NEWS EXTRA
LANDMANN fired up by Social Chain acquisition
LANDMANN BBQs has been bought by the leading global social commerce company, Social Chain AG. Social Chain AG, co-founded by Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett, has acquired 100% of the DS Group, the German parent company of LANDMANN, for the sum of €220.5m split between cash and share components. Social Chain AG was founded in 2014 in Manchester and Berlin and has grown its business with operations in the US, Europe and Asia, now with over 1500 employees. As well as its leading social media marketing and performance agencies, Social Chain is home to a host of well-
Simon Acres Group supports charity golf day
Kbb and merchant service provider Simon Acres Group will once again be supporting local
charity BacZac,
sponsoring a hole at the annual golf day which takes place at Northampton Golf Club on Friday 8th July. Group Director of Recruitment,
Ben Paine said: “It’s a fabulous charity and something very close to my heart as I knew Zac well at University. He was a larger than life character and loved by everyone. It’s an honour
to promote his
legacy at events like this to help more young people with cancer.”
The BacZac charity provides give vouchers and meal vouchers for cancer patients, grants to families and has a long term aim to provide a respite holiday accommodation for families with a young adult suffering from cancer, possibly one last
trip
away as a family or to aid a bereaved family. To find out more about the charity and to donate please visit
www.baczachislegacy.org or to donate £5 please text BACZAC to 70085 (standard message rates apply).
IBMG appoints Martin Stables as Group Chief Executive
The Independent Builders Merchant Group (IBMG) has announced the appointment of Martin Stables as Group Chief Executive. Martin’s new role is effective as of 1 July 2022, succeeding Nick House, who continues to support the group as a non-executive director. Martin joined IBMG in October 2021 as Group
Chief Commercial Officer, during which time he has contributed substantively to the group’s strategy and formed a best-in-class commercial function for the business. Martin’s 25 years of industry
8 DIY WEEK JUNE 2022
expertise, leadership and strong cultural fit with IBMG’s independent ethos, will be invaluable in ensuring the continued growth of IBMG as the leading integrated building materials distribution business in the South of England. Nick House, IBMG’s
retiring Group Chief
Executive, has led Grant & Stone, and more recently IBMG, with great success for over 30 years. From a small regional builders merchant founded in 1987, Nick has led a growth journey that created a business with revenues of over £600m, 169 branches and over 2,100 employees. Nick has been instrumental in integrating and unifying a strong management team, while maintaining the quality of offering, service and innovation that differentiates IBMG from its competitors as an independent merchant.
loved, fast-growing consumer brands powered by social media.
LANDMANN is Germany’s oldest BBQ manufacturer. From its beginnings with charcoal, LANDMANN now offers various smokers, high-temperature gas grill BBQs, ceramic grills and electric BBQs. It also manufactures other outdoor living products and accessories such as firepits and outdoor heaters. LANDMANN sells direct to consumers via its ecommerce site and also via Amazon, other leading
digital retailers and
through garden centre groups such as Blue Diamond and a host of independents.
LANDMANN is part of The DS
group which develops, markets and sells its own products and brands and has more than 700 trademarks, registered designs, patents and utility patents . Social Chain said the deal is the “most important acquisition since its foundation” and is targeting €1bn revenue by the end of 2023 financial year. It is reshaping the world of brands and commerce with social commerce - online shops and social communities to drive sales, inspire customers and amplify brands.
Husqvarna joins the Power for All Alliance
Husqvarna, a leading brand within outdoor power equipment and smart lawn care, now joins the ‘Power for All Alliance’, one of the world’s largest cross-brand battery systems. The Alliance, which was launched two years ago, is based on one joint 18V battery system for all brands within the alliance. This makes it possible for consumers to use the same battery for multiple devices in and around their home, regardless of manufacturer. Bosch has initiated the Alliance and produces the battery solution. The Power for All Alliance includes many leading manufacturers of battery-driven products for use in the home and garden. Now it is time for the Husqvarna brand to join, driven by a strong focus on smart battery solutions for the private garden. Gardena, another garden brand within Husqvarna Group, joined the alliance two years ago. To this date, over 25 million batteries supporting the Power for All Alliance have been sold globally. “Our passion is to help consumers take care of their gardens in a smart, convenient and sustainable manner. For this simple reason, we are very happy to join this alliance, as we know many consumers want one strong and reliable battery that they can use for several of their home and garden tools. One battery solution, as opposed to multiple ones, is better for the environment and also saves money for the consumer, said Sofia Axelsson, President Residential EPAC, Husqvarna Forest & Garden. Husqvarna is looking to launch a new range for garden owners within the coming year, which will be compatible with the Power for All battery system. The new range will be sold through Husqvarna´s existing dealer network and e-com.
Speedy recruits ex-Ikea UK & Ireland digital chief to boost online consumer offering
Speedy has hired ex-IKEA UK & Ireland digital chief Paul Jackson as the business moves to drive its online strategy and simplify tool and equipment hire for consumers. Jackson joins the national construction equipment hire and services provider as Chief Digital Officer (CDO) from furniture giant Ikea, where he held the same position in the UK & Ireland. He brings two decades of
experience to the hire giant having led CRM, e-commerce, home delivery and data analytics strategies for several other household consumer brands, including Sainsburys and Argos. The appointment follows Speedy’s launch into the DIY market with a dedicated digital ordering platform for consumers to hire tools and equipment and a network of concessions across 36 B&Q stores nationwide. Jackson will join the business’s executive board and will be responsible for enhancing the firm’s digital proposition across its customer base, from consumers to large contractors. Russell Down, Chief Executive at Speedy, said: “Creating a market- leading digital proposition is a strategic priority for our business as we expand into the DIY market. We need to benchmark ourselves beyond the hire sector to be truly successful. “Paul’s wealth of experience in building online strategies for leading consumer retailers will be vital as we grow into the DIY market, while also meeting the needs of our entire customer base from small trades to large contractors.”
www.diyweek.net
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
