Latest news with #JohnEason
Scottish Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Scots branch of major DIY chain with 300 UK stores to shut for good with 40 jobs at risk
The store will close later this year SHUT UP SHOP Scots branch of major DIY chain with 300 UK stores to shut for good with 40 jobs at risk A MAJOR DIY chain with 300 stores across the UK is set to close down a Scottish branch. B&Q in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, will pull its shutters down for the final time in August. Advertisement 3 B&Q is set to close down one of its Scottish branches in August Credit: Getty 3 Around 40 workers at the Peterhead branch are at risk of losing their jobs The lease on the Buchan Way store is set to end and the landlord plans to occupy the space themselves. It means that 40 workers are at risk of losing their jobs. But the company is searching for alternative premises in the area. The branch opened back in 2005, and will close down for the final time on August 9. Advertisement John Eason, Director of North, ROI & Islands, B&Q, said: "Our team of 40 B&Q colleagues have been serving the Peterhead community, helping them to improve and enjoy their homes, for the last 20 years. "They would very much like to continue to serve the local residents and we are continuing to look for an alternative store location in the area. "Due to the lease expiry, it is with regret that we propose to close the store on 9 August this year. "In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to welcome our Peterhead customers to our store, and I would like to thank our colleagues for their ongoing hard work and commitment." Advertisement B&Q has over 300 brick-and-mortar branches in the UK and Ireland and sells over 30,000 products in store - with a further 300,000 available online. We previously told how shoppers were warned a wave of devastating high street closures is set to continue — as crisis-hit retailers are hammered by a 'perfect storm'. Beloved department store chain shutting more locations with clearance sales on now until final May 25 deadline Our research showed major brands have pulled the shutters down on at least 25 Scots outlets this year — leaving scores of empty units across our towns and cities. And experts predicted the alarming rate of axed stores — plus jobs losses — will spiral as businesses face rising costs. Advertisement There was devastating news over the weekend as it emerged one of the UK's favourite brands, River Island, was in financial difficulty. It has 230 stores across the UK, with 20 north of the border. That follows luxury fashion retailer Michael Kors suddenly shutting its store on Glasgow's Buchanan Street in April. Other chains including Farmfoods, Quiz, Timberland, Home Store + More, Sports Direct, Lids, Monki, Morrisons, Superdry, FatFace, Hollister, Nike and Beaverbrooks have also axed premises. Advertisement
The Sun
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Major DIY retailer with over 300 UK stores to close branch after 20 years – with up to 40 staff at risk of job losses
A MAJOR DIY retailer is set to close one of its high street stores next month. B&Q in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, is set to pull down its shutters for the last time on August 9. 1 The home improvement store, on Buchan Way, opened in 2005. However, the lease on the unit is about to expire and the landlord plans to occupy the space themselves. Forty staff members are at risk of losing their jobs, although the company is searching for alternative premises in the area. John Eason, Director of North, ROI & Islands, B&Q, said: "Our team of 40 B&Q colleagues have been serving the Peterhead community, helping them to improve and enjoy their homes, for the last 20 years. "They would very much like to continue to serve the local residents and we are continuing to look for an alternative store location in the area. "Due to the lease expiry, it is with regret that we propose to close the store on 9 August this year. "In the meantime, we look forward to continuing to welcome our Peterhead customers to our store, and I would like to thank our colleagues for their ongoing hard work and commitment.' B&Q has over 300 brick-and-mortar branches in the UK and Ireland and sells over 30,000 products in store - with a further 300,000 available online. Earlier this year the company was forced to apologise after listing a bathroom cabinet which was easy to assemble 'even if you are a girl'. The sexist product listing for their flatpack bamboo unit appeared on the company's website. You'd never know I live in a council house thanks to how good it looks - I shopped in IKEA & an Amazon tip saved me cash The 140cm x 33cm cabinet was shown storing towels, bathroom plants and toiletries. Its product information said: 'Tall storage cabinet is perfect for saving space, slim design to fit in almost any corner. 'Three shelves provide plenty of storage to keep essentials organised and neat, and the cabinet door provides added privacy. "Easy to assemble the cabinet even if you're a girl.' However, the iconic retailer has also has some big hits this year, with shoppers in May rushing out to buy a 'classy' looking garden furniture set that was retailing for only £100. In the financial year 2024/25, annual sales at B&Q rose 0.4 per cent to around £3.84 billion. However, the market has proved challenging for other companies in the home improvement space. Earlier this year arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft announced that it was closing nine of its stores.
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
B&Q launches new Waterford store creating 37 jobs
B&Q Waterford opened on Thursday, May 29, at Ardkeen Retail Park, Farronshoneen, Outer Ring Road, Waterford city, (X91 W1WD). The opening times are Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm, and Sunday, from 10am to 6pm. 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.'
Irish Examiner
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
B&Q opens three new stores in Ireland
B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher reported a 1.8% rise in first-quarter same-store sales for Ireland and the UK after good weather boosted sales of garden furniture and barbecues. The FTSE-100 listed group, which also owns Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other markets, said it was sticking with its full-year forecast for adjusted pre-tax profit of £480m (€572m) to £540m (€643m). The group, which trades from over 1,900 stores, said like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland rose 5.9% in the three months to April 30 but were down 3.2% in both France and Poland. However, Kingfisher said it won market share in all of those countries. "Our UK banners performed particularly well, driven by strong seasonal sales and growth in trade and e-commerce," chief executive Thierry Garnier said. Sunny weather boosted overall retail sales in April and households grew cheerier this month, according to figures published last week that suggested consumer spending might be a bright spot in an otherwise drab outlook for the economy. However, in France, data showed consumer confidence hit a five-month low this month on growing worries about the economy and unemployment. Kingfisher noted that in the UK and Ireland, sales of seasonal products, such as garden furniture, barbecues and plants, jumped 28.3% year-on-year, largely due to better weather. But it cautioned that some of this growth was likely to have been pulled forward from the second quarter. In Ireland, B&Q opened three new stores at locations in Navan, Waterford and Letterkenny. The store openings follow the acquisition by B&Q of three leasehold stores, formerly trading as Homebase, for a purchase price of £3.2m (€3.79m). Collectively, the three will employ 109 staff, 51 of whom transferred from Homebase. Following a revamp and rebranding programme, the first of the new stores opened in Navan Retail Park. B&Q Waterford will open on Friday, followed by B&Q Letterkenny on Saturday. The acquisitions build on B&Q's existing network and bring to 11 its portfolio of stores in the Republic of Ireland. John Eason, B&Q Retail Director, Ireland said: 'This is a landmark moment for B&Q and is indicative of the confidence we have in the Irish market. Opening three new stores builds on the success of our existing eight stores in Ireland and the continuous and growing demand for home improvement products and services nationwide. 'We are so pleased that so many former Homebase colleagues have joined the B&Q family, and we look forward to working with them - alongside our 58 new team members – as we build an even stronger presence in the Irish market. We are also looking forward to welcoming DIY enthusiasts together with home improvement and trade professionals to our new stores, which is for everyone, whatever their home improvement needs.' Additional reporting Reuters Read More Bulmers owner C&C Group reports minimal impact from tariffs
RTÉ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
B&Q Ireland opening new stores in Navan, Waterford and Letterkenny
B&Q Ireland is opening three new stores this week at locations in Navan in Co Meath, Waterford and Letterkenny in Co Donegal. The store openings follow the purchase by B&Q of three former Homebase stores for about €3.79m late last year. The three new stores will employ 109 workers, 51 of whom transferred from Homebase. After a revamp and rebranding programme, the first of the new stores opened in Navan Retail Park today. B&Q Waterford will open its doors on 29 May, followed by B&Q Letterkenny on 30 May. B&Q said the acquisitions build on its existing network and bring to 11 its portfolio of stores in the Republic of Ireland. B&Q is part of home improvement company Kingfisher which operates more than 2,000 stores in eight countries across Europe. John Eason, B&Q Retail Director, Ireland said the opening of the new stores was indicative of the confidence the retailer has in the Irish market. "Opening three new stores builds on the success of our existing eight stores in Ireland and the continuous and growing demand for home improvement products and services nationwide," he said. B&Q first launched in Ireland in 2002 and now has 11 stores around the country - Galway, Athlone, Limerick, Naas, Cork and three Dublin stores in Swords, Tallaght, Liffey Valley and now Navan, Waterford and Letterkenny. B&Q owner's first quarter sales up by 1.8% Meanwhile, Kingfisher has today reported a 1.8% rise in first quarter same store sales, with a strong performance in Britain, helped by favourable weather, partially offset by continued weakness in France. The FTSE-100 listed group, which owns B&Q and Screwfix in Ireland, the UK and Castorama and Brico Depot in France and other markets, said it was sticking with its full-year forecast for adjusted pretax profit of £480-540m compared to £528m in 2024/25. Kingfisher said like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland rose 5.9% in the three months to April 30 but were down 3.2% in both France and Poland. However, the group said it won market share in all of those markets. "Our UK banners performed particularly well, driven by strong seasonal sales and growth in trade and e-commerce," chief executive Thierry Garnier said. Sunny weather boosted overall British retail sales in April and households grew cheerier this month, according to figures published last week that suggested consumers might be a bright spot in an otherwise drab outlook for the economy. But in France, data showed consumer confidence hit a five-month low this month as concerns about the economy and unemployment surged.
