Seems that chain has bit the dust ..... Next is homebase I think

link to news???

By far the worst DIY chain store so I can see why.

Absolutely useless place, every time I go in I just get frustrated at not being able to find anything and if I do find something I nearly fall over at the price they are charging for it.

Its a weird place - always seems sparse, compared to somewhere like B+Q which is stacked high. But its not national is it?

Our local one was supposed to close Xmas 2009 - massive sales, all the staff were told etc. Then weirdly it re-opened in the new year. The next towns one did not though (Keighley).

[Edited on 5/5/11 by FASTdan]

Was just looking on their website and there's a message on there about it.

Focus were expensive especially since they split from the tie-up with Wickes and my local stores were very badly run with very poor stock control.
Homebase prices are always at least 20% more expensive than anybody else for most things.
Luckily I have a large Wickes(formerly (Wickes-Focus superstore) close by saves me from using the B&Q robbers who charge the earth for small stuff like washers and bolts.

even screwfix is owned by b&q now so there is no escape. i just go look see what i want then go home and buy it online for half the price. that's if i can be bothered to go out and look. lately i have just started taking a punt and ordering it of the web without even seeing it. last month i bought a new tv unit online without ever seeing it in the flesh. turned up and was as expected if not a bit better. don't recall the last time i visited a shopping centre

Another 4,000 odd jobs lost


Homebase doesn't register with me as a DIY store, more a home and garden department store. The only thing they have going for them in my view is the convenience of later weekday and weekend opening than the proper trade sheds like Sydenhams and Jewson etc.

Nooooooooooooo!! I used to work there when it was still Do It All when I was doing my A-levels. Such horrible memories. At one point there were 3 branches just in my town! I must admit I drive further just to get to Wickes or Screwfix nowadays as Focus never seem to have what I want, or charge too much. Their timber often seemed spectacularly banana shaped too.

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Originally posted by Liam
Nooooooooooooo!! I used to work there when it was still Do It All when I was doing my A-levels. Such horrible memories. At one point there were 3 branches just in my town! I must admit I drive further just to get to Wickes or Screwfix nowadays as Focus never seem to have what I want, or charge too much. Their timber often seemed spectacularly banana shaped too.

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agreed with the above, an awful store with diabolical prices. In b&q you can get a crap tape measure for 99p, in focus the cheapest was about a fiver.

I hate B&Q with a vengeance, based on their prices, choice, and all the other reasons for hating them...

...but I'd still prefer to go there than visit Focus. Only ever went there out of desperation, and usually walked out in a bad mood - either they didn't have what I wanted, or they had whatever it was at extortionate prices, or in enormous packs when I only wanted a few items.

I try to go to Wickes if I possibly can - except the one in Ipswich now has parking problems, which means that you could get a parking ticket (or clamped) when they're busy.

What REALLY pigs me off is that Ipswich used to have a first-rate hardware shop (Martin & Newby) that lost business to the chain DIY stores, and eventually had to close. Yes, they were a bit more expensive (but not a lot) but the choice and the service was 100%. Occasionally you would get served by a 16-year-old assistant, and he/she actually KNEW about the stuff they sold. Astonishing...

Havent seen a focus in years, I thought theyd gone under ages ago!
I would expect homebase is relatively secure as its under the argos/home retail group which has been fairly secure witha few brands under its belt.

Next ? HMV you read it here 1st.

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Originally posted by loggyboy
Havent seen a focus in years, I thought theyd gone under ages ago!
I would expect homebase is relatively secure as its under the argos/home retail group which has been fairly secure witha few brands under its belt.

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At least it was easy to park in our local Focus car park

This is how it goes.
1. Focus expands well, opening more stores, creating jobs, prices are competative.
2. with profits, Focus aims to upgrade stores, some re-fit some relocate..all looking well.
3. Instead, Focus buys wickes and does for wickes what they were going to do for focus.
4. Focus sells wickes for profit, Chairman sells his Majority Focus to the yanks, says bleep you, retires taking his dividends.
5. In 2008, the new majority owners Cerberus decide to close 50 Focus stores but turns out to be more. (of which one was mine).
6. From then on, Focus goes very quickly downhill...some of the recent prices even surprise me.

trust me, i dont owe Focus any favours...