The essential news source for the home improvement industry SPRING FAIR PREVIEW


20 JANUARY 2017 Your six page guide to this year’s show p15


INSIDE THIS WEEK


GLOBAL DIY SUMMIT The latest news from this summer’s top DIY event p12


SHOOTING FROM THE HIP


Graham Higson’s memories delve into the 80s


FLOORING & FLOORCARE


Which sales are heating up underfoot?


WWW.DIYWEEK.NET Argos helps boost sales at Sainsbury’s


Total sales nudged up 0.8% at Sainbury’s during its third quarter, covering the 15 weeks to January 7, 2017, helped by a 4.1% boost to total sales at newly acquired Argos. Like-for-like retail sales were up just 0.1% across the supermarket group, with Argos seeing a like- for-like rise of 4%. Combined like- for-likes at Sainsbury’s and Argos (excluding fuel) were up 1%. Group chief executive Mike Coupe said, “Sainsbury’s offered customers greater quality food, choice and value than ever before, across all channels. We had a record Christmas week, with over 30 million customer transactions at


Sainsbury’s Argos has proven a worthy acquisition for Sainsbury’s and over £1 billion of sales across the group.


Thanks to the commitment of all our colleagues, we delivered an excellent shopping experience and helped our customers live well for less over the festive period. “Our


groceries online and


convenience channels performed well, achieving over nine and six per cent sales growth respectively and at Argos we saw record levels of online participation. Online sales made up 18% of total group sales in the quarter.


“At Argos we delivered strong


growth in the quarter, driven by the key Black Friday and Christmas trading periods. Our Argos digital stores in Sainsbury’s supermarkets are performing well, as awareness of the convenience of shopping at both Sainsbury’s


Countdown is on for the DIY Week Awards and Spring Fair


All the judging has now taken place and the winners final- ised for this year’s DIY Week Awards, as the countdown to February 7 heats up. This is the first year the awards have teamed up with Spring Fair, the five day gift and home trade show spanning 14 sectors – including, for the first time ever, DIY and home improvement – and both events promise a host


of opportunities for networking, business and celebration. The DIY and home


improvement sector at Spring Fair will open a day early on Saturday, February 4 from 10am. Appearances will be made by the Dulux dog on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of the show. Product categories include: coating and adhesives, fasteners and fixings, hand and power


tools, hardware and ironmongery, locks and security, trade displays and shopfittings, abrasives and lubricants and clothing. Key brands already signed up for the show include: AkzoNobel, which will be showcasing Dulux, Cuprinol, Polycell, Hammerite, Armstead and Sikkens on stand 10C11 – D10. Bira will be on stand 10C6, Mica DIY will take stand


and Argos under one roof grows among our customers. “The market remains very competitive and the impact of the devaluation of sterling remains uncertain. However, we are well placed to navigate the external environment and remain focused on delivering our strategy.” Argos delivered strong sales in its technology categories as well as toys, sports and gifts. Over the Black Friday period, 65% of its sales were made online, making up 250,000 Fast Track deliveries over that weekend. Online sales grew by 13% over the quarter for the retailer, accounting for 57% of total Argos sales.


AWARDS 2017


10D24 and Stax Trade Centres will be at stand 10C30. Home Hardware can be found at stand 10A13 and LG Harris at stand 10C40. All DIY exhibitors will be located in Halls 10-12. Taking place on Tuesday, February 7 at the National Motorcycle Museum just


a


stone’s throw from the NEC, the DIY Week Awards will be hosted by highly experienced


DIY VENOM SAWS WITH BITE!


COMPRISES 2 X 500MM 8PPI FIRST FIX AND 1 X 500MM 12PPI SECOND FIX SAWS


OPTIMUM TOOTH DESIGN FOR EFFORTLESS CUTTING


RIGID HIGH QUALITY 1MM CARBON STEEL BLADES ENSURING STRAIGHTNESS OF CUT


LACQUERED COATING TO REDUCE FRICTION AND PREVENT CORROSION


NEW VENOM HAND SAW


TRIPLE PACK STOCK No. 17693


For more information, contact your Draper representative or call our Sales Hotline on: 023 8049 4333 or visit drapertools.com/become-stockist


® p24 p23


WEEK


foreign correspondent Clive Myrie this year. A multi-award winning journalist, Mr Myrie continues to make features for well-known TV and radio current affairs programmes The product shortlist is now available to view online. The retail contenders will be announced on the night. Tickets are still available at diyweekawards.co.uk.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32