On 27/02/2020 08:00, Rod Speed wrote:


"harry" wrote in message
...
On Wednesday, 26 February 2020 16:40:29 UTC, Dave Plowman (News)Â* wrote:
Seems not long ago B&Q built a new super store nearby at Wandsworth
Bridge. A Home Depot one.

Now gone, and going to be more 'executive housing'

Oddly, the Homebase is still across the road from itÂ* - but think that
will be going soon too.

Does nobody DIY these days?

The problem has arisen due to not doing woodwork/metalwork at schools
these days.

Nope, the problem is that its much harder to get started
in the housing market now, so there are far fewer buying
older places that need DIY to make them viable to live in.

Possibly that those in the DIY market no longer use the big sheds for
their items. For smaller items Screwfix and Toolstation with a catalogue
and counter service now seem to be popular with trade and the general
public alike. Rather than walking around large shed having goods
delivered via the Internet must be taking the sales from the big sheds.

I note that in recent years my local B&Q have opened a trade counter
checkout which seem to be popular with builders judging by the number of
white man vans parked at that end of the shed. All the common building
materials, plaster board, plaster, cement, wood. building chemical etc.
all seem to have been placed close to the trade counter exit. I've also
noticed that such items are now more competitively priced. Rather than
in the old days using the store was often the distress expensive
purchase these days it's the nearest outlet selling the odd bad of
cement or plaster at a reasonable price, as long as you want the common
25Kg bag size.

IMO, in the last decade Homebase was never a DIY store. It was a
lifestyle store selling fluffy cushions and other goods at inflated
prices. It was evident that the new Australian management didn't know
what they were buying and didn't realise that it didn't appeal to the
DIYer nor to those who wanted value for money. Just before my local
Homebase closed down their 25% off everything price was barely
completive with the local competition. Why did the Aussies think we
wanted barbecues in mid December and at the same time completely fill
the store with Christmas tat with prices much higher than every pound
shop in the country selling identical items?


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