Latest news with #hardwarestore
The Sun
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
English city's oldest shop is forced to shut after 160 YEARS in business as Brits mourn ‘huge loss'
ONE of Britain's oldest shops has been forced to shut after 160 years due to soaring bills. WH Mogford & Son in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol has been serving customers in its 'Aladdin's Cave' hardware store since the 1860s. 5 5 Owner Paul Gillam, who has spent 30 years working at the shop, said it was time to close permanently due to rocketing bills. He told The Sun: 'It's a culmination of footfall dropping off, banks closing in the high street, people shopping online, and the cost of amenities, bills and staffing costs. 'It wasn't an easy decision. It's taken me a couple of years to come to the decision to close down. 'I'm disappointed for the regular customers but it's the right decision at this time.' Paul, 57, added: 'I will take a couple of weeks off then I need to find another job.' The shop, which serves a once bustling high street on the outskirts of Bristol, will pull down the shutters for the last time in September. One Bristol local, who grew up nearby, described the imminent store closure as 'terrible news'. Another replying to Paul's post on Facebook breaking the news, replied: 'Very sorry to hear this. 'I have known the shop my entire life. 'There will be many many saddened people when they hear this news. Popular bank with over 400 spots confirms it is shutting 18 branches in August – it follows 148 closures by rivals 'Mogfords has been a much loved and relied upon business in the village throughout generations.' Another said: 'You will be very much missed. My sons call your shop 'the shop that sells everything'." 'As a fellow business owner I am aware of the significant rise in operating costs over the last few years. I can't imagine how difficult this decision has been for you. 'On behalf of the local community a huge thank you and best wishes for your next 'chapter'.' 5 5 It comes as shops across the country struggle to survive in the changing consumer landscape. Both chain stores and independents have closed at an alarming rate, citing decreased footfall and rising prices as the reason behind the closures. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Historic 'oldest shop' in English city is forced to shut its doors after 160 years of trading - with soaring bills blamed
One of the 'oldest' shops in Bristol has been forced to shutter its doors after 160 due to the crippling effects of soaring bills. WH Mogford & Son, tucked away in Westbury-on-Trym high street, has been a traditional hardware store since 1860s. And even in the two decades before its becoming a tool shop, it served as an ironmongers. But now, the time to close its doors for the final time has come around with its owner Paul Gillam making a saddening announcement to reeling customer on June 14. Taking to Facebook, Mr Gillam, who has spent the last 30 years tirelessly working in the shop, announced the store's 'long history' would be coming to an end. Giving an official closing date of September 2025, he revealed the business which he took over in 2004, was shuttering 'permanently' due to sky rocketing bills. 'I have come to this decision due to the continuing decline in customer numbers, the increasing costs of stock, staffing, bank and utility charges and the desperate state of repair of the rented premises,' he said. 'I would like to thank the many local customers who have supported us over the years.' Described as an 'Aladdin's cave of DIY, gardening and pet supplies', WH Mogford & Son gained popularity for selling individual items rather than multi packs, such as a single nail or one Rawlplug. During the pandemic, the team recalled how one gentleman would walk to the shop each week to buy 10 screws for 1p each, just so he could have a chat with staff. Mr Gillam had taken on various job roles over the years, before he eventually came to the helm of the historic hardware store after the previous owner, the last Mogford to ever own it, went into retirement in 2004. He ran WH Mogford & Son, which was previously dubbed by M Shed as the oldest store in the city alongside his daughter Sophie, who took over the book-keeping after her grandmother retired. One Bristol local, who grew up nearby, described the imminent store closure as 'terrible news'. He told MailOnline how his mother 'always said that for anything around the house, from torches to screwdrivers to pet food, if Mogford's didn't have it then no one would'. He added: 'I've always popped in there still for odd things. Friendly, helpful - a real old-fashioned shop in the best sense of the description.' Following the announcement, other locals and customers were quick to share their dismay at the shop's closure. 'Very sorry to hear this. Have known the shop my entire life, as grew up, and still live, in Westbury-on-Trym,' one said. 'My father used to sell the spare parts for Tilley StormLight paraffin lanterns to the tall slim chap, always thought his name was John Mogford, but not certain of that. 'There will be many many saddened people when they hear this news. Mogfords has been a much loved and relied upon business in the village throughout generations.' Another added: 'A huge loss to the village, you will be very much missed. My sons call your shop 'the shop that sells everything'. 'As a fellow business owner I am aware of the significant rise in operating costs over the last few years. I can't imagine how difficult this decision has been for you. 'On behalf of the local community a huge thank you and best wishes for your next 'chapter'.' A local chimed in: 'I'm sorry to hear about this Paul. I was born in Westbury-on-Trym in late 1940's & I knew Mogfords Ironmongers shop well until I left in my early teens. '[I] have returned to the local area on several occasions over the years and made a point to see it. 'The shop is like part of the furniture that makes the village and will be surely sadly missed.' Nearby Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol Zoo, which was the oldest provincial animal enclosure shut down its main centre after 186 years. The zoo, which was on the edge of Clifton Downs closed its main centre due to the impact of the pandemic and lockdowns. At the time, the society said: 'For many years, Bristol Zoo Gardens has faced various challenges. Namely, declining visitor numbers, the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and the challenges of meeting the changing needs of the animals.' According to the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquarium, 24 zoos were at risk of closing due to the third national lockdown.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Ultra-rare whirlwind tears through garden center and causes havoc
A worker at a hardware store watched on helplessly as a whirlwind ripped through rows of plants stacked beside the parking lot. The freak weather hit Ruggiero's Ace Hardware in Spokane, Washington, last Sunday, knocking over displays and throwing plants across the asphalt. Store worker Max initially ran around trying to contain the damage as the wind grew stronger and stronger, but had no success. Within seconds, the whirlwind was strong enough to knock over shelves stacked with plants before sucking them into a swirling vortex. Max stopped running and just stared in dismay as his carefully arranged display was violently destroyed. Ruggiero's made light of the situation by posting the CCTV footage on its social media channels. 'Here's hoping the weather this weekend treats us better than it treated our South Hill store on Sunday,' the store wrote. 'Max did his best, but Mother Nature said "not today."' The store was also quick to point out that 'only plants and egos were injured in this event'.
ABC News
12-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Bunnings keeps competitors off its turf, but smaller players aren't so lucky
When Bunnings announced plans to build a store right next to David Woodman's Mitre 10, he had few options to stop the hardware giant's expansion. "They really want to put us out of business … I can only imagine that's their plan," David says. But when a rival wants to move onto Bunnings's turf, that's a different story. Emails seen by Four Corners show Bunnings has repeatedly used its size and market power to block competitors from setting up in retail precincts where it already has a store. Such restrictive lease agreements are prohibited in the supermarket sector. But Bunnings is not subject to the same competition rules as Coles and Woolworths, despite rivals believing it has more market power than the pair combined. Documents show a specialty tools retailer was looking to open a store in a homemaker centre on the NSW Central Coast last year, only to be told by the leasing agent: "Bunnings have exclusivity in the centre for tools." It was the same story in 2021 on the Gold Coast and again in Melbourne. "Bunnings have put a restriction clause on the development for all tool operators … not happy … I tried to get around it, however, it's in their contracts," the tool shop was told by another retailer who was looking at the Melbourne site. Bunnings, which has 310 warehouses across the country, says such agreements are only used on "select occasions" to protect its investment and that these usually only last 10 years. Such agreements were phased out in the supermarket sector from 2010 because the regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), saw them as a major impediment to competition. This followed Coles and Woolworths agreeing to an enforceable undertaking with the ACCC. Professor Clinton Free from Sydney University Business School says Bunnings is not subject to the same scrutiny as Coles or Woolworths. "There's a number of interesting angles to the Bunnings story. It's an enormous success financially, but it also starts to raise big questions about market power," he says. This general lack of scrutiny, despite its dominant market position, has allowed Bunnings to continue expanding with little pushback from the ACCC. David Woodman has experienced this firsthand. In 2019, Bunnings purchased the vacant block next to his Mitre 10 store in Jimboomba, south of Brisbane. Plans have been approved for a warehouse eight times larger than David's shop. David, whose family has been in the hardware business for 90 years, is not optimistic about the prospects for his store. "We'd expect to lose sales to the point where business will ultimately become unprofitable … we can't sustain that, so we'd probably end up shutting the store," he says. He believes Bunnings chose the site to put him out of business. "They know from other sites that that's what happens," he says. Bunnings denies this, saying new store openings are about "enhancing", not eliminating, competition. It says it engaged with the ACCC on the Jimboomba store, which it anticipates will open next year. The ACCC said it could not comment. But unlike Bunnings, David will find it difficult to block the hardware giant from setting up next door. In a last-ditch effort, he has briefed lawyers in the hope of taking Bunnings to court for "misusing its market power". He notes there are already three Bunnings stores within a 30-kilometre radius of his store and more than a dozen in greater Brisbane. His is not the only local store that could be impacted. Within a few blocks, there are businesses selling plumbing and landscaping supplies, mowers, water pumps, chainsaws, pool supplies and blinds. Some say the hardware giant's arrival could benefit their business, while some are deeply concerned. Bunnings said in a statement its new store would bring more choice and competition and provide local jobs. The creeping expansion of Bunnings is set to come under greater scrutiny when new competition laws come into effect next year. These are expected to give the ACCC greater power to review purchases of existing shops, land or new lease agreements to determine if they lessen competition. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is hedging his bets on whether Bunnings should be subject to a code of conduct similar to that imposed on the supermarkets. "I'm aware that people have raised concerns about Bunnings," he says. "Our primary focus is supermarkets, but we've given the ACCC the resources that they need and the ability to recommend to us a broader focus, if that's warranted." The code of conduct is designed to help level the playing field between Bunnings and suppliers like George and Katherine Mingin. For eight years, their regional Queensland business supplied live composting worms to Bunnings. "At first it was great. It was fantastic," George says. In the early years, the couple felt they had a solid partnership with Bunnings and had opportunities to grow their business. At their peak, their sales to Bunnings reached $1.3 million annually. COVID hit, and like many businesses, the Mingins' costs rose sharply, eroding their margins and pushing them into $150,000 of debt. They were losing money on every packet of worms sold to Bunnings. "Little by little they started applying more pressure on their suppliers, certainly on us, and the expectations started to grow," Katherine says. The couple had no choice but to ask for a price increase. "We just instinctively knew that asking for a price increase, however big or small, was not going to go well," says Katherine. After months of being strung along, Bunnings eventually told the couple it was putting their contract out to tender. They say they were told Bunnings didn't want to sacrifice its profit margins — margins that were already very healthy. The Mingins were selling a pack of 1,000 worms to Bunnings for $29.94, which was then sold in-store for $49.90 — a 66 per cent mark-up. But this does not capture all the profits flowing to Bunnings. Like many other suppliers, they had to pay money back to Bunnings, in the form of rebates based on their sales volumes. During their time with Bunnings, documents seen by Four Corners show the Mingins paid a volume rebate of 7 per cent, a 15 per cent rebate for sales into new stores, and even a rebate to cover errors made in supplying orders into Bunnings. Suppliers can also be charged for marketing or if their stock is discounted. "It was just plain highway robbery," George says. In the end, the couple lost the tender and more than three quarters of their business. After eight years of supplying to Bunnings, they had little to show for it and were given just one week's notice to finish up. And then Bunnings sent them a final bill for $5,000 in rebates. Bunnings told Four Corners it does not comment on specific supplier agreements, but conducts business with "integrity, honesty and respect". "We are committed to dealing with our suppliers fairly and ethically," it says. Bunnings's market share is highly disputed. It says it only accounts for 17 per cent, as it competes across several sectors, against a range of stores like Amazon, Coles, Myer, Spotlight and Petbarn. Market research firm IBISWorld says Bunnings's parent company Wesfarmers has a 33 per cent share of the retail hardware sector, noting it is "far and away the leading player in the hardware retailing space". Some competitors claim the figure is much higher. Bunnings was not always so dominant. While it began life as a WA timber company prior to federation, it only opened its first hardware warehouse in 1994. Back then, Mitre 10 was cited in news reports as being the dominant player with around 10 per cent market share. Since then, Bunnings has expanded aggressively. In 1993, it took over McEwans hardware, then in 2001 it moved on BBC Hardware, also trading as Hardware House, giving it a national footprint and allowing it to expand into New Zealand. As the new millennium began, Bunnings had $1.4 billion in sales across 47 stores. Today, its revenue is 13 times that across a massive empire called the Bunnings Group. As well as 310 warehouses in Australia, stores in New Zealand, and an arm that makes timber trusses, it has specialist tile and tool chains, acquired with no objection from the ACCC. Clinton Free says Bunnings deserves far more scrutiny given its size and market power. "Attention needs to go into a category which is very large, which affects lots of consumers, affects lots of suppliers," he says. "They really should be subject to the same sort of scrutiny and regulation as our big retailers." David Woodman says if stores like his go, it is shoppers who will miss out — on choice and service. "Hardware is heading exactly the same direction as the supermarkets. Only worse because they've at least got two bloody dominant players," he says. "I am concerned that if Bunnings continues with its current conduct, many Australians will have no choice but to buy their hardware from Bunnings and nowhere else." Watch Four Corners's full investigation, Hammered: Inside the Bunnings Machine on ABC iview.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Ultra-rare whirlwind tears through garden center and destroys it
A hardware store worker could only watch helplessly as a whirlwind ripped through rows of plants stacked beside the parking lot. The freak weather hit Ruggiero's Ace Hardware in Spokane, Washington, last Sunday, knocking over displays and throwing plants across the asphalt. Store worker Max initially ran around trying to contain the damage as the wind grew stronger and stronger, but had no success. Within seconds, the whirlwind was strong enough to knock over shelves with plants on them and carry parts of them into a swirling vortex. Max stopped running and just stared in dismay as his carefully arranged display was violently destroyed. Ruggiero's made light of the situation by posting the CCTV footage on its social media channels. What the garden area of the hardware store usually looks like 'Here's hoping the weather this weekend treats us better than it treated our South Hill store on Sunday,' it wrote. 'Max did his best, but Mother Nature said "not today".' The store was also quick to point out that 'only plants and egos were injured in this event'. Cleanup efforts lasted the entire week. Whirlwinds like the one spotted in Spokane are effectively minor tornadoes. They're created when winds begin to spin on the ground until a funnel forms. That funnel is then pushed by the same winds that first formed it. As the whirlwind picks up dust and debris, it becomes more visible. It dissipates on striking an object that is too heavy to be moved.
