NEWS


n BIRA Direct is launching a major autumn campaign for its retail and supplier members to help them take full advantage of the autumn selling season. The campaign is focused on products for the home and will offer both exclusive offers that are unavailable elsewhere, as well as guidance on the big trends for the season. The campaign, which will be called Autumn Footfall Drivers, will run from the end of August right up until Christmas. n The 83,000 partners who work for the John Lewis Partnership have, for the first time in the business’ history, been formally recognised in the company’s name as both John Lewis and Waitrose have added ‘& Partners’ to their names. This week new facades were unveiled on the face of John Lewis’ flagship store on Oxford Street, London, which has undergone a multimillion pound refurbishment, as well as its White City store and Waitrose outlets in Edgware Rd and Clerkenwell. n Returning for 2018, the Best Small Shops competition says it invites UK retailers to share what makes them unique, with the chance to attend the competition reception in Westminster later this year. The Best Small Shops competition, managed by the Independent Retailers Confederation (IRC), celebrates the commitment and creativity of independent retailers on the UK’s High Streets and the central role they play in their local community. n The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has launched a new retail data service featuring key EPOS statistics for Q2 2018, showing value growth in DIY, housewares, small electricals and garden. Garden showed the biggest uptake, thanks, says BHETA, to the seasonality of the sector along with recent good weather. n The owners of IM Tools in Burnham-on-Sea have made the decision to shut up shop for good after five years of trading. The store, which sells machinery, hand and power tools as well as decorating supplies, will close on September 30.


NEWS IN BRIEF Homebase creditors approve CVA


Homebase has announced that the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) proposal launched on 14 August 2018 has been approved with 95.92% of the company’s creditors voting in favour of the arrangement.


CEO of Homebase, Damian McGloughlin said:


“We of our are


pleased that an overwhelming majority


creditors,


including such a proportion of landlords, have supported the plans laid out in the CVA. We now have the platform to turn


the business around and return to profitability. This has been a difficult time for many of our team members and I am very grateful for their continued support and hard work.


“We can look to the future


with great confidence, and we will be working closely with our suppliers to capitalise on the opportunities we see in the home improvement market in the UK and Ireland.”


Under the terms of the CVA


proposal, 42 stores have been identified for closure during late 2018 and early 2019. Part of the CVA also proposes


cutting rents by up to 90% on its remaining stores, a move which has angered some landlords who are now said to be considering


Robert Dyas to stop using ‘acid attack’ drain cleaner


It has been reported by The Daily Mirror that homeware giant, Robert Dyas, is set to remove a drain cleaner product from its store, following a number of acid attacks using the item.


The Daily Mirror, said: “The


removal of Homecare Essentials Caustic Soda from its online range is another victory in our campaign to curb sales of caustic liquids that can be used as horrific weapons.”


The chain was alerted to the dangers via the publication, and


have since made the decision to remove the drain cleaner as it was used in attacks in East London schools. A 500ml bottle was available at the retailer without checks for £2.99.


Robert Dyas told The Mirror:


“The product has been removed from our site.”


In October last year, Home


Secretary Amber Rudd announced at the Conservative Party Conference that it will be an offence to sell corrosive substances to anyone under the age of 18 and announces crackdown on online knife sales. It was prompted by an increasing number of reported acid attacks, with more than 400 assaults using corrosive substances recorded in the six months to April last year.


Toolstation opens new distribution centre in Middleton


was joined by staff and senior management of Toolstation including James Mackenzie, managing director and John Meaden, marketing director. T oo l s t at i o n


currently has over 320 branches across the UK which are open seven days a week, and a Click & Collect service


Toolstation, one of the UK’s fastest growing suppliers to the trade, has opened its fourth distribution centre, in Middleton, Greater Manchester. The Middleton distribution


centre will create over 150 new jobs in the area in the next year, comprising warehouse operatives and management, and will service 45 Toolstation branches by the end of 2018, with the capacity to service 150. Its strategic location will enable quicker replenishment of branches in northern England and Scotland.


Councillor Mohammed Zaman, Mayor of Rochdale, officiated the opening of the distribution centre, which is located on the Stakehill Industrial Estate in Middleton, and


4 DIY WEEK 07 SEPTEMBER 2018


which has products available in branch within just 10 minutes of ordering. Builders, plumbers, electricians, painters and decorators and all those trades in between rely on their stock availability and every day low prices on over 13,000 products. With revenues in 2017


reaching a benchmark £300 million, and a programme of 40 new branch openings in 2018 that when combined with other growth initiatives will create a further 500 jobs across the UK, Toolstation looks strengthen its position as a supplier to the trade with an ambitious growth plan that includes the addition of further product lines in response to customer demand, and a


target of 500 branches in the next few years. The brand recently launched a


Trade Credit Card in partnership with Barclaycard, that offers an extended interest-free credit period of up to 116 days for all purchases made at Toolstation and participating companies within the Travis Perkins Group. Customers


can also benefit


from up to 56 days of interest- free credit for purchases made anywhere else that a MasterCard commercial card is accepted. Speaking at the opening the Middleton Distribution


of


Centre, managing director James Mackenzie said: “We’re delighted to open our new Distribution Centre in Middleton and what it means for the growth of Toolstation; job creation for local people; further enhanced service for our customers; and successful strategic growth for our business. The location


is excellent in


terms of quickening our ability to get the right products to our customers at the right time, and in strengthening our UK footprint. My thanks and congratulations go to all our staff and everyone involved who have worked hard to make this opening a success.”


legal action. Landlords M&G and Aberdeen Asset Management are


reportedly among those


considering suing Homebase for the rental cuts. Both argue that the cuts are too steep. Hilco Captial, Homebase’s new owner, which bought the DIY chain from Wesfarmers for £1 back in May, has proposed pumping £25m into the retailer along with up to £116m of debt. The CVA process is expected to lead to a reduction of up to 1,500 roles within the 42 stores earmarked for closure.


Dulux Trade reveals 2019 colour palettes


Dulux Trade has announced its


ColourFutures colour


palettes for 2019, with ‘Spiced Honey’ taking pride of place as Dulux Colour of the Year. Now in its 16th year, the Dulux Trade ColourFutures 2019 palette is selected to help professionals make colour and design choices for


a


wide variety of buildings, from commercial to healthcare and education to residential. Dulux assembled a global panel of top design professionals to research trends, insights and consumer behaviours to decide on its colour of the year - a warm amber tone called Spiced Honey - and four complimentary palettes that capture the theme of ‘let the light in’.


The global expert panel, which this year included Jim Biddulph, designer and materials expert as its UK representative, married art with science to decide on the annual colour. The colour is versatile and contemporary, and complements a wide variety of interior styles with its optimistic range of palettes.


Mr Biddulph explained: “The panel discussed all manner of topics from the year gone, ranging from the social, political and cultural. Even with a range of


unique


around the globe, the panel recognised the valuable role that designers play, and are increasingly playing, in bringing about positive change and that ColourFutures 2019 should be a valuable part of their tool kit in doing so.”


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