B&Q will open its first standalone TradePoint store in Barking this March, marking a strategic shift as the home improvement retailer seeks to transform its trade division into a £1 billion business.

The 32,000 square foot site will operate exclusively for trade professionals, offering extended hours from 6am on weekdays and Saturdays, alongside rapid fulfilment options including same-day delivery within two hours and click-and-collect in 15 minutes. The format represents a departure from B&Q's existing model of TradePoint counters within its 300-plus mainstream stores.

TradePoint has demonstrated consistent growth, with like-for-like sales rising 6.9 per cent in the first half of 2025 and the division now accounting for 22.4 per cent of B&Q's total sales. The business currently serves 1.5 million active members across trades including plumbing, electrical work and building.

Graham Bell, chief executive of B&Q, said the standalone concept had been designed around tradespeople's priorities. "Understanding the needs of tradespeople has been crucial and as a result, reliability, speed, product availability, competitive pricing and extended hours are all key elements of our new TradePoint proposition," he said.

The Barking store will stock more than 5,500 immediately available items spanning building materials, tools and equipment from brands including DeWalt, Makita and Johnstone's Trade paint. Customers will also access an extended catalogue of 25,000 products for collection or site delivery. In-store services will include timber cutting and paint mixing facilities.

B&Q has supported the trade segment with over 100 Trade Business Development Managers who provide personalised advice to members. The loyalty scheme offers discounts of five per cent for monthly spending above £250, rising to 10 per cent for those exceeding £1,000.

The standalone format will be tested in Barking before potential wider rollout. TradePoint members retain access to dedicated counters at approximately 200 existing B&Q locations, though membership is not required to shop at the new trade-only sites.

The move comes as B&Q, part of Kingfisher plc's international home improvement portfolio, intensifies focus on the professional trade market following years of steady expansion since TradePoint's 2011 launch.

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