NEWS Wyevale sells even more centres


Family-run business, Hillier Nurseries Ltd has secured the purchase of John Browns Garden Centre just months after buying four Wyevale centres in a separate deal. Meanwhile, Wyevale has also announced the closure of another of its sites: Thatcham Garden Centre in Berkshire. Under the terms of the latest deal, John Browns will continue to be run as a garden centre and the sale is expected to complete by the end of September. News of the purchase follows a transaction


in April, which saw Hillier


take on Wyevale’s Cheddar, Dorking, Marlow, and Lechlade garden centres. Hillier retail and wholesale


director Chris Francis said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of John Browns Garden Centre, joining the Hillier family business, growing the group to 17 garden centres serving customers across the South of England. The Hillier team looks forward to working with our new colleagues and getting to know the local gardening


know well, thanks to having


sold centres to Hillier over the last year. I would like to take the opportunity to thank our colleagues for


their hard work


community.” Anthony


Jones, COO of


Wyevale Garden Centres, said: “I am very pleased that John Browns will continue to be operated as a garden centre, and by an operator that we now


Screwfix expands network with two store openings in one day


The omni-channel retailer is ploughing ahead with expansion plans, opening trade counters in High Wycombe and Northallerton earlier this month.


Both new branches - on Finkills Way in Northallerton, and Tannery Road Trade Park in Loudwater, High Wycombe - officially opened their doors on August 8, with celebrations and promotions, including 10% off for customers, running all weekend.


The two new units join


Tile Giant launches new concept store in Staines


Tile Giant has announced it has launched a new concept store format in Staines on August 2, inspired by home decor high street brands. Enlisting the help of award winning retail design agency Stamp, the new store has been designed to strike a balance between the needs of the professional tradesperson and DIY-er looking for expert know-how and inspiration. The inaugural concept store will be split into separate zones - a first for Tile Giant - with areas appealing to the time-pressured tradesperson and the consumer looking to be inspired by the whole range on offer. Ranging has been reviewed with key brands including Mapei, Rubi and Schlutter displayed on eco-friendly wooden fixtures, and deals and offers brought to life with digital inspiration screens. The grand opening includes trade offers all


special 15%


off orders www.diyweek.net


September 30. Tile Giant managing director,


James Heese, commented: “We carried out extensive research in the planning for this new concept store to make sure that we are meeting the needs of the professional


tradesperson and


the general DIY customer looking for expert advice and a warm friendly environment to shop. “With an education zone to help customers choose different accessories as well as a brighter and fresher feel to the store we’re confident this will feel like a whole new tile shopping experience. “We’ve focused on the quality


and breadth of our ranges and employed experts to make sure that every customer is given the quality service they should expect.”


Screwfix’s network of more than 640 stores nationwide and form part of the Kingfisher-owned chain’s plan to have more than 97% of the UK population within a 30-minute drive of one of its stores. The business is set on rapid expansion and, just last month, Screwfix opened four new branches, with three officially opening their doors on the same day on July 18. Screwfix’s High Wycombe – Loudwater store is its second branch in the area, with a trade counter already trading around


and passion over the years, and wish them all the best for the future under new ownership.” The company also announced the sale of Bournville Garden Centre, which will be sold to British Garden Centres, the fourth transaction with British Garden Centres following the sale of one centre in December 2018, six centres in February


three miles away on Cressex Business Park, Store manager Stacey Paternoster said: “We chose to open a new store in High Wycombe – Loudwater to better meet the needs of the local tradespeople. Many of our new customers previously shopped with Screwfix at our Cressex Business Park and Amersham stores, so we’re delighted to bring Screwfix even closer to them for greater convenience.” Both the Loudwater and Northallerton stores will open seven days a week, with trading starting at 7am Monday to Saturday and from 9am on a Sunday. The stores will also provide a Click & Collect service, where customers can order their goods online or over the phone and pick them up from a store in as little as one minute.


Bobo and the Burglars by Graham Higson


This third book in the ‘How Much for a Little Screw?’ series follows Graham Higson’s time running an independent DIY/ hardware shop. Despite


humorous take on life from behind


a


it being counter,


another this book


deals with how the characters coped with the destruction and aftermath of a burglary, though interwoven with lots of other threads and stories. The narrative follows on directly from All Mod Cons, and may also be read alongside the first book in the series How Much for a Little Screw?


Mr Higson said: “It wasn’t possible to include this particular storyline in the first book, so it is being told here as an additional episode. “A


burglary


including before


livelihoods can were be


devastating. It’s much worse when it’s your home, of course, but in this particular instance people’s


at


stake, with little sympathy or practical help available from


outside. We were only able to survive by pulling together some fragile strands to keep going.” Bobo and the Burglars uses a light-hearted style in the form of a novel, just like with screen drama that jiggles true tales into something akin to fiction. Available from Amazon for £7.99 on paperback and £2.99 on Kindle.


and eight centres in June 2019. Bournville will continue to be run as a garden centre and the sale is expected to complete mid- August.


Charles Stubbs, MD of British


Garden Centres said: “We are proud to announce the purchase of Bournville Garden Centre into our rapidly expanding British Garden Centres family.


Robert and I and all the British Garden


Centres teams


looking forward to supporting Bournville in the set up for the autumn/winter trading period.”


Scott Parnell opens new depot in Leeds


Civil drainage supplies specialist, Scott Parnell has announced the opening of its new depot in Leeds, located at Intermezzo Drive, off Pontefract Road, Stourton. This will be the fifth branch for the company, which launched from its Witham Head Office in 2012. It also has branches at Romford, Milton Keynes and Aberdare in Wales.


The business, which was set up by founders and current directors Dave Scott and Steve Parnell, has gone from strength to strength over the past seven years. As well as its


civils and drainage supplies, it is an exclusive provider of a range of innovative Network Rail- approved


products, including


ArcoSystem, TouchSafe and the recently launched postmix alternative, Techno-Crete. It also has a successful water management sub-contractor service – Scott Parnell Water Management Ltd.


The new branch at Leeds will enable Scott Parnell to expand its business even further in the north of England with improved distribution channels with a clear focus on delivering the high quality customer service and expertise it is renowned for. Scott Parnell Leeds will be headed up by the company’s Northern regional director, Steven Holroyd, who said: “The addition of our Leeds depot is a exciting development for the team. As the business continues to grow and develop, it will enable us to finely tune our service across, not only the north of England, but the whole of the UK.”


23 AUGUST 2019 DIY WEEK 5


Phillippa, are


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