Wickes: The one-stop shop for home improvement

If you sign up for weekly offers on email, you would never miss a good deal at Wickes. Explore bargains and additional discounts at this home improvement store that is more than a 150 years old!

Almost all of your building and home remodeling accessories and tools are available in Wickes. Automotive and industrial products and textiles too are conveniently accessible in these stores.

Producing door panels and floor mats for cars and parts for jet engines in the automotive and industrial sector, this company is also one of the major players in the home improvement market. A leading manufacturer and marketer of wall coverings for residential and commercial use, and an international manufacturer of textiles including upholstery fabrics, commercial floor coverings, and women’s hosiery and related products, Wickes is diversified in its product category.

Unassumingly established in the local timber business in Michigan, the Wickes brothers chose this pine forest rich state to start their profitable enterprise.

Also establishing the Genesee Iron Works, a foundry and machine shop specializing in repairing and casting odd metal parts for equipment used in the logging and lumber business, the Wickes brothers developed and marketed the Wickes gang saw, a steam-powered mill saw that was extremely capable of ripping two or three logs into boards simultaneously. This is how they revolutionized the lumber milling business and created a national and international market.

Branching out to repairing and re-selling worn-out equipments that included all kinds of machinery, enabled the growth of their business. Noticing that one of the most frequently bought and resold items were industrial boilers, the brothers started Wickes Boiler Company and Wickes Bros. Foundry. The third Wickes business, The United States Graphite Company (U.S. Graphite), incorporated in 1891, supplied the graphite-based lead substitute for at least 90% of the world’s pencils at one point in time.

Taking advantage of the increased timber requirements, a retail outlet for building supplies that maintained a healthy stock of all types of lumber and construction products, Wickes created a one-stop store to which builders simply sent their trucks and purchased the necessary supplies with no delays and at very low prices.

In 1971 Wickes Companies, Inc., expanded its business to Europe and entered into many new enterprises, including retail furniture, consumer credit, modular housing, and commercial construction businesses.

Shop for ideas, advice and offers on all your home improvement needs at Wickes. Whether it is for your kitchen, bathroom, floors, walls, gardens, heating, plumbing, lighting, painting or security, do it right with them.

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    A house becomes a home only when one adds their own personal touch to it. Home furnishings, for example, not only reflects the lifestyle of the owner of the home but also their tastes and preferences in interior design and decor. Therefore one should put in some thought before purchasing home furnishings such as sofa covers.

    Listed below are a few reasons why every sofa needs a sofa cover.

    • A sofa cover helps to protect the sofa from stains, grease, and grime. With a cover, dirt and dust would not be able to spoil the fabric of the sofa. When the cover is dirty all one has to do is wash it.
    • Sofa covers would help in giving a new look to an old and worn out sofa set which would otherwise need to be upholstered. You could also save money on a new sofa by just using covers on your old one.
    • These cover also enhance the longevity of the sofa set. The fabric or upholstery of a sofa gets worn with regular use over time. The color could fade or the upholstery could get damaged. This can be averted by using a sofa cover.
    • A sofa cover can also set or be a part of the theme or style and look of your home. If you find a sofa you like but it doesn’t quite fit in with what you want you can change it with the use of a cover. For example, if the home has a modern and upscale look, for instance, then a microfiber soil colored sofa cover could fit the bill. Or if the house is, say, ancestral or simply has a vintage vibe, then opting for sofa covers of velvet material could be the best bet.
    • Last but not the least, sofa covers could help sofa sets and homes look better. With the help of these covers, the owner can not only brighten up the room but also show a glimpse of their personal taste and style.

    Sofa covers, thus, are a must for every household. What are you waiting for? Buy one today!

  • Tips to choose the right modular home manufacturer

    Now that you have decided to buy a modular home, it is important to pick the right manufacturer that will provide you with the home that you always dreamed of living in. The past decade has seen a boom in the modular home manufacturers claiming to be the best in the business. However, you need to make sure that you invest in the right manufacturer that can strikes the right balance between convenience, comfort, and economy.

    Here are the relevant factors based on which you should choose the right modular home manufacturer:

    Type of modular home- When choosing a modular home manufacturer, you also need to pick the type of modular home based on your budget and floor plan. Manufacturers have different types of standards as well as their signature designs. Make sure you pick a manufacturer with the widest range of designs and customization options.

    Manufacturer’s location- This is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing a modular home. Know where their factory or manufacturing facility is located. Some of the largest manufacturers have more than nine facilities across the county and even in Canada. Pick a manufacturer that has its factory located near your location as it will help you save on transportation cost.

    Brand partnership– Modular manufacturers should have partnerships with multiple brands selling kitchen appliances, windows, and doors etc. Having multiple brands gives multiple options and lets you set a wider budget for your modular home. It also saves you time if you are opting for certain customized fittings.

    Size of the manufacturer- Working with a large modular home manufacturer has its own set of advantages. It has reduced costs of building and it is a one-stop shop as they have probably partnered with multiple brands. Secondly since they have been in the business for a while, you can rest assured that they know the ropes well. However, if you want the manufacturing of your modular home to get personal attention and guidance, then it is advisable to go for smaller manufacturers.

    Apart from the factors mentioned above, most of them have an official website depicting their work.  Do your research thoroughly, surf through their website and read customer reviews before choosing the best manufacturer for your dream home.

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    One of the least likable aspects of the beauty industry is animal testing. Numerous cosmetics brands do product testing on animals. However, there are many other brands that refrain from animal testing and are cruelty-free. Many of these brands use organic ingredients in their products. Thus, it is possible to do your bit for the environment and your skin by using cosmetics of these organic and cruelty-free brands. Here are a few popular cruelty-free brands of cosmetic products.

    • RMS Beauty: This is a cruelty-free as well as a nano-free brand of cosmetics. The products are made with raw food-grade and organic materials. The cosmetics are non-toxic and have been known to nourish the skin. The packaging of the products is also eco-friendly since they are made from recycled materials.
    • Juice Beauty: Known for its moisturizers and anti-wrinkle serums and treatments, Juice Beauty makes cosmetics that are vegan. The ingredients in their products are based on plant pigments and the manufacturing process involves the use of sustainable energy sources. All the products are clinically tested and cruelty-free.
    • Afterglow: This brand is best known for its range of blushes. The packaging of all the products is made from recycled materials. The cosmetics are made from natural and organic ingredients. Natural pigments blended with minerals are the core ingredients of the cosmetics from Afterglow. They offer cruelty-free, gluten-free, and soy-free products. Some cosmetics are made from vegan ingredients.
    • Jane Iredale: This brand makes health supplements for skin, skin care products, and makeup products. Mineral powders are one of the core ingredients of the products such as foundations, powder, concealer, and sunscreen. BB creams and powders are some of the popular products of this brand.
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