NEWS
Homebase issues official statement on entering administration
Following the news that Homebase has gone into administration, the company recently issued a joint official statement together with Teneo Financial Advisory who have been appointed as Joint Administrators of the business.
Immediately following the appointment, the Joint Administrators acting for Homebase completed a sale of up to 70 UK stores, the brand and IP to CDS (Superstores International) trading as The Range and wilko, which
Independent retailers boycott Black Friday as rising costs mount
is expected to secure up to c.1,600 jobs. Homebase stores will continue to trade until handed over to CDS. Homebase had recently completed on the sale of 11 UK stores to Sainsbury’s and has exchanged on a further three. The remaining 49 UK stores will continue to trade as normal whilst the Joint Administrators continue active discussions with interested parties.
Homebase is a home and
garden improvement retailer with stores across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Like
many retailers in the home improvement sector, Homebase has experienced a decline in sales over the last three years resulting from worsening consumer confidence and available discretionary spend. This reduction in demand has coincided with a rise in input costs and supply chain disruption.
Homebase has been exploring a number of options to support the future of the business and
despite a recent improvement in trading performance, these efforts were insufficient and the Directors have therefore taken the difficult decision to appoint Administrators.
At the date of appointment, Homebase employed c.3,600 staff across its Head Office and stores, including those employees expected to transfer to CDS as part of the transaction.
Damian McGloughlin, CEO of Homebase, commented: “It has been an incredibly challenging three years for the home and
garden improvement market. A decline in consumer confidence and spending following the pandemic has been exacerbated by the impact of persistent high inflation, global supply chain issues and unseasonable weather. Against this backdrop, we have taken many and wide- ranging actions to improve trading performance including restructuring the business and seeking fresh investment. These efforts have not been successful and today we have made the difficult decision to appoint Administrators.”
Home retail businesses to see uplift as property sales rise
The number of households progressing through the home-mover journey has risen as the number of sales ‘sold subject to contract’ - those agreed between buyer and seller but yet to be completed - increased by 23% in Q3 24 compared with Q3 23. The UK-wide research
Seven in ten independent retailers across the UK are boycotting Black Friday this year, as rising operational costs and economic pressures continue to impact small businesses, according to the latest survey from the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira). The annual survey reveals that 70.5% of independent retailers are refusing to participate in the pre-Christmas sales event, continuing a strong trend of resistance seen over the past four years. In 2021, 85.5% boycotted the event, followed by 86.8% in 2022, and 86.6% in 2023. This year’s figures show that while some retailers are testing the waters with Black Friday promotions, the majority remain steadfast in their opposition.
The survey also highlighted
growing concerns about Black Friday’s impact on independent retail, with 75.4% believing it negatively affects the high street—a significant increase from 68.8% last year. Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, said: “Our survey demonstrates that independent retailers are taking a strong stance against Black Friday discounting during these challenging economic times. The pressure to slash prices further during Black Friday simply isn’t viable for small businesses.”
4 DIY WEEK NOVEMBER 2024 Crown donates over 6,000 litres of paint to charity
Crown Paints has donated more than 6,000 litres of paint to community groups across the country as part of its commitment to support regeneration through murals and paint projects.
The donations form part of the decorating giant’s partnership with home improvement retailer Wickes through the Wickes Community Programme, an
initiative that supports local community organisations in maintaining and updating their spaces. Crown became the official paint partner for the programme in December 2023 and since then a total of 6,116 litres of repurposed paint, that may otherwise be disposed of, has been given a new lease of life through donations to 112 local community organisations.
The partnership has so far provided paint to hospitals, schools, community centres and many more organisations. This includes a 70-litre donation to the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) in Watford, which enabled the refurbishment of facilities at its rehoming and rescue centre.
An additional 70 litres were supplied to The Vine Centre, a mental health support and addiction recovery centre in Aldershot.
www.diyweek.net
by property data provider TwentyCi and released as part of its Property and Home-mover Report, showed 332,200 sales were agreed in Q3 24, which was 23% above the 269,225
agreed in Q3 23.
The analysis showed that at the beginning of September, nearly 1.47 million owner- occupier households were in various stages of the home- mover journey, marking an increase of 123,000 compared to July 2024. This strength of sales indicates
that growth in transactions will continue into 2025 and shows that demand has remained unaffected by July’s parliamentary election. All regions saw an uplift in sales agreed throughout the
Chance to take a London Retail Safari at 2025 GCA conference
The Garden Centre Association’s (GCA) annual conference in January will start with a bespoke Retail Safari in London led by a well- known Retail Futurist whose clients have included Marks & Spencer.
The Safari represents the launch event for the 2025 Conference, which takes place at De Vere Wokefield Estate, Reading, from 26-29 January 26. GCA Chairman Elect, Ben
Harrison, from Haskins Garden Centres, who has helped organise the day, said: “We’re kicking off our 2025 event on the Sunday, January 26, with a brilliant Retail Safari in the capital led by renowned retail expert, Matthew Brown (pictured). “Matthew is the founder and
director of a retail trend agency called Echochamber and has spent the past 25 years travelling the world seeking out examples of great retail, emerging trends
quarter, with the East of England and the East Midlands both experiencing increases of 28% compared with Q3 23. In terms of major cities to have benefited, Southampton, Peterborough and
and innovative ideas. He runs retail safaris in the world’s best shopping cities to inform and inspire and is a regular keynote speaker at retail conferences worldwide. Matthew will help our members who attend, navigate the buzzing districts of London to give them a clear picture of what the best retail looks like.”
Booking is now open for GCA members via www.gca.
digitickets.co.uk/tickets. Any non-members are welcome to join the organisation and sign up for the event, please contact Peter via
Peter@gca.org.uk to find out more about joining.
Birmingham saw the biggest percentage rises. TwentyCi’s analysis concludes home-movers contribute circa 3% to GDP through purchases made during the moving process (outside of the transaction value), offering a £29bn lifeline of expenditure to the retail economy. The home-moving phase often triggers a series of lifestyle adjustments with £1.3 billion spent every year on beds and furniture, £2.3bn on appliances, and £2.1bn spent on improvements.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46
