B&Q thinks small as it aims for big World Cup boost

Kingfisher, the owner of the DIY chain B&Q, hopes to score during the World Cup with garden gnomes dressed in England football kits and wheelbarrows featuring the cross of St George.

The company said the gnomes would be on sale at B&Q stores from today, adding that the wheelbarrows had proved popular over the past few weeks. Ian Cheshire, the group chief executive of Kingfisher, said it was hoped that the merchandise would help prevent the fall-off in DIY sales which was normally associated with major sporting events.

For the 13 weeks to 1 May, Kingfisher's group retail profits grew by 12 per cent to £146m. Mr Cheshire attributed the improvement to the company's "self-help measures", including better distribution and reduced losses on stock at B&Q, as well as joint buying between its Brico Depot and Castorama chains in France.