All Home & DIY articles – Page 229
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NewsFood inflation falls to three-year low
Food inflation fell to a three-year low and overall shop price inflation slowed in March to 1.2% from 1.7% in February according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
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NewsCath Kidston confirms sale and lays out international expansion plans
Cath Kidston has confirmed it has been bought by TA Associates as it lays out plans for international expansion.
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NewsLaura Ashley profit rise driven by strong UK performance
Home furnishings and fashion chain Laura Ashley’s group pre-tax profit climbed 7.8% to £11m in the year to January 30, driven by a strong performance in the UK.
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NewsWickes to cash in on MFI gap with new-format trial
DIY retailer Wickes is opening standalone kitchen and bathroom stores to expand geographically and soak up market share left by MFI’s collapse in 2008.
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Analysis
An Easter battle come rain or shine
Recent unpredictable weather has only heightened pressures on the DIY sector and an Easter washout could spell disaster. Nicola Harrison looks at retailers’ fightbacks and asks if the looming price war will help
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NewsFindel pre-tax losses to be higher after restatement
Home shopping group Findel is to restate results for the year to April 3, 2009, following a review of accounting entries within its education division.
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NewsTopps Tiles cautious about outlook as like-for-likes slow
Topps Tiles has reported that consumer confidence remains shaky and trading patterns were lacklustre in its second quarter.
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NewsRetail chiefs forecast slow consumer recovery
Retail chiefs including Marks & Spencer chairman Sir Stuart Rose, Next chief executive Simon Wolfson and New Look chief executive Carl McPhail have warned against expecting a consumer recovery this year, a report has found.
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NewsLord Kirkham calls off DFS auction
Sofa king Lord Kirkham has ended the £500m auction of his DFS chain and said he has no interest in selling it.
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NewsGreen consumer market bigger than thought, Homebase study shows
The consumer market for green products is much bigger than previously thought, research for Home Retail-owned DIY chain Homebase has found.
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NewsJohn Lewis reports strong home sales
Sales at John Lewis department stores rose 15.8% last week to £51.4m, helped by strong sales of home products.
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NewsJohn Lewis at Home wants high street site
John Lewis is seeking a site to trial its John Lewis at Home format in a town centre after the success of its first retail park store in Poole.
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NewsFurniture site Made.com launches with value offer
A new etail site, backed my ecommerce entrepreneur Brent Hoberman, has launched in the UK with a model aiming to save customers money on furniture by ordering directly from the manufacturer.
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NewsFocus close to signing first ‘compact’ store
Focus DIY is poised to sign its first small-format store as it vowed not to be drawn into the DIY price war gripping the sector.
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NewsCarpetright profit warning sparks fears for home sector
Carpetright issued a profit warning on Tuesday, reigniting fears in the home and furniture sector that shaky consumer confidence will prevent shoppers spending in 2010.
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AnalysisWhat it’s like to work at Home Bargains
The inside view from Laine Maw, HR manager of TJ Morris, trading as Home Bargains
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News
Ideal eyes acquisitions to build on turnaround
TV shopping group Ideal Shopping Direct is confident that it can build on its successful turnaround and is looking for more acquisitions after returning to full-year profit.
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NewsPrivate equity firm buys Cath Kidston
US private equity group TA Associates has agreed to buy Cath Kidston in a deal worth about £100m.
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NewsKingfisher full year profits surge 49%
DIY giant Kingfisher’s adjusted pre-tax profits surged 48.6% to £547m in the year to January 30 but the retailer remains cautious on the outlook.
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NewsNext profits soar 18%
Fashion retailer Next has reported an 18% increase in group pre-tax profit to £505m in the full year to January 30 in what chairman John Barton said was “an extraordinary year”.