NEWS


Entries now open for the DIY Week Awards 2021


The DIY Week Awards – a leading scheme for the recognition of excellence from across the DIY, home improvement and garden sectors, organised by DIY Week


publisher Datateam


Business Media – is back for 2021!


Since 2011, the scheme has been honouring forward-thinking companies, innovative products and inspirational people. Over the course of its tenure, a DIY Week Award has come to


represent a distinguished seal of industry approval and the ceremony itself is a key date on the calendar of every industry professional. The DIY Week Awards has evolved year on year to ensure that it


is representative of the


varied and vibrant industry that it serves, with the categories being expertly curated to reflect all corners of the sector. With 2021 marking the


DIY Week Awards’ ten year anniversary, the event is set to be bigger and better than ever before – so there’s never been a better time than now to get involved! For more details see our


preview on page 22 of this issue and to enter the awards, visit www.diyweekawards.co.uk


EFG Housewares launches updated


website One of the UK’s largest independent wholesalers, EFG Housewares, has launched a new trade website that showcases the majority of its 50,000 regular items, with special offers available every day at www.efghousewares.co.uk With digital purchasing now an important avenue for businesses


across all sectors, EFG understands the need to have an online space that meets your needs in every way possible. With this in mind, it has invested in a newly upgraded website, making it easier than ever for you to buy from EFG Housewares. Its new digital store is designed to offer the very best shopping experience online, providing a seamless buying process for its customers. You will notice an improved search functionality so you can easily find all the items you are looking for from its wide collection. You can also expect a smoother ordering process and improved usability across whichever device you wish to use to browse the site. You can also take advantage of the great range of wholesale products in stock at EFG Housewares.


Home improvements & DIY purchases surged in 2020, despite 7.1 per cent decline in consumer spending


Consumer spending declined 7.1 per cent year-on-year in 2020 – as coronavirus restrictions impacted many sectors, with high-street retailers and hospitality hardest hit. Yet there were some bright spots as changing consumer behaviours spurred e-commerce growth, while the rise of the ‘insperience economy’ saw digital services and subscriptions boom as Brits spent more time at home. Data


from Barclaycard,


which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions, reveals that spending on essential items rose by 4.1 per cent year-on-year in 2020. This was largely driven by


supermarket shopping,


which saw an overall growth of 15.7 per cent, with online grocery shopping surging 70.3 per cent as the demand for delivery services increased.


These trends, along with lower prices at the petrol pump, also contributed to a decline in spend on fuel, which dropped by 20.3 per cent. Spending


on non-essential


items contracted 11.3 per cent, as social distancing restrictions had a significant impact on high- street retailers and the hospitality


Kingfisher issues Q4


pre-close trading update 20/21 adjusted profit before tax. While its c.1,380 stores remain open for in-store purchasing and click & collect, under strict social


Kingfisher plc has released an update on its Q4 trading to date. As announced on 19 November 2020, Kingfisher’s Q3 20/21 Group LFL sales were up 17.4%, while Q4 20/21 Group LFL sales (to 14 November) were up 12.6%. Since then, Kingfisher has continued to experience strong demand across its markets with Q4 20/21 Group LFL sales (to 9 January 2021) up 16.9%. Financial year to date (1 February 2020 to 9 January 2021), Group LFL sales are up 6.5%. Based on trading to date, the


Group is comfortable with the top end of the range of current sell-side analyst estimates for FY


4 DIY WEEK JANUARY 2021 distancing and safety


protocols, recent restrictions mean that some discrete areas of certain B&Q stores have been temporarily closed. Thierry Garnier, Chief Executive


Officer, said: “The safety of our customers and teams remains our first priority while we fulfil the essential needs of our customers. We will continue to support our colleagues during these most difficult times.”


sector. This was especially


apparent for department stores which fell by 17.2 per cent and clothing also contracted by 15.6 per cent year-on-year. Many Brits also took the opportunity to spruce up their indoor and outdoor living spaces. After non-essential shops opened in June, spending


at home improvement & DIY stores surged, driving an overall growth of 9.8 per cent year- on-year. Furniture stores also enjoyed an overall uplift of 5.3 per cent, as shoppers invested in big-ticket purchases.


Raheel Ahmed, Head of Consumer Products, Barclays UK, said: “2020 accelerated many trends. E-commerce has seen huge growth, working from home has meant many are shopping more locally and experiences within the home, such as virtual workouts have become the norm. Spending within the retail, travel and hospitality


sectors has been


acutely impacted. However, we have also seen many businesses become more agile and move online. Home improvement, DIY and gardening have also seen a boost, as we all spend more time at home and near our local communities.”


Cmostores.com expands portfolio with acquisition of Total Tiles


Disruptive online construction and home improvement products retailer CMOStores. com has completed the acquisition of online tile retailer Total Tiles. The transaction, which was completed on 31 December 2020, is the second acquisition by the CMOStores group, following the acquisition of DoorWeb in 2018. CMO intends to continue its acquisition strategy to expand the group in the coming years, supported by private equity house Key Capital Partners (KCP) who advised on the transaction. CMOStores.com


has experienced a sustained period


n Glazing and packing shims manufacturer,


NEWS IN BRIEF Finnsworth


Ltd is the latest new DIY member at


the British


Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA). With an established reputation for making bespoke and premium quality plastic and


metal products for


the construction industry, London-based Finnsworth has a huge range of shims and packers which also cover consumer DIY requirements.


n The refurbishment of a community leisure centre in Wiltshire has been given a paint finish that is more than fit for purpose, thanks to leading paint manufacturer Crown Paints. The creation of the new Calne Community Campus


will provide a


variety of new facilities for the local area, including a new fitness suite and refurbished swimming pool and sports hall. Working alongside main contractor MD Group,


the Crown


Specification team helped devise a high-performance paint specification to extend future maintenance cycles and keep the décor in perfect shape.


of growth since it secured investment of £8.65 million from KCP in 2017. The business now offers consumers over 75,000 building products at competitive prices and supported by a market leading customer service offering. This latest deal signals its intention to continue to increase revenue and market share through both organic growth and acquisitions.


n Licensing Matters Global (LMG), a London-based, global licensing agency, has announced a long-term partnership with Paris- based


Peugeot Frères


Industrie, a Peugeot Family Group.


LMG is currently


seeking partner licensees in selected product categories such as toys, garden power tools, camping equipment, major electric appliances, sports equipment, travel accessories and fashion, among others.


www.diyweek.net


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