NEWS Gardening is officially cool say young people


Think the typical gardening enthusiast is


retirement age


with a large outside space? Think again. Draper Tools has surveyed


the nation’s


young people to get their views on gardening and it’s clear gardening is enjoying a renaissance among 18 – 34 year olds.


The Draper Tools poll of 2,000 young people found that gardening has enjoyed a surge in popularity among 18 to 34 year-olds during lockdown. 83% of young people now describe gardening as ‘cool’ and 54% would rather amble around a garden centre than dance the night away in a club. The appeal is rooted in


mindfulness, with a desire to make their homes and gardens a nicer place to be, to improve mental health, and creating a space they can escape to. It also emerged that gardening is so popular that young adults spend close to two hours during a typical week taking care of their beloved plants.


Kev Smith, Head of Marketing at Draper Tools commented on the


findings: “The even we were popularity


among young adults is fantastic to see, we knew it was popular, but


surprised


by the outpouring of love for it. There’s a tendency to think of gardening as an activity for older people, but this study proves that gardening really is for everyone,


whatever your age.” While the act of gardening itself


is one of the biggest appeals – it appears to be more than that. Two thirds (66%) also said they love shopping for gardening items – whether that’s plants, seeds, or tools. When it comes to tools and equipment, some of the items most likely to be on the wish list are garden gloves, a hedge trimmer and pruning tools. To date, those polled have spent £318.56 on such items – with 58% revealing they’ve spent more on gardening during the past 12 months or so than ever before. In fact, 56% said gardening is one of the things which has kept them going in the wake of the pandemic.


Ronseal teams up with Channel 4 to celebrate the Men’s Shed Association and the power of DIY in an emotional documentary


Ronseal is celebrating the work


of the Men’s Shed


Association in a powerful new film launching this week. The Shed has been produced by Rumpus Media, for Channel 4 and will be shown across their


social 14th June.


Launched to mark Men’s Health Week, which took place from 14-20 June, it features an emotional interview with Joe Regan, whose son Jaxon was


Eighth Global DIY-Summit postponed


From HIMA and EDRA/GHIN: Following the current delays that we are seeing in the global vaccination effort, the high number of infections that persist globally, as well as the growing concerns of virus mutations, we have taken the difficult decision to postpone the Eighth Global DIY-Summit to now take place from 8th to 10th June 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The guidance of various health safety


and organizations and


our commitment to ensuring the wellbeing of our community has necessitated this shift. In debating this postponement, we carefully considered input from many of our sponsors, attendees, speakers and members. As a response to postponing the physical Global DIY-Summit we will continue offering the services Network,


of the Global DIY- launched in October


2020. Moreover, we will also be holding a brand-new, forward


6 DIY WEEK JUNE 2021 channels from


tragically stillborn in 2019. The moving documentary, which also features Joel Bird from Channel 4’s ‘The Great Garden Revolution’, follows Joe, 30, as he visits the Camden Men’s Shed, in North London, and openly talks to another member about his


experience and the struggles he’s faced. He’s also seen being


looking and dynamic digital event on 9th and 10th September 2021: The First Virtual DIY- Summit 2021. The First Virtual DIY-Summit


will offer the opportunity for all interested parties in the DIY and Home Improvement industry


to


gather together virtually, share their actions and responses to Covid- 19, get the latest trends in our industry and look towards 2022. This event will be a complimentary service for the delegates already registered to the 8th Global DIY- Summit and the subscribers of the Global DIY-Network. All


event tickets and


sponsorships for the 8th Global DIY-Summit 2021 will automatically be valid for the rescheduled event. This way all of our delegates and partners will not be affected by this decision and will enjoy the full service in 2022. By holding the Global DIY-Summit in 2022 we are certain that we will be in the best position to deliver our event at full capacity, offering our delegates and partners the high value that we have become to be renowned for. We continue to work hard to transition our sponsors, attendees, and speakers to the new dates.


helped to make a sentimental memory box for the little boy he lost and for his second son Jude, who has just arrived in April 2021. The Men’s Shed Association has been providing safe and welcoming spaces for men to get together and


talk since 2013, and now has more than 500 sheds across the


UK. Members come together to enjoy the social element, as well as use the workshop’s facilities and share practical skills. The Sheds across the country have proven invaluable in boosting the moral and improving the overall wellbeing of its members. Joe admits that spending time at a shed and sharing skills and tools to create something special for his family has been a hugely positive experience. As he explains to craftsman, Joel


Home improvement trend drives growth at family-run haulage firm


A rise in home renovations and house moves has seen the UK’s leading haulier of construction materials,


boosting turnover


and creating jobs, with support from Lloyds Bank. Bimson Haulage said it experienced a significant increase in demand for its delivery services over the past twelve months, after more people chose to undertake private construction projects and make improvements


their homes during lockdown. To help meet demand, Bimson


secured a six-figure funding package from Lloyds Bank, which


to


it will use to upgrade its fleet operator’s licence to 66 vehicles, with 25 new specialist vehicles already on order. The vehicles will all also meet Euro 6 emissions standards, making them some of the most efficient and eco- friendly


heavy goods vehicles on the market. Meanwhile, the funding has also allowed the


Bird, and fellow shedder, Mick Tague, losing his son caused him to struggle with his mental health so much that he contemplated suicide. He says: “It led to me to think about taking my own life. That was the reality of bottling things up - it got to that stage. When a bloke says they’re not in a good place, we all need to support it.” Reflecting on his time at the shed, he adds: “Being in the shed is therapeutic and a fantastic outlet.”


business to upgrade its existing fleet with the addition of front, rear and side cameras to help protect vulnerable road users. Bimson, which currently has a team of over 70 staff, predict the improvements and expansion of its fleet will allow the business to grow by 20% and create 30 new jobs during the next two years. Founded in Carlisle in 1947, the family-run business is now in its third generation and has nine sites across the North West, Yorkshire, Staffordshire and London, including its original base in Carlisle. Working with construction materials suppliers,


builders


merchants and housebuilders across the country,


the haulier


currently distributes around 1,000 deliveries each week.


Grafton Group plc announce agreement to acquire IKH in Finland


Grafton Group plc, the building materials distributor and DIY retailer with operations in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, has announced that it has signed an agreement with Mr Ilkka Alakortes and his family to acquire Isojoen Konehalli Oy and Jokapaikka Oy (‘IKH’), one of the largest workwear and


personal protective equipment (PPE), tools, spare parts and accessories wholesalers and distributors in Finland.


The consideration payable for


IKH is €199.3 million on a cash and debt free basis. It will be paid in cash on completion and will be entirely funded from the Group’s existing cash resources.


The acquisition is expected to complete next month. IKH’s product portfolio of over 50,000 SKUs comprises quality private label and leading technical brands offering one of the widest and deepest ranges in Finland where it has a number two market position in its core tools and PPE segment.


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