Our strategy

We’re the UK’s leading home and general merchandise retailer. Our customers' homes and gardens are at the heart of their lives, so there’s a close connection between our business and the issues that concern us all.

We’re helping to shape the future of shopping by providing customers with convenient ways to find and buy the products they need. We’re offering customers products and services that help them to grow their own produce, enjoy their gardens and create homes to be proud of. At the same time we are helping reduce their energy consumption and providing convenient ways to recycle unwanted products.

We want to play a part in influencing the way people think and act when they shop – the way they chose products, get them to their homes and what they do with products when they have finished with them. Delivering consistently great service to our customers is essential to our success. Attracting and keeping colleagues who are engaged with the business and proud to serve our customers is the key ingredient of this success.

Although our customers’ priorities may shift during a recession, they still want positive change. They still expect us to help them achieve their aspirations despite the current economic limitations that we all face. We want to play an even greater part in changing our society for the better. Our new volunteering policy which enables colleagues to have two days volunteering each year has been a great success. For example, at Homebase we now have 72 stores that are working with an Eco School on 'Grow Your Own' where our colleagues use their volunteering hours to help the schools to establish, plan and manage their ‘Grow Your Own’ programmes. Argos has developed a six week work experience programme for launch in the autumn. The 'Work Inspiration' programme focuses on helping students develop their understanding of the world of work through project based activity linked to the day to day running of a retail environment. 

In the face of increasing cost pressure, it’s vital that we operate as efficiently as possible to eliminate unnecessary waste and minimise our negative environmental impact.

Basis of good business strategy

Our corporate responsibility strategy is:‘to be responsible in all areas and to excel in our chosen few.’

For more information go to Future outlook.

The basis of good business programme gives us a solid foundation to seize opportunities and manage risks:

• Customers expect businesses to do more to address social and environmental issues
• Customers want practical help from us to save energy and money and reduce the problem of waste in their homes
• The UK Government wants businesses to work in partnership with government agencies, charities,organisations, and individuals to change our society for the better
• We’re required to comply with an increasing amount of environmental legislation, incurring resource costs and direct ‘tax’ costs
• The cost of energy, fuel, timber based products and other resources will continue to rise, driving up both product and operating costs
• Climate change remains a major issue with related weather impacts a risk in the UK and for our suppliers in China and South East Asia
• Our competitors are constantly raising the bar in terms of their own corporate responsibility commitments and communications

For more information on how our CR stakeholder panel helped us
   identify these trends go to Stakeholder engagement. 

Good business principles

We use five good business principles to communicate our strategic objectives and performance.

See our Good business principles.

Communication

We share information about the basis of good business programme with colleagues through our regular communication channels as an integral part of our everyday communications. Find out more about Stakeholder engagement.