DIY WEEK AWARDS 2026 WINNERS 2018
Retailer of the Year GJ’s and Daughter
Amongst all the doom and gloom of the cost-of-living crisis, GJ’s has always strived to maintain a ray of sunshine as the ‘go to’ hardware community store.
Community spirit is probably the key element of the success at GJ’s over the 30 years that they have traded, covering many generations in the area. With the high street in Alfreton failing to pull the community together, GJ’s decided to give it that extra push. They continued with their work with Men’s Sheds Association but strived to go that extra mile with Alfreton Park Special needs school in helping to create their outdoor workspace and other fund raising and engaging activities. Social media has been their biggest area of growth in the community and is how they have continued to keep their existing customers engaged, whilst gaining new ones from sharing and likes. With over 7.6k followers at present, they can advertise and show new stock items whilst still pushing their community days, for example the Ambulance defibrillator day, Salvation Army carol singing and supplier trade days. Of course, no thriving business would be anywhere without a fantastic,
professional and reliable team. The staff at GJ’s have been open to new training, getting onboard with community related activities but also allowing their personal strengths to shine through during difficult times for everyone in the UK. The judges said: “A previous winner in this category, GJ’s is an independent DIY and hardware store located in Alfreton, Derbyshire.
Industry Personality of the Year Steve Ball – Palace Chemicals
This year’s Industry Personality of the Year, Steve Ball, Commercial & Marketing Director at Palace Chemicals, has built a career defined by ambition, leadership and an unwavering commitment to their chosen industry. With extensive experience spanning commercial strategy, sales leadership and brand development, they have consistently delivered growth through strategic thinking, collaborative working and a strong focus on people.
Over the years, Ball has held senior national roles with respected companies and brands, developing expertise across account management, P&L responsibility, sales performance and route-to- market strategy. Known for motivating teams and building lasting industry relationships, he has successfully led commercial, retail and specification sales operations across the UK, helping businesses achieve record growth and ambitious KPIs. Since joining Liverpool-
S18 DIY WEEK JUNE 2026
Specialising in a wide range of tools, garden products, and home essentials, the business has been operating since 1991, and the 10,000 square foot shop now offers over 5,000 product lines.”
FINALISTS
Skelbo Global Ventures T/A Dornoch Stores Daymans DIY
GJs and Daughter – Winner
based manufacturer Palace Chemicals in 2017, he has played a key role in driving brand development and expanding market presence across the sector. He’s also been a big supporter and a regular at this event.
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