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Temple & Webster eyeing $50b home improvement market

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Temple & Webster is eyeing the $50 billion home improvement market as a new source of expansion, as Australia’s largest pure-play online homewares retailer moves from turnaround phase to growth.

The online player plans to add home improvement products such as flooring, window coverings, sinks, taps and baths to its existing range – which could prompt home improvement market leader Bunnings, an e-commerce laggard, to sell more of its products online.

“Home improvement is a big category – a bigger category than furniture and homewares,” chief executive Mark Coulter told The Australian Financial Review after releasing the company’s best results since listing two years ago.

“We won’t go into selling timber and building materials – that’s not our game – but what we will be looking at is categories that make sense and are a natural extension to making a home beautiful.

“You may go to Bunnings for your building materials, but if you’re looking for inspiration you come to us – we think there is an opportunity there.”

Temple & Webster expects to make a maiden profit in 2019 after reducing bottom-line losses to just $21,000 in 2018 from $7.76 million in 2017 and a whopping $44.9 million in 2016.

The company earned $300,000 before interest, tax, amortisation and depreciation in the June-half – in line with its promise to reach profitability during 2018 – reducing its annual EBITDA loss from $6.8 million to $600,000.

Revenues rose 12.6 per cent to $72.6 million in the year and by 25 per cent in the June half, underpinned by 24 per cent growth in active customers to 198,000 and 31 per cent growth in first-time customers to about 42,000. The strong momentum continued in July, with sales up 34 per cent.

Gross margins improved from 42.7 per cent to 44.2 per cent as marketing and staff costs were controlled and acquisition costs for first-time customers fell to $54 compared with $89 in 2017 and $100 in 2016.

The company, which finished the year with a cash balance of $9.9 million, is also testing the market in New Zealand, setting up shop on TradeMe before possibly establishing a dedicated website and app.

It also plans to open a small-format design store in Sydney and is eyeing other new categories.

The Australian furniture and homewares market is worth about $14 billion, according to Euromonitor International, but online penetration is about 4 per cent – well below the 10 per cent penetration rate in the United States and 13 per cent in Britain. Temple & Webster expects sales to shift online at a faster rate as Millennials aged 22 to 35 start spending money in this category.

After rising three-fold to 76¢ over the past 12 months, the shares gained another 8 per cent to 82¢ on Tuesday, buoyed by the strong start to 2019. The shares were issued in October 2015 at $1.10.

“We believe Temple & Webster has entered 2019 with strong momentum and believe 2019 is on track to being [the company’s] first full financial year of profit,” said Bell Potter analyst Sam Haddad.​

Source

https://www.afr.com/business/retail/temple–webster-eyeing-50b-home-improvement-market-20180820-h148l9

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‘Home Improvement’ Star Goes Rogue, Slams Hollywood Elitists For Ignoring Middle America

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(Conservative Tribune) – George Orwell once wrote that left-wing intellectuals have no conception of what the common man, who they claim to champion, was like.

Today it is the Hollywood left who are too elitist to know what Middle America is like, according to a former star on the show “Home Improvement.”

On Friday, Zachary Ty Bryan told Fox News that actors feel superior to Middle America — especially those who voted for President Donald Trump — because they appear on film and television.

“I think there’s kind of been this narcissism created now that because you’re in the public eye, all of a sudden you know more than the normal Joe Schmoe which just isn’t the case,” he said.

“Whether you disagree with the president, or you don’t, he’s doing what he feels (is) best and he’s representing a very large majority of people who live in Middle America.”

Bryan asserts that actors don’t even attempt to understand the people who voted for Trump and fail to recognize that much of their celebrity status comes from heartland America.

“As an actor, I think one of the first things that you’re taught is it’s the fans that make you who you are,” Bryan said. “And a lot of those fans are watching in Middle America.”

By continuing to criticize rather than trying to understand the “other side,” they are in essence alienating Middle America.

Bryan, who keeps in touch with “hardworking Americans” in his home state of Colorado, states they are tired of Hollywood elitists.

As an example of liberal superiority, he cites Kevin Bacon and his wife Kyra Sedgwick who told audiences that they will be “on the right side of history” if they vote against Trump.

Bryan represents part of a growing backlash against the left-wing elites that dominate Hollywood.

Hollywood is indeed in a bubble.

They believe that, in the case of Kevin Bacon, there is “a right” and “a wrong side of history.”

The best example of this occurred in the 1972 presidential election between Republican Richard Nixon and the Democrat George McGovern.

When Nixon won, the upper-class movie critic Pauline Kael was surprised because “everyone I knew voted for McGovern.”

Recently, in The Federalist, writer Bret Easton Ellis, who has made a career of bashing yuppies, told Hollywood anti-Trump elites to cease their hysteria or they will continue to lose elections.

In response, many Hollywood leftists refuse to take his common sense advice and have instead screamed at him for being a Trump supporter.

westernjournal.com/ct/hollywood-elitists-ignoring-middle-america/

The post ‘Home Improvement’ Star Goes Rogue, Slams Hollywood Elitists For Ignoring Middle America appeared first on Tea Party.

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https://www.teaparty.org/home-improvement-star-goes-rogue-slams-hollywood-elitists-ignoring-middle-america-320012/

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Gardentalk – When home improvement projects require emergency tree and shrub care

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Fortunately, painters could easily work around this kiwi plant at the KTOO Agricultural Test Station and Garden of Science! Otherwise, it would have been cut back. (Photo by Matt Miller/KTOO)

Things don’t always happen according to plan and sometimes things happen unexpectedly — requiring homeowners to engage in emergency yard care.

In this week’s edition of Gardentalk, Master Gardener Ed Buyarski recalls how two Juneau residents are currently being forced to trim or transplant trees and shrubs to make room for contractors hired for home improvement projects.

Buyarski describes what’s happening and his solution for each dilemma.

In the first instance, a mature apple tree is located on the edge of a property and right inline of a new fence that will be built next week.

Buyarski said he will prune the top branches before digging out the tree.

Next, he’ll trim the roots, dig a new hole for the tree’s new location, and layer compost on top of the root ball during replanting.

The tree should be heavily watered in its new location.

Buyarski said it will also be staked up so that it won’t fall over before the roots regrow and the tree re-establishes itself.

“This is not the ideal time for moving trees,” Buyarski said. “At least it’s not hot and dry like earlier.”

In the second instance, work on a house’s siding and installation of new windows will require the homeowner to either remove or severely trim back bushes so the contractor can gain access to the side of the house. A 9-foot-tall rose bush, for example, was trimmed back to only 18 inches.

“It may end up getting dug up yet because a deck is going to go over it,” Buyarski said.

Other shrubs and small trees close to the house will be temporarily bent or pulled away from the house with ropes until the contractor finishes his work.

A hole may be left in that new deck to allow another bush to continue growing without being transplanted.

For some homeowners, Buyarski warns bushes that climb up the side of a house may accumulate moisture and accelerate rot in wooden siding and the foundation footings.

Listen to the August 17 segment of Gardentalk: https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ktoo/2018/08/garden081618.mp3

Buyarski also reminds gardeners that the annual Harvest Fair and Farmer’s Market is Saturday, Aug. 16, at the Juneau Community Garden. Judging of vegetables, flowers, and preserves starts at 10:15 a.m.

Source

https://www.ktoo.org/2018/08/17/gardentalk-when-home-improvement-projects-require-emergency-tree-and-shrub-care/

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NDR 2018: Expanded home improvement scheme to spruce up another 230,000 HDB flats

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SINGAPORE: Another 230,000 flats will be upgraded as the Government looks to extend the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) to HDB blocks built in the years up to 1997, announced Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 19). 

The expanded programme will also include a new component dubbed HIP II, which will give all HDB flats a second round of upgrading when they reach the 60 to 70-year mark. 

Rolled out in 2007 to fix common maintenance problems at ageing HDB flats, the HIP scheme originally covered flats built in the years up to 1986 and those that had not undergone the previous Main Upgrading Programme (MUP). 

It is heavily subsidised and the Government pays up to 95 per cent of upgrading costs. 

As of Aug 1, HIP has been announced for about 242,000 of the close to 320,000 eligible flats, according to HDB. Upgrading works have been completed for 122,000 homes, with work underway in the remaining flats. 

Mr Lee said the final batch of flats that qualify for this scheme will be announced by next year. When completed, a total of 450,000 flats will be upgraded under HIP and the MUP. 

However, there are homes that missed qualifying for the HIP and are now starting to show their age, said Mr Lee. 

For instance, estates like Yishun, Tampines and Jurong had flats that were built before and after 1986. There are also residents in Pasir Ris who collected keys to their flats in 1987. 

“I know many HDB residents in these younger flats are also hoping for an upgrading.” 

The expanded programme to include homes built between 1987 and 1997 will address this, said Mr Lee. 

“After upgrading, these flats should be good for another 30 to 40 years. By that time, the flats will be 60 to 70 years old and i expect they will be showing their age again.” 

So as to not let Singapore’s public housing “degenerate into ragged, squalid slums”, the HDB will be upgrading older flats a second time at around the 60 to 70-year mark under the HIP II scheme. 

This will start in about 10 years’ time when the first flats reach 60 to 70 years old. 

“HIP II will keep the flats safe and liveable, and also help them retain their value as their leases run down,” he said. “It should see the flats through to the end of their leases.” 

“So in short, every HDB flat can expect to be upgraded twice during their lease.” 

Mr Lee said the HIP II scheme is a “huge financial commitment”.

The first HIP will cost the Government more than S$4 billion and the HIP II is expected to cost even more as the flats will be twice as old by then.

But this is “well-justified” and will be done “so long as the Ministry of Finance has the money”, said Mr Lee.

Singapore

NDR 2018: Expanded home improvement scheme to spruce up another 230,000 HDB flats

The expanded programme will also include a new component dubbed HIP II, which will give all HDB flats a second round of upgrading when they reach the 60 to 70 year mark.

Another 230,000 flats will be upgraded as the Government looks to extend the Home Improvement Programme (HIP) to HDB blocks built in the years up to 1997, announced Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 19). Vanessa Lim with more.

Source

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ndr-2018-expanded-home-improvement-scheme-to-spruce-up-another-10631124

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Home Improvement Projects to Save for Winter

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When warmer weather hits, the local hardware store fills up with patrons seeking materials to improve their homes. Even though the summer months seem to lend themselves to home improvement projects, many can wait until winter rolls around.

On average, homeowners spend about $6649 annually on home improvement projects. More and more people are remodeling instead of moving, with around 80 percent stating they’ll stay in the home they’re currently in.

Spacing out your projects allows you to better budget for expenses and avoiding burning yourself out by working too hard at once. If you’re planning to remodel your current home instead of move, here are eight projects you can put off until winter.

1.  A Backsplash

kitchen backsplash

When the weather is unusually cold, bring your work inside and update your kitchen. A backsplash is easy to install, especially if you purchase sheets of mosaic tiles or stick with a simple design, such as subway tile. You should be able to complete a backsplash project for under $500, depending upon the materials you choose and the size of the area you’re tiling.

2.  Landscaping

Spring and fall may be the time of year when you typically think about curb appeal, but winter is an excellent time to do some cleanup and fertilizing in preparation for next spring. Clean up loose leaves and twigs in the landscaping and make sure to winterize your plants so they can survive the harsh weather.

If you’re working outside in extreme cold, take precautions by bundling up and making sure you work in short spurts, taking frequent breaks to warm up and get out of the elements. Know the signs of cold stresses such as frostbite and hypothermia and protect yourself from them, too.

3.  Insulation

roof insulation

Are your heating bills a bit higher than you’d like? Perhaps you need to add some insulation to your attic to keep all the heat from escaping through the roof. Winter is an excellent time to get up in your attic and add some insulation. Not only will it be warmer up there in the winter months, but you’ll see almost immediate energy saving benefits from adding the extra padding.

Simply sealing leaks can result in a 25 percent reduction in the air infiltrating the home, and increasing R-values in insulation further improves energy efficiency.

4.  Lighting

kitchen lighting

By Woodgraindesign [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

The darker, dreary months of winter may leave you feeling a bit gloomy. This makes it the perfect time to install new lighting and brighten up the interior of your home. Update old fixtures with more current ones, swap out your standard incandescent bulbs for energy-efficient versions and add recessed lights for extra illumination in your kitchen or living room.

5.  Flooring

bathroom floor tiles

Winter weather also brings moisture and grime you might not have noticed in the summer months. It’s a great time to install new flooring because you can work inside on this project without exposing yourself to harsh winter elements. Choose flooring that’s durable and will withstand the wear and tear of all the seasons.

Think about how warm those floors will be in the coldest weather, too. Radiant heat does add to the overall cost of floors, but it might be a viable option for small spaces like a tiled bathroom or kitchen area.

6.  A Programmable Thermostat

Programmable Thermostat

Do you spend half your day turning the thermostat up and down? Not only is this inefficient, but it’s easy to forget that you turned it up a bit for your shower time and then rush out the door for work leaving it running at a higher temp for eight hours straight. A programmable thermostat ensures you never forget to turn it down at night or while you’re at work, which results in significant savings.

7.  A Water Heater

Another indoor project is installing a new water heater. If yours is older, chances are it isn’t very efficient. Newer models are often more energy efficient. You also have options, such as installing a solar water heater, adding an on-demand tankless system or using geothermal heat.

8.  Roof and Gutters

Most winters have a few warmer days where all the snow and ice melts. This is a great time to check your roof for leaks. Replace any loose or broken shingles, check your gutters for debris that might block proper flow from the roof to the ground. Take the time to go up inside your attic and check for any leaks as well.

check your gutters for debris

By U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Lucy M. Quinn [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Before you go up on your roof in the winter, though, make sure all the ice is melted. The last thing you want to do is slip and fall. Take all the safety precautions necessary to ensure you’re working as safely as possible.

Winter Home Improvement

For your home to stay in the absolute best shape possible, improvements should be ongoing. Instead of only working on your home during warm weather, spend a little bit of time every season making it better. Before you know it, your house will be the most beautiful, well-kept one on the block.

Home Improvement Projects to Save for Winter was last modified: by Holly Welles

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https://mykukun.com/home-improvement-projects-save-winter/

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81% Off: Get The Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle for Only $19.99

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81% Off: Get The Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle for Only $19.99

Being a homeowner has always been a part of the American dream. According to studies, 80% of millennials want to buy their own home. One of the benefits of homeownership is having the freedom to decorate your space. You can make improvements in your home without getting approval from your landlord. Get ready to step into your dream home with the Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle.

The Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle

Most homeowners have a good idea about their dream home. Some wants a house with granite countertops while others envision a house with hardwood floors and their own home office. Wouldn’t it be great if you can see what your design ideas look like without buying a thing? If so, the Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle is just what you need.

Ashampoo makes some of the best interior design software for Windows. With this home improvement software, you can visualize layouts and color schemes and even plan sophisticated photovoltaic systems. This bundle provides the tools that will allow you to edit and play around the living room, master bedroom, and balcony until you’re completely satisfied.

With the Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle, building your dream or nailing that renovation is simple. You can make your house the envy of all your friends for only $19.99.

Ashampoo Kitchen Catalog Extension

The kitchen is the heart of the home. The kitchen is no longer limited to food preparation. Today, most families entertain guests and spend time with their family in the kitchen. It is where they eat, talk, play, work, and laugh. With such an important role, you want to make sure that your kitchen is both beautiful and functional. The Ashampoo Kitchen Catalog Extension can help you plan your dream kitchen.

This software enables you to plan your kitchen individually on your PC. The catalogue offers several 3D kitchen lines in different designs. Plus, you can equip your kitchen with high quality appliances. It will help you nail the details and get the best return on your investment.

Ashampoo Office Catalog Extension

In this modern era, there is an unceasing increase in the number of people working from home. If you are one of them, then you may need to setup a home office.

Having an efficient home office where you can actually get work done is essential. If you are in the process of setting up your home office, the Ashampoo Office Catalog Extension will be beneficial for you. This software is perfect as it will help you create the perfect ergonomic office concept on your PC.

The Ashampoo Office Catalog Extension will help you plan the layout of your office before you buy specific pieces of furniture. It will also examine different lighting concepts, climates, and color schemes. Ultimately, it utilizes an appropriate selection of ergonomic office furnitures as 3D objects.

Ashampoo 3D CAD Architecture 6: Family License

Whether you’re building your new home or your just want to re-decorate, the Ashampoo 3D Cad Architecture 6 can help you make your visions a reality. This program uses an integrated step-by-step wizard that will take the pain out of planning and decorating your dream home. You’ll be able to visualize in advance what your house would look like, so you can avoid nasty surprises and disappointments.

81% Off the Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle

When bought individually, these softwares will cost you $109.97. If you are in the process of building your dream home, then The Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle will make the planning, designing or renovation process easier. If you are looking to save money, then you came to the right place.

We all know that building and re-decorating a house can cost a small fortune. To help you save money, we are slashing 81% off the Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle. This week, you can get this amazing software bundle for only $19.99. That’s $89.98 in savings!

Please keep in mind that this deal is valid for a limited time only. If you are interested to get this software bundle, we encourage you to act now.

If you want to get the Ultimate Home Improvement Software Bundle or if you want to learn more about it, please click here.

Source

https://designrfix.com/designrfix-deals/ultimate-home-improvement-software-bundle