Upheaval at Homebase again

Gloomendoom

neilmcl wrote: »

Within 2 years of Hombase being taken over for a proposed exciting new venture in home diy retail the new owner, Bunnings, has sold on the concern for £1 in what some have termed as being "the most disastrous retail acquisition in the UK ever".

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/mar/30/homebase-is-undoubtedly-the-most-disastrous-retail-acquisition-in-the-uk-ever

I use my local store quite a lot and initially there was a bit of a buzz about the place about what was about to happen, especially when new stock lines started to appear with some really good deals going on but then things slowly started to turn for the worse with store starting to resemble yet another faceless diy warehouse, with swathes of areas being stripped back and stock piled high.

We visit Australia regularly and I was hoping that Bunnings would be replicating their Australian pile it high and sell it cheap stores over here. It would have given B&Q some real competition.

DCFC79 wrote: »

The drop in value of the pound v the Aus dollar played a part too, bringing in items like a log splitter priced at £130,

The pound has been reasonably stable against the Australian dollar. In any event, items like the log splitter are very likely sourced and shipped direct from China.

[Deleted User]

Homebase already struggling

Bought by Australian firm with absolutely no brand awareness in the UK

"Sausage Sizzle" ?? Really?

Cue a LOT of money down the pan..

mije1983

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I was hoping that Bunnings would be replicating their Australian pile it high and sell it cheap stores over here.

They seemed to try in the one near my work. Well, if by that it means piling stock in the aisles that made it impossible to get past and looked like someone had just dumped it there.....

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Bought by Australian firm with absolutely no brand awareness in the UK

^This.

Coupled with no knowledge of the UK market.

Also the fact that you can't purchase, or even view a lot of their stock, online was a major holdback. It might work in Australia, but then I don't believe they have much/any competition there so can probably afford to not be online. Not so in the UK.

spadoosh

PasturesNew wrote: »

The trouble with a lot of these places is that they've never got what you want. There's nobody to answer questions, or "help" you if you're not really sure what you're buying. They just stock the shop with stuff - and if you know what you're buying then you can buy one and leave.

I look round and think "there are some wonderful things in here, if only I could ask, with confidence, about this fitting, or if that'd work, or what else I need, or about sizing ... etc.

I think there's a market, too, for "little man" services. e.g. beside the letterboxes there could be a little sign "Like it? Want it? Let us fit it for you for only £...." - because so many of us don't want to be learning new skills and acquiring new tools just to fit one small item. This type of thing would lure us in there more often .... to add more and more things and tat to our homes.

Everything you put that you want as a customer has been tried, tested and failed.

You want help and advice? Well it costs money, which means your paying 20% more on the high street, ever used amazon to buy a sander? I worked at B&Q and still bought my sander from amazon. So people dont really wnat help and advice, they want information for nothing and to then to use someone else who doesnt offer help and advice because thyere cheaper.

Little man services, tried and failed. B&Q used to fit flooring, fires and a few other things. They coudlnt compete with dave. They had to offer the employee all the things an employee expects whilst having amark up to make it worthwhile. Meanwhile dave is thinking b&q only pay me £10 per hour where as they charge me out at £20 i might aswell work for myself, i dont have to pay for the same training, inspections, quality of service etc so can offer it for £15.

I think this site has a lot to answer for with that regard. It seems to have moved away from fairness and moved towards the consumer being champion. It might be great for a while getting load of cheap stuff but when reality takes hold and the expertise starts dissapearing you end up with less competition, less innovation and less development. Which is rarely good.

I used to blaim these businesses (the failing ones) for not evolving, i dont think its that anymore, its much simpler, consumers are stupid.