Editing Homebase (section)

{{Short description|British DIY retail chain, 1981 to 2025}}
{{About|the original British home improvement and garden centre retailer that traded from 1981 to 2025|its successor operating online and as a concession within The Range stores|Homebase (brand)|other uses|Homebase (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Homebase
| logo = Homebase logo.svg
| logo_size = 300px
| industry = [[Home improvement center|Home improvement]] and [[Garden centre|garden centre]] retailer
| foundation = {{Start date|1981|03|03|df=y}}
| defunct = {{End date|2025|03|22|df=y}}
| fate = [[Administration in United Kingdom law|Administration]]
| products = {{ubl|[[Do it yourself|DIY]] tools|[[Paint]] & decor|Outdoor living|Kitchens|Bathrooms|Gardening}}
}}

'''Homebase''' was a British [[Home improvement center|home improvement]] and [[garden centre]] retailer that operated across the United Kingdom and Ireland.  

It was founded by British supermarket chain [[Sainsbury's]] and Belgian retailer [[GIB Group|GB-Inno-BM]] in March 1981, as '''Sainsbury's Homebase'''. By the end of the 1980s, it opened its fiftieth store, making it the UK's fourth biggest home improvement retailer.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Story of Homebase {{!}} Stories {{!}} Sainsbury Archive |url=https://www.sainsburyarchive.org.uk/story/stories/the-story-of-homebase |access-date=26 March 2025 |website=www.sainsburyarchive.org.uk}}</ref> 

The retailer purchased rival [[Texas Homecare]] in January 1995, which helped grow its market share to third place, behind [[B&Q]] and [[Focus DIY|Focus]]-[[Wickes]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Week |first=Marketing |date=4 August 1995 |title=Texas move forces exit of senior trio |url=https://www.marketingweek.com/texas-move-forces-exit-of-senior-trio/ |access-date=30 November 2024 |website=Marketing Week }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tran |first=Mark |date=21 November 2002 |title=Argos owner to buy Homebase |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2002/nov/21/privateequity |access-date=30 November 2024 |work=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In 1999, it was renamed to '''Homebase''', and then sold to Schroder Ventures in December 2000. In November 2002, it was sold to [[Argos Retail Group]], which later became Home Retail Group in October 2006.

In January 2016, [[Wesfarmers]] purchased Homebase in a botched attempt to convert the stores to its [[Bunnings|Bunnings Warehouse]] format, ultimately losing £1&nbsp;billion in total.<ref>{{cite news |date=25 May 2018 |title=Homebase sold for £1 as DIY disaster ends for Wesfarmers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44248409 |access-date=4 December 2024 |work=BBC News }}</ref> In August 2018, Homebase was sold to restructuring firm [[Hilco Capital|Hilco]] for £1. Subsequently, Hilco announced that it would close 42 of the chain's stores, and cut 1,500 jobs through a [[company voluntary arrangement]] (CVA), in an attempt to return it to profitability. By February 2020, Homebase had 164 outlets and had returned to profitability earlier than expected, with Hilco listing the retailer for sale in November 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last=Shepard |first=Rosie |date=13 November 2020 |title=As ‘for sale’ sign is raised over Homebase who might be potential buyers? |url=https://www.retail-week.com/home-and-diy/as-for-sale-sign-is-raised-over-homebase-who-might-be-potential-buyers/7036218.article |access-date=6 April 2025 |website=Retail Week }}</ref>

In November 2024, Hilco placed Homebase into [[Administration in United Kingdom law|administration]] with 3,446 jobs and 135 stores at risk. [[CDS Superstores]] acquired the Homebase website, brand and at least 48 of its stores to convert as The Range, with another 22 locations marked as possible option stores.<ref>{{cite web |title=HHGL LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00533033/filing-history |access-date=20 March 2025 |website=find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk }}</ref> [[B&Q]] acquired eight stores in the UK and Ireland, as well as [[Wickes]] acquiring four UK stores.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morgan |first=Aoife |date=24 December 2024 |title=B&Q acquires 3 Homebase stores in Ireland – Retail Gazette |url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2024/12/bq-homebase-stores/ |access-date=24 December 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Beevers |first=Angela |date=28 February 2025 |title=Wickes expands store footprint through acquisition of four Homebase stores {{!}} Retail Bulletin |url=https://www.theretailbulletin.com/home-and-diy/wickes-expands-store-footprint-through-acquisition-of-four-homebase-stores-28-02-2025/ |access-date=28 February 2025 |website=Retail Bulletin {{!}} Daily UK Retail News }}</ref> At midnight on 21 January 2025, Homebase's website was re-established by CDS Superstores, and the final four original Homebase stores closed down on 22 March 2025.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 March 2025 |title=The Range is set to move into former Homebase store in Market Harborough |url=https://www.harboroughmail.co.uk/news/people/the-range-is-set-to-move-into-former-homebase-store-in-market-harborough-5048321 |access-date=6 April 2025 |website=Harborough Mail }}</ref>