Amazon branches into DIY and gardening

Amazon, the online books and music retailer, has decided to start selling sheds and power tools in an attempt to cash in on the DIY boom.

Amazon, the online books and music retailer, has decided to start selling sheds and power tools in an attempt to cash in on the DIY boom.

In its new Home & Garden shop, customers will be able to order a range of tools from pliers to shovels, and garden accessories from lawnmowers to bird tables. Brands on offer include Black & Decker, Bosch, De Walt and Stanley, and like its other products, orders over £25 will be delivered free of charge. Later in the year, it will add sheds to its product range.

Analysts said the move presented more of a threat to general retailers such as GUS's Argos than specialists such as Kingfisher's B&Q. Nick Bubb, at Evolution Beeson Gregory, said: "Amazon has become a very credible retailer with a very trustworthy brand. I am sure that can stretch into DIY." But he said the US-based group would "struggle to get the buying power" in DIY to mount a real threat to B&Q.

Robin Terrell, the managing director of Amazon.co.uk, said: "We have always wanted to expand into other areas and it is our goal to be the place where customers can find anything they want to buy online." He hopes the move into DIY will build on the success the group has had with selling electronic equipment, such as PCs.

Mr Terrell said prices for its goods would be "extremely competitive" because it had lower overheads than large out-of-town DIY stores.

He believes potential customers will be interested in having potential bulky DIY and gardening equipment delivered to their door.