Interface

50 Spring 2021 INDUSTRY NEWS T ravis Perkins’ Q1 2021 trading update has revealed a positive start to 2021, driven by strong RMI demand with group (excluding Wickes) like-for-like sales growth of 17.4% and 11.8% on a two-year like-for-like basis Merchanting and P&H are up 15.5% and 11.4% respectively, Toolstation sales are up 42%, Wickes sales are up 19.7%. This has helped to offset the 25% drop in Do-It-For-Me (DIFM) as a result of showroom closures The Wickes demerger was completing as Interface went to press, with trading in Wickes shares commencing on April 28 th , while trading in new Travis Perkins shares commenced on April 29 th . ENCOURAGING SALES GROWTH IN Q1 T he construction industry has the most active startups and new businesses in the UK, with more than 245,000 operating, according to research by CircleLoop, a provider of online communication tools, which investigated which UK locations are best for startups, and which industries are more likely to succeed. Some industries seem to be more popular than others when it comes to setting up a new business venture. The research suggests specialised construction is the most entrepreneurial industry, with over 245,000 active startups. This is then followed by the retail trade industry, with 239,545 active startups. In third are business types related to supporting offices and businesses, with approximately 214,305 active startups. Co-founder at CircleLoop Damian Hanson said: “We hope to see that even after the struggles of 2020, people will continue to take the entrepreneurial step into setting up their own business. After the year we all had, it’s possible that our macroeconomic climate has driven more people to create either a new business to replace a lost job or even a ‘side hustle’ business to compensate for the loss of income in 2020 due to COVID-19. “Starting your own business is a huge challenge, and the first few years can be gruelling. In fact, it’s not unusual to see new business enterprises fail within the first year. However, with the right idea and plenty of resilience and perseverance, a startup might just be successful.” “Luckily, there is so much technology these days from online communication tools such as CircleLoop and video meeting spaces such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. CONSTRUCTION START-UPS LEAD THE WAY “We hope to see that even after the struggles of 2020, people will continue to take the entrepreneurial step into setting up their own business.

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