Well, Monday's attendance at Totally DIY felt considerably better than Sunday.... Read entry

Talking to exhibitors during the first day of Totally DIY, the collective view seems to be: it could have been worse.... Read entry

For a textbook example of 24-carat crap journalism, you wouldn't have to look much further than the item that appeared on the BBC website at 12.41pm on Monday January 23. Under the headline "Is it RIP for DIY?", a presenter named Steph McGovern told us that "over 600 DIY firms are exhibiting at the Interiors UK fair in Birmingham" and posed the question "Are DIY companies still making money?". ... Read entry

One of the fears companies, particularly larger companies, have with getting involved with online marketing and social media is the potential for negative feedback.... Read entry

Merchandising and POS is "vital" in persuading cautious consumers to part with their hard-earned cash, experts tell DIY Week. ... Read entry

I just wanted to highlight something you could, and should all be doing for free to put your business on the map. Literally.... Read entry

Online video is an effective way of advertising online, most advertising gurus are agreed on that. But what's the best way to do it? Isn't it expensive to achieve results? Here are a few things I think you could consider to get off the ground with video advertising.... Read entry

You get told everywhere that social media is the future and marketing will never be the same again. I wonder how many of us start social media accounts secretly thinking, this can't really be as useful as it's cracked up to be.... Read entry

It's just over two years since Wyevale Garden Centres announced it had decided to abandon the Wyevale name. Instead of trading under a single corporate identity, all the centres in the chain were to adopt - or revert to - local identities. ... Read entry

If the customer is king, then convenience is one of the ways retailers swear their fealty. Making the sales process as simple, hassle-free and enjoyable as possible, is key to enhancing instore experience, thus driving loyalty and repeat footfall. Nowhere is this more true than at the tills.... Read entry