The home furniture, appliances, and garden business stores in and around the United Kingdom and Ireland boosted their economy during the COVID-19 Pandemic and have since continued to see a steady rise in profit brought in annually. 

The need and requirement for these business stores to be present and actively running in every community, society, and city, regardless of their size,  are essential and can be an almost daily or weekly purchase. These stores are seen to have their sales boosted, thriving or increased if they are the only store in that area and location at a distance or nearby, if they offer a wide range of customer-centric products, or due to the presence of residential homes and home gardening hobbies followed by the people. 

The need for maintaining their houses or any other infrastructure be it public well can utilize the business made from these home furniture, appliances, and garden stores. Therefore from this article, we will be focusing on one of the leading Home and Garden Experts business stores operating in several branches in the UK and Ireland and its retail evolution made alongside CEO – Damian McGloughlin.

Homebase:

Homebase is a home and garden experts store and is ranked as one of the leading businesses in its industry and market when compared to its competitors. Homebase specializes in fixing, selling, and remodelling furniture, appliances, homes, and gardens. A fixer-upper, Homebase has a growing workforce of more than 5,600 employees and has over 150+ business stores across the country and state. 

Homebase – which was founded in the year 1979 was a product of Sainsbury and GB-inno-BM, which the then CEO – Gurth Hoyar-Millar led. In the 1980s, the business store was active in the Croydon Branch and was bringing in a steady number of customers and soon started branching out to different locations in the country. In the 1990s, Sainsbury’s bought Texas Homecare. This name was later rebranded and renamed as Homebase, which it is still known as to date. 

At the end of the 2000s, the business had already been sold to several investors and buyers, such as Shroder Ventures and GUS. After being sold to GUS, Homebase began its journey with Home Retail Group, and Homebase Design Centres were established across the United Kindom and Ireland which gained more and more interest, recognition, and popularity. Homebase was once again sold to Westfarmers and several stores of Homebase that were branched out were renamed as ‘Bunnings Warehouse’. The last enterprise to buy Homebase before the latter paid off its debts through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) was Hilco Capital. 

Damian McGloughlin:

Damian McGloughlin who is the current CEO of Homebase in the UK and Ireland has a good skilful background such as – management of both store and inventory as well as in leadership. He also has good experience working in the business which helped in the 2018 restructuring of Homebase. Overseeing duties in the financial and operational departments, customer experience enhancement, cost management, and the acquisition and integration of Bathstore into the business as well.  

Homebase’s Workforce:

Presently, Homebase has been successfully running its business independently and has several stores, Distribution Centres, and Store Support Centres, all the while prioritizing and always starving to maintain their commitment to a strong customer-centric persona. Homebase offers courses and training such as – City and Guilds Gardening and Kitchen Design Qualifications to its employees so that they are well-versed in the skills, resources, and knowledge required to better operate and manage their responsibilities and duties when it comes to the store and the customers. 

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR):

With the evolution of Homebase, the Corporate Social Responsibility that has been adopted for providing and living a safe, healthy, and sustainable environment is by showing their commitment and support for the Macmillan Cancer Support in donating over 1000 real Christmas trees to cancer-stricken people. Various other events and fundraisers are also held by the business to help the charity group. 

Several other commitments to groups by Homebase are to the Irish Cancer Support, Greenfingers, people in the Local communities such as schools and healthcare facilities, Carr Lane Club, and the Halfway Home Dog Rescue Centre. Homebase’s commitment and strict policy when it comes to the environment are top-notch. To encourage the growth of good biodiversity, the aim to make ‘greener environments’ is carried out by Composting, Planting Seasonal Flowers, use of Paint that has a Minimal Volatile Organic Compound Level (VOC), and broad sale of Pollinator-Friendly Plants. The business also promotes sustainable choices by encouraging customers to properly recycle their waste such as – electrical waste, batteries, leftover paint, energy-saving light bulbs, etcetera. 

To Conclude:

Homebase is one of the leading Home and Garden Experts stores in the UK and Ireland and deals with the sale of – Paint and Decorating, Garden and Outdoor, Kitchens, Bathrooms and Plumbing, Flooring and Tiling, Heating, Lighting and Electrical, Furniture, Storage and Home, Building and Hardware and other Tools. Other services such as in-store visits, free kitchen design books, home delivery, physical servicing, gift cards, regular offers and deals on products, consultations, online shopping as well as returns and refund policies are provided on all days of the week. With its committed and strong CSR duties and policies, Homebase is always working to gain the first lead in its industry.