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?

[andy-hughes]

I think it's a combination of all those things.

Undoubtedly the 'war' generation who would always repair and build things in the home are moving on, and the 'after war' generation, with a greater affluence, and a different mind-set in terms of paying someone rather than DIY'ing, means that the tendency to DIY is fading out of society.

[jim360]

I thought it was rather related to chronic mismanagement, and struggling to recover from bad decisions taken by the Aussie managers prior to a takeover early this year.

[Old_Geezer]

Possibly the latter. Things go in trends too. For a while some take a pride in learning skill and bring more self reliant, then s period where folk have no enthusiasm for that and would rather pay to have things done.

I suspect the industry will survive until the next upsurge.

[hc4361]

Lack of time in the younger generation and the older generation have learned from experience - better to get a professional than codge, bodge and stress it yourself.

When my wife and I were heavy smokers we had to redecorate every couple of years, now we do it much less as the walls and ceilings keep clean.

[Old_Geezer]

They needed B&Q managers !?
First thing they need to do is revert away from the depressing Bunnings warehouse style. You only get away with that if customers are served at a front desk and the employee tolerates the warehouse to get the order.

[-SharonA-]

Lack of skills in the young. My sons show no interest in diy and if they need help, are quick to call their dad.

[youngmafbog]

None of your suggestions AOG.

It's Homebase itself that is the problem. I wouldn't class it as a serious "DIY" store at all (and it never has been) it is also very expensive.

[237SJ]

I`m not sure of a demise https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45206106 I think Homebase were a bit overpriced and not as practical as B&Q.

[woofgang]

Homebase has been on its uppers for years. I am perennially amazed that my local one isn't closed, its always empty and poorly stocked....its also another place where Amazon and other websites win...I can get just about anything delivered to my door in 24 hours.

[youngmafbog]

"I can get just about anything delivered to my door in 24 hours."

Yes and that is where Kingfisher win out (B&Q) with Screwfix.

Homebase just dont have the product range to be a true DIY store and neither did they try to get the small professional like Wickes and B&Q have done.

[sunny-dave]

Spath says :

"People do not want to make a rented accommodation better than it was when they moved in, because there is no benefit.

No one will do DIY to a rented place because the reward doesn't belong to you."

Now that is a significant change from the 1970s when I was living in rented accommodation - virtually the first thing I did on moving into anywhere was slap some fresh paint on the walls & fix anything else that was going to be a nuisance - sometimes the landlord would help with materials, sometimes they weren't interested - but either way I had made the place 'my own'.

I wonder if it's because (by and large) rented places today are less squalid than in my era and so there is less motive to fix them up a bit?

[anotheoldgit]

spathiphyllum

/// I'm sure DIY hasn't changed since the dawn of time, and i'm sure if we were evolving to be less capable of simple tasks, then we'd be failing as a society, which you can only blame on the elder generations. ///

I think that you are being a little harsh blaming the older generation, yes you could if they are not passing down their skills, but how many of the younger generation are keen in learning how to paper a ceiling, how to hang wallpaper, lying on their backs in freezing weather, with their banger up on ramps, while it's owner is changing the exhaust pipe.

Yes I know wallpaper is not often used these days and cars are now so complicated, perhaps that is another reason for the loss of such skills these days.

[kvalidir]

I love DIY, but most younger people are renting and can't decorate as a result. I'm pretty sure if they owned they would.

[youngmafbog]

Spath's comment is, like most of his posts, made totaly without any foundation.

Being a Landlord (in scumbag acres in Nottingham) I can assure you some people are quite happy to do things. The ones that dont are generally scum who dont care about themselves let alone a property but they are the minority.

[youngmafbog]

"but most younger people are renting and can't decorate as a result"

Proof of that?

[youngmafbog]

"the younger generation are smart enough to know not to wall paper ceilings and to instead, apply a coat of white paint. "

Err, they papered the ceiling usually because of the cracks and not being able to afford artex.

But then of course the older generations didnt expect everything on a plate from day one and were prepared to live in older houses needing work and live in them while they saved and did it.