Olympics win over DIY

Builders’ merchant group Travis Perkins, parent company of Wickes, a British DIY chain, reports sales in the first three quarters up by 12.9 per cent in its consumer division. However, this strong increase stems from its acquisition of the Toolstation trading format in January. Without this effect the rate of increase would amount to 3.2 per cent. The division reports a decline of 6.2 per cent in like-for-like terms, and -3.7 per cent when Toolstation is included. The reasons for this, according to the company, include the miserable weather in the summer in combination with the Olympics, which held consumers back from going to their DIY store.