HAMPSHIRE: DIY giant B&Q is planning a price war in the run-up to Christmas. The company has invested £190m in the sale which, it said, will see price cuts of up to 50%. According to the company's UK chief executive Euan Sutherland, the sale is timed to give consumers a few extra days to beat the rise in VAT.
"The investment is 25% more than last year and will put us in pole position to attract customers planning to improve, not move amid the lacklustre housing market," Mr Sutherland said. B&Q estimated that spending on DIY at its stores increased by 11% and kitchen sales by 64%.
Focus, Homebase and Wickes are expected to follow B&Q's lead with other price-cutting campaigns.
