NEWS NEWS IN BRIEF


n British homeowners spend more than £13,000 on home improvements in the first year of purchasing a new home, according to new research. The data was collected by loans broker Norton Finance as part of its Home Improvements Report 2019. n Environmentalist Trewin Restorick has been announced as the first speaker booked for the Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual conference in Bristol, UK. The event takes place from 26-29 January 2020. n Kingfisher has announced that Clare Chapman, non-executive director and remuneration committee chair, has notified the company of her intention to step down from the board on 21 January 2020. Claudia Arney, non-executive director, will be appointed remuneration committee chair in her place. n The HTA has partnered with The Tree Council and the Daily Mail newspaper to use the National Garden Gift Voucher scheme to encourage tree sales through HTA member businesses. “We can help encourage tree sales through garden centres by providing the nation’s gardeners with the best advice on the types of trees suitable for their outdoor space. For tomorrow, plant today,” noted HTA president Boyd Douglas-Davies. n In a report by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), Houseplants saw an increase of 39 per cent compared to October last year, and pets and aquatic sales were up 31 per cent in month to month comparisons. Sales figures for hardy plants, bedding plants and growing media were down in October 2019 compared to


October 2018, however all categories reported remain up on 2018 for year to date comparisons. Rolling year to October 2019, compared to 2018 show that sales are still up 9 per cent. n Walmart has launched a new, exclusive tool line called HART, available only at Walmart. The HART line features power tools, hand tools, lawn and garden tools, automotive tools and several other accessories and lifestyle products.


4 DIY WEEK 9 DECEMBER 2019


B&Q unveils completely new kitchen offering


B&Q has unveiled a new kitchen offering,


the first


completely new range of kitchens to be launched by the home improvement brand in 10 years, as well as a new instore experience and digital tools to help customers create the kitchen of their dreams. With customers able to


purchase everything they need for their kitchen project at B&Q, from kitchen cabinets and flooring, to lighting and paint, the updated range and offering has been designed to help make the


process of renovating a kitchen simpler and easier. Comprised of 26 new kitchen door ranges, in nine different styles, the


The Telegraph selects Amtech as a key brand of interest


DK Tools and its Amtech brand, have been identified and selected by The Telegraph Business Club for its senior business community, as one of 15 cross-industry companies to watch out for in 2020. The Telegraph Business Club


provides content that offers insight into the levers that drive strategic success. The Telegraph expressed an interest in creating a short film about DK Tools, after coming across the company at the Amtech stand at the Spring Fair


Trade show event. company, The through its Amtech brand, designs, manufactures


and distributes around 2,000 powered and manual hand tools to retailers and wholesalers. They’re aimed at shoppers who need affordable products to complete jobs around the house, such as putting up shelves, laying decking, pruning or basic repairs. However, the loss of DIY knowledge among younger generations means


many


consumers are looking for help to complete tasks rather than having to bring in skilled tradespeople. Targeting both millennial


and


Generation-Z demographics with a more personalised brand


Timber Focus partners with Homebase


Timber cladding provider, Timber Focus, has partnered with Homebase to bring its range of products to the UK DIY Home Improvement sector. Timber Focus is a partner of Puidukoda OU which belongs to the


French owned Groupe Rose, one of Europe’s largest independent cladding suppliers. Managed by experienced timber


product


experts, the company is a member of TRADA and has members on the British Standards Timber Cladding


Committee


and has vast experience in supplying DIY chains, including merchant buying groups, with large volumes of


The


machined industry


profiles. specialists


are now looking to expand even further with a new partnership


with


Homebase, which will help them reach the popular DIY Home Improvement sector. Andrew Goto, head of sales for Timber Focus, added: “It is an honour to be working with Homebase and we are really excited to be partnering with them. Thanks to our strength and depth of stockholding premium timber, we can fully commit ourselves to providing a high quality, unique and affordable range in a timely fashion.


range includes new appliances, worktops, taps, sinks, storage solutions and accessories that include handles, innovative under cabinet lighting and more, all at affordable price points.


The new kitchens at B&Q


come with a longer guarantee - 25 years (was 10 years) and a range of flexible finance options, including zero per cent finance and buy now, pay later.


Housed under the new


international ‘GoodHome’ brand unveiled across Kingfisher stores earlier


this year, the kitchens range is the third leading


category to launch under the new brand following the ‘GoodHome Bathrooms’ and ‘GoodHome Interiors’ ranges which launched across Kingfisher’s major markets in June and September respectively. The instore experience is enhanced by new online digital tools available on diy.com. Customers can use a new digital visualiser to see how the ranges will look in their own kitchen, book an appointment with an instore kitchen expert and review and plan their kitchen with an updated digital kitchen planning tool.


The GoodHome kitchen range is available now online and instore. The new instore experience is currently being rolled out across B&Q stores nationwide.


experience, was the key for DK Tools addressing the key barriers- to-purchase. Head of marketing, Ricky Johal, commented: “This endorsement from The Telegraph is rich reward for our investment in developing and delivering an insight-driven brand, that bridges


the generational skills gap in DIY and disrupts shopper missions with a positive path-to-purchase.”


n To view the film, visit: https:// www.telegraph.co.uk/business/ business-club/business/new- generation-diy-ers/


Vitax grows soldier charity fund


The sale of one of Vitax’s leading gardening products has helped to grow the funds of a national charity by over £11,000. ABF The Soldiers’


Charity,


which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, have been supported by horticulture partner, Vitax, for the past two years. The charity provides a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their families in times of need. The funds have been raised


through the sale of Q4 fertiliser, popular with both professional and amateur gardeners; 20p for every 2.5kg special pack sold goes to the charity. The Soldiers’ Charity received the donation at a presentation at Wellington Barracks in London during the Queen’s Guard mounting parade. Commenting on the partnership, Paul Gooding, Vitax’s chairman, noted: “It’s 75 years since The Soldiers’ Charity first started and since its inception it has helped thousands of British Army families in need.


“Vitax is honoured to partner with the charity and since we joined forces we have raised over £21,000 during the two year partnership. Q4 fertiliser is one of our most popular products and over the past 12 months we have sold more promotional packs than the previous year, which is fantastic.”


Established in 1944, The Soldiers’ Charity is the national charity of the British Army. The charity’s vision is that all serving soldiers, veterans and their families should have the opportunity to avoid hardship and enjoy independence and dignity. For more details, visit the charity’s website at www. soldierscharity.org


www.diyweek.net


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