Summary
BQ chief executive Ian Cheshire is going soft. His do-it- yourself stores used to be the preserve of testosterone-fuelled men searching for the latest power tool. But Cheshire is getting in touch with his feminine side and trying to woo the ladies with pretty lighting, curtains and kitchens.
Times are changing and BQ's profits have been hammered by a downturn in consumer spending. It cannot afford to rely on cash- strapped dads who are prepared to freeze to death on a Sunday afternoon in order to buy cheap paint and plywood.See the full content of this document
Extract
Diy Boss in Charge of Bq's Makeover
Tesco and Argos have encroached on its patch. Rival Homebase spotted an opportunity to tap into the female mindset and capture a slice of the soft furnishings market.
Although BQ is still the undisputed market leader in DIY, it has been missing a trick. So parent company Kingfisher, which has seen its shares slide 27pc since the start of 2005, decided to pa...See the full content of this document
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