Are We Seeing The Demise Of Diy Stores?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/markets/article-6063617/Stricken-Homebase-raids-B-Q-new-directors-mounts-survival-bid.html

Could this be down to our young who cannot afford to buy their own homes, so live in rented accommodation?

People nowadays being able to afford to employ professionals to carry out their home improvements?

Or simply the lack of DIY skills amongst our young?

[jackthehat]

To my mind Homebase suffered from 'over-diversification'.
It went from being a DIY-stockist with a reasonable range of flat-pack furniture, to giving over a lot of its' floorspace to bulky furniture, or creating Room-displays which were fully kitted out with their products, most of which were inferior or more expensive than could be bought from product-dedicated retailers elsewhere.
I also think this decision to move away from concentrating on DIY products is afflicting B&Q.

[Sipowicz]

I regularly use my local D.I.Y. store.....Tesco scan & pack!

[youngmafbog]

"I also think this decision to move away from concentrating on DIY products is afflicting B&Q."

To a degree yes but B&Q do still stock cement, fences, plasterboard etc and in addition remember Screwfix is the same company so to compare on the model you have to look at both and the total market share is both

[youngmafbog]

Eh?

[Rockrose]

Spath, I have decorated all my rented accomodation - recently just gravelled the driveway and plastered a wall due to a leak.
In return the landlady hasn't put our rent up in 7 years.

[jackthehat]

B&Q used to fill the gap between Builders' Merchants and High Street Hardware shop quite nicely.

But it seems to be giving over more internal space to 'Cooke & Lewis' Kitchen and Bathroom room displays.

I've lost count of the number of things I have popped to buy at B&Q only to find out that the item has been 'discontinued' and these aren't fancy-dan items, they could very easily be described as 'standard' DIY items.

[Rockrose]

Well I wouldn't call myself old!
I am nowhere near pension age.

[Rockrose]

Well I am sorry for commenting on another thread that you are involved in Spath - think I will stay clear of you in future.

[jackthehat]

No, spath, it's not.

We are discussing the demise of DIY stores and the reasons for it. AOG may have suggested some reasons but there is no imperative to agree, or stick, with them....

[Rockrose]

You were snippy towards me this morning on another thread and now this one.
Hence my regret at commenting on one that you are involved in!

[Zacs-Master]

Is the reason not exactly the same as the high street stores i.e. Screwfix and other on line suppliers?

[rowanwitch]

Btw wallpaper is huge at the moment, and that is despite the prices getting ridiculously expensive at even the mid range. Years ago you could look for wallpaper and you might have 20 books in a decent store, now it's not a surprise to find 200, and maybe double that in fabric swatch books. It doesn't matter who decorates young or old. But someone is doing it.

[kvalidir]

Wind your neck in Spath I rate anyone under 50 young for these purposes.

[youngmafbog]

But screwfix IS B&Q !

JTH, I think it depends on your B&Q store. We have three near me that are large one with two floors. They sell everything, and the kitchens are not only the expensive ones. However in Basingstoke, where one of my children live, it is poor - very tiny and nowhere near the stock range we have.