NEWS
Ideabright Ltd goes into administration
Independent retailer publishes new book
Graham Higson has published a new book detailing his exploits and adventures as an independent hardware retailer. His latest edition ‘All Mod Cons’ has been released after the successful ‘How Much for a Little Screw: Tales from behind the counter’ made its debut. Mr Higson, who has written
professionally for over 25 years and published a number of novels including ‘Oak Seer’ and ‘Flither Lass’, based his fictionalised memoir ‘How Much for a Little Screw?’ on the many years he spent working as a hardware man.
All Mod Cons, which is dubbed an ‘equel’ – meaning a narrative that runs alongside the timeline of an existing story – sees the return of the hardware shop, its eclectic bunch of staff and dysfunctional customers. Mr Higson explained: “All Mod Cons would fit between chapters 13 and 14 of the first book. With ‘How Much for a Little Screw?’
“I was conscious of not putting all the available stories in one book, which I think would have made it too long and effectively diluted its main theme, so I thought that writing another “episode” might work.” He revealed that there are plans for further editions in the future. “I’m hoping so. “There is a longer story already plotted out.”
‘All Mod Cons’ is published by Old Barsey Press and available now from Amazon.
Hardware retailer and parent company of Dibranto, Posh Rosh and Clean Up brands has appointed administrators this month after struggling with “very tough trading”, the company said.
Ideabright, which has its head
office in Chessington Surrey, operates retail outlets in Fulham, trading under the Dibranto and Clean Up names. The largest of the two shops, Dibranto – a quadruple-fronted hardware store serving DIYers and professionals – used to trade as Ideabright, selling electrical goods, hardware, paint, power tools and lighting before it took on the Dibranto name.
A spokesperson for Ideabright told DIY Week that this store was in the process of closing and would cease trading by September 9.
Clean Up, which is located a few doors down on Fulham Road, offers cleaning and laundry products and accessories as well as pest control ranges. This store will cease trading as a result of the administration. However, the spokesperson explained that other stores in the group have already closed over the past couple of years, prior to the administration, due to “poor sales”. These outlets include a second Dibranto store on Upper Richmond Road in Sheen and Posh Rosh, which sold homeware, kitchenware and baby ranges. “It’s been a combination of things,” said the spokesperson. “Trading has been tough and we’ve seen very poor sales. Our trading areas are not the cheapest and have very high costs attached so that doesn’t
help,” adding that the overheads of the business including staff, played a part, as well as the economic climate, concluding that things came to a head when it all “hit at once”.
Matt Ingram and Allan Graham
of Duff & Phelps were appointed as joint administrators on August 9. While neither of them were available for comment, a source
Petersham opens in Covent Garden
Petersham Nurseries – the stylish Richmond garden centre famous for its Michelin-star eatery – has set up shop on King Street, Covent Garden.
The family-run business, which was founded in 2004 by Francesco and Gael Boglione, has opened the first phase of the new site including a lifestyle, home and garden shop, a delicatessen, wine cellar and florist. Two new restaurants, a bar and courtyard will be added next year, so the site will occupy 16,000sq ft once completed. Staying true to the horticultural origins of the Boglione family business, its aim is to bring the ‘garden’ back to Covent Garden, delivering “nature and elegance” to the heart of London with an “unparalleled lifestyle destination”. The impressive Grade II listed building provides
a fitting home for the new shop, set beneath three Victorian atriums full of trees and greenery.
Designed in the same rustic style as its Richmond centre, the site
offers handpicked collections of homeware, furniture and gifts including one-of-a-kind pieces and antiques through to handcrafted items; chandeliers, Murano glassware, Italian hand-painted linen and cotton towels.
Staying true to Petersham Nurseries’ origins, the shop is a green space with specialist indoor plants and floral displays sitting alongside artisanal gardening tools. With an emphasis on urban gardening and being mindful of smaller spaces in central London, the shop provides inspiration for
London venue plays host to the DIY Week Awards
window boxes, indoor gardens and terrariums. A potting service prepares and plants window boxes and containers for customers to take away. The delicatessen, which is new to the Petersham Nurseries offering, has the feel of a traditional Italian grocery store, stocking seasonal fruit and vegetables, some of which is provided by Haye Farm, owned by Harry Boglione.
Akzo works to ‘normalise’ relationship with shareholders
Dulux parent, Akzo Nobel announced it has had a recent “constructive dialogue” with affiliates of Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited and reached an agreement with the firm. The move follows Akzo’s wrangle with shareholders – hedge fund Elliott, in particular – during an attempted takeover bid by US rival PPG Industries and has been made with the aim
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of “normalising the relationship with shareholders”, said the paint giant. The agreement includes alignment on the Akzo Nobel strategy to fully separate Specialty Chemicals.
In addition, Elliott will support the appointment of Mr Thierry Vanlancker as a member of the board of management of AkzoNobel at the upcoming
Extraordinary General Meeting on September 8, 2017. Akzo’s relationship with its
shareholders soured during PPG’s attempt to acquire the business, with pressure to consider the deal put forward by the US company. A group of shareholders, led by Elliott attempted to oust Akzo chairman Antony Burgmans, reportedly blaming him for
refusing to engage in talks with PPG. Akzo revealed it had reported Elliott Advisors to the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). However, the latest announcement explains that Akzo Nobel and Elliott have agreed, subject to the terms of a standstill agreement, to seek to suspend all ongoing litigation for at least three months.
Following the announcement that the annual DIY Week Awards will move to a lunchtime format on Friday, May 11, we can now reveal that the 2018 event will take place at the Park Plaza Hotel in London, Victoria.
For a number of years the
awards event has been hosted at venues in Manchester and the Midlands but will come to London in 2018, following in the footsteps of popular past DIY Week events, the Industry Awards and Product of the Year Awards.
The central London location and new timing will hopefully be a winning formula for those attending and provide plenty of opportunity to network during and after the event.
Still with a focus on both retailer achievements and innovative products, the DIY Week Awards 2018 will celebrate the best of the home improvement and garden industry.
Several new categories have been launched for next year and we will start considering entries from September 18. Find out more by visiting our newly-launched awards website
www.diyweekawards.co.uk
25 AUGUST 2017 DIY WEEK 3
at the company said a buyer had been actively sought for the retail business and that they were currently in talks with an interested party. She added that the administration, which does not include the freehold of one of the retailer’s units, was still in its early stages and that no more information can be given at this point.
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