COMMENT
December 2025
www.diyweek.net
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© 2025 Datateam Business Media Ltd. DIY Week incorporates Decor Retailing, DIY Retail Leaders, DIY Superstore, Do-It- Yourself Retailing, Domestic Electrical Appliances, Excellence In Garden Retailing, Excellence In Woodcare Retailing, Excellence In Timber Retailing, Excellence In Tile Retailing, Garden Retail Leaders, Garden Retailing, Hardware Merchandiser, Hardware Trade Journal, Homecentre, Home Storage Retailing, The Ironmonger, Ironmongery & Hardware, Lighting, Martineau & Smith’s Monthly Circular, Mercantile Guardian, Superstore Management, Tools Retailing, and Wholesale Leaders. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publishers. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of material published in DIY Week. However, Datateam Business Media Ltd will not be liable for any inaccuracies. The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. DIY Week is registered at Stationers’ Hall. ISSN 0954-8823. DIY Week is printed on environmentally friendly paper; both text paper and cover stock are elementary chlorine free and sourced from paper suppliers with a well planned environmental policy. This issue of DIYWeek includes some editorial photographs provided and paid for by suppliers. Printed by Buxton Press.
Founded in 1874 No 5,943 -
last twelve months and the many challenges we’ve worked together to overcome. We are still gripped by a cost-of-living crisis which doesn’t show signs of abating anytime soon. The autumn Budget didn’t help, with rising taxes and increasing burdens on business squeezing margins and putting pressure on retailers already struggling to make ends meet. As we went to press with this issue, we heard the sad news that one casualty is
Looking back as another year ends, I’m amazed at what we’ve managed to cram into the
Toolstream, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverline. The Yeovil-based tool supplier has entered administration, resulting in 111 staff losing their jobs. There’s never a good time to be made redundant, but at Christmas it seems particularly cruel, so we offer all those affected our best wishes at what is clearly a difficult time for them and their families. But this is a very resilient industry which, through a combination of creativity, resilience, and positivity, not only finds a way to survive, but in many cases, thrive. Our very own DIY Week Awards held in May served as proof of this, if it were needed, as we recognised and
rewarded the people, products and businesses which have helped to propel the industry forward. We also added a new dimension to the event in the form of the Trade Talks morning conference, which was extremely well received, and I’m pleased to say we intend to hold again in 2026. We also launched the DIY Week Live trade show in Birmingham, that despite having a lower footfall than we’d hoped for, was very well supported by the industry and provided a great foundation on which to build future events. I’d like to thank all those that have supported our endeavours this year, it’s much appreciated as we couldn’t do it without you. I hope you’ve all enjoyed a great holiday season, and I wish you all a very happy, health and prosperous new year!
Neil Mead, Editorial Director In This Issue...
P4 / NEWS
The latest headlines and breaking news from across the home improvement and garden sectors
P9 / INTERIOR DESIGN
As homes adapt to evolving lifestyles, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of refinement and meaningful design
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Published by: P12 / DIY WEEK AWARDS 2026
This is your chance to put your company, people and products forward to be recognised and rewarded
P22 / DECORATING
The colour palettes that are set to dominate in 2026 and tips on how to use them
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