INDUSTRY COMMENT: YEAR IN REVIEW


OUR YEAR IN REVIEW — LOOKING BACK AT 2025 The Daley Hub Team


Gardiner (CEO Kingfisher) said at the Global DIY Summit in June 2024, “Don’t let perfection be the enemy of progress.” We completely agree. On the supplier side, we feel a


This has been a year of change, challenge, innovation and opportunity, both for the wider retail and DIY sector and for the work we do at Daley Hub. From shifting customer behaviours and global market pressures, to fresh ideas about how to make in-store and online retail thrive, this year has kept us thinking, learning adapting and pushing forward. Across the year, we’ve seen


the reality of today’s retail environment: brands, retailers and suppliers are all feeling the squeeze from cost pressures, consumer behaviour and a more complex operating landscape. Many businesses have had to rethink supply chains, range strategies, pricing and partnerships just to stay competitive — and the ones that have succeeded are the ones willing to be flexible and smart about their choices. Thierry


real hunger from companies across Europe, Scandinavia and China that want to break into the UK market — and we’ve been supporting those businesses to define clear, compelling offers that make it easy for retailers to say yes. Marketplaces shaped the


retail landscape this year, with Chinese platforms expanding at incredible speed and heavily attacking traditional leaders such as Amazon and eBay. Their rise also puts pressure on specialised marketplaces, including DIY platforms, which now face a real risk of losing market share. Temu, Shein and TikTok Shop changed shopper expectations through aggressive pricing, rapid onboarding and constant promotion. In the DIY sector this drove


a stronger need for high quality content, reliable fulfilment and clear value messages. Looking ahead, brands should prepare for further fragmentation, stronger low-cost competition and an even greater need for data driven decisions to stay visible and profitable. We welcomed marketplace expert Nils Kernchen to the team. His experience building and developing marketplace platforms gives us an


THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THOSE WHO PREPARE FOR IT TODAY


Steve Ball Commercial & Marketing Director, Palace Chemicals


As a leading adhesives, grout and DIY products manufacturer, 2025 has been a very busy year for us. We have invested in the manufacturing and warehousing capacity of our Liverpool site, enhanced the sustainability of our operations, welcomed new colleagues into the business, introduced new products, proudly won a few awards and – most importantly of all – won new customers for our key


16 DIY WEEK DECEMBER 2025


brands in both the DIY multiple and independent sectors. This has been achieved against a backdrop which has been far from favourable, with a continuing squeeze on retail spending, making life tough on the high street. It has not been pleasant to witness a number of big name retailers, such as Homebase and Poundland closing stores during the year. Throughout much of 2025, the long run-up to the Autumn Budget created uncertainty in consumer markets.


Now that the Budget has past, even if we don’t like it, there is more clarity about what the future holds and my firm belief is that independent and multiple retailers who have a clear positioning,


even stronger foundation to help brands navigate this space more effectively and develop tailored plans for each territory.


This year gave us a deeper


appreciation of how consumer environments in other countries — especially China — are evolving. Shopping destinations are redefining what retail means by becoming more than places to buy things; they’re experiences where people eat, play, learn and socialize. This trend isn’t just eye-catching sightseeing; it points to a wider truth about how stores need to think about experience if they want to compete with the convenience and reach of online. Making bricks- and-mortar spaces meaningful and engaging for customers will be an ongoing theme into 2026. In the DIY and home


improvement market, one of the UK’s most competitive retail spaces, we saw a mix of resilience and disruption. Established retailers have faced serious headwinds, with some well-known names disappearing from the high street. At the same time, specialist and online-focused players grew market share, showing that a clear proposition and strong digital presence can make all the difference.


Retailers and suppliers alike


are wrestling with the paradox of choice: too many options


struggle to convert into sales, even where ranges are wider than ever. This highlights a need for smarter range planning and presentation that helps customers make decisions — rather than overwhelming them. Twenty twenty-five reminded us how valuable real-world interaction still is. Trade shows and industry events offered platforms for connection, feedback and seeing firsthand what buyers and customers are looking for. Events like Screwfix LIVE, which grew significantly this year, showed how vibrant and engaged the trade community still is. As we look forward into 2026, one thing is clear: market conditions will continue to shift, and adaptability will be a key advantage. Rising costs, evolving customer expectations and global trends like the spread of AI and digital commerce channels mean that companies can’t afford to stand still.


But we also see bright opportunities: smarter use of data and technology, clearer articulation of product value, and stronger collaboration between suppliers and retailers will create real advantage for brands that are prepared to evolve. Here’s to a year of strategic


growth, stronger connections and exciting progress in 2026.


STRUCTURAL CHA


Steve Richardson General Manager, BHETA


From a DIY business and industry perspective, 2025 has been less about


who make intelligent use of new technology, including AI, and who have the flexibility to seize the right opportunities, will continue to prosper. For ourselves, we will continue to move confidently towards our ambitious targets by our 50th anniversary in 2028. I predict and hope for a good year in 2026!


recovery and more about structural change.


The most significant shift has been the accelerating role of marketplaces, which are now a core route to market rather than a secondary channel. This has intensified competition, increased price transparency and broadened access to both


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