Credit card spending up 7.6%
UK Finance has released its latest Household Finance figures (August 2018), findings include: Credit card spending was 7.6% higher than 12 months ago, with outstanding levels on card borrowing growing by 5.8 per cent over the year. Re-mortgaging approvals were 9.2% higher than for the same period last year. There was a fall in house […]
Plumbers’ Merchant Market tops £4bn
According to the latest figures, the UK Plumbers’ Merchants market reached £4.2billion last year, showing a slight growth on 2016 results. AMA Research also showed that the sector is dominated by four major national retailers, that account for 65-70% of market share. The main competitors of the specialist providers are home improvement retailers, and increasingly manufacturers […]
FCA warns firms not to use their authorisation status for promotional purposes
The FCA has found that some firms have been using their FCA authorisation status in a promotional way. This is against FCA rules and any firms that have used their status in this way should cease doing so. The FCA has issued a statement reminding firms about their obligations when communicating with clients, and strongly […]
Homebase confirms 42 stores to close
Homebase has confirmed that it is looking to close 42 stores, putting up to 1,500 jobs at risk. The company is launching a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) with a view to reaching an agreement with creditors over its debt. Homebase said sales performance and profitability had declined significantly over the last two years. The previous owners, Wesfarmers, […]
Up to 60 Homebase stores to close
DIY chain Homebase is reportedly planning to shut down a large number of its stores putting at least 1,000 jobs at risk. Anonymous sources have told the press that the chain’s owner, Hilco Capital, is potentially looking to put a CVA (company voluntary arrangement) in place. The number of stores to be closed down is thought to be […]
Window & door fabrication market ‘mildly optimistic’
The UK window & door fabrication market is only mildly optimistic according to new research from AMA. The strong performance seen throughout 2013 to 2016 has started to flatten out in 2017. Competition remains intense in the current challenging economic environment, and therefore growth prospects are reported to be modest. Many fabricators have responded by broadening their […]
Directors to face fines for nuisance calls under new legislation
The ICO recently revealed that it had recovered just over half of the £17.8 million in fines issued for nuisance calls since 2010, as companies go into liquidation to avoid big penalties. This follows the latest estimates by Ofcom showing British consumers were bombarded with 3.9 billion nuisance phone calls and texts last year. As it […]
ICO launch campaign to raise public awareness about GDPR
Published by the ICO on 25th May 2018 The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an evolution of the current Data Protection Act (1998) and comes into effect today. Regulated by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the new law gives people more control about how their data is used, shared and stored and requires organisations […]
“Augmented reality” & bridging the imagination gap
Augmented reality (AR) could change the way consumers buy home improvements, according to Digital Bridge’s CEO David Levine. In an article for KBB Review, he explained how AR technology can help customers overcome their hesitation to buy large ticket items such as kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms. The issue, known as the imagination gap, is estimated […]
ICO supports FSB campaign to help SMEs prepare for the GDPR
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has today launched a campaign, supported by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), urging small businesses to prepare for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). New research by the FSB found that over a third (33%) of small businesses have not yet started preparations for the new laws, whilst a […]