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Bunnings' inspired makeover proves a smash hit with Bluey fans

Bunnings' latest Bluey inspired makeover has proven to be a hit among fans, as they brought to life part of the cartoon-world. The hardware giant collaborated with the hit children's cartoon and rebranded six of its Australian stores and one New Zealand outlet with the moniker "Hammerbarn." This is an homage to a popular episode with the same name, where the cartoon heelers go to a hardware store that looks exactly like Bunnings. “We’re excited to be working with BBC Studios and Ludo Studio to bring Hammerbarn to life in stores across the country,” says Ryan Baker, chief customer officer of Bunnings. The rebranding goes beyond the exterior with special Hammerbarn merch, Bluey-branded trolleys, and Bluey-themed workshops, meet-and-greets and scavenger hunts every weekend. “Our team across Australia have had kids and parents referring to Bunnings as Hammerbarn ever since the episode aired, so making this a reality in our stores for customers is really special," Baker said. “We wanted the Hammerbarn experience to be accessible to as many ‘Bluey’ fans and customers as we could, so it’s great to have a Hammerbarn transformation in each state – even down to the kids’ trolleys that have been rebranded." Hammerbarns resemblance to Bunnings is no coincidence as the episode reportedly took inspiration from a real store in Keperra, Queensland. “The design of Hammerbarn draws inspiration from the Bunnings Keperra store in Brisbane, the home of Bluey, which adds an extra layer of significance," Ludo Studios, the creators of the series said. “We are thrilled to offer fans the opportunity to experience Hammerbarn for real life; it’s everything we’ve ever wanted!” Images: Perth Now

Home & Garden

“This is life-changing information”: Shopper discovers little-known Bunnings hack

A shopper has revealed the details of a little-known Bunnings store policy that will ensure a blooming garden. Georgia Magill, a young woman from Perth, was shopping for plants in the hardware store when she was urged by the cashier to keep her receipt. The uni student was shocked why she should hold on to the receipt for a small house plant, as the worker went on to explain why. “She was like, ‘Oh because they come with a 12 month warranty’,” Georgia explained in a now-viral TikTok video. “And then she goes: ‘It doesn’t really matter how they die we’ll just replace them for you within a 12 month period.’” The hardware store created the ‘Perfect Plant Promise’ in February 2020 which states all plants, except for seedlings, can be returned within 12 months of purchase if they die. Bunnings won’t just replace the plant, it also offers money back, if you’d prefer to give up on your gardening dreams. "This is life-changing information,” she concluded in the video. While the policy has been around for several years, many Aussies hadn’t heard of it either, commenting in shock on the TikTok video, which has been viewed almost 1.5 million times. “What? I have literally had Bunnings plants die within weeks,” one wrote, “I did know this… but I also refuse to let Bunnings know how many plants I’ve murdered,” another stated. Another person declared, “It’s such a good idea. I can’t believe I didn’t know it!!” Among the comments were more tips for former and current Bunnings workers, offering some extra tips on how to utilise the policy. “Ex Bunnings worker here, keep the original pot so we know what plant it is, not everyone in store is a plant expert,” one remarked. “(From a Bunnings worker) either take a photo of your receipt or ask for it to be sent via SMS as they fade! For any warranty item,” another suggested. However, one worker urged Aussies not to take advantage of the offer, saying, “We will return your plant with a receipt and ‘proof’ but please don’t abuse this system. Plants die.” Image credits: Getty Images / TikTok

Home & Garden

Woman suing Bunnings over death of her father

The daughter of Anthony James Georgiou, who lost his life after being placed in a headlock hold by two security guards at a Bunnings store in Melbourne, is taking legal action against the retail chain. Anthony, 31, was apprehended by security contractors at a Frankston Bunnings in September 2016 after attempting to steal a gas cylinder and saw blade. According to reports, the security officers, Abdul Habib Brenzai and George Oyee, restrained Georgiou on the ground and in a headlock, despite his pleas for help and struggles to breathe. He lost consciousness and was rushed to the hospital, where he passed away shortly afterward. In September 2022, a Victorian coroner then found that Georgiou’s death would not have occurred if he was not restrained by the contractors at Bunnings. "There seems little doubt that had Georgiou not been involved in the struggle ... he would have walked away from Bunnings that day,” coroner Darren Bracken said in his findings at the time. Now, represented by Slater and Gordon Lawyers, Anthony Georgiou's daughter – whose identity remains undisclosed due to her age – is suing the security officers, their employer (New Security Solutions Group), and Bunnings Warehouse. The lawsuit claims "psychological injury, shock, and financial loss" resulting from her father's untimely death. The statement of claim filed in the Victorian Country Court alleges that the security officers failed to exercise reasonable care and ensure Georgiou's safety by preventing him from leaving the store that day. The officers are accused of engaging in a "prolonged assault" and applying excessive pressure on his neck, actions that are deemed "intentional, reckless, and/or negligent." Furthermore, the security guard's employer, New Security Solutions Group, is accused of inadequate training and supervision of Brenzai and Oyee, contributing to the unfortunate incident. Bunnings is also facing accusations of failing to provide the guards and their employer with their code of conduct, which would have outlined their obligations regarding detaining individuals on the premises. Neha Pratap, a public liability lawyer from Slater and Gordon, asserted that dependents of individuals who die due to the negligence of others have the right to seek compensation. The legal team argues that Anthony's death was avoidable, and the lawsuit aims to hold the responsible parties accountable for their actions or lack thereof. Anthony Georgiou’s family said their “lives have been forever altered” by his death in a statement. “We wish those responsible could understand the profound impact their action or inaction has had. Most affected is Anthony’s daughter, who has lost the joy and security that her father provided. She now lives with a constant void in her heart.” Images: Getty / A Current Affair

Legal

"Colossal prick" slammed over outrageous Bunnings parking

A motorist in Perth has been slammed for their "extra selfish" parking act in the carpark of a Bunning's Warehouse. A frustrated fellow shopper captured the parking faux pas and posted the image of the car to Reddit, which shows a ute with an attached trailer parking over four spaces, including one reserved for people with disabilities. "There was no disabled badge and of course there is plenty of trailer parking available at Bunnings," the user wrote, adding that there were suitable bays available closer to the store's entrance. Fellow motorists and shoppers were shocked and appalled by the selfish act, with one Reddit user urging the author of the post to send the photo to both Bunnings and the local council, citing a $500 fine as a deterrent for the future. "Blocking the disabled bay gets extra selfish points," a user commented, while someone else vented, "Not content with being a colossal prick and taking up four spots, decides to go world-class and make one of those spots a disabled parking bay. Some f**king people." The post was flooded by outrage at the audacious parking, with users overwhelmingly agreeing that parking in spaces designated for disabled drivers is inexcusable. After being alerted to the post, Bunnings Regional Operations Manager Hayley Coulson expressed disappointment on behalf of the retailer. "We were disappointed to learn a customer recently used a disability parking bay for their trailer outside our Innaloo store, which our team was unaware of at the time." "These parking bays are incredibly important for the community and we remind our customers that they're only reserved for people with a disability or mobility restrictions." She added, "We're really focused on ensuring disability parking bays are always available for their intended use, and we do our best to communicate regularly with our stores to remind them that these bays are not to be compromised for any reason, at any time." Image credits: Reddit

Legal

“Most reviewed bucket in bucket history”: Bizarre Bunnings buy achieves legendary status

Everyone knows that a good review can make or break a product, but for Bunnings, some particularly enthusiastic reviewers have done more than just get their bucket’s name out there - they’ve established a new legend. The Bunnings-branded 20L Pail Bucket, which sells for $8, is now even considered to be the “most reviewed bucket in bucket history”. And if the feedback from its top fans is anything to go by, it’s all for good reason. “Wow. The legends are true,” one declared. “This bucket does far more than just bucket. Paired together with a set of drumsticks, these make fantastic drums … Do yourself a favour and buy a whole set so you can have drumming parties with a group of friends out the back with a few beers and some snags on the barbie.” And as another wrote, “attention, fellow bucket enthusiasts! Feast your eyes upon the legendary Bunnings 20L Bucket, a miraculous marvel that puts all other buckets to shame … Prepare for bucket greatness, my friends. The Bunnings 20L Bucket is here to show you what a real bucket is capable of. Bow down to the bucket supremacy and embrace the bucket revolution! Your world will never be the same again. Bucket on, my comrades!” One wrote up their success using the bucket in a practical manner, titling their take as “the bucket to end all buckets”. One proud bucket owner took a slightly different approach, sharing the tale of their noble pail when they wrote that “once upon a time, there was a humble bucket named Bertie. Bertie the Bunnings Bucket, lived in a small shed in the backyard of a cosy cottage. Every day, Bertie eagerly awaited his owner, a retired landscaper named Gus, to fill him with water. Bertie took pride in nourishing the vibrant flowers and lush plants in the garden. “Over time, Bertie became more than just a vessel; he became a symbol of growth and the beauty that can bloom with a little care.” Another wrote a poem that went a little something like “oh Bunnings buckets, sturdy and strong. So useful for tasks all day long. For gardening, cleaning, and DIY too. There's nothing these buckets can't do … Oh Bunnings buckets, you're the best. Easy to use and always impressed. With you by my side, I can't go wrong. My go-to tool, all day long!” “I purchased this because it was on my bucket list,” shared one fan of puns and buckets alike. “I was so excited I couldn’t keep a lid on it.” And even for those who couldn’t yet fork out the $8 to take the life-changing item home, respect was in the air, with one writing that they would keep saving because “this is THE Bunnings bucket. The bucket. All my mates have one, even my flash neighbours have one. It's a statement bucket.” A labrador, who goes by Tim Tam, even had their humans leave a positive message on their behalf, declaring that “my hoo mans took me to Bunnings and brought me 2 of these buckets, they are my favourite … every day I am excited to see the bucket!” And as one shopper put it quite simply, “it’s a bucket that buckets”. Images: Bunnings

Home & Garden

Chelsea buns

This plump, fruit-filled bun has been around since the 18th century, and there’s a reason it remains popular to this day. Try our cranberry version of this English institution. Ingredients: <ul> <li>¾ cup warm milk</li> <li>14g dry yeast</li> <li>¼ cup caster sugar</li> <li>3 ½ cups plain flour</li> <li>1 teaspoon salt</li> <li>60g butter, chopped</li> <li>2 eggs, lightly beaten</li> <li>1 ½ cups dried cranberries</li> <li>⅓ cup brown sugar</li> <li>1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon</li> <li>1 orange rind, finely grated</li> <li>70g butter, softened</li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li>Whisk together the milk, yeast, and two teaspoons of the caster sugar. Leave aside in a warm place for about 10 minutes, until frothy.</li> <li>Into a large bowl, sift the flour then stir in the salt and remaining caster sugar.</li> <li>Use your fingertips to rub the chopped butter into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.</li> <li>Add the milk mixture and eggs and stir until combined. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth (around 10 minutes).</li> <li>Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside in a warm place for at least 40 minutes, or until doubled in size.</li> <li>Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll it out into a rectangle of about 30cm by 35cm. Set aside two teaspoons of the softened butter and spread the rest over the dough.</li> <li>In a bowl, combine the cranberries brown sugar, cinnamon, and orange rind. Spread this mixture evenly over the buttered dough.</li> <li>Roll the dough from the longer side. Cut into three-cm-thick slices and place into a greased a 20 to 25cm cake tin or baking dish. Be sure to leave a little room between each bun. Set the buns aside for about 20 minutes to rise.</li> <li>Preheat your oven to 200°C and spread the remaining softened butter over the buns.</li> <li>Bake buns for two to 25 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and cooked through. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.</li> </ol> Images: Shutterstock

Food & Wine

Searching for a sizzle: Rod Stewart spotted at Bunnings!

Legendary rocker Rod Stewart has been spotted shopping at Bunnings in Sydney’s Balgowlah. The 78-year-old, who just wrapped up his tour down under, was seen in all white when he popped over to Sydney’s Northern Beaches perhaps in search of the store’s famed sausage sizzle before learning the snags are a weekend-only affair. One man posted a photo of the British star with staff, paired with the caption, “Rod Stewart spotted at Bunnings in Balgowlah feeling somewhat disappointed to hear that they only do snags in bread on the w/e.” The tweet, originally posted to the Manly Observer, received a fair bit of attention. One comment read, “Road crew sent him out to pick up some gaffer tape apparently,” complete with a winky face emoji. Another Twitter user explained this wasn’t the first time Stewart has been spotted out and about in Sydney of late, writing, "He was spotted all the way out in Pendle Hill the other day. Apparently he's a bit of a train model enthusiast and popped into the store.” In a Facebook post, Stewart was seen visiting Woodpecker Railways, a small family-run shop in New South Wales. In an interview with 3AW he revealed he is quite the fan of Bunnings. "I love Bunnings," he said. "I found this particular angled wood that you can't get in England so I'm trying to get it to England, but we haven't found our way to do it yet." Stewart is just another celeb to join the list of Bunnings lovers. Fellow Brit Harry Styles was spotted wearing the classic Bunnings hat on stage during his Australian tour, while Ryan Gosling and Sydney Sweeney have been pictured with Bunnings umbrellas while filming in Sydney. Image credit: Twitter

Music

Birthday boy’s Bunnings bonanza

When it comes to birthdays, most children dream of a bouncy castle and a cake of epic proportions. But for one young boy and his parents, it was far more important to hit the nail of the theme on the head with the Bunnings bash. Shay Chalmers and her husband, Ray, transformed their backyard for three-year-old Remy’s big day, decking the place out with Bunnings-themed decor, a pot planting worktable, a bouncy castle, and their very own sausage sizzle station. “On the day we had a planting station, a painting station and a Play-Doh station (with printed Bunnings themed cutters),” Shay told The Daily Mail’s FEMAIL. As for why they spent the $600 to give Remy his unique celebration? He’s one of Bunnings’ top fans, according to Shay. “My son Remy is Bunnings obsessed, like his dad, and points them out as we drive,” she said. “It was fun to put together a party.” A total of 30 guests came to join in on the fun with Remy and his family, each having their turn with the Bunnings merchandise on hand, which featured everything from branded uniforms for the children, volley and soccer balls, hats, and lolly bags. Although sourcing the goods proved a challenge for Shay and Ray, as “it's actually pretty hard to get a lot of branded merch in Perth, I [Shay] had to get my dad from Queensland to send a bunch of things over.” Remy even had his very own Bunnings cake to enjoy, made for him by Shay’s friend. “The highlight was seeing how excited the adults were to be there,” Shay noted, “I secretly think they enjoyed it more than the children.” If footage from the party - shared to Shay’s social media accounts - is anything to go by, she could be onto something. Although the kids certainly seemed to be having a blast, too. <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7214286852046540034&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40mortgagebrokershay%2Fvideo%2F7214286852046540034&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2F0f24efe571894cda9778202a36ca5d97_1679707061%3Fx-expires%3D1679976000%26x-signature%3DKZDE%252F8eQy4%252BwySOznZirQyX38rg%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> And the fun may yet go on, with many in the video’s comments voicing their desire to have a birthday just like Remy’s, while some were simply wondering where their invite had gotten to. “I’m 27 and want a Bunnings themed party for myself,” one declared. “Nah bc [because] this is a dream,” shared another, “I can literally spend hours at Bunnings and not get bored.” One Bunnings employee viewed the clip, and admitted that “this is the cutest thing ever.” Meanwhile, another saw potential for young Remy as a future Bunnings employee, and offered a tip by telling Shay “you better put some of these pictures in in his job application down the track.” And Shay was in complete agreement, responding “oh yes!! They wouldn’t deny him a job with all this experience.” Images: @mortgagebrokershay / Tiktok, @shaychalmbers / Instagram

Family & Pets

"Hero we need": Fed-up tradie disrupts Bunnings traffic

A tradie at his wit's end has pulled a petty stunt to fire back at Bunnings customers who “use the trade entry as easy access” and held him up. The tradie shared his stunt to the Tradie Mayhem Facebook group alongside images of the row of parked cars at the Artarmon Bunnings, which sparked his frustrated act. The man said he did it for all tradespeople who have been “held up during the week at Bunnings by people that use the trade entry as easy access, taking their sweet time” after parking in the easy access area. “I double parked blocking them all in at Artarmon Bunnings,” he said. The staff announced over the speaker system that his ute needed to be moved, to which he responded, “just made me take my time and let them know that’s how we feel during the week when we’re trying to get work done and are held up by them”. Initial responses were positive, praising the tradie and labelling him as the “hero we need”. “Tradie privilege, don‘t think so,” one member commented. “It‘s so they can load their vehicle instead of dragging it through the car park. If you’re driving a normal car park outside and enjoying some exercise.” “Love this, trade yard always packed with cafe dwellers,” a third wrote. Some individuals shared their frustrations of having to share the space with the general public, calling for the original poster to “pester Bunnings about it”. “Bring back the trade only access to Bunnings before 8-9 am that they had during Covid.” Others were quick to point out a major flaw in the tradie's argument, saying the undercover parking is not reserved for tradies but a loading area of things that cannot be taken through checkout. The loading bays are for any customers who are temporarily loading timber or bulky items in the trade yard. <a href="https://www.news.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">News.com.au</a> asked Artarmon Bunnings for a comment about the stunt, and the warehouse manager said the area in question was a “load and go area”. “We don’t usually have too many long waits there, but there is the occasional one-off when a customer will come in and park on the side or right in the middle of the driveway,” he said. “We did have a little shortage of our load and go guys that usually work down there, but that is currently being fixed.” The manager said the fact the area was only one lane for a busy, multi-use loading area meant that there can be waits, but there was a staff member there to direct the traffic. “But because it is one lane obviously our main priority is our customers and getting them in and out of here as quickly as possible. “Unfortunately, other stores have five lanes, we only have one. “There are occasional customers who want to get through and load personal items because it’s easier to bring down to the car, so we are looking at getting it to be the best system possible.” Image credit: Facebook

Home & Garden

Fight breaks out of Bunnings sausage sizzle

Three men have been captured in a bizarre fight, with the wild footage circulating on TikTok. The expletive-laden argument broke out just metres from a Bunnings sausage sizzle in an underground carpark. The fight was apparently over a parking spot, with a man at one point yelling, “Get the car out my f***ing way”. Two of the three men continue eating their sausage sandwiches during the entire altercation - a fact pointed out by the TikTok user who shared the video, which immediately went viral and has racked up over 100,000 views. <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7178344250172624129&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40dora_rinaldi%2Fvideo%2F7178344250172624129%3Fis_copy_url%3D1%26is_from_webapp%3Dv1&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign-sg.tiktokcdn.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-alisg-p-0037%2FoUhEIbpedgvRnqzQCntDAnBQmBn8I7t3jfjyv0%3Fx-expires%3D1671516000%26x-signature%3DhflwdY%252BMRp8WEdyPtZbrnfM1ghY%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> As the group of men argued loudly, those manning the sausage sizzle continued to calmly serve customers, with one calling out, “Do you want a sausage to calm down guys?” sparking laughter from onlookers. TikTok users were amused by the entire bizarre interaction, with one commenting, “What did you put in them damn sausages?” “Old mate treating the sausage sizzle as if it’s a drive thru,” another wrote, while another posted, “Love how he’s not gonna let a fight stop him from enjoying his Bunnings snag”. Meanwhile, several others pointed out that “Nothing comes between a person and their Bunnings sausage sizzle". Image credits: TikTok

Legal

"That's what it's all about": Bunnings worker praised for act of kindness

A Bunnings worker has been praised after his wholesome interaction with an elderly customer went viral. The employee, who at the time was on shift at Rothwell Bunnings in Queensland’s Moreton Bay Region, was applauded for his kind act as he helped a woman back to her car. He was spotted slowly guiding an elderly woman across the road while having a “lovely conversation”. The sweet moment was later shared to social media where it has since attracted a huge reaction. “I wanted to share a photo that makes my heart sing,” the woman behind the post to Facebook wrote. “A worker from Bunnings at Rothwell accompanying an older lady to her car. They were having a lovely conversation and he didn’t seem to mind that it took her a bit longer.” She went on to praise the worker on his patience and kindness, and called for his employer to share their recognition of the young man. “Well done to this young man for his kindness and compassion, he should be very proud of the person that he is. “I would also like to say to Bunnings Warehouse Australia that this staff member’s a superstar and should be acknowledged because his humanity and kindness also reflects well on Bunnings.” Dozens of people flocked to the comments to agree with the post, singing their praises for the young worker. “It’s great to see employees going out of their way to help their customers. Bunnings is one company where this is not a rarity. Well done to the employee, it warms the heart to see this happening nowadays,” one comment read. “He is amazing. I hope Bunnings realise how valuable he is,” someone else wrote. “Well done, what a caring young man. I hope you have a lot of happiness in your life. You deserve only the best,” a third wrote. Others agreed gestures of this nature made a significant difference in the community. “And that’s what it’s all about, helping elderly people in the community. It all makes a difference to them and they appreciate it very much,” one remarked. Image credits: Getty Images / Facebook

Caring

Bunnings forced to recall electric blower

Bunnings has recalled a popular gardening tool that poses a risk of electric shock and injury. Some models of Ozito's portable electric blower are being taken off the shelves due to a defect with the impeller that can break during use and rupture the casing, releasing sharp objects at high speed and showing live parts. "Bunnings is promoting the recall of a Ozito portable Electrical Blower, model number OZBL1800WA and is green in colour, which customers were first advised about in 2015," Adrian Pearce, Bunnings general manager of merchandise, said. "Bunnings supported our supplier Ozito with their initial voluntarily recall and since then the recall has been advertised many times including on radio, print, and emails to our customers, with the current advertising designed to address any outstanding purchases made between 2009 and 2015. "Bunnings takes the safety of its customers very seriously and we encourage any remaining owners of this model to return the product to their nearest Bunnings." People who have purchased the product have been asked to stop using the blower immediately. They are encouraged to return it to their nearest Bunnings store for a full refund. For further information, customers are urged to contact Bunnings' customer relations team on 1800 811 436. Image: Bunnings

News

How to build timber covers for wheelie bins

The Sekit flat-packed system, from Bunnings (bunnings.com.au), uses ACQ treated pine and takes an hour to assemble, fitting 120 and 240 litre bins. A single bin cover measures 670 x 810 x 1200mm, and the double is 1340 x 810 x 1200mm. <div id="firstFloatAd"> <div data-fuse="21928626849"> </div> <div data-fuse="21699960946"> </div> </div> Simple latch bolts keep the doors secured and a chain joins the bin handles to the covers so both lids are raised simultaneously, making rubbish disposal much more hygienic. TIP – To remove the bins on collection day, unhook the lid chains before opening the doors.A chain connects the bin ASSEMBLE THE FRAME positioning the dividing frame against the side panels and adding the front and back supports, securing with the supplied screws. Square up the frame and secure the two diagonal back supports. <div id="lastFloatAd"> <div data-fuse="21928512968"> </div> <div data-fuse="22652288252"> </div> </div> INSTALL THE LIDS by aligning the holes on the lid with the holes in the frame then insert the supplied bolts, securing the outside bolts with the washer and nut and the inside bolts using a Phillips head screwdriver. ATTACH THE DOORS by aligning the top hinge and securing with a screw at the top, attach the base hinge, checking the door is parallel with the side then secure the second screw at the top and attach the latch bolts. Image: Bunnings

Home Hints & Tips

The quick and easy way to create an office in your living area

Working from home is here to stay, but for many Australians the luxury of a home office isn’t always an option. Bunnings have teamed up with Better Homes and Gardens to bring you these handy hacks to create your own designated work space at home. 1. Find the perfect desk First things first, you’ll need a sturdy desk. Whether you buy a ready-made desk or build one yourself, ensure it’s the ideal size (common dimensions range between 120 and 180cm wide and 60 to 90cm deep). Select your countertop material to suit your interior style. A minimalist, timber design is the epitome of Scandinavian style, whereas a black metal desk evokes an industrial mood. <h3>2. Add a feature wall</h3> A bold feature wall creates a strong visual contrast and can liven up any lacklustre room. It’s also the key to dividing your study nook from an open-plan area — creating a separate space that’s truly your own. Here, the Bunnings team use premium paint to form a striking focal point. This rich black colour has a calming and powerful effect, perfect for creating focus in a working zone. What’s more, this simple DIY paint project can transform your home office in a matter of hours. <h3>3. Install floating shelves</h3> Sufficient storage is key to an organised workstation, so you can sit down with a clear mind at the start of each working day. Floating shelves are the answer to decluttering your desk and keeping organised, as they can hold folders, stationery, and other office equipment. Open shelves are also a beautiful way to personalise your study and show off décor. Plus, installing shelving is a straightforward DIY task that any renovation novice with a power drill can tackle. <h3>4. Allow for ample lighting</h3> Whether your home office is tucked around a corner or is a statement piece in your living room, it’s important to consider lighting. Poor lighting can induce eye fatigue and headaches, while negatively affecting your energy and productivity. Whilst we can’t all have an office with a view, it is worth considering a space with great natural light, which creates a warm, attractive environment and can enlarge a small space. If possible, position your desk near a window, and invest in a lamp to further brighten your desk. <h3>5. Decorate with plants </h3> Bring the outdoors in with a burst of greenery on your desk. A leafy desk friend is proven to boost attention, reduce stress and increase creativity, not to mention plants also improve air quality. Decorate with indoor plants that are easy to care for and require little sunlight, such as a snake plant, peace lily or philodendron green. Image: Better Homes & Gardens

Home Hints & Tips

Sneaky secret Bunnings uses to foil shoplifters

Although Bunnings sell security cameras to customers, their own security measures used to be far more hands-on, according to one former staff member.In a recent TikTok video captioned "Bunnings secrets revealed by a former employee", a man who goes by the handle @relayscreations said when he worked at one of their stores in Queensland, they had a trick for warding off shoplifters.<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@relayscreations/video/7056403180845944065" data-video-id="7056403180845944065"><section><a title="@relayscreations" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@relayscreations" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@relayscreations</a> <a title="stitch" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/stitch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#stitch</a> with @princessannafit Bunnings Secrets revealed by a former employee <a title="bunnings" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bunnings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#bunnings</a> <a title="australia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/australia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#australia</a> <a title="security" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/security" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#security</a> <a title="companysecrets" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/companysecrets" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#companysecrets</a> <a title="aussie" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/aussie" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#aussie</a> <a title="♬ original sound" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7056403182695631617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound</a></section></blockquote>"So I used to work at Bunnings. That is a chain of hardware stores if you're not Australian," he said. "When you're in Bunnings, you'll sometimes hear an announcement over the loudspeaker say something along the lines of 'security to section C, security to section C,' and the secret was that there was no section C.""There was also, most of the time, no security. It was only meant to be a deterrent for shoplifters," he claimed. "So originally when we started doing it, we did it manually."Someone in the store would actually pick up the intercom and speak it but then they pre-recorded it and added it to the soundtrack of music that would play over the store speakers all day so we actually had the same announcements every day during the same songs and you predict them after you heard them for a while."In a separate video, he said he stopped working at Bunnings in 2006, "so some of this information might be out of date."This revelation was fascinating to Aussies on TikTok, though some noted they shopped at Bunnings all the time and had never heard those loudspeaker announcements.Others claimed "all stores" including Woolies and Big W used this same trick."I work at Big W and we manually say it," one TikTok user commented. "Sometimes it's every couple hours or when there's people acting sketchy. It worked often."A person claiming to have worked at Coles said, "We did this manually at Coles when we knew a five-finger discounter was in. We also got workers to follow them but make it look like we are working."One person said they worked at Bunnings and "used to say it over the PA system back in 2003.""Yep, did it at my old job 12 years ago. Nice to see it's still freaking people out," commented another person.

Travel Trouble

Smile for the camera!: Man caught trashing Bunnings van

A vandal has been caught red-handed interfering with the windscreen wiper of a parked Bunnings vehicle over the weekend. The act was caught on the car’s dashboard camera on Sunday, and shared to the Facebook page Dash Cam Owners Australia on Tuesday. The video shows a man approach the car from the passenger side before starting to tamper with the wiper, bending it back onto itself and then twisting it around. The man was dressed in a brown New York Yankees cap, grey shirt, blue board shorts and thongs. He then left the scene, walking in the opposite direction. The incident took place while the car was parked on Victoria Avenue in the Sydney suburb of Concord West. The video garnered over 70,000 views in less than four hours, as well as hundreds of comments. Many commenters were happy the culprit was caught, with one person writing, “Smile for the camera you angry little man! I hope he’s been identified,” while another wondered what prompted the attack, asking, “Makes you wonder why people actually do this. Crazy. I wonder if he is known to the dashcam owner? Seems like it’s revenge for something possibly?” Others wondered whether it was part of a vendetta against the hardware store, with someone suggesting, “Vandalism to a Bunnings van? Probably worked for Mitre10,” while another wondered if the man wasn’t just hungry, writing, “Hangry for a Bunnings snag! Maybe they should do a snag van like Mr Whippy.” Another commenter pointed out that the attack wasn’t particularly effective, writing, “If you’re gonna be a vandal, at least be an intelligent one and do that to the driver’s side wiper. All he achieved there is made it ever so slightly more difficult to see out the extreme left of the windscreen, and some minor inconvenience by needing to replace it.” Image: Dash Cam Owners Australia

Travel Trouble

Woman speaks out after brother dies in Amazon warehouse

US-based retail giant Amazon is facing questions and criticism over its health and safety policies after six workers died when an Illinois warehouse was destroyed by a tornado on Friday. The tornado was one of at least 30 that left areas across several states in devastation, and caused the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, to collapse. One person was injured and 45 others were rescued safely. Speaking at a news conference on Saturday, Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford said walls on both sides of the building collapsed inwards, while the roof collapsed downward. According to the National Weather Service, the tornado touched down in Edwardsville at approximately 8.35pm. <img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846342/amazon1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b402df1e66454952971e7c37c5d36492" /> First responders surrounded the Edwardsville warehouse, where around 100 people were trapped. Image: Getty Images Amazon has said its team had “worked quickly” in response to the tornado, and that site leaders told employees on duty to take shelter at around 8.16pm local time. When contacted by the BBC, Amazon said in a statement that the site received tornado warnings between 8.06pm and 8.16pm local time, before the tornado struck at 8.27pm. However, Rachel Cope, the sister of one of the victims, told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59641784" target="_blank">BBC</a> she understood from a conversation between her brother and parents that workers weren’t immediately told to shelter following the first warning siren. Her brother, 29-year-old Clayton Cope, spoke to his family on the phone shortly before the building was struck, with his mother Carla saying she called to warn him of the approaching tornado. “We told him it looked like the storm was heading that way and that he needed to get to shelter,” Carla told NBC-affiliated television station KSDK. Clayton, formerly trained in the Navy, told his mother that he would warn his coworkers before taking shelter. Rachel has since taken to social media calling for publicity around the company’s approach to health and safety. “Everyone knows that this warehouse didn’t let everyone get to shelter after he [sic] first siren was heard,” she <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/12/13/torn-d13.html" target="_blank">wrote</a> in a Facebook post. “Everyone knows that all Amazon cares about is productivity. My brother never would have died if this company actually gave 2 shits about their employees and got them to safety after the storm started to get bad and took it seriously… “I want them to answer for this, I want this to be a starting point of places taking the lives of their employees seriously and treating them as more than a number. This never would have happened if they cared about lives over productivity and you all know that.” Another victim, father-of-four Larry Virden, reportedly texted his long-term girlfriend telling her the company wouldn’t let workers leave. Cherie Jones, his partner of 13 years, told The Post he had texted her at 8.23pm local time, with her messages sent at 8.51pm going unanswered. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Horrifying details are emerging about the tornado disaster at Amazon's warehouse in Illinois, where at least 6 workers were killed on the job. Before he died, Larry Virden reportedly texted his girlfriend: "Amazon won’t let us leave." He leaves behind four children. <a href="https://t.co/3ZRLik9VIs">pic.twitter.com/3ZRLik9VIs</a> — More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorePerfectUS/status/1470513075489054720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2021</a></blockquote> “I got text messages from him. He always tells me when he is filling up the Amazon truck when he is getting ready to go back,” she <a href="https://au.news.yahoo.com/dad-of-fours-last-text-16-minutes-before-death-in-amazon-warehouse-104740521.html">said</a>. “I was like ‘OK, I love you’. He’s like, ‘well Amazon won’t let me leave until after the storm blows over’.” “We heard the tornado didn’t touch down until 8.39 so he had 20 minutes to get home. “I messaged him and that was the last text message I got from him. “I told him where we live, it was only lightning at the time. After that, I got nothing from him.” The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has announced it will <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/13/osha-opens-probe-into-deadly-amazon-warehouse-collapse-in-illinois.html">investigate the collapse</a>. Founder Jeff Bezos has also been the target of criticism after posting pictures of himself and his Blue Origin space crew following the incident. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXWLFkxr5td/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CXWLFkxr5td/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Jeff Bezos (@jeffbezos)</a> </div> </blockquote> He later issued a statement expressing his condolences to the families of the victims. “The news from Edwardsville is tragic. We’re heartbroken over the loss of our teammates there, and our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones,” he wrote. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> (2/2) All of Edwardsville should know that the Amazon team is committed to supporting them and will be by their side through this crisis. We extend our fullest gratitude to all the incredible first responders who have worked so tirelessly at the site. — Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffBezos/status/1469849247042334721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 12, 2021</a></blockquote> Amazon has said it will donate $USD 1 million ($AUD 1.41 million or $NZD 1.48 million) to the Edwardsville Community Foundation, which represents 0.0000009 percent of the company’s earnings in <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/28/amazon-stock-falls-on-revenue-miss-rising-costs-due-to-macroeconomic-conditions/">Q3 2021</a>. The company has also said it will provide relief supplies such as transport, food and water. Images: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Jimmy Barnes lists ENORMOUS warehouse home

Rockstar Jimmy Barnes and Jane Barnes are selling their Botany warehouse residence at auction on August 28. The decision comes as the family has been spending almost all of their time at their longtime home in the Southern Highlands. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom property has been listed through Firmstone Pappas Properties and MyPlace, and is expected to sell for over $4 million. The family bought the property for a hefty $1.6 million in 2004, which had received a $400,000 makeover from the previous owner, including the installation of a full recording studio. Since first purchasing the warehouse, the former Cold Chisel frontman has had renovation works undertaken, including the addition of a second soundproof studio. The home also features an overscale kitchen, a cinema lounge, a private front courtyard with undercover spaces for three vehicles, and a separate first-floor residence with its own kitchen, dining area, and lounge room. The home is walking distance from Botany shops, public transport, cafes and schools, as well as a park and aquatic centre. Images: Jimmy Barnes / Instagram, Firmstone Pappas Properties

Real Estate

Fake Bunnings! Overseas hardware clone baffles fans

New photographs of an eerily similar Bunnings store have cropped up that have everyone talking on social media. Builders Warehouse, not to be confused with Bunnings Warehouse, has opened in the Philippines. The two chains share the same classic colour scheme, hammer logo, and even the uniform are lookalikes. The only difference? Instead of the famous ‘Lowest prices are just the beginning’ slogan, Builders Warehouse has gone with ‘You build. We provide.’ <img style="width: 500px; height: 375.3846153846154px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840811/builders-warehouse-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7c512fe3dd24449c904ac9e06a436c56" /> <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840810/bunnings-warehouse-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4f089538f97f473e935ca4b591e3842f" /> It is understood that Bunnings Warehouse isn’t affiliated with Builders Warehouse. Bunnings fans on Twitter were surprised by the similarities. ‘Sincerest Form of Flattery? Meet #Bunnings Warehouse Clone - Our Builders Warehouse,’ said one. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840814/builders-warehouse-3.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/06cb1c5113f2449fb62b7c84ab057eef" /> According to <a rel="noopener" href="http://ourbuilderswarehouse.com.ph/home" target="_blank">its website</a>, Builders Warehouse started in 2018 and now has five stores across the Philippines, including Dau, Mabalacat, Pampanga, Malolos, and Bulacan. It describes itself as the go-to for home improvement in the Philippines. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.53846153846155px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840812/builders-warehouse-4.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/0920009faac34e808f2199655e9b1da6" /> The similarities don’t stop there either, with similar mission statements. According to the Builders Warehouse website, ‘Builders Warehouse is anchored in delivering first-class construction materials to everyone who needs a hand in home building from the groundwork, furnishing up to the final modifications of any structural development’. On the Bunnings website, it reads, ‘Our ambition is to provide our customers with the widest range of home improvement products in accordance with our lowest prices policy, backed with the best service.’ However, Bunnings did not wish to comment on the new Filipino stores.

Legal

DIY gorgeous hanging decoration for less than $50

An enterprising Aussie woman has shared how she made a gorgeous wall decoration for under $50 using supplies from Bunnings and Spotlight. When she discovered that designs similar to the one she wanted to make retailed for upwards of $180, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDF8HloA2dk/">Keira Rumble</a>, owner of Krumbled Foods, decided to make have a go at making and hanging the decorations herself. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDF8HloA2dk/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <a style="color: #000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDF8HloA2dk/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">So turns out I’ve become a DIY’er in 2020 and I’m not mad about it 🤣💁🏼‍♀️ After I built this bedhead, I decided that I needed something to hang above it. I kept on seeing similar wall hangings going for a cool $180+ each. These hangings cost me $9-11 each, they were so easy to make (check out my story highlights under DIY) and I did them while kicking back and watching Schitts Creek on Netflix. Better yet, all you need is 3 things, raffia + little 3m hooks both found at @bunnings and craft rings. Paid Partnership @bunnings #DIYJULY #diy #pinterest #raffiadiy #homedecor #homediydecor</a> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">A post shared by <a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/krumble/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank"> Keira Rumble</a> (@krumble) on Jul 25, 2020 at 10:01pm PDT </div> </blockquote> She made a trio of circular wall hangings using only three materials that cost a total of $47.40 and shared the DIY process with her 404,000 Instagram followers. Rumble used Grunt Craft Raffia Rope, Command Medium Clear Adhesive Wall Hooks from Bunnings and bought three craft rings from Spotlight. Not only did she save money by making the decoration herself, she also enjoyed the creative design process. But while the craft project was simple to make, Keira said the method was repetitive and time consuming complete. 'This makes it an easy project to multitask and do while watching television (I created mine whilst watching Schitts Creek on Netflix) or alternatively it's a great way to relax and unwind after a long day,' she wrote on Instagram. How to make a wall decoration like Rumble’s: Materials: 4 x <a href="https://www.bunnings.com.au/grunt-100m-craft-raffia-rope_p4310756">Grunt 100m Craft Raffia Rope </a> 2 x <a href="https://www.bunnings.com.au/command-medium-clear-adhesive-wall-hooks-2-pack_p3950277">Command Medium Clear Adhesive Wall Hooks </a> 3 x craft rings from Spotlight Method: Step 1: Research to get your DIY inspiration on Pinterest and Bunnings.com.au Step 2: Start by measuring out your desired length for the raffia and cut into equal lengths. For a more organic look, each length of raffia doesn't need to be exact Note to create a three-ring wall hanging like this, you'll need approximately four packets of 100m raffia rope Step 3: Fold a piece of raffia in half and thread it through itself to attach to the ring. Continue repeating this until you've filled your ring. Remember to regularly bunch pieces of raffia you've threaded together tightly to create overlap - this will ensure your wall hanging is full and has enough volume Step 4: To complete your wall hanging, trim the ends of the raffia (if required) to create a more even circular shape and hang on your chosen wall with a hook! She then stuck the adhesive wall hooks to the wall and placed the gorgeous decorations above her bed. The social media post swiftly received more than 12,000 'likes' from Keira's followers who were more than impressed with the result and some were inspired to make the design themselves. Images: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDF8HloA2dk/">Keira Rumble</a> / Instagram

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DIY gorgeous hanging decoration for less than $50