NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF


n Worcestershire-based Broad Street DIY is launching a new DIY Clinic on February 11 with the intention of helping local people who are having problems tackling home improvement tasks around the house. The monthly clinic is being trialled in February and March at the Bromsgrove store following the tremendous success of previous events held at the shop, such as DIY Ladies Night. n Wyevale’s Hillingdon Garden Centre, based in Uxbridge, North London, is closing down on January 31 because its landlords plan to build on the site. Wyevale confirmed that the site’s landlord is thinking of redeveloping on the land, and that the retailer is currently having a large closing down sale. The group thanked staff and customers for their “dedication and commitment.” n Wyevale garden centres has launched its new transactional website, complete with offer of free deliveries for all orders placed before February 14. Initially announced last Spring and made available for the retailer’s club members last November, the website boasts a large range of plants and garden tools as well as tips and advice. n The Rainy Day Trust (RDT) has been awarded £8,790 by the Big Lottery through its Awards for All scheme to support the Trust’s work with older people. The grant will be spent on expanding the help given by its volunteers, as well as expanding the telephone counselling and legal advice service. Rainy Day Trust CEO, Bryan Clover said RDT was extremely proud to make the announcement and the grant would make a tremendous difference to what they can deliver. n Argos has closed its branch in the Kingfisher shopping centre in Redditch. Staff at the retailer have reportedly been offered alternative jobs in other Argos branches. A spokesperson for the Kingfisher shopping centre said the news was “disappointing” but “not unexpected” following Argos’ takeover by Sainsbury’s.


2 DIY WEEK 3 FEBRUARY 2017


Retail suffers during December and January


Retail sales dropped by 1.9% in December, the biggest fall since April 2012, according to new figures released by the Office for National Statistics. Meanwhile, sales volumes continued to slide in January, according to the CBI’s latest distributive trades survey. All main retail sectors saw


a month-on-month decline in December, and the resulting drop far outweighed analysts’ expectations of a 0.1% decrease following


a 0.2% month-on-


month increase in November. However, compared with a year ago, retail sales were up 4.3% in December, but this, too, fell short of the 7.5% forecasted. In January, 32% of retailers said sales volumes were down, compared to 23% reporting a rise, giving a resulting balance of -8%. Sales volumes were reportedly flat in sectors


including furniture and carpets, but the decline was mainly led by grocers (-65%). Department stores, on the other hand, saw strong growth at +52%. Wholesalers, too, saw a


promising start to the year, with the strongest volume growth seen here since September 2007. Overall, 68% of wholesalers reported a volume rise compared with last year, with just 7% saying sales were down.


Commenting on January’s


sales results, CBI head of surveys and economic analysis Anna Leach said, “Grocers have reported a disappointing start to the year, but other sectors appear to have performed better. This month’s decline was mostly driven by falling food sales and seems set to be short-lived, with retailers expecting sales to return next month. “Headwinds are


on the


Retail results fell short of expectations in both December and January, according to reports


horizon, as past falls in sterling are expected to push up inflation over the course of this year, which will be a real squeeze on household incomes. Retailers will be under the cosh for some time yet.” Discussing December’s


results, ONS senior statistician Kate Davies said: “Retailers saw a strong end to 2016 with sales


Plans submitted for new, Victorian- style Fermoys Garden Centre


Fermoys Garden Centre in


Ipplepen, Devon, could


soon be undergoing a major Victorian palm house-style transformation, as per a recent planning application submitted by owner Blue Diamond. The plans include the


recolation of the garden centre within the existing site. The application states that the garden centre will remain open during phase one of the plans, with phase two incorporating the demolition of the existing centre and the construction of additional parking areas. The application outlines a


proposal to “bring back the more traditional image of glasshouses.” It also indicates plans to keep


the covered plant area located


in the heart


of the garden centre, with the other areas wrapped around it. “The presence of this nursery style structure is felt throughout the whole building, enhanced by the transparent roofing materials which light up the area.


“The style of the exterior is based on the architecture of the Victorian Palm Houses found in the Botanical Gardens of the 19th century. More specifically, the Temperate Palm House of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, built by Robert


The new look for Fermoys is inspired by Victorian palm houses


Matheson in 1862. provided the archetype


This for


the two notable elements in the garden centre layout; the entrance foyer and the restaurant.”


New garden centre in Colne to be postponed According to The Lancashire


A major new garden centre planned for Colne, Lancashire, has been put on hold due to disputes over access arrangements for the site.


Telegraph, Boundary Mill had planned for


centre to be developed on a 9,000sq ft


its new garden stretch of land off


in the final quarter up 5.6% on the same period last year, although the amount bought fell between November and December once the effects of Christmas are removed. There were some notably strong figures from smaller retailers, in particular butchers, who reported a significant boost in sales in the run up to Christmas.”


Big ticket sales boost revenues at Homebase Ireland


Homebase in Ireland has released sales figures for the year ending February 27, 2016, with revenues up 8% to €47.56m.


Big ticket sales helped with the sales boost, according to Homebase bosses, who said there had been growth “across all product categories.” The directors also pointed out that on a like-for-like basis the increase was 13% for sales as one store closed during the previous year. The business also benefitted the


during period from the


reversal of a lease provision which ended up representing an exceptional gain of €1.74m. Pre- tax losses for the year reduced by 73% to €2.4m, a significant improvement on the previous year’s €9m figure.


Greenfield Road near the M65. But access arrangements to the site have since come under dispute. Friends of Greenfield Nature Reserve have also protested that the development would be detrimental to the nearby reserve. The proposals for the site


The plans for Colne were described as “controversial” when planning permission was first granted


were outlined back in 2014, with promises of up to 300 jobs for locals. The existing planning permission, granted by Pendle Council, is due to expire in April.


Homebase Ireland improved its revenues from €43.73m to €47.56m for the year ending February 27, 2016


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