NEWS


As lockdown fatigue grows, shoppers are increasingly willing to travel


Latest data from retail


experts Springboard reveals that footfall across UK retail destinations rose by +1.5% in second week of February, which followed a rise of +6.7% in the week before. Footfall in high streets declined by -1.7%, however, there were rises of +3.9% in shopping centres and +6.1% in retail parks. With declines in high street footfall in seven of the ten UK geographies it is clear that the snow deterred shoppers, although this wasn’t the case in either retail parks or shopping centres where footfall rose in all but one area.


NEWS IN BRIEF


n Homebase, is planning to open of a series of new small


format stores


in Walton-on-Thames in Spring this year. The existing Bathstore showroom on New Zealand Avenue will be refreshed to include Kitchens by Homebase, after a successful launch in Guildford earlier this year. The unit next door will be transformed into DECORATE by Homebase, currently open in Cheadle and Sutton.


n Tile Mountain has become Hull Kingston Rovers RFC principal away kit partner for 2021, a move that will see the online DIY retailer’s branding adorn the front of the away shirt for the duration of the Super League season.


n Norwich Tile Centre has sold it trading activities to the Nicholls & Clarke Group. The tile and bathroom retailer has been established as one of the premier tile outlets in Norwich for the past three decades and will now benefit from increased product ranges, technical knowledge and stock inventory.


n Leyland SDM, which has 24 stores in prominent high street locations across London, is determined to raise at least £20,000 through its ‘March is for Macmillan’ campaign. Customers


at


each of the stores will be invited to increase the value of their shop by £1 to make a donation to the charity.


4 DIY WEEK FEBRUARY 2021


commented: “Despite Beast from the East 2 hitting virtually all of the UK at some point in w/c 8 February, footfall across retail destinations continued to rise from the week before. The weather did impact high streets, but it was more than compensated for by increases in footfall in shopping centres and retail parks.” This


was the consecutive week fourth


footfall has increased from the week before, delivering


in which ever


The increases in footfall from week to week throughout the lockdown period


are reflected


in a reduction in the annual decline in footfall. Diane Wehrle, Insights Director at Springboard


more evidence that shoppers are experiencing lockdown fatigue and are increasingly willing to travel to retail destinations, whatever the weather.


Homebase and Hearst UK venture outside with


range of sheds, summerhouses and greenhouses Homebase is launching an exclusive range of Country Living sheds, summerhouses, and greenhouses


Each structure handmade to order. at a


time when customers are continuing to search for new ways to create extra room in their homes and gardens. This is the newest range to be launched as part of the home and garden expert’s three-year partnership with the leading premium content and experience business, Hearst UK, and its consumer magazine titles. There


are 29 different


structures in the range, and each are handmade in the UK from sustainable materials. This collection, with its wide range of shapes and styles, gives customers a huge selection to choose from, with styles that


playroom, or an indulgent bolthole.


It’s pre-


treated and painted one to two, unique Country Living heritage colours before being installed by Homebase trusted suppliers. Stephen Pitcher, trading


will suit all types of gardens or projects.


The collection ranges from


freestanding or attached practical potting sheds and greenhouses suitable


for working in and


storing garden tools, to larger summerhouses for those looking to create a home office, extended


UWLA urges KBB retailers to realise


benefits of unified water label lifestyle. The good news for retailers is we now have a huge selection of innovative products that are designed to use water wisely, without compromising on quality. Retailers


Yvonne Orgill, MD at the The Unified Water Label Association (UWLA) is urging KBB retailers to realise the benefits


of


promoting bathroom products that carry the Unified Water Label to consumers. Orgill said: “Research has shown that consumer attitudes have changed over the last 12 months. The Covid pandemic has had a huge impact, not only on how much time people now spend at home but also in terms of their views on environmental responsibility and climate change. There


is a growing


interest in products that can help save water and energy, helping keep household bills down and contribute to a more sustainable


do compromise not on performance when have design


to or


selecting


environmentally friendly products to promote to their customers. These products can be sourced easily from our database of over 13,000 products. “Many of Europe’s most well-known and well respected brands now offer bathroom products that carry the UWL.” Information on the UWL can be found at www. europeanwaterlabel.eu


director for garden and seasonal, Homebase, said: “We’re excited to launch our new range of outdoor structures with our partner, Hearst UK, at a time when we know our customers are looking for creative ways to add extra space to their homes and gardens. Together we’ve created a fantastic collection that’s on-trend, is of the highest quality and delivers brilliant value for money for our customers.” With each purchase, customers


will receive a one litre tin of top up paint for maintenance.


ManoMano,


Screwfix continues to invest in its people as it reaches £2bn in sales


Omnichannel retailer Screwfix has


reached a number of landmarks over the past year with a continued focus on its colleagues and customers. As sales reached £2bn in the year to January 2021, Screwfix has opened 30 new stores, taking the total number of


stores across the UK and


Ireland to 725. The new stores have brought Screwfix closer to its busy tradespeople, many of whom have played a crucial role in keeping homes warm, safe and with power throughout these difficult times. This growth has led to significant recruitment at Screwfix, including welcoming over 1,000 colleagues aged under 24.


the European


online DIY, home and garden retailer, has announced its 2020 results.


ManoMano saw a significant


increase in demand in 2020, with sales turnover in the UK increasing by 240% to 105m euros with over four million


sessions. By


doubling its business volume in 2020, ManoMano confirmed the scalability of its model. In total, ManoMano has 50 million unique visitors per month (+70%) and seven million active customers (+100%). With 10 million products, ManoMano offers the largest catalogue on the market. Thanks to the community of Manodvisors - experts with a passion for DIY and gardening - its shopping advice for customers also generated 2.3 million conversations (+130%). The UK is the most important DIY market for ManoMano, estimated to be worth 50bn euros - one of the biggest B2C DIY markets in Europe.


www.diyweek.net is


AkzoNobel no longer intends to acquire Tikkurila and continues to focus on Grow & Deliver strategy


Akzo Nobel N.V. submitted a binding proposal to acquire Tikkurila for €31.25 per share on 28 January 2021, having conducted customary due diligence to confirm potential synergies. The company no longer intends to pursue this acquisition, following a competing, higher,


offer for


Tikkurila. Despite a strong cultural fit – and more synergies than any other combination with Tikkurila – the intended transaction no longer meets AkzoNobel’s criteria for superior value creation. Thierry Vanlancker, CEO of AkzoNobel, commented: “We have clear priorities and criteria for capital allocation, including investing for growth, paying dividends, conducting acquisitions, and carrying out share buybacks. The intended acquisition of Tikkurila can no longer compete with more attractive opportunities to create superior value for our shareholders and other stakeholders.”


Manomano doubles size and announces €1.2 billion turnover


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