-tax profits. Now in the first half of the 2018-9 financial year, it has seen a further improvement in group turnover and profits with the directors having announced that the Group has already achieved last year’s EBITDA after just eight months of trading. The Group, with its considerable asset base of nearly £70 million, has, with the support of its bankers Barclays and Lloyds, been preparing the next stage of its expansion plans which includes the second phase of its development of Hensol Castle which sees the addition of twenty-nine bedrooms as well as an 80 cover restaurant.


business partner, Tom Megginson acquired Tong Garden Centre in 2015, they have invested over £2million to improve the centre with a new plant area, the launch of Grass Hoppers adventure playground, a food hall with instore bakery and butchery departments, and the creation of a 320-seater restaurant. A further 40 jobs are expected to be added by the time that the expansion is completed in June 2019.


HT Perry wins HH Christmas window dressing competition


were invited to participate in the competition and Home Hardware said the overall standard of entry was


exceptionally high.


competition was judged by an independent panel.


Home Hardware has announced


that HT Perry


(Wellington) has won this year’s Christmas Window Dressing Competition. Watson Home Hardware (Sutton-on-Sea) received the runner’s up prize. All Home Hardware retailers


The judges particularly liked the use of window props (festive green door with wreath, fireplace with accessories and the thick silver tinsel) which complimented the Christmas ‘Star Gifts’ POS and window banner. The window was well


lit and offered an


abundance of curb appeal. Home Hardware would like to thank all members who participated in the competition.


14 DECEMBER 2018 DIY WEEK 5 The


In the short term, management will also focus on strengthening the


performance of Wickes


and capitalising on its clear competitive advantages in the DIY, small trade and kitchen & bathroom markets. As it


is


a predominantly consumer focused business, the Board will also look to review the options for maximising the value of Wickes in the medium term.


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