Homebase to close 25% of stores by Feb 2018

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...935/Homebase-to-close-one-in-four-stores.html

First Focus, now 25% of Homebase stores to close, this is really going to reduce choice when buying gardening stuff.

 

one of the employees at our local one told me last month they are closing;( there is another one but it isnt as close

 

Our local one s closing too.
Apprantly turning it into a Range store

 

I am not surprised Homebase is closing some of its stores..They are a rather expensive shop..Maybe if they followed their sister shop Argos they might not be in this situation

 

They have just spent mega bucks on our local Homebase incorporating a state of the art Argos with touch screen ordering............With free parking.
I wouldn't think they will be closing this one.
I hope not...........I get 10% off on Tuesdays.
Most people wait until they have their 15% off everything every few weeks.

 

@roders How do you get 10% off at Homebase on Tuesdays? Wasn't it about 15 to 20 years ago that Homebase stopped discounts for over 60's? Do you still get that discount?

Sometimes it's been 20% off, which has produced quite a few bargains with online prices for printers and digital cameras that have also been on special offer prices. Homebase started 'hiding' such items on their website during promotions, but if you bookmarked them prior to a promotion you could get a bargain.

 

I'm not surprised they are closing stores either, I'm not sure why, but both them and B&Q seem to only stock something similar to what you are looking for, or not at all.

I've never been able to locate exactly what I'm looking for in either of these two places.

I can remember a time when they were good for a look around, but I rarely go to either now days.

Another point is staff training, usually they dont have much of a clue, not their fault, just not trained properly.
And that's if you can actually find someone to ask.

 

Target market @pete - they are there for the mass population (and whichever gardening mag/programme happens to be "current"). There is a decline in mainstream gardening programmes so now they have not idea who to target their market at (seeing as it isn't their main source of income).

Likewise with DIY products and new homeowners. Fewer new homeowners (and a younger target market) can also influence sales. So, if the younger generations who have not had the interest/experience of DIY - nor inclination = less sales. Older generations have done their basic modifications and are now more reserved about their spending.

Not to mention the increase in online sales.

I would rather visit a nursery than a mass produced garden centre (now I have a little knowledge) but, I do admit, the likes of Homebase have given me some fab reduced (bog standard, I now realise) plants which I was able to cut my teeth on (figuratively speaking )

 

I very rarely use these places even though I do my own stuff around the house and garden. I did go into homebase last night though. I had previously been into Wickes and they didn't have what I needed so I went to Homebase and they had exactly what I needed. For times like this, when I need something quickly and don't have time to order it online and wait for it to arrive, they are extremely useful.

 

Which I think sums up their problem in a nutshell.

 

I used to call into B and Q regularly , I pass two huge warehouse ones on my way to work. I go less and less now , buying a lot of stuff online or I use Screwfix . I still use B and Q for my bulk stuff sand cement etc , but its never as busy these days. Is DIY in a slump ?

 

Seems that new kids buying places don't have a clue how to do it. I blame gaming consoles, mainly because I don't like them

Homebase was always horrendously overpriced anyway.