DIY retailers Focus and Homebase must work harder to develop points of difference and exploit new growth opportunities to stop the onslaught of market leader B&Q.
That is the message from retail research house Verdict in its DIY & Gardening Retailers 2003 report.
B&Q takes£1 in every£4 spent by British shoppers on DIY and gardening goods - more than the 81p of Focus and Homebase combined.
'This only underlines how it is imperative for both these rivals to develop clearer sources of differentiation and exploit new growth opportunities,' the report states. 'Both will be concerned, however, by B&Q's increasing efforts to develop more style-led and soft-end appeal.'
A B&Q spokeswoman said: 'We are still out in front, because we have worked hard to get the right stores. We have Warehouse, and in the past year we have developed the mini-Warehouse model.
'We have also worked on new product development, such as bedroom furniture, kitchens and storage. Our new store-opening programme will continue. We refuse to stand still. If you stand still you're dead.'
But the Verdict report does offer Focus and Homebase some crumbs of comfort - the anticipated continued boom in the market means that there is still lots to play for.
Verdict expects market growth in the DIY and gardening sector - worth£16 billion at present - to be 32.6 per cent over the next five years, ahead of the 23.1 per cent growth anticipated for the retail sector as a whole.
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