All Home & DIY articles – Page 36
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Opinion‘Essential retailers may have shot sector in foot with rates relief repayments’
In the space of a few days, a wave of essential retailers has voluntarily returned the best part of £2bn in business rates relief to the government. In doing so they have won the public relations battle, but have they lost the long-term rates reform war?
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VideoWatch: What really happened on Black Friday – Very, eBay, Google and PwC unravel the trends
Lockdown created a very different Black Friday this year. We gather leaders from online powerhouses The Very Group, eBay and Google and consultancy PwC to delve into what really happened and what it means for the rest of the Christmas trading period.
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OpinionHomebase CEO Damian McGloughlin: ‘Experience is the key to relevance’
Homebase boss Damian McGloughlin explains why retailers need to work extra hard to ensure shops are inspirational as online sales soar.
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OpinionMove of the Week: Steve Carson swaps supplements for sofas at ScS
It takes a brave person to trade selling health and wellness products for big-ticket furniture items on the cusp of the deepest economic downturn in 300 years. Fortunately, Steve Carson has never been afraid of a challenge.
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AnalysisWhy Kingfisher’s NeedHelp acquisition is ‘missing piece of the puzzle’
Home and DIY giant Kingfisher announced the acquisition of French start-up NeedHelp this week, marking its first foray into the services sector.
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NewsScS names ex-Holland & Barrett boss Carson as new chief executive
ScS has named former Holland & Barrett boss Steve Carson as its new chief executive to succeed the retiring David Knight.
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NewsKingfisher buys home improvement services marketplace NeedHelp
Kingfisher has acquired home improvement services marketplace NeedHelp as the group ramps up plans to become “more digital and service orientated”.
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OpinionMove of the Week: BBC’s Matt Grest is a Very good fit
Matt Grest’s move from the BBC to The Very Group demonstrates once again that previous retail experience is not a prerequisite for senior leaders so long as you have the correct skillset.
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AnalysisAnalysis: Let’s be honest, has Covid killed the shop?
Over the past week three big stores based retailers - Debenhams, Arcadia and Bonmarche - have all gone bust. Although unsustainable stores were only part of the problem for these long-term struggling businesses, they contributed to their demise.
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NewsKingfisher sales surge as online demand drives growth
Kingfisher has posted a spike in sales during its third quarter as surging ecommerce demand drove its top-line growth.
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DataData: Covid job crisis deepens as major retailers swing the axe
Retail job losses have accelerated in 2020 as the coronavirus crisis batters the sector.
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NewsHabitat to close flagship and relaunch in Sainsbury’s and Argos
Sainsbury’s-owned furniture brand Habitat is due for a reset over the coming months, including the closure of its iconic Tottenham Court Road store.
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AnalysisAs ‘for sale’ sign is raised over Homebase who might be potential buyers?
Homebase has revealed it is up for sale after returning to profitability. We take a look at who could be in the running to acquire the DIY specialist.
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AnalysisFive categories set to lose out during lockdown
When the second lockdown was revealed last week, British Retail Consortium boss Helen Dickinson deemed it a “nightmare before Christmas” for retail.
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OpinionLockdown to scupper Black Friday bonanza – but all is not lost
Lockdown has put the dampeners on a Black Friday sales surge with consumers expected to spend 20% less during the discounting event this year, according to PwC.
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AnalysisWhy Asda, Ikea and Tesco are betting on a sustainable post-pandemic future
Over the last few months, a throng of retailers have made pledges and launched initiatives to become more sustainable. But is the middle of a global pandemic the right time to be making these bold claims?
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NewsHomebase seeks new owners to drive next phase of growth
Homebase owner Hilco has hoisted the ‘for sale’ sign as the home and DIY business eyes the next phase of its transformation.
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Opinion‘As lockdown bites, retailers can’t afford to squabble like cats in a bag’
As the retail industry labours under the restrictions of a second lockdown, some are adopting a beggar-thy-neighbour attitude that is in the interests of nobody.
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DataCoronavirus Consumer Pulse: Web traffic spikes ahead of second lockdown
Amid the coronavirus crisis, it has arguably never been more important, nor more difficult, for retailers to understand their customers.
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Opinion‘Retailers’ cash is stronger than expected, but the outlook has weakened’
HSBC UK head of retail and leisure James Sawley takes the temperature of retail performance and finances as a new lockdown begins.