Do It All

Do It All was a British do it yourself and home improvement retailing company that underwent a number of changes of ownership. In 1998, the business was sold to Focus DIY, which itself entered administration in 2011, with all its stores closing later that year.[1]

For other uses, see Do It All (disambiguation).
Do It All
TypePublic company
IndustryRetail
DIY
Founded1963
Defunct2001
FateAcquired by Focus DIY and absorbed into parent company in 2001.
SuccessorFocus DIY
ProductsDIY Tools
Paint and decor
Outdoor living
Kitchens
Bathrooms
Gardening
ParentWHSmith (100%: 1978–1988, 50%: 1988–1996)
Boots Group (50%: 1988–1996, 100%: 1996–1998)
Focus DIY (1998–2001)

History

The business can trace its roots to two do it yourself chains, Big K and Calypso. These were bought by LCP (Lunt Comley & Pitt) and traded as LCP Homecentres. In 1978, the business was acquired by WHSmith and renamed W.H. Smith Do It All Limited, trading as WHSmith Do It All.

Do It All sold a range of over 25,000 DIY products, including paint, wallpaper, tools and power tools, as well as construction materials such as plywood and chipboard. All stores had an inhouse timber cutting service, and all but the smallest had in-store concessions for businesses such as Harris Carpets.

During the 1980s, fierce competition saw the chain struggle. In 1988, it merged with the rival chain Payless DIY, which was owned by the Boots Group. As a result, WHSmith and Boots each owned 50% of the combined group, and the Payless stores were rebranded under the Do It All brand. However, following continued losses, WHSmith sold their share in the company to Boots in 1996 for the token amount of £1.[2]

Fate

Boots, wanting to concentrate on its core pharmacy businesses, sold the 139 Do It All stores to Focus DIY in 1998 for £68 million.[3] The stores were initially rebranded under the name Focus Do It All, and later, in 2001, to simply Focus, following the company’s purchase of Great Mills the previous year.[4]

Focus DIY had also acquired Wickes in 2000, and some former Do It All stores were converted to Wickes, mostly in areas felt to be outside the core market.[5] Soon after, the Do It All name disappeared completely.

References
  1. "Focus DIY to close 120 stores". www.ft.com. 25 May 2011. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. Cope, Nigel (12 June 1996). "WH Smith pulls out of Do It All at cost of pounds 63m". The Independent. London. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  3. "Do It All sale costs Boots pounds 312m – Business, News". The Independent. London. 20 August 1998. Retrieved 19 March 2010.
  4. "Great Mills goes to Focus for £285m". telegraph.co.uk. 7 December 2000. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  5. "Focus Do-It-All's £285m takeover bid is an attempt to buy Wickes 'on the cheap'". independent.co.uk. 31 March 2000. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
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