NEWS


Consumer spending fell 13.8 per cent in February as lockdown continued


Data from Barclaycard, which sees nearly half of the nation’s credit and debit card transactions,


reveals that


spending on essential items grew 5.3 per cent. Boosted by food and drink specialist stores – including butchers, greengrocers, fresh food box and meal-kit services – the category saw record growth of


63.3 per cent, 7.5 per


cent higher than reported in January.


Supermarket expenditure was


up 17.4 per cent overall, with online grocery spend surging 115.2 per cent as many Brits continued to rely on home deliveries for food shopping. Fuel spend, however, declined 30.2 per cent, as travel restrictions and working from home kept commuters off the roads. As much of the high street


remained closed, spending on non-essential


items declined


22.1 per cent year-on-year. The hospitality and leisure sector also had another challenging month,


with overall spend down 68.9 per cent compared to February 2020. Within this category, pubs and bars saw a 95.7 per cent decline, while spending at restaurants fell 84.6 per cent. With spring approaching, home improvement


and DIY


spend saw a 10.3 per cent increase as nearly a third (32 per cent) of consumers say they are looking forward to ‘spring cleaning’ and sprucing up their homes. Furthermore, furniture stores saw a smaller year-on-


year decline in February than in


January (-4.5 those wanting to per cent,


compared to -14.6 per cent). This comes as 35 per cent of


to update a room. Leading bathroom retailer lands double award


In a year full of unique challenges for business across the UK, leading bathroom retailer Plumbworld is helping stem the tide of retail woe and is continuing to go from strength to strength. As well as enjoying significant


growth during 2020, the Evesham-based business has recently seen its efforts rewarded with a prestigious industry award as well as being shortlisted by the Sunday Times as ‘one to watch’.


Plumbworld, one of the first


ToughBuilt reminds customers of new sales and ordering arrangements


ToughBuilt Industries is


reminding customers of new arrangements for ordering its technically advanced, intelligently designed products which came into effect on 1st March 2021.


After this, builders’ merchants,


retailers and other stockists will be able to order items from the ToughBuilt range - which currently includes Sawhorses, Mitre Saw Stands, Roller Stands, Knee Pads, the ClipTech system of belts and pouches, Tool Bags and Totes – directly from the business. ToughBuilt also plans to complement these products with hand tools in the not-too- distant future.


To ensure customers benefit


from a smooth and seamless transition to this new capability of


buying direct from the


manufacturer, ToughBuilt has established its own UK-based sales team consisting of both field and office-based personnel. The business has also invested into new distribution infrastructure which includes a warehouse with extensive product stockholding centrally located in Ipswich. ToughBuilt’s creation of its own UK-based sales and distribution operation mirrors steps taken by the manufacturer to support its growth in other European countries. visit www.toughbuilt.com


Travis Perkins launches app for customers to shop on the go


Travis Perkins has launched a mobile app for customers. This can be downloaded from any Google Play or Apple App store and will allow customers to order stock and manage their trade accounts on the go. The app has been designed in conjunction with customers to help them save time and work smarter by enabling them to check and order stock at their personal trade prices in real time from their local branch 24/7. Not only will this transform the way they can forward plan their materials ordering and purchasing at the time that is most convenient to them, but the new app will also enable Trade Professional customers to fully manage their


6 DIY WEEK MARCH 2021


accounts on the go. At just the tap of a mobile button, they can check their credit accounts, pay balances and download their invoices, which means they will be able to wave goodbye to large amounts of paperwork. To locate the app, customers can search for and download the ‘Travis Perkins App’ in the Google Play or the Apple App Store. They will then need to sign in or activate their online account before they can start shopping and managing their accounts directly from their mobiles. As a welcome, Trade


Professional Account customers will get 10% off when they place their first order via the Travis Perkins App.


www.diyweek.net


bathroom retail specialists to launch online back in 1999, is now preparing for


further


growth in 2021 on the back of a record-breaking 2020 which has seen them achieve best ever results across all of their digital channels, reaching customers all over the UK through Google and other search engines along with adverts on social media. And to cap an incredible twelve months, Plumbworld has also landed the ‘From Little to Large’ trophy at the 2020 eBay for Business Awards, beating


off stiff competition to claim the award thanks to soaring success on the eBay platform where revenues have grown from £100,000 a month in 2017 to now over £1.2 million per month - an increase of over 1,000 per cent. Plumbworld was shortlisted among 32 innovative companies across 10 categories for the awards,


which celebrate


the best of British small and medium-sized businesses, with each winner receiving £5,000 to boost their business.


With the announcement earlier in the year of Wickes’ new Installation Apprenticeship scheme, two female apprentices have joined the cohort that started on 8 March, International Women’s’ Day. With new kitchen installations in demand, coupled with the recently identified skills gap of fewer Installers coming through, Wickes has taken the lead in launching its unique Installation apprenticeship scheme to help maintain the future supply of skilled tradespeople. Abby Watkinson and Rachael Folds have chosen the challenge and want to break the glass ceiling in the installation world. Abby will be starting as a fitted furniture apprentice installer, a role typically associated with men due to the heavy lifting required and use of power tools. Abby said: “Many women are not typically seen in these roles, something I want to change.” Abby lives her life with the motto ‘you should strive for what it is you want to do while you have the chance because if you let an opportunity go by then it might not come round again and you will regret missing it’. Rachael Folds, is no stranger


to breaking glass ceilings and breaking


boundaries; she


previously worked as a granite and marble mason. Being the only woman on the shop floor often meant that she had to work twice as hard to prove herself. She became the first female Intermac CNC Stone Machine programmer in the United Kingdom at just 21! Both Abby and Rachael are just beginning their training and will be embarking on an 18-month programme, tapping into life and trade skills, together with mentoring support.


spend


more on spring cleaning say they’re planning to purchase furnishings


redecorate or


Wickes first ever female installation apprentices start new cohort on IWD


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