America’s ‘Black Friday’ concept has now well and truly infiltrated the UK marketplace. After years of creeping across the Atlantic, Black Friday and its little brother Cyber Monday are now major events for shoppers with retailers with more ... Read entry

The lates issue of DIY Week (August 23) includes our annual DIY Retail Leaders supplement, which details the top players within the UK DIY industry.... Read entry

The biggest news in the garden industry at the moment is by far the EU's planned ban on neonicotinoid pesticides.... Read entry

I feel as though I am forever discussing the weather at the moment but then, I doubt very much that I'm the only one - and why break from the British stereotype? ... Read entry

For some, the Easter break flew by far too quickly but, for many retailers, the long weekend probably dragged on, with yet more arctic-style weather and disappointing sales.... Read entry

Well it looks like Waitrose is going into gardening in a big way. Not content with poaching gardening guru and national treasure Alan Titchmarsh from B&Q, or with launching a new garden centre in Newbury, the JLP-owned grocery chain is now introducing 6,000 garden products across its network of stores and online, and has even launched a dedicated garden website.... Read entry

I have to take my hat off to the Brintex team who organised a much-improved Totally show this year.... Read entry

Firstly I should start by wishing you all a happy New Year. And, if Verdict's latest report is anything to go by, it should be a happier year for our sector, with the DIY and garden market forecast to be the strongest retail category for projected growth. ... Read entry

Don't be spooked, shoppers won't cancel Christmas. Those are the words of business services firm BDO after less than exciting retail sales in November. And, judging by the amount of money I've spent over the past few weeks, I'd say there's every reason to believe in BDO's prediction of a last-minute rush from shoppers.... Read entry

While many topics and categories in our sector are determined by the calendar, the subject of point of sale and merchandising is something that is ultimately always relevant to our readers.... Read entry