NEWS EXTRA Give it six months
Of course, the issue isn’t just that B&Q is a new, relatively large high street competitor for several North London-based DIY retailers. It’s the nature of the beast that is striking such a blow. “Are we going to compete? No. How can we?” questioned Mr Patel. “We are already struggling to pay rent and we just don’t have the money in the bank – the pound has gone down, costs are up. It’s impossible to compete against a company like B&Q. I don’t know what will happen in the future... We’ll see what the next six months are like – they will tell whether we can survive as a business.” Mr Vara, too, pointed out the lack of a level playing field for independents affected by this and possible future local B&Q ventures: “You only wish independents had space like this,” he told DIY Week. “Not to mention the B&Q machine to back [them]. For [B&Q] it’s a case of ‘if it sells, good, if it doesn’t, just send it back to the depot or supplier’. Independents have to pay for it. [B&Q] also doesn’t have to
worry about rent and rates like the independent retailers do.” Mr Vara also explained that, while he doesn’t believe that his Islington branch of the Tool Shop, located less than two miles down the road from B&Q, would be affected, others undoubtedly would be. “At this stage, it’s hard to say how they will do,” he said. “The verdict is out. Let’s let the dust settle for now and see what happens in six months.”
Though it may not seem like it to all of the locals, B&Q insists it’s not out to sabotage the local DIY independents, with a spokesperson telling DIY Week, “Our new store provides local people an entirely new offer and aims to compliment and support our neighbours on Holloway Road. We’ve created 15 new jobs for local people in our store and we’re already investing in our community by supporting local charities and our local school.” Indeed, not all independents
are against the multiple’s new venture, or the prospect of there being more on the cards. Chichester
The new store features a striking mural on its exterior wall
independent DIY
store David
Messam Ltd recently made the tough decision to cease trading after 58 years due to a variety of reasons, from Brexit-related costs to rising competition from out-of-towners and internet retailers. In a novel move, owner Keith Messam said he would like to offer the premises
to B&Q as a future small-format site before any others. Mr Messam told DIY Week: “I heard B&Q had opened a new concept town centre shop in London. I wondered if they would be interested in carrying on the tool shop in Chichester, as I feel this city centre needs a tool hardware supplier.”
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and it complements the consumer- friendly pack sizes and innovative formats we have also developed to make this fertiliser range the most progressive in garden retail.” The new Bord na Móna Growise fertilisers range comprises Growmore+, Fish, Blood & Bone, Bonemeal in 10Kg, 3.5Kg and 1.5Kg granules, Sulphate of Potash, Sulphate of
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31 MARCH 2017 DIY WEEK 7
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