Great Mills (DIY)

Great Mills

Former type	Public company
Industry	Retail DIY
Successor	Focus DIY
Founded	1972
Defunct	2000
Products	DIY Tools Paint & Decor Outdoor Living Gardening
Parent	RMC Group plc (1979–2000)

Great Mills was a large DIY chain, consisting of around 98 stores across the United Kingdom. In December 2000, the business was bought by Focus DIY, which ironically entered administration in May 2011, with all stores closing by July 2011. Most Focus DIY stores have been bought, some by B&Q, Wickes and B&M Bargains (B&M Homestore). However, some stores, such as Rogerstone and Paulton, the latter being the first Great Mills, have been left empty.

History

Great Mills storefront

Originally known as Clapton Building Supplies, the store was founded in 1972 by Tony Blackburn, a staff of four, and a unwell Dulux Dog. The store managed a modest turnover of £50,000, but within six months, the turnover had doubled.^[1]

In the early 1990s, Great Mills launched Bay6 (Basics), These stores were identical in size, look and layout to Wickes. In 1995, Wickes bought the 6 Bay6 stores from Great Mills'parent company, RMC. (Four were already trading, two were under construction.)

An important step forward for the company came in 1992, with the introduction of a central distribution method of delivering products to its stores. This saved many motorway miles as deliveries were co-ordinated rather than having hundreds of suppliers delivering to the same store each day. By 2000, over 70% of the product range was delivered by the Great Mills fleet, two or three times a week.

In July 1997, to further reduce distribution costs, a new 'Central Distribution Centre' was opened. The purpose-built development was fully automated, and operated computer systems to monitor stock control, and to make sure deliveries were made on time to stores. In December 2000, Focus DIY, a rival DIY chain, bought out Great Mills. The stores were all externally rebranded, though some kept parts of the interior Great Mills branding.

In May 2011, Focus DIY entered administration. Some of the Focus branded Great Mills stores were sold, others were left empty. The original flagship Great Mills store in Paulton stood empty since the closure until June 2015, when work began to transform it to Wickes. Offices opposite the original store served as the headquarters for the Great Mills company, but stood largely empty after the Focus acquisition.

The former offices mainly used as storage for Focus DIY equipment, and also for a small part, as a call centre for the same company. The office building is now part of the Somer Valley Enterprise Park.

In January 2015, Great Mills, Paulton, was purchased by Wickes, which was owned by Focus DIY, from September 2000 until December 2004, being sold to Travis Perkins.^[2] The sale was completed in February 2005.

Activities

Great Mills counts 3,500 employees, 90 stores nationwide, 20,000 products in range.

References