All Wickes articles
Home improvement chain Wickes was founded by Henry Dunn Wickes, in Michigan, United States, back in 1854. It was more than a century later, in 1972, that Wickes Corporation and British builders merchant, Sankeys, opened its first store in the United Kingdom. Wickes was floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1987 but became embroiled in a scandal in June 1996, when it was discovered that the business had overstated its profits. The retailer turned itself around and was bought by Focus Do It All in September 2000. Less than five years later, it was sold to builders merchants Travis Perkins. Wickes’ demerger was completed in April 2021, when Wickes floated on the London Stock Exchange.
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Retail Navigator AnalysisWickes (Financials)
Wickes posted a 0.6% decline in sales to £1,553.8m for the year to 31 December 2023 (FY2023), with like-for-like sales falling 0.3% on the previous year. Wickes’ chief executive David Wood commented “This has been another year of strong progress for Wickes. Our robust trading performance, targeted investment programme and disciplined cost control have delivered profits ahead of expectations.
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NewsWickes sales rise driven by volume and market share growth
Wickes has reported a rise in sales as it “successfully” grew volumes and market share in the 13 weeks to September 2024.
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NewsConsumer appetite for big-ticket spending is stabilising, says Wickes boss
Subdued consumer confidence in the home and DIY sector is now stabilising, according to Wickes CEO David Wood.
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NewsWickes’ retail arm has continued to grow despite profits declining
Wickes has hailed the growth of its retail business despite profits declining during the first half and it not being “immune” from design and installation market struggles.
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NewsWickes retail sales grow against a ‘challenging background’ even as the group struggles
Wickes has reported continued sales and volume growth across its core retail business, even as group sales and like-for-likes slipped against a ‘challenging background’.
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AnalysisRetail cabinet: What would government look like if retailers ran the country?
As the country casts its votes in the general election, Retail Week imagines what a cabinet made up of bold and capable retail leaders might look like
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AnalysisShould you move your retail head office to a co-working space?
Hear from people leaders at Curry’s, Wickes and Very on how they’re making flexible working work at their retail businesses.
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AnalysisRetail’s election wish list: what the bosses of Ikea, AO and more want from a new government
“We need a better approach when it comes to the coordination of policy, regulation, taxation, and alignment across the UK’s nations.”
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NewsWickes holds firm on outlook despite dip in DIY sales
Wickes has maintained its profit expectations for the full year, despite a decline in sales in an “uncertain” trading environment.
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AnalysisBig ticket’s big squeeze: how are home retailers navigating sluggish demand?
As DFS issues another profit warning and Wickes reports that demand for pricier purchases has been ’challenging’, how much more penny pinching can big-ticket retailers take?
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NewsWickes hails ‘robust’ year and new Solar Fast acquisition
Wickes has hailed a “robust” full-year performance, with profit before tax landing ahead of expectations. It also announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Solar Fast.
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NewsWickes makes store manager roles more flexible
Wickes has introduced flexible working options to all store manager roles across its estate.
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NewsWickes underlines profit guidance as it grows market share
Wickes has reported an increase in core market share as it remains “on track to meet full-year expectations”.
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AnalysisKitchen nightmares: what do property market worries mean for DIY retailers?
What do the UK’s biggest home improvement retailers think about the trouble swirling in a market which closely mirrors the fortunes of their own?
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NewsWickes sales increase as growth strategy pays off
Wickes reported an increase in sales driven by the “strength of our balanced business model and outstanding customer service delivered by our colleagues”.
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NewsWickes rolls out share buyback programme
Wickes has launched a £25m share buyback programme to return “surplus cash” to shareholders after improved second-quarter trading.
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NewsWickes’ sales knocked by poor weather
Wickes has reported a slip in lIke-for-like sales as bad weather affected demand for seasonal lines.
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NewsExclusive: Wickes boss ‘curious’ about high street DIY store concept
Wickes chief executive David Wood says he is “curious” about the idea of high street DIY shops, a concept currently being trialled by competitors B&Q and Ikea.
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NewsWickes posts profit fall despite achieving ‘record sales’
Wickes has posted a drop in profits for the full financial year despite achieving “record sales”, which it attributes to its “market-leading value proposition”.
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Opinion‘Does Tile Giant administration signal the end of the DIY boom?’
After a phenomenally busy period when everybody became Handy Andy or Andrea and painted the walls rather than climbed them during the depressing days of lockdowns, things are looking trickier as the consumer mentality shifts from DIY to done-IY.