Multi-brand online retailer and financial services provider, The Very Group was the latest in a series of top retail names to talk to members of the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) at one of its popular networking webinars. Speakers, Lauren Christensen, Head of Homewares and Terence Conchie, Home Improvement Category Manager highlighted not only the importance of homewares to the Very brand, but also the opportunity presented by the relatively recent expansion into the DIY category.

At £2.1bn, Very is the second largest online retailer in the UK. Classing itself as an online department store, it enjoys over a million customer visits every day, with 70% of orders now coming via mobile devices. The home enhancement category accounts for annual turnover of over £472m; and the brand has seen growth of 42% in the last 12 months.

Alongside Very’s significant presence in home enhancement, the BHETA webinar revealed just how keen the retailer is to work with DIY brands.  Very has seen considerable growth during 2021 in the previously immature online markets such as decorative home (wallpaper, paint and tiling), DIY tools and kitchens and bathrooms. It expects to see 7.3% compound annual growth in the home Improvement category over the next five years and is actively seeking contact from ceramic and porcelain tile suppliers and core DIY suppliers from nuts and bolts to electric screwdrivers.

Chief Operating Officer of BHETA, Will Jones commented, “It’s great BHETA members not only get to interact with leading retailers, but also that these events uncover specific opportunities for suppliers. We plan to organise a Meet The Buyer event with Very in due course to take the relationship further, but in the meantime it’s clear that BHETA membership offers suppliers genuine opportunities to interact with major customers and potentially benefit from incremental sales.”

Based in Liverpool, The Very Group came into being in November 2005, because of the merger of the former Littlewoods and Shop Direct companies and it rebranded as Very in 2020.

The Very Group webinar is the latest in BHETA’s popular series which has seen Ocado, Mano Mano, Homebase, Tesco, eBay, Blue Diamond, Marks & Spencer and more present to members this year, recordings of which are available to members existing and new. More details of BHETA’s events programme can also be found on the BHETA website via the link below: