Hardware News Network

Hardware News Network News, information and analysis about the home improvement industry
(1)

In latest issue of HI News, we take a deep dive into Bunnings strategy for FY2026 as we report on its results for FY2025...
26/11/2025

In latest issue of HI News, we take a deep dive into Bunnings strategy for FY2026 as we report on its results for FY2025. Did it really make sense for the big-box retailer to go after the trade/building market (where it has struggled to lift revenues above 38% of its overall sales)? Is Bunnings trying to find a market for its current retail culture, instead of better shaping that culture to the most viable markets?

Meanwhile, WA-based Stealth Global (ASX:SGI) has swept up Hardware & Building Traders (HBT) — and we expose some of the hidden benefits for both. SGI offers access to exclusive brands such as CAT and Wesco power tools made by Positec. It has ambitious plans for the sector, including tool hire services, and a possible revitalisation of HBT’s H Hardware branding.

We also cover the HBT 2025 Conference held in Brisbane in August 2025 with a lot of social pages.

Plus, we speak with Jacinta Colley from Vida Wood Australia, and hear from trade power tool company SENIX, and talk to Ace Industrial, who is very keen on the brand.

For more details, click on the link to read the edition:
https://hardwarenews.au/issues/hinews-9-03.pdf

Will SGI revitalise HBT's H Hardware brand? During the AGM for Stealth Group Holdings (ASX:SGI) on 14 November 2025 som...
19/11/2025

Will SGI revitalise HBT's H Hardware brand?
During the AGM for Stealth Group Holdings (ASX:SGI) on 14 November 2025 some details emerged about SGI's future plans for integrating Hardware & Building Traders (HBT). HardwareNews will be covering SGI in greater detail in the next edition of its HI News digital magazine, but it is worth taking a quick look at one intriguing element of SGI's plans, namely some of the potential that SGI sees in H Hardware, HBT's optional store branding program.
With SGI, it looks like that H Hardware branding will be able to realise its full potential. SGI's CEO (and founder) Mike Arnold sketched this out in his remarks: "HBT has roughly 50 stores that are painted up in a brand called 'H Hardware' ... that is throughout Australia. That is really about pulling ... members together and creating a stronger brand in the marketplace under one [banner]. We will look at expanding that particular brand ourselves and we'll be hoping to get north of 200 stores over the next two years."
HardwareNews would estimate that the take-up of H Hardware branding is likely to exceed the understandably modest forecast SGI has provided. While many HBT members do have strong local brands, the marketing advantages of adding the H logo are likely to increase sharply over the next two to three years.
To read the full article, go to:
https://hardwarenews.au/articleID/2025-46-1763506117292-001

HBT National Buying Group (Hardware & Building Traders Pty Ltd) has been acquired by Stealth Group Holdings Ltd (SGI) in...
11/11/2025

HBT National Buying Group (Hardware & Building Traders Pty Ltd) has been acquired by Stealth Group Holdings Ltd (SGI) in an all-cash deal amounting to $22 million. The deal was completed on 10 November 2025.
It seems highly likely that the net outcome of this acquisition will be positive not only for HBT members, but also for the independent hardware retail market in general.
As HardwareNews has pointed out in the past, one of the major problems for the independent sector of the hardware industry is that it has failed to attract adequate investment, and has thus been hampered in developing the kind of innovation which could take back market share from Bunnings.
This is a major investment for the sector. What SGI has purchased isn't just a buying group; the real value is in the relationship between HBT and its members. What is really outstanding about SGI is that it obviously realises the importance of both brands and the market positioning of those brands.
To see the full story on HardwareNews, go to the following link:
https://hardwarenews.au/articleID/2025-45-1762820489366-001

R&J Sonntag in Loxton (SA) is closing its doors. It is a business that was seen as a cornerstone of the Riverland's buil...
05/11/2025

R&J Sonntag in Loxton (SA) is closing its doors. It is a business that was seen as a cornerstone of the Riverland's building and hardware industry for over seven decades. Stafford’s Hardware stepped in to offer a lifeline to supported employees when Riverside Nursery was shut down. Click here for the full article:
https://hardwarenews.au/articleID/2025-44-1762323555983-003

HardwareNews' latest e-newsletter #159 looks at Bunnings' support of the Back Australia campaign; hardware stores R&J S...
05/11/2025

HardwareNews' latest e-newsletter #159 looks at Bunnings' support of the Back Australia campaign; hardware stores R&J Sonntag in SA and Stafford’s Hardware in NSW; property developments of Bunnings stores plus more. Click here for more info:
https://hardwarenews.au/flash/flash159.html

While the gift cards provided by Metcash's Family Founded promotional campaign may provide a boost for independents, Mit...
29/10/2025

While the gift cards provided by Metcash's Family Founded promotional campaign may provide a boost for independents, Mitre 10's thoughtful 4:01 campaign could make a real contribution to mental health care in trades. Click here for the full article:
https://hardwarenews.au/articleID/2025-43-1761760668650-001

Australia’s competition regulator announced it will not oppose Elders’ plans to purchase Delta Agribusiness for $475 mil...
17/10/2025

Australia’s competition regulator announced it will not oppose Elders’ plans to purchase Delta Agribusiness for $475 million – on the condition that several stores in Western Australia be sold. Click here for the full article:
https://hardwarenews.au/articleID/2025-41-1760660740842-001

Ace Hardware is the first and largest hardware retail co-op on DoorDash, which is serving as the US retailer’s exclusive...
09/10/2025

Ace Hardware is the first and largest hardware retail co-op on DoorDash, which is serving as the US retailer’s exclusive delivery partner. Orders are fulfilled in real-time by DoorDash drivers who pick up and deliver items filled from neighbourhood Ace stores. Meanwhile big box retailer Home Depot is using machine learning to determine whether orders should be delivered from a store or fulfillment centre for its deliveries. Click here for more info:
https://hardwarenews.au/articleID/2025-40-1760029022722-001

Mooloolah Mitre 10 has celebrated its grand opening under new owners. A planning proposal for a rural supplies store at ...
03/10/2025

Mooloolah Mitre 10 has celebrated its grand opening under new owners. A planning proposal for a rural supplies store at Palmers Island on the Clarence River in north-eastern NSW will be submitted for approval after it was unanimously endorsed by councillors. WA is a key expansion State for the PetO pet brand. Click here for more info:
https://hardwarenews.au/articleID/2025-39-1759450183964-004

The new Bunnings store in Port Augusta in South Australia has officially opened. A Labor MP and local residents have voi...
03/10/2025

The new Bunnings store in Port Augusta in South Australia has officially opened. A Labor MP and local residents have voiced their opposition to a proposed Bunnings in Bedford Park (SA). The planned Bunnings store in Emerald (QLD) has an approximate budget of between $30 million to $50 million. Click here for more info:
https://hardwarenews.au/articleID/2025-39-1759450183965-005

HardwareNews' latest e-newsletter has stories on Bunnings stores in Port Augusta (SA), Bedford Park (SA) and Emerald (QL...
03/10/2025

HardwareNews' latest e-newsletter has stories on Bunnings stores in Port Augusta (SA), Bedford Park (SA) and Emerald (QLD), Mooloolah Mitre 10, and an acquisition by US-based Lowe's plus more. Click here for more info:
https://hardwarenews.au/flash/flash158.html

How did Bunnings pick up so much market share?While Bunnings did do well in the first financial year which included the ...
18/09/2025

How did Bunnings pick up so much market share?
While Bunnings did do well in the first financial year which included the COVID pandemic, FY2020, its major gains were in FY2017 (2.9%) and FY2018 (4.1%).
The most likely reason for this is that Woolworths' failed Bunnings alternative, Masters Home Improvement, ceased trading in December 2016 — right in the middle of FY2017. In that sense Masters was something of gift for Bunnings, expanding the big-box market, then handing that straight over. To read the full article, go to:
https://hardwarenews.au/articleID/2025-37-1758152715182-001

Address

Malvern, VIC

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hardware News Network posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Hardware News Network:

Shortcuts

Share

Category