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NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF


n The Swedish retailer’s new 32,000sq ft sustainable store in London’s Greenwich will open its doors to the public on February 7. Ikea has described the new outlet as “a beacon of sustainability for Ikea in the UK” and has been designed as “a meeting place for the local community”, as well as having a positive impact on the environment. n Wholesale supplier T.I. Midwood & Co, has become the UK’s exclusive supplier to merchants and retailers for Australian company Fantom Hardware, creator of the award-winning Fantom Doorstop. Managing director Simon Midwood explains the business has grown its product range by more than 15% over the past three years but says the new deal with Fantom Hardware is a real coup. n The specialist hand and power tool wholesaler announced, this month, it has been appointed as the exclusive distributor for US brand, ToughBuilt, in the UK and Ireland. The offer from the Las Vegas-based manufacturer includes saw horses and jobsite tables, mitre saw stands, toolbelts and pouches, toolbags and totes and knee pads. n The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has purchased the two minority shareholdings in Brooke House Exhibitions, the owner of the Exclusively Housewares and Exclusively Electrical shows, from Simon Boyd and Christopher Leonard- Morgan. According to the trade association, both shareholders had expressed a desire to divest their investments. As BHETA was previously the third shareholder in Brooke House Exhibitions, the move means the association will be solely responsible for the event. n Grand Illusions has announced the launch of its new website, where consumers can easily browse and purchase items from the range. The website has been transformed to help consumers navigate more easily and explore the collection, which includes home and garden products, as well as own-brand paint and decorating sundries.


4 DIY WEEK 14 JANUARY 2019


ProCook buys Steamer Trading in pre-pack deal


Cookware and kitchen retailer ProCook has announced the purchase of Steamer Trading after the independent specialist kitchenware chain appointed administrators yesterday. The deal saves 27 of the retailer’s 38 stores and includes the e-commerce business and head office team. Steamer Trading, which was established in 1985 by Liz and David Phillips, appointed Steve Absolom and Will Wright of KPMG LLP as joint administrators on January 9. KPMG revealed that, following their appointment, administrators completed an agreement to sell 27 of Steamer Trading’s 38 stores ‘and the majority of the business and assets’ to ProCook.


Whilst the move saves the majority of the Steamer Trading estate, 10 “underperforming” outlets are set to close with immediate effect, resulting in 79


job losses.


The family business, which was taken over by Liz and David’s son Ben Phillips in 2001, was originally founded on the site of the former ‘Steamer Inn’ in Alfriston, Sussex - hence the name Steamer Trading. ProCook owner Daniel O’Neill said of the acquisition: “We are delighted to announce this news and see it as a fantastic opportunity for Steamer Trading and ProCook to grow both brands. Our focus will continue to be on providing excellent value for money, great service and innovative high-quality homewares.” He added, “We are very excited about the future, though because of high rent and rates and the current retail climate we had to make the decision not to take on all the stores. However, we will endeavour to fill all vacancies across our stores by transferring people from closing stores.” ProCook, which is


headquartered in Gloucestershire, operates 37 UK stores and a fast- growing e-commerce business. The retailer also designs and manufactures around 1,500 exclusive products that span cookware, kitchen accessories and tableware categories and boasts a strong international presence within eight European markets. Clare Burgess, who previously the


was trading director of


Steamer Trading, will now head up the Steamer Trading Cookshop brand, said: “While I am sad to say goodbye to some colleagues, I’m excited about the future for Steamer Trading. The new Steamer trading stores will be offering an exciting shopping experience with a great mix of exclusive products alongside iconic


kitchen and homeware brands.”


KPMG added: ‘A further store – trading under the Divertimenti


Homebase introduces second concession partnership


Homebase, one of the UK’s leading home improvement and garden retailers, has signed a concession partnership


with UK


bed brand, Silentnight. The partnership marks the first step in Homebase’s return into beds and mattresses, and will


see several concessions


rolling out over the next six months, starting with Homebase


Haringey next


month. Homebase will also stock Silentnight’s range online from February and customers will be able to order beds and


mattresses for home


delivery either online or in any Homebase store.


CEO of Homebase, Damian McGloughlin said: “Our partnership with Silentnight marks another exciting step for Homebase as we continue to deliver our turnaround plan. “Silentnight is the perfect partner to work with to re-enter the beds and mattresses market, giving our customers access to a new range of products from a popular brand. We look forward to the first concessions opening in early 2019 and the launch of Silentnight on our website”.


Chief financial officer of Silentnight, Paul McKoen said: “Silentnight are delighted to be partnering with Homebase and we will provide Homebase customers with great service, quality products and value for money in store and online. “We are excited about the potential of our partnership and look forward to working together which will ultimately lead to Homebase customers getting a better night’s sleep”.


Dobbies reports 21% uplift over Christmas


The 40-strong garden centre chain posted total sales of £24.1million for the last six weeks of the year, with footfall up across its centres, and a number of categories delivering record performances. Like-for-like sales were up 8%


year on year (YOY), and 1% higher than 2016. Footfall was also up across Dobbies’ centres, with a 6% YOY increase. The garden retailer reported a significant uplift (+9%) in footfall in the last two weeks of the trading period compared with its 2016 figures, and has seen a strong sell through to date for its seasonal clearance event.


With more shoppers coming


through the doors, Dobbies saw a stronger customer conversion for both retail and hospitality on a one and two-year basis during the trading period. Both real Christmas trees and the retailer’s restaurants saw record sales


over Christmas and the retailer announced its cash margin is significantly ahead of both last year and 2016.


This positive Christmas trading follows double-digit growth in Dobbies’ first results since the business was acquired in June 2016 by an investor group led by private equity firms Midlothian Capital Partners and Hattington Capital.


It has been an eventful year


for the retailer, which completed a strategic review of the business and appointed a new leadership team in 2018. It also went on to acquire six new centres from the Wyevale portfolio over the course of the year,


brand in Knightsbridge – has been acquired by Divertimenti Limited. Both deals see 332 jobs being secured.”


Steamer Trading acquired Divertimenti in 2016, taking on the flagship London store, the Divertimenti Cookery School, the brand’s online business and distribution hub. Ben Phillips now owns the London store, having bought it from administrators.


Plans for new Aldi and Wickes in Isle of Wight


Plans have been put in place to redevelop the Newport Football Club site on St George’s Way by


the current football


ground owners. The mixed development of the site will see both retail opportunities and leisure uses. The


development will made up of five linked be units


housing occupants including a discount food retailer rumoured to be Aldi, 24-hour gym, DIY/ garden centre outlet rumoured to be Wickes, drive-through restaurant and two other retail units as well as parking for nearly 300 cars. Details of potential occupiers are currently being kept confidential for commercial reasons. Developers has said it hopes construction of the new retail park could begin next year and will be open for business in 2020.


“It will also help to maintain


retail spend on the Island by increasing consumer choice. “This is a site that has


been ready for development for many years and we are delighted to be finally bringing forward a plan that will not only give customers a new retail offering but will also create a significant number of jobs for local people.”


www.diyweek.net


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