B&Q launches new Waterford store creating 37 jobs
The opening of the new store follows B&Q's acquisition of three previous Homebase stores earlier this year, which were to be opened throughout May.
The new B&Q Waterford store employs 37 staff, including 16 staff who transferred from Homebase. The 30,000 square foot B&Q store, located at Ardkeen Retail Park, the site of the previous Homebase store, has been remodelled and refreshed with B&Q branding and products.
It will offer a wide range of home improvement essentials, along with a dedicated TradePoint counter tailored to meet the needs of local trade professionals.
In addition to more than 13,000 essential home improvement products, there will be a dedicated timber cutting service, B&Q's popular Valspar paint mixing service, and a garden centre offering outdoor plants and gardening equipment and one-hour click and collect service.
Staff and management celebrated the opening with live music from the Celtic Drummers, while surprises and activities for its first customers included a free plant and gift card, a visit from the Dulux dog, and a ribbon cutting ceremony. The ribbon was cut by Yvonne Hale, who opened the former Homebase store 20 years ago.
John Eason, B&Q retail director for Ireland and north UK, attended the opening and said: 'It was another exciting opening in Waterford, the second of three new B&Q stores to open across Ireland. I'm really proud of the efforts of all the teams involved in opening the new store which have been converted to the B&Q brand at a quick pace.
'It's a great opportunity for us to bring our B&Q and TradePoint offer to more of our customers across Ireland. Store manager Gary Roche and his team are looking forward to welcoming customers into the store.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Irish Examiner
IFAC on Apple tax: 'Spend it, save it or cut debt'
Briefings for the Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) chair ahead of an Oireachtas appearance flagged likely questions on the Apple tax windfall, the budget impact of migration, and poor value from money in health spending. Two Q&As were prepared for Séamus Coffey as he got ready to appear before a committee on budgetary oversight in early July. One section highlighted issues that were likely to be 'pertinent now' while another looked at questions that arose 'consistently.' On what to do with the €13.8bn Apple tax windfall, a suggested answer for Mr Coffey said to remember the government 'is not stuck for cash.' It said: '[The state] is stuck for its capacity to spend it on things we all want. There are three broad options – spend it, save it, [or] cut debt.' The Q&A said spending it on housing was easier said than done as the biggest issues were 'construction sector capacity and planning bottlenecks' not the availability of cash. If asked about the budgetary implications of migration, the briefing for Mr Coffey said there had been 'large increases' in numbers coming to Ireland in recent years. It said: 'This has meant the labour force and employment has been able to grow as rapidly as it has in recent years. '[Around] €2.1bn has been set aside for humanitarian assistance to refugees this year (€0.8bn of this is for Ukrainian refugees). In terms of future costs, these are uncertain.' The Q&A said that getting migrants integrated into employment and their own homes would reduce costs for the government. 'An increased supply of housing would mean some of the more expensive means of accommodation (hotels] may be replaced,' it said. On cost-of-living supports, which have been a major feature of recent budgets, the IFAC briefings said these cost increases were now 'likely permanent.' The Q&A said: 'There is probably less of a case for once-off measures this winter. Permanent increases in social welfare could be targeted at specific groups. However, the measures have seldom been targeted.' Mr Coffey was also briefed on employment in construction and whether we needed more people working in that sector. 'Just over six per cent of all employment is in the construction sector. Over the period 2005 to 2007, this reached over ten per cent. This may have been unsustainable, however.' The briefing added: 'Mention productivity, can we get more output from the same workforce?' A Q&A on broader questions highlighted the challenges in creating a wealth tax that would be fair, not become an administrative burden, and collect enough money to make it worthwhile. On how to fix repeated overruns in health spending, the briefing said that 'poor budgeting' was a problem but that there was also evidence of 'reduced productivity.' It also explained how Ireland's failure to meet its climate targets carried a very real 'fiscal risk.' The Q&A said the country had already foregone €500m from carbon credits it was entitled to sell and that costs of non-compliance were in the range of €8bn and €26bn. The document said: 'While several [EU] member states are projected to fall short, the potential costs are significantly higher for Ireland relative to the size of its economy.' Asked about the records, IFAC said they had no further comment to make.
Agriland
5 days ago
- Agriland
Watch: Using local grain to produce quality whiskey
In 1979, Loughran's Stores Ltd was founded just outside of Dundalk, in Haggardstown, Co. Louth, but the Loughran family has been farming the land since 1908. The company's managing director, James Loughran, the third generation of his family to farm the land, explained to Agriland that originally, it was an "old Land Commission" farm - 40ac and a farmhouse. In the 1970s, the grain store was built, and trading began with farmers in the local area, a number of which Loughran's still trade with today. Loughran joined the business in 2002, with the goal of doing something "slightly different, but still within our skill set", especially with the company's wheat, oats, and barley. In the early 2010s, while on holiday in Canada, Loughran became interested in Vancouver's craft beer scene, and the city's intake of malt barley per year. Back home, he recognised that the Irish brewing and distilling industries were growing for smaller, independent businesses. However, Loughran felt that there was limited opportunities for Irish brewers to access local malt - crushed, in 25kg bags - simply because the facilities were not there. In 2014, the company started crushing a small amount of malt barley, and supplied it to breweries around Ireland. Crusher at Loughran's Storehouse, Co. Louth Over the years, the company has diversified what it distributes, to offer brewers a full range of base malt, specialty malts, and hops. The company continued to expand and followed a simple, but effective, business model - provide brewers and distillers with all the ingredients they need: a "one-stop shop", as Loughran himself puts it. The Old Carrick Mill Distillery is 30km away from Loughran's Storehouse, just across the county border, in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. The distillery was founded by Steven Murphy, a Monaghan native, and is supplied by Loughran's. Murphy founded Old Carrick Mill 14 years ago, on the site of an old mill which leads back to the world-famous B&G vineyard in Bordeaux, France, and the Barton family. Having traced the mill's roots all the way south of France, B&G gifted Murphy 50 of its finest red wine barrels, which he filled them with whiskey. Despite its continental history, Old Carrick Distillery is rooted firmly in south Co. Monaghan. Throughout the premises, Murphy has links to the local area proudly on display. A local expression is proudly etched into the bottles of whiskey: "From Carrickmacross to Crossmaglen, there are more rogues than honest men." Whiskey produced at Old Carrick Mill Distillery However, gin was Old Carrick Mill Distillery's first product. Murphy explained that the only "law" in making gin is that the main botanical is juniper, and it has to be 40% alcohol. As a result, Murphy began growing junipers on site in Carrickmacross so that he could produce 100% Irish gin further down the line. He planted the trees "eight or nine" years ago, with mixed results. According to Murphy, junipers are a "lazy" tree, and it could be 10 years before they put out a berry. Once harvested, Murphy intends to use his junipers to make gin along with other Irish products, such as apples and blackberries. "Who is to say gin has to taste a certain way?" Murphy asked. "It has to have junipers in it, but everything else can be different."
The Irish Sun
07-08-2025
- The Irish Sun
The 87p B&M buy that gives your home instant Jo Malone vibes without the price tag and 5 other home scent tips
Plus, how often you should really be changing your tea towels MAKES SCENTS The 87p B&M buy that gives your home instant Jo Malone vibes without the price tag and 5 other home scent tips DO you want your home to smell like a hotel and squeaky clean? A professional cleaner has shared her six top tips for keeping houses smelling 'fresh', and the first is an 87p bargain from B&M. 4 The cleaner raved about this B&M oil to add to your diffuser Credit: TikTok/@berryclean2 4 The Restore oils cost £1.75 for two, which works out as 87p each Credit: B&M TikTok user @berryclean2, from South Wales, raved about B&M's Restore oil, which comes in a pack of two for £1.75. They are said to 'restore your sense of calm' around the house and are perfect to add to diffusers. They feature notes of sandalwood, cedar, and cardamom, which are said to 'elevate your mood and give you a spa experience straight from the comfort of your own home.' The cleaner likened the scent to Jo Malone, with their pricey candles costing from £28. She wrote: 'This oil is from B&M and gives Jo Malone vibes. 'Literally is so strong. 'I'm obsessed with my diffuser over candles lately.' She then gave five other tips for keeping your home smelling fresh. DAILY TEA TOWELS 4 She claims you should wash tea towels every day Credit: TikTok/@berryclean2 How often do you chuck your tea towels in the washing machine? The cleaner advised that you should do this every day, in order to prevent odours in your kitchen. Aldi is selling a home organizing essential for just $29.99 – and it's $46 cheaper than the Home Depot version She explained: 'You can spray as much air freshener as you like, but things like these HOLD onto odours.' SOAK BINS Another job you should do every day, according to the professional, is soak your bin lids. She advised you to use a disinfectant for this, and she recommends Zoflora, loved by Mrs Hinch, and Asevi. She added: 'Waking up to a lush smell & also getting rid of odours from food from the night before.' ADD OIL TO BINS Another way to transform your bin to smelling incredible is to add fragranced oil to a piece of kitchen towel and place it at the bottom. She said she is 'loving' lavender at the moment for this. 4 Soaking bin lids and opening windows each day can have a big impact on the scent of your home Credit: Getty SCRUB SINK You may do washing up in a bowl, but the cleaner recommended that you thoroughly scrub under this in the sink too. She said you should do this every day and it takes 'two seconds.' The professional continued: 'Soo much food, bacteria & odour build up under these things.' OPEN WINDOWS It may seem obvious, but opening windows for as little as 10 minutes a day can improve the smell of your home. She said: 'Whenever time of day, get that fresh air in.' Many people loved her advice, with one saying: 'Yes girly.' Another added: 'Great tips.'
