Focus on DIY gap in market
I WAS the general manager of Focus in Dorchester. I lived in Stoke-on-Trent more than 200 miles from my store. When the store closed mine was the top performing store of the region and one of the most profitable.
Although my staff and I were hit hard by the closure, it should be noted that the biggest effect of the failure of Focus was the major detrimental impact it had on the customer and market place in general.
The demise of Focus has left a huge gap for a traditional mid-price DIY supplier.
I tried to buy my store in order to open it as an independent DIY retailer but I was up against Chris Dawson (The Range) who purchased the store as part of a multi site deal.
Thinking of changing your job or looking to change career.
Contact BlueSky CVs and get a CV to get your noticed.
Terms: 1 CV per customer full payment prior to commencement of CV
Contact: 01538 710408
Valid until: Monday, May 27 2013
What are the alternatives to Focus? Homebase is not a DIY chain, it is a home enhancement supplier, with the belief in its superiority borne from its days of being part of Sainsbury's.
Wickes is more aimed at the tradesman than the DIY enthusiast.
B&Q (Kingfisher) is a giant, the Tesco of DIY, which now has thepower of being able to dictate pricing in the DIY sector.
Even though all the staff of Focus lost, the biggest loser was the customer.
ROBERT FOSTER Blurton
Comments
by DoctorDo
Saturday, June 30 2012, 2:59PM
“A few years ago I was in the Focus store in Trent Vale. It was Saturday morning and I was perhaps the third in the queue at the checkout. The 'phone rang and the checkout lady broke off from serving to answer it. Obviously I couldn't hear what the caller said, but the staff member said, 'Hold on a minute please and I'll check if we've had them in'. She served the man ahead of me and just before she served me she picked up the receiver and said, 'I'm sorry, I've been down to the warehouse and the delivery hasn't arrived; you'll have to check again on Monday'.
That customer probably made his/her purchase elsewhere.
Could this type of service be why Focus failed?”