Warmer weather set to fuel fashion, BBQs and DIY at Easter, says KPMG
Warmer weather is poised to fuel fashion, barbecue foods and DIY sales, according to Paul Martin, UK head of retail.
Wickes gives UK customers ability to select one-hour time slots for their DIY deliveries
Home improvement retailer Wickes has launched ‘Wickes Hourly’, a new delivery service that provides customers with a choice of one-hour time slots for their product deliveries. The service is made possible through a partnership with delivery technology brand, On the
B&Q to trial avatar service for advice-shy DIY shoppers
New research today revealed the UK’s reluctance to seek advice, with statistics confirming that 70% of Brits refuse to ask for advice and 26% would rather go online than consult a real person. In light of the research, B&Q is
Homebase unveils new DIY zone as part of ‘store of the future’ refresh programme
As part of its store of the future retail estate refresh programme, Homebase has unveiled the blueprint for its DIY store concept, designed by integrated brand communications agency Refinery. The result of in-depth research designed help to future-proof the DIY
151 Products launches new pack design for sealants range
151 Products – the UK’s largest manufacturer and supplier of quality, discount household items – is launching new pack designs for its long-standing and popular DIY sealant category. The 15-strong range, originally launched in 2002 has undergone a packaging design overhaul
Turtle Wax wins distribution deals for DIY, grocery, online and automotive channels
Turtle Wax, a world leading brand in car care products, claim it is set to make a bold ‘land grab’ on the UK car care market this week as it announces two new strategic distribution partnerships for its consumer retail
German DIY retailer, Bauhaus, selects Blue Yonder technology to optimise sales forecasting
German DIY retailer, Bauhaus, is using Blue Yonder’s technology to optimise its sales forecasting processes. Bauhaus, a specialist in home improvement, gardening and workshop products, selected Blue Yonder to help optimise its product presence in select stores and retail centers,
UK high street enjoys modest new year sales growth, latest CBI Monthly Distributive Trades Survey finds
There was modest high-street sales growth in the year to January, according to the latest CBI Monthly Distributive Trades Survey. However, fortunes were mixed across the different sectors: grocers and furniture & carpets retailers saw sales volumes rise, whereas clothing
DIY, fashion and skincare brands select Oracle solutions to drive future business growth
French DIY retailer, Leroy Merlin, the Brazilian department store chain and fashion specialist, Marisa, and skincare brand, Molton Brown, have all invested in Oracle solutions to support future growth. The moves were announced at the National Retail Federation’s Big Show
Spend eases in October, as wet weather dampens spirits and Brits save for Christmas
Barclaycard’s monthly analysis of UK spending shows that consumer spend eased again in October, up 1.9% year-on-year, as consumers continued to take a cautious approach to managing their finances and saved up ahead of Christmas. This was the first month
Shoppers shake off austerity and part more readily with money, reports Barclaycard
UK consumer spending in September 2013 remained well above the rate of inflation for the sixth month in a row, driven in part by strong retail spend as families continued to feel more positive about the future, according to the
Rising temperatures in UK fuel spending on great outdoors, Barclaycard reports
The recent heatwave encouraged Brits to get outdoors, with a 39.9% rise in sales at camp sites and caravan parks at the start of July (7-13 July 2013) compared to the same time last year, reveal new figures from Barclaycard. Following the
Supermarkets doing best job of getting closer to customers, new index reveals
Supermarkets are doing a better job of communicating with their customers in a meaningful way than other businesses, with consumers rating them well above firms in all other industry sectors, according to the new Customer Intimacy Index produced by database marketing specialist GI Insight. The Index also
Improving weather has positive impact on retail sales growth, Barclaycard reveals
Improving weather has had a positive impact on retailers and total spend growth, compared to April last year, was up 3.6%, according to new Barclaycard spending data. After a slow start in April, consumer spending improved along with the
Discount household products supplier, 151, introduces Super Patch grass seed
Discount household products supplier, 151 Products, has launched a range of grass seed called Super Patch. The collection, which has been developed at 151 Products’ in-house lab, helps to save water and is super-absorbent, encouraging quick, thick, strong grass to grow
Poundworld targets independent retailers with discount, wholesale website
Discount retailer, Poundworld is targeting independent retailers, e-Bay sellers and market traders, with the launch of a discount wholesale website, www.discount-wholesale.co.uk. Launching this week, Poundworld claims the website will help Britain’s small retailers succeed in their business ventures by offering the
Discount household products supplier, 151, launches Duzzit wet glove wipes
151 Products – a leading UK supplier of discount household products – has developed a range of wet glove wipes designed to make everyday home cleaning quicker and easier. The unique Duzzit Wet Glove – a disposable cleaning wipe –
Castrol offers Olympic and EURO 2012 tickets in biggest on-pack promotion
Leading oil manufacturer Castrol claims it has launched its biggest ever UK promotion, offering consumers the opportunity to win tickets to some of the largest sporting events of the year. Launching in store this month (March 2012), the promotion will
Self-checkout technology forecast to double in Europe in next four years
In a Retail Times exclusive, Leyla Feghhi, retail marketing director at self-checkout supplier, Wincor Nixdorf, reveals why the technology is poised for growth and the retailer benefits Self-checkout technology is forecast to double in Europe in the next four years,
Retail sales volumes stabilise in February, latest CBI survey shows
Retailers saw little change in sales volumes on a year ago in the first half of February 2012, although they held up better than expected, the CBI said today (Tuesday). The CBI’s latest quarterly Distributive Trades Survey, which was conducted
High street sales ahead but still sluggish, reports CBI
High street sales rose in April compared with a year ago but the pace of growth remains subdued, the CBI said today. Its latest Distributive Trades Survey, for the two weeks from 30 March, found 45% of retailers saw the
Retail sales pick up but growth remains subdued, says CBI
High street trading grew in March compared with a year ago, and at a faster rate than last month, but sales growth remains subdued, the CBI said today. The CBI’s latest Distributive Trades Survey (conducted 28 February to 16 March)
DIY market in US takes a nosedive as home owners lack funds
The DIY market in the US has declined 21% in the last five years, according to the latest research from Mintel. It found more than a quarter (28%) of DIY-ers would like to undertake a major renovation or addition to
John Lewis is consumers’ favourite retailer in Verdict poll
John Lewis has topped Verdict’s poll of consumers as the UK’s favourite shop for the fourth year in a row. It beat Ikea, ranked second, to the top slot and sister company, Waitrose, placed third. John Lewis was also ranked
High street sales slow sharply in February, reports CBI
Annual growth in high street sales volumes slowed sharply in February and retailers do not expect any sales increase next month, according to the CBI’s quarterly Distributive Trades survey. At the same time, price inflation has risen considerably and is
