In this end of year episode, Betty and Scott look back over the hardware year. What stood out for us was the HBT conference at the end of 2020 (which we covered in 2021), the acquisition by Bunnings of Beaumont Tiles, and the growth in power tool retailing for tradies, which was sparked by changes in the power tool industry itself.

In this episode we take a deep dive in the results for Metcash, including those for its hardware division, which includes IHG and Total Tools. We drill down into what the real (organic) EBIT was for hardware, and talk about the potential for conflict between Mitre 10 and HTH trying to sell power tools and their accessories, and the new, expanded Total Tools.

The ABS has released its stats for building approvals through to October 2021. HNN has delved deeply into these, and in Flash 74 we look at whether approvals have shifted more to regional areas, and what the balance is for each state between detached house approvals and non-house (multi-unit) approvals. Our conclusion? Victoria shows a distinct shift, but not so much New South Wales. Listen up to learn more.

HNN drills down and analyses a presentation by Roy Morgan that sets out the company's predictions for retail sales through to the end of2021, and for the first quarter of calendar 2022.

To view the YouTube presentation this podcast is analysing, go to:
https://youtu.be/upKEMmQv2G4

Ryobi has launched its Link storage solution in the US market.  It is illustrative of a shift in the markets as TTI sees them.

James Hardie is using social media to interact directly with its end-customers. Also, what did Bunnings have in mind when it produced its most recent video series, "Make It Happen"? Where the previous series, "Make It Yours", explored social media influencers and was aimed at Millennials and Gen-Z, "Make It Happen" is seeking an older audience. Does that point towards an opportunity for independent hardware retailers?

In this episode, we discuss what is happening as Bunnings completes its acquisition of Beaumont tiles. Also, the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF) has released its forecasts for the coming years. We play some excerpts from the launch, and discuss some of the consequences of what ACIF is forecasting.

In this edition of our Flash news we report on the opening of the first Tool Kit Depot, the new Bunnings trade tool store. We've seen pictures, and the Western Australian store looks pretty plush! Nippon Paint has acquired another European paint manufacturer, through its Australian subsidiary, Dulux.

In our feature articles, we look at the new "pouch cell" Lithium-ion battery from DeWalt, which we see as being more of a manufacturing innovation than a product development. And we take a long look at the coming recovery from the pandemic in 2022. We're not coming back to 2019, we conclude, but to a different, altered economy and society.

In this episode, we have news about Mitre 10 stores, a new battery pack from Briggs & Stratton, and a battery collection service at Bunnings. We talk about our stats article for this week, looking at ABS stats on building work done, and we take a git of a deep dive into the Wesfarmers Annual Report for FY2021.

In this episode of Flash: Jeff Adams to leave his job as CEO of Metcash (owner of the Independent Hardware Group) so that he can, according to Metcash, "spend more time with his family". HNN takes a look at the latest Building Word Done stats from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Bunnings is active in Lismore, Tempe and the Macedon Ranges. Stanley Black & Decker makes another acquisition, and Home Depot tweaks its logistics partnerships again.