Focus DIY Closing Down (merged)

scaldyflash

I believe the Focus in South Ruislip is closing this month and being turned into a Morrisons ! (Bit of a shame really, we are used to the likes of Waitrose round here :eek:)

sweep9

lae150 wrote: »

So are you saying they are not closing at all or just not at the end of jan?

Still closing, but not at the end of Jan. It's now estimated as March.

peediedj

gertybertyangel wrote: »

IAFAIK they are (or were) owned by Wickes so why don't they sell at Wickes prices? Bit like B&Q and Screwfix - why don't they sell at the same prices rather than competing with each other - they are owned by the same company !!!!!!!

focus used to own wickes but sold them about 3-4 years ago to travis perkins,tp bought 7 of the liquidated focus stores,homebase the rest

peediedj

gertybertyangel wrote: »

Useless info time, but after having a bit of a Google, Focus were part of Wickes (or vice versa?) up until 2005 when the Wickes bit got sold to Trav's and remains part of Trav's at the mo.

Hope you all sleep better for knowing that now!

not sure what foucs were doing wrong/ couldnt make money when they had the stores,but since sellnig them to wickes,wickes has made more than there target last year

realshannon

All very odd as down here in Devon the Tavistock branch is tiny and right next door they have just built a massive Focus superstore. Meant to be opening end of February I think. The one in Launceston Cornwall is appalling but again not very old, staff always seem very unhappy but have never appear to have been well trained or motivated from the start - hope Focus is taken over by say B&Q or Homebase

rainee

bromley is now shut I missed it drat!!

cheerfulness4

Has the Castleford focus already closed and did I read somewhere on here that it was turning into a Homebase?

sweep9

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

Has the Castleford focus already closed and did I read somewhere on here that it was turning into a Homebase?

Staff are in training at Homebase. I think the store opens in 2 - 3 weeks.

Siberian

Very sad to hear of the sale of some of these stores. Those like Castleford, Andover, Waterlooville and Shipley were once successful stores under the Payless DIY brand name. I was General Manager for some of them.

Staff employed in stores transferring to another DIY retailer have to be offered employment on the same terms under the government's T.U.P.E. laws. It's in the new employer's interests to keep local staff who have some knowledge already and probably some local customer loyalty.

As with all situations like this it's best to be positive and enthusiastic as a new owner is always looking for new stars to rely on (that's why they tend to bring in people they've learned to trust elsewhere).

Homebase are a good company so for those transferring it could be a bonus in disguise. In any case my thoughts are with you all.

SPUD-T-D

anyone found out when the colchester store is going to close as got to be soon