Wickes DIY sales up in 2010

Britons may have taken on more home improvement projects this year, as Wickes saw sales rise in 2010 compared to the previous year.

Between January and September, turnover was up 2.9 per cent on 2009, with showroom transactions soaring by 11.9 per cent.

Wickes is part of the Travis Perkins Group, which has 1,200 branches across the UK and was established 200 years ago.

Group turnover over the first nine months of the year grew by six per cent compared with the same period last year.

Meanwhile, like-for-like turnover per trading day has increased by 0.6 per cent in the last 13 weeks, which may mean more people have been picking up power tools or new kitchens.

Across the entire group, turnover for the merchanting department rose by 7.8 per cent in the first nine months of the year, compared with 2009.

Made up of six companies and with a 30 per cent stake in a seventh, the collection of firms was created out of a merger between Travis & Arnold and Sandell Perkins in 1988.

Source : Hayley Powell - Wickes