B&Q Cheltenham has been refurbished and redesigned to become a ‘sustainability showcase’ site, helping the DIY retailer’s customers make more sustainable home improvement choices.
The retailer said the store, located at Golden Valley Retail Park, has been created to ensure sustainability tips for customers are integrated throughout the space. There are two sustainable living displays, with examples of how people can revamp their homes and gardens while making energy saving improvements.
One of the displays features suppliers of energy efficient windows and doors, low-carbon heating solutions such as heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage, and EV chargers for cars at home, as well as smart home control suppliers that help homes use less energy.
Meanwhile, the garden display offers advice on how best to improve drainage and soil quality of flower beds, as well as how to encourage nature. From maximising solar power in the garden, encouraging wildlife through pollinator plants and features such as bird homes to advice on composting and water saving, the space offers significant guidance to those who are looking to improve their outside spaces.
At B&Q Cheltenham, information is integrated within product displays to help customers identify and choose products with more sustainable features. Currently, B&Q says 65% of its sales come from products that offer ‘sustainability benefits’.
The shop also includes a unique waste station to help customers to dispose of small electrical items and batteries, as well as plastic plant pots, garden equipment, soft plastics and decorating waste.
B&Q said all of its staff at the store are sustainability trained by internal accredited Carbon Literacy trainers. The retailer said B&Q Cheltenham was selected for the project because it is already one of its more sustainable stores; it is powered by more than 200 roof-top solar panels, and lit by smart LED lighting with movement sensors that dim when no-one is around.
Point of sale material at the site promotes Refurbed by B&Q, an online initiative selling tools that have been repaired. There are EV-charging points for customers outside, which is part of the retailer’s existing plans to increase availability of these facilities at 26 stores across the UK, and there is a community re-use scheme in place.
Katherine Paterson, marketing director at B&Q, commented: “Our Cheltenham store has been redesigned to provide impactful, clear and informative in-store support to help customers make more informed decisions that could help them to save money, on energy costs for example, as well as to live a more sustainable life in a more sustainable home.
“Learnings from which initiatives in B&Q Cheltenham have the greatest impact on customer engagement and behaviour, will inform how sustainability is brought to life across our other stores in the future. We want Cheltenham to be a stand-out example of how impactful, clear and informative in-store support can help customers to both save money and lower their sustainable impact.”
[image credits: B&Q]
