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COMMENT At your service Editor, Fiona Garcia: fgarcia@datateam.co.uk


“It is critical for smaller retailers to focus on providing exceptional service”


Independent retailers have always needed to compete with national high street chains and multiple stores but are they in danger of being priced out of business? With limitations on the products and services they can offer customers because of budget contraints, they would appear to be at a disadvantage. So it is encouraging to hear that a leading wholesaler has agreed to become a national; distributor for UK gardening brand E.P. Barrus which celebrates 100 years in business this year. It is critical that independents focus on providing exceptional services and use the fact that they are smaller but independent and therefore more adaptable, to their advantage. As more wholesalers ensure independent retailers have access to the leading brands, so their potential for a greater slice of the market will increase.


News of John Lewis’expansion of its trialling home improvement and maintenance services across stores in the south west underscores the buying power that high street retailers have in comparison with independents. With the very personal service they are able to offer customers who come in store on a regular basis, they are well placed to suggest tradespersons for a particular job but do they have the resources to make this a professional service offer which would entail recruitment, background checks and assessment of previous projects? Even so, as is evident from our Focus on independents in this issue, these smaller stores are offering a service that the national high street chains and multiple stores cannot compete with: one that is personal and meets the needs of the local community. Hopefully, there will continue to be room for both.


Editor: Fiona Garcia


Acting news editor: Susan Deane Art editor: Paul Forster


Publishing director: Paul Ryder


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Published by Datateam Business Media Ltd, 15a London Road, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8LY. Phone: 01622 687031. Fax: 01622 757646. www.datateam.co.uk


© 2015 Datateam Business Media Ltd. DIY Week incorporates Decor Retailing, DIY Retail Leaders, DIY Superstore, Do-It-Yourself Retailing, Domestic Electrical Appliances, Excellence In Garden Retailing, Excellence In Woodcare Retailing, Excellence In Timber Retailing, Excellence In Tile Retailing, Garden Retail Leaders, Garden Retailing, Hardware Merchandiser, Hardware Trade Journal, Homecentre, Home Storage Retailing, The Ironmonger, Ironmongery & Hardware, Lighting, Martineau & Smith’s Monthly Circular, Mercantile Guardian, Superstore Management, Tools Retailing, and Wholesale Leaders. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publishers. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in DIY Week. However, Datateam Business Media Ltd will not be liable for any inaccuracies. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. DIY Week is registered at Stationers’ Hall. ISSN 0954-8823. DIY Week is printed on environmentally friendly paper; both text paper and cover stock are elementary chlorine free and sourced from paper suppliers with a well planned environmental policy. This issue of DIY Week includes some editorial photographs provided and paid for by suppliers. Printed by Buxton Press.


Founded in 1874


No 5,822 8 September 2017 www.diyweek.net


We are proud to sponsor the Rainy Day Trust


PEOPLE NEWS


Dunelm chief executive steps down


Dunelm Group plc’s chief executive John Browett has stepped down from his post for “personal reasons”. “We will immediately start a


search for John’s replacement and in the meantime I will provide interim executive leadership supported by our deputy chairman Will Adderley and chief financial officer Keith Down,” said chairman Andy Harrison. “Dunelm remains market leader in homewares and we have ambitious and profitable growth plans to continue building the UK’s biggest and best multi- channel homewares retailer. “We have a strong executive team in place to make this happen and the board remains confident in the group’s future prospects.”


Appointed chief executive in July 2015 after leaving as boss of high street retailer Monsoon, Mr Browett was also previously senior vice-president of Apple’s


4 DIY WEEK 8 SEPTEMBER 2017 ERA appoints Smartware product manager


ERA has appointed Kevin Spencer as its Smartware product manager. With expertise in intruder alarms and a wealth of experience in product innovation and market analysis, Mr Spencer has worked in the security industry for many years, most recently for Pyronix. “With the world shifting


toward smart technology and smart connected products I am


retail division and chief executive of Dixons. He said it was “time to move onto a new challenge” and he was looking forward to the next “chapter of my career”. Last month Dunelm said it expects full year profits to fall following weak sales. However, the fourth quarter showed an improvement with revenue boosted by its recent acquisition of Worldstores. Dunelm said trading in the first two months of the new financial year has “started positively with an encouraging like-for-like sales performance”.


excited to bring my expertise in APP enabled internet connected products to ERA to help to continue to drive the company into the smart connected world,” said Mr Spencer.


ERA marketing manager


Tania Tams said: “We are thrilled to welcome Kevin to the ever- expanding ERA team and sure his contribution will accelerate the ERA Smartware product offering.”


Farplants appoints trade marketing manager


The Farplants Group has created a new position, with Emma Glue joining as trade marketing manager.


“I am pleased to welcome Emma to our team and add her experience to our wealth of talent at Farplants,” said managing director Brett Avery. “We are always creating new ways to provide the best support to our customer and Emma will help us continue this into the future.” Ms Glue brings seven years’ marketing experience in logistical


software and parcel services to the role. She will support Farplants’ growth plans with a focus on continuous innovation and initiatives to help retailers maximise sales.


“I am delighted to join a company with such a strong focus on quality and delivering the best customer experience,” said Ms Glue. “There are exciting projects in the pipeline that will ensure our customers continue to benefit from the latest ranges and exceptional support.”


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