AllTheToolsYouNeed.com

A bid by the government to kick-start the economy with a 2.5 per cent cut to shopping taxes seems to have started paying off in the home improvement sector.

Last Monday Chancellor Alistair Darling announced the VAT cut in his pre-Budget report in a bid to encourage consumers to spend more and boost the economy.

And it seems that the tactic may be working. While sales are still broadly down on this period last year, they are well up on last month, as would be expected with Christmas approaching and the economy functioning normally.

Department store John Lewis, which trades extensively in homewares, has reported improved Christmas trading and a record week for online shopping.

Elsewhere Marks & Spencer, another retailer with a big homeware department and a dual presence on the high street and online, has been holding 20 per cent off sales.

It has kept many stores open until midnight to tempt customers into taking advantage of special offers.

Elsewhere, Debenhams has dramatically cut prices while administrators for Woolworths reduced some prices last week by up to 50 per cent.

One casualty of the looming recession has been furniture retailer MFI which was forced to call in administrators in October.

And Kingfisher, Europe’s largest home-improvement retailer and owner of B&Q, has reported a decline in its third-quarter UK sales.

The company warned that consumer confidence had been shaken across all its markets.

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed to keep updated on all the latest news and offers. Thanks for visiting!

B&Q has some great offers at the moment which could net you up to 50 per cent on popular products. Here are the ones that caught our eye:

• All cupboard doors and drawer fronts half price - until March 13
• Get 50 per cent off an EVA pendant light – until March 13. Was £83, now £41.
• Spring savings on building accessories - everything from sealant and resin to lighting, tape and fixings.

Follow this link for details of all the retailer’s special offers.

Here’s an important safety warning from B&Q about a product that was on sale from November 2007:

B&Q has identified a potential safety issue with the B&Q Airforce 2000W convection heater offered for sale between November 2007 and 19th January 2008.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY THE PRODUCT PICTURED IS AT RISK. ALL OTHER CONVECTION HEATERS SOLD BY B&Q ARE UNAFFECTED.

Despite rigorous quality control procedures it has been brought to B&Q’s attention that in some instances the product could overheat and possibly catch fire.

If you have purchased this product since November 2007, PLEASE STOP USING IT IMMEDIATELY and return it to the store where a full refund will be given.

If you would like more information to help identify if your product is affected please call our Customer Services Helpline on (UK) 0800 389 0419, (ROI) 1800 946 327 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 8.00pm, Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm).

B&Q plc apologises for any inconvenience caused and thanks you for your co-operation.

For more details visit the retailer’s product recall page.

DIY giant B&Q is currently offering up to 50 per cent off on some power tools and accessories - these range from essentials like sanding discs, cutting discs and blades to useful stuff like storage pouches, grinding stones and polishing kits. You can also pick up some great savings on DeWalt rechargeable batteries, so well worth browsing if you’re in the market for those.

These offers in particular caught our eye:

• MacAllister 1500W Planer Thicknesser COD1500PT - this popular product has a powerful 1500W, 8000min-1 motor and features a maximum planing width of 254mm and a planing height range of 7 to 153mm. It also includes a feed speed of 8m/min, a maximum depth of cut up to 2.5mm per pass, top-mounted rollers, a magnetic safety on/off switch and overload trip switch and an adjustable depth of cut indicator. Was £249, now £149.
• MacAllister 1800W Double Vevel Slide Compound Mitre Saw - features a useful double bevel cutting action and allows the operator to flip the blade, not the workpiece. Uses REDEYE Laser Line Generator technology for improved operator cutting vision, faster set-up, increased accuracy and safer operation. Was £159.98, now £115.98.
• Triton Biscuit Joiner BJA300 - creates fast, strong and invisible timber joints on the Triton RTA300 router table. Ideal for right-angle joints, mitres, bevels and edge joinery, includes TCT cutter and pack of biscuits, suits quarter-inch and half-inch routers. Was £89.98, now £67.48.
• Makita Jigsaw 4340CT/2 Blue 720W - a well-balanced, high-quality jigsaw with exceptional cutting accuracy. Three-stage orbital action, variable speed, a tool-free blade change system and comes with a carry case. Was £114.00, now £99.
• DeWalt Multi-Purpose Pouch DT8306 Black - large pouch with six external pockets, internal segregation and hammer holder, top grain leather for strength and long life, double stitching and steel reinforced rivets for additional strength and durability, heat-formed pockets to keep their shape. Was £46.98, now £31.29.
• Triton Dust Collector DCA300 - Dust collection canister with fittings. For use with most dust extracting tools, connects to a standard vacuum cleaner, 20-litre collection capacity, twin connection ports. Hoses and adaptors supplied. Was £32.98, now £24.88.

* B&Q has specified no closing date for these offers - they are current as this post is written but will clearly not remain available indefinitely. See our terms and conditions for more details or visit our shop to search for current prices.

One of the UK’s largest DIY businesses has appointed a new boss - and it’s someone close to home.

Kingfisher Plc, the DIY giant that owns B&Q, Screwfix and Trade Depot, has appointed Ian Cheshire as its chief executive officer.

Formerly the chief Executive of B&Q, he starts his new job with its parent company today.

This follows the announcement on November 1 2007 that Gerry Murphy was to stand down after five years in the job.

The new CEO’s job will include the task of reversing a sales decline at B&Q, currently the UK’s largest home improvements chain.

Since he took the reins at the company, he has instigated big changes there.

Kingfisher says that a third of B&Q’s large stores are now trading successfully in a modern format and more than 60 per cent of product ranges have been renewed.

It says Mr Cheshire “will continue to work closely with the B&Q management team to ensure the momentum behind its renewal programme continues.”

The company has now started a search for a new managing director for that company.