Focus DIY in Gillingham, ceased trading. In December 2011, the brand was bought by the Walker Group, which owns Victoria Plumb. Focus DIY Focus DIY was a privately owned chain of DIY stores in the United Kingdom. It served the consumer DIY market sector, and most stores had some form of garden centre. At its peak in 2002, it was the second largest DIY retailer in the United Kingdom, although by 2011, it was the fourth. The main competitors were B&Q, Homebase and Wickes. The company operated 178 stores in the United Kingdom with 3,000 employees, but had been running losses every
Manasse-Block Tanning Company Manasse-Block Tanning Company The Manasse-Block Tanning Company was founded in 1900 by August Manasse and Roy Block, whose families had leather-related businesses in Napa and San Francisco, California, respectively. The Manasse-Block tannery was relocated in 1905 from Oakland to 4th and Gilman Streets, Berkeley, on a site previously used by the Deach Tannery. Manasse-Block remained in this location for 80 years, until it closed in 1986. The primary product of the tannery was boot and shoe leather. Raw cow hides were processed from start to finish on the site. However, towards the end of the factory's productive years, hides that