I heard that B&Q Warehouse in Luton is planning a significant shrink in size, turning over much of its premises to Morrisons.
A sign of changing times perhaps - maybe less DIY, but also many more better priced specialist suppliers around now.
Nationwide policy driven by business rates, apparently
Andrew Gabriel has brought this to us :
B&Q Preston (Bamber Bridge) is doing it too. And there's a Sainsbury's not 200m away - bet they're pleased, not.
I have three Homebase, a Wicks and a large B&Q all within a reasonable distance. During a weekday, all apart from Wicks are quiet. To the point where I wonder how they make a profit. And both Homebase and B&Q seem to be converting from the traditional stock to being more like a furniture store.
And yes - I have a ToolStation not that much further away - so for anything they stock I'll go there long before a DIY shed.
In message , at 12:51:36 on Fri, 18 Oct
2013, "Dave Plowman (News)" remarked:
Homebase did that a long time ago (5-10yrs perhaps).
P'raps also a reflection of Luton's unusual paucity of big supermarkets.
Mr Pounder formulated the question :
No, I live in Fulwood so maybe too far away?
Yeah, probably. I'm in Walton Le Dale.
B&Q in England is much exercised by business rates and is planning to reduce its estate by at least 15% to save costs. Not sure if this applies to other countries in the UK.
Mmm that will please Aldi just across the road from B&Q, still there is another B&Q down by the airport, Aldi in Dunstable, Morrisons in Luton & Houghton Regis, Asda in Luton and Dunstable, Tesco in Luton and Dunstable, Wickes in Dunstable, Homebase in Luton and Dunstable and Sainsburys in Luton and Dunstable not forgetting a local Screwfix and Toolstation. I wonder sometimes how they all make money.
The same is due to happen to one of the B&Q's in stoke on Trent.
I rarely use either store. Great if you want scatter cushions or a table lamp, no good for much else.
Interesting that Toolsatan are opening inside Wickes.
They probably don't from the times I've been to some of these places and the number of people Not in them..
It seems to me that the councils, government, are pricing them off the high St with the extortionate rating system, they'll have to learn one day that this cannot go on...
But even more recently. Now have things like a Laura Ashley section. So more of the floor area given over to non DIY stuff.
Yep, there is a Toolstation inside the new Wickes in Huntingdon, and a Screwfix over the road, all very handy :-).
The Wickes is not a particularly big store, but then, given that they now do free next day delivery over £50 (not for bulky stuff), maybe that's a benefit for them (and of course Toolstation will sell lots of stuff ).
I think the growth of Screwfix and toolstation both online and shops must have impacted on Homebase/B&Q Before that, there wasn't anything between the sheds and the builders merchants etc. (which don't open such handy hours, and can some times feel intimidating). So it probably makes sense for them to focus more on 'soft' stuff and things where people often like to see what they are buying (kitchens, bathrooms) etc
If it's anything like my place of work. On hearing that colleague has gone to B&Q, Homebase etc. they are informed that Toolsatan, TCL and Screwfix all have outlets nearby.
Our local B&Q closed over a year ago and now it's quite a trek to a B&Q warehouse if you need them. On the other hand, Toolstation opened inside the local Wickes about a month ago (was previously a 30min drive to the nearest). I've noticed that the Wickes car park is much busier since Toolstation opened and the manager said their turnover has risen steadily week on week. Now I have a trade account at Selco (very close to Wickes), I can't say that I miss B&Q in the slightest.
The latest TS dogologue has Wickes' products in it - I have'nt compared prices or which way they have converged.
In article , chris French scribeth thus
Dunno .. here in Cambridge Ridgeons do a much wider range of actual building stuff than whatever B and Q do (Homebase do it better 'tho). But then again B&Q does far more furnishing and fitting out stuff so perhaps in a way they complement each other. Meanwhile we're using Toolstation more and more. One reason is its nearer less petrol and time and a very friendly service there despite the seemingly high staff turnover..
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.