NEWS
The Covid effect: A fifth of hybrid workers are using the working day for DIY, according to new data
A fifth of Brits are guilty of gardening and doing DIY whilst working from home, according to new findings. TonerGiant surveyed 2,000 hybrid workers to find out what the UK’s workforce is really getting up to when working from home.
Not only did the pandemic change working culture in the UK, normalising hybrid working in most industries, but it also led to an increase in gardening and DIY.
As the country was forced to stay home, seven million turned to gardening and online sales of home improvement products grew by almost 50%. And clearly,
the impact of the pandemic is still at play. Over 20% of hybrid workers admitted to getting their
Gardena celebrates growth in the UK market
Europe’s leading watering brand, Gardena, is celebrating continued growth across the watering and hand tools categories, after a successful spring and summer season in the UK.
The UK gardening market has
grown after a small decline in 2022, with the watering category seeing positive growth. Gardena has made significant growth in the
garden watering market, gaining shares in the hose, sprinkler and spray gun categories, reinforcing Gardena as a strong brand in the UK watering market. Gardena has also over performed with positive growth in the hand tools market. Opening over 100 new garden centre doors since January this year and launching in a number of DIY chain stores, Gardena
hands dirty on the clock, making the most of being at home with some gardening or DIY.
is committed to continuing its growth, with further investment into the UK market. Gardena has confirmed a five-year investment plan to support new and existing customer growth.
Channel sales manager
Edward Cantle said: “Seeing just how far Gardena has come over the last few years is truly astounding. Following our most successful GLEE to date, it is clear that the thirst for high-quality, reliable gardening equipment is out there. We have invested in our team, in a national marketing campaign, and in our online and offline resources - the investment is truly paying off.”
Palace secures acquisition of former Norcros Adhesives brands
Palace Chemicals has cemented its market-leading position in the tiling sector by acquiring several brands formerly owned by Norcros Adhesives. The move follows the collapse of Stoke-on-Trent based Norcros Adhesives earlier this year with the loss of 70 jobs.
As part of the acquisition deal, Palace has taken on a number of Norcros Adhesives’ popular brands, including Rock-Tite, Pro
Gyp-Base, Ultim8 and NX. Palace Chemicals, one of the UK’s leading independent manufacturers of tiling, construction and DIY products, has also ensured brand continuity and client confidence by appointing key former employees of Norcros Adhesives.
Jon Hall, who clocked up 10 years at Norcros Adhesives, joins Palace as a Technical Sales Manager, Rob Kyle, who spent 19 years at Norcros Adhesives,
has been appointed as Key Account Director, while Bethan Bright has been newly appointed with various sales responsibilities across the Palace product range. The three new recruits will work with Commercial Director Steve Ball and Sales Director Simon Clough to help propel Palace Chemicals towards its
It was also uncovered that workers living in Scotland are the most likely to pick up a trowel or hammer during working hours, with more than a third (35%) of locals admitting to doing DIY or gardening within the last year. That’s 14% higher than the national average. Staff in the 35-44 age bracket and those aged 65+ do gardening and DIY most often, whereas Gen-Z (18-24-year- olds) do this least. Not only are hybrid workers getting their hands dirty on the clock, but they’re looking for inspiration too. The data uncovered that a whopping 82% of Brits watch TV when
working from home, and one in ten (13%) tune into Homes Under the Hammer.
Commenting on the findings, Stuart Deavall from TonerGiant said: “Working from home has become a staple part of work culture in the UK, and comes with a lot of benefits.”
“Despite the fact that a number of hybrid workers admit to gardening and doing DIY on the clock, studies suggest that performance is not impacted by working from home. There are many benefits of the hybrid model for staff too, with other reports indicating that workers adhering to this model are happier employees.”
BHETA hosts
currency webinar for export members
For more information about
Gardena, to become a stockist, or speak to your local Gardena sales rep, head to
www.gardena. com/uk/about/salesteam
next exciting phase of growth, particularly its targeted expansion in the DIY market.
Ball said: “The new team members will no doubt help move the business forward, with their unbeatable combination of experience, contacts and knowledge. We’re delighted to be able to offer these roles following the sad closure of Norcros Adhesives. The move will provide that added bond with clients of the Norcros Adhesives brands that we’ve acquired.” To discover the full range of tiling, commercial and DIY products manufactured by Palace, visit www.
palacechemicals.co.uk.
IMG expands roofing division with new acquisition
Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG), the largest independent merchant group in the South of England, has acquired Roofing Gear, expanding its specialist roofing division by a further three branches and adding another £6 million turnover to the Group.
Established 19 years 4 DIY WEEK AUGUST 2023
ago, Roofing Gear has three strategically located branches in Yeovil, Dorchester and Poole providing a comprehensive range of roofing products, insulation and associated materials. This latest acquisition provides
IBMG’s roofing division with further geographic coverage, increased product extension and a strong platform for
further growth. Culturally both companies share a common vision, an independent ethos and a commitment to providing exceptional customer service. The roofing merchant will continue to trade as Roofing Gear. Jeremy Gear will remain in the business and work with Danny Spokes, managing director for IBMG’s Roofing
New BHETA business service provider, Universal Partners is to present an advisory webinar to BHETA export members on managing the fluctuations of the currency market on Wednesday 20th September. The event is aimed at supplier companies with international invoices to pay and considers the potential cost of currency market volatility to bottom-line. The event focuses on how suppliers can implement a foreign exchange strategy that ensures that even when markets move, transactions are never made at a loss. Currency management expert, Universal Partners helps ensure that BHETA members who export have an agile approach to currency risk management, giving them the ability to remove 100% of the downside risk while still being able to take advantage of the upside of monetary fluctuations. More details of the BHETA
currency event are available online at
www.bheta.co.uk or by calling 0121 237 1130.
Division, to ensure the business’ successful integration into the Group. Jeremy Gear, MD, Roofing Gear said: “This is a great next step for us. IBMG is the perfect custodian for Roofing Gear and this acquisition opens up an exciting new chapter for us all. Danny Spokes, managing
director IBMG’s roofing division said: “We are delighted to welcome Roofing Gear, Jeremy and all his team to IBMG. This is an exciting time for IBMG’s Roofing Division; as we scale up our offerings in terms of product, service, specialist roofing expertise and location.”
www.diyweek.net
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