NEWS


John Lewis announces integration of home improvement services


As part of its strategy to expand beyond shops and online into new and enhanced services, John Lewis & Partners has announced plans to expand its offering, so it now not only furnishes


homes but also


extends and renovates them. John Lewis already runs a booking site for tradespeople, Home Solutions, and last year, acquired home improvement firm, Opun. However, this week, it revealed plans to bring the two home improvement services businesses together, as it progresses with its ambition to


create “a truly differentiated home improvement offer”.


The company explained: “By


creating a 21st century Home Improvement proposition in what is currently a fragmented sector, customers will benefit from an end-to-end home improvement service, which includes inspiration, design, project management and execution.” Home


Solutions allows


customers to source and book trusted tradespeople for a range of home improvement services. It currently operates within JLP Ventures, a team within the John


as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Since the acquisition, Opun has been focusing on refining its business model, strengthening its team and developing its service technology, while continuing to deliver high quality home improvement projects.


Lewis Partnership that develops new customer propositions for John Lewis and Waitrose. Opun, which manages


large-scale home improvement projects, was acquired by the John Lewis Partnership in June 2018 and has been operating


High street footfall drops 4.8% but long-term trend is positive


Figures from the BRC and Springboard reveal that the UK experienced its worst footfall in six years last month, with declines across all regions and retail locations. However, Springboard says the long- term forecast is positive, as the slowdown in shoppers visiting retail locations is showing signs of a reduction.


In total, footfall for the four weeks April 28 to May 25 fell 3.5% in May, compared to the same point last year when it declined by 0.4%. High Street footfall declined by 4.8%, following from the increase of 0.5% in May last year. Other retail locations also saw shopper numbers fall, with footfall in retail parks down 0.8% and also down 3.6% in shopping centres across the UK.


British Retail Consortium (BRC) chief executive Helen Dickinson OBE said: “The UK experienced the worst footfall figures in six years… This reflects our recent sales data, which showed the largest drop in retail


sale on


record. The colder weather, as well as ongoing political and economic


uncertainty, made


many consumers think twice before heading out to the shops this May.”


Springboard marketing and insights director Diane Wehrle said the disappointing figures were not a surprise, given the warmer weather during the comparative trading period last year. She commented: “The 3.5% drop in footfall in UK bricks-and- mortar destinations in May is a poor result and is consistent with


the drop in sales for the month. However, we should note the year-on-year comparisons are off the back of a particularly strong result in May last year of -0.4%, which was boosted by warm weather and special events.” She added that, despite the


recent declines, the drop in shopper numbers across retail locations has, in fact, slowed: “It is really important to note the longer-term trend, with footfall declining by just 1.1% over the five-month period since January. This a much improved position on the drop of 2.4% over the same five-month period last year, showing us that the reduction in customers visiting retail destinations this year has slowed; a more positive result than might have been expected.”


Tinder for retail buyers secures £300k funding A “game-changing” online


platform, which works to bring retail buyers and suppliers together


and counts John


Lewis, Tesco and TK Maxx amongst its customers, has secured a six-figure investment. Glasgow-based


start-up


firm, Product Guru is described as “Tinder for retail buyers and product suppliers”. The product discovery platform, founded by Simon Coyle last year, allows retail buyers to compare thousands of relevant products from UK and overseas suppliers in a uniform way, enabling users to select the categories of


interest, so they


are ever looking at the products that are relevant to them. Buyers can then use the platform’s filtering tools to narrow down the selections to products that meet


www.diyweek.net their exact criteria. Mr Coyle said: “I am painfully


aware of the challenge (for both buyers and suppliers) in getting the right products in the right hands at the right time. “Retail buyers are inundated with


product samples and information, and with no meaningful process in place to review these options, opportunities were being missed for both parties.” Financial


backing worth £300,000 has come from Asia- Building products


manufacturer and distributor, Nicholls & Clarke has opened a new, dedicated paint store in Edmonton, North London. The branch will trade under ‘The Paint Centre by N&C’ and offers painting and decorating solutions for both trade professionals and DIY customers. The store, which opened in April, stocks a variety of well- known brands – many used by the trade - including Dulux Trade, Crown Trade, Purdy, Sadolin, Farrow and Ball, the Little Greene, Mylands, Toupret,


based Belmond Capital, Scotmid and Scottish Enterprise. Scottish Enterprise – the business support agency – contributed an £82,000 grant via its Innovation funding scheme; a further £160,000 was delivered through equity with the balance from smaller grants and other incomes.


Mr Coyle said: “Product Guru


is the first technology platform to shake-up their back-office product discovery operations and make it easier for [retailers] to discover the latest trends and find exciting new products for their customers.


“This investment will allow us to develop our platform for both buyers and suppliers with analytics and intelligent recommendations, while marketing our services to a much wider audience.”


N&C Tiles & Bathrooms wins at TTA Awards


N&C Tiles & Bathrooms took home the accolade for Excellence in Retail at the annual awards ceremony,


in


“recognition of its efforts to improve tile retailing”, says the TTA.


Detailing the reason for N&C’s win, the TTA explained that the retailer’s brand positioning of ‘quality products at affordable prices’ is reflected in the design of its stores, the in-store communications,


the products sold “and the long-standing


This change will bring both businesses together within the Services directorate of John Lewis & Partners, capitalising on the complementary capabilities in each.


John Lewis & Partners director of services Sean Allam at said: “Last year’s acquisition of Opun


demonstrated our ambition in the home services market and today’s announcement marks a critical next step as we look to strengthen and grow our services business. Bringing the teams together is an exciting opportunity to work collaboratively, share knowledge


and collectively


learn in the fast-paced home improvement market and create opportunities for growth.” It


follows news that the


department store chain will trial a new virtual reality experience to enable customers to visualise new products in their homes before they buy. Trials of the new retail experience, dubbed ‘Visualise Your Space’ are set to begin at John Lewis & Partners’ Kingston branch on June 26, in Cambridge on June 28, and in Horsham on July 2.


Nicholls & Clarke opens dedicated paint centre


Hammerite, Armstead, Polycell, Olfa, MacPherson Trade, Sandtex Trade. To cater to DIY customers, the


Paint Centre promises to have an “expert colour and design team” on hand to offer customers advice and tips on colour trends, paints types and applications. The company promises a huge stock of painting and decorating essentials in the store, sold at competitive and services include 30 days free credit on a trade account, delivery throughout the South East colour mixing and matching, plus free sample pots when customers return the empty pot and purchase the full size of the same product.


Nicholls & Clarke operates a number of brands within the building products and tiling sector, including N&C Building Materials, N&C Glass, N&C Moderna, N&C Nicobond, N&C Phlexicare, and N&C Tiles & Bathrooms.


price promise to customers”. Part


of the Nicholls &


Clarke Group, N&C Tiles and Bathrooms operates 18 branches nationwide, carrying thousands of tile and bathroom product


lines. The company


has continued to expand over the


years, opening five new branches in the past eight years. Year-on-year, sales have also grown, with the company reporting “exponential increases from 2017 to 2018”. Last


year also saw of N&C’s a


significant step change in the design


stores. The


firm relocated its showroom in Stevenage, whilst its New Southgate showroom was rebuilt after it was devastated by a fire in May 2018.


14 JUNE 2019 DIY WEEK 5


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