B&Q readies £60m winter sale

DIY retailer B&Q is to make £60m worth of price cuts in its longest ever sale to encourage reluctant shoppers to buy new kitchens and bathrooms.

B&Q is bringing forward its January sale to start on 16 December and run throughout winter.

A £5.5m marketing campaign, including B&Q’s biggest ever digital spend, will support the launch.

The retailer is pledging to “beat any price” in the kitchen and bathroom market in its winter sale in a bid to appeal to customers struggling with rising living costs.

It is also introducing a four-year interest free credit option so that customers can spread the cost of a new kitchen or bathroom.

B&Q sales declined by 0.7% in its second quarter, a slight improvement on the 1.3% decline in the first quarter. According to the latest Office of National Statistics, retail sales fell 0.4% in November.

Ian Herrett, B&Q’s business development director says: “Cash strapped times call for creative customer driven campaigns. We recognise that customers have got less money in their pockets yet they still want to add value to their homes.

“We’re on a mission to help customers improve their homes, offering kitchens and bathrooms at industry beating prices over a longer period of time and a four year interest free credit just made it easier than ever.”

Source : Rosie Baker – Marketing Week
www.marketingweek.co.uk/sectors/retail/bq-readies-£60m-winter-sale/3032756.article