Daley Hub: Our Year in Review - Looking back at 2025

2025 has been a year of change, challenge, innovation and opportunity — both for the wider retail and DIY sector and for the work we do at Daley Hub. From shifting customer behaviours and global market pressures to fresh ideas about how to make in-store and online retail thrive, this year has kept us thinking, learning adapting and pushing forward.

Retail Resilience and Shifting Market Realities

Across the year, we’ve seen the reality of today’s retail environment: brands, retailers and suppliers are all feeling the squeeze from cost pressures, consumer behaviour and a more complex operating landscape. Many businesses have had to rethink supply chains, range strategies, pricing and partnerships just to stay competitive — and the ones that have succeeded are the ones willing to be flexible and smart about their choices. Thierry Gardiner (CEO Kingfisher) said at the Global DIY Summit in June 2024 “don’t let perfection be the enemy of progress”.  We completely agree.

On the supplier side, we feel a real hunger from companies across Europe, Scandinavia and China that want to break into the UK market — and we’ve been supporting those businesses to define clear, compelling offers that make it easy for retailers to say yes. 

Marketplace Opportunity and Complexity

Marketplaces shaped the retail landscape this year, with Chinese platforms expanding at incredible speed and heavily attacking traditional leaders such as Amazon and eBay. Their rise also puts pressure on specialised marketplaces, including DIY platforms, which now face a real risk of losing market share. Temu, Shein and TikTok Shop changed shopper expectations through aggressive pricing, rapid onboarding and constant promotion.

In the DIY sector this drove a stronger need for high quality content, reliable fulfilment and clear value messages. Looking ahead, brands should prepare for further fragmentation, stronger low cost competition and an even greater need for data driven decisions to stay visible and profitable.

We welcomed marketplace expert Nils Kernchen to the team this year. His experience building and developing marketplace platforms gives us an even stronger foundation to help brands navigate this space more effectively and develop tailored plans for each territory. 

What We’re Seeing in China and Global Retail Experience

This year gave us a deeper appreciation of how consumer environments in other countries — especially China — are evolving. Shopping destinations are redefining what retail means by becoming more than places to buy things — they’re experiences where people eat, play, learn and socialize. 

This trend isn’t just eye-catching sightseeing; it points to a wider truth about how stores need to think about experience if they want to compete with the convenience and reach of online. Making bricks-and-mortar spaces meaningful and engaging for customers will be an ongoing theme into 2026.

DIY & Home Improvement: A Sector in Flux

In the DIY and home improvement market — one of the UK’s most competitive retail spaces — we saw a mix of resilience and disruption. Established retailers have faced serious headwinds, with some well-known names disappearing from the high street. At the same time, specialist and online-focused players grew market share, showing that a clear proposition and strong digital presence can make all the difference. 

Retailers and suppliers alike are wrestling with the paradox of choice: too many options struggle to convert into sales, even where ranges are wider than ever. This highlights a need for smarter range planning and presentation that helps customers make decisions — rather than overwhelming them. 

Events, Collaboration and Real-World Connections

2025 reminded us how valuable real-world interaction still is. Trade shows and industry events offered platforms for connection, feedback and seeing firsthand what buyers and customers are looking for. Events like Screwfix LIVE — which grew significantly this year — showed how vibrant and engaged the trade community still is. 

Looking Ahead: Resilience, Opportunity and Preparedness

As we look forward into 2026, one thing is clear: market conditions will continue to shift, and adaptability will be a key advantage. Rising costs, evolving customer expectations and global trends like the spread of AI and digital commerce channels mean that companies can’t afford to stand still.

But we also see bright opportunities: smarter use of data and technology, clearer articulation of product value, and stronger collaboration between suppliers and retailers will create real advantage for brands that are prepared to evolve.

Here’s to a year of strategic growth, stronger connections and exciting progress in 2026.