News Archive November 2014
Ironmongery Direct revamps mobile site
27 November 2014
Ironmongery Direct has relaunched its mobile website with next-day delivery to meet demand from 'on the go' smartphone users.
Rainy Day Trust launches new promotional videos
27 November 2014
Home improvement industry charity, The Rainy Day Trust has launched two new videos aimed at increasing awareness of the organisation and its work.
Hot Plate Products joins BHETA
26 November 2014
Hot Plate Products is the latest housewares company to join the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA).
Argos takes 20,000 products into London Underground
26 November 2014
Argos has teamed up with Transport for London (TfL) to launch its first Underground store, Argos Collect, at Cannon Street Tube station.
Annual DIY sales up 54%, says CBI
26 November 2014
DIY has been a stand-out performer in the year to November, according to the latest retail sales research from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).
Don't forget: top memory man to speak at GCA conference
26 November 2014
A Guinness World Records holder who is an expert in memory and personal development will be speaking at the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference in January.
Wyevale Garden Centres acquires Raglan Garden Centre
25 November 2014
Wyevale Garden Centres has grown its estate to 143 with the acquisition of Raglan Garden Centre in Raglan, Monmouthshire.
Enter now for BIRA's Independent Retail Awards
25 November 2014
The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) is now inviting nominations for its prestigious Independent Retail Awards 2015.
Homebase bags £57m from sale of Battersea store
25 November 2014
Homebase owner Home Retail Group is selling its freehold store in Battersea, London for £57m and is poised to kick off its large-scale programme of store closures.
ASA upholds B&Q claim that garden polystyrene devastates wildlife
25 November 2014
A polystyrene packaging manufacturer has been left red-faced after unsuccessfully challenging B&Q's claims that polystyrene bedding plant trays are not recyclable and that the material is potentially devastating to wildlife.
Kingfisher Q3: Screwfix on a roll
25 November 2014
A good third-quarter performance in the UK by B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher was eclipsed by disappointing trading in international markets, the group revealed today.
Topps drives full-year profits up 58%
25 November 2014
Full-year profit at Topps Tiles rocketed by more than half, and the company notched up its sixth consecutive year of market share gains.
B&Q and Homebase Christmas ads hit the screens
24 November 2014
B&Q and Homebase have both launched new advertising campaigns in a bid for a share of this year's Christmas spend.
Haskins steps up its expansion plans
24 November 2014
Haskins is putting new drive behind its ambition to expand, with the appointment of a chartered surveyor to seek out new sites.
The Range boss aims to motivate prison's entrepreneurs
24 November 2014
Owner and founder of The Range Chris Dawson has arranged to visit HMP Dartmoor to speak to inmates about how to keep on the right side of the bars and make some money legally.
Century-old Shrewsbury hardware shop to close
24 November 2014
More than a century of hardware retailing in Shropshire will come to an end this year when an independent shop finally gives up its battle for survival.
Retailers gear up for Black Friday, as Visa predicts £1m to be spent every three minutes
20 November 2014
Argos and Amazon among retailers to offer huge discounts next Friday, while Visa Europe estimates that £360,000 will be spent every minute on its cards during the UK's busiest online shopping day, Black Friday.
Another big name supports DIY Week Awards
20 November 2014
With judging set to commence at the end of the month, the DIY Week Awards has just signed up another major industry name as a sponsor.
Home Hardware store changes hands
20 November 2014
Christel Struckmeier has retired from running Arbroath’s premier hardware store, Barclay Ross.
Wyevale Garden Centres confirms Trelawney Barnstaple acquisition
19 November 2014
Stewart Garden TV launches with Pippa Greenwood
18 November 2014
Stewart Garden has launched a YouTube channel, Stewart Garden TV, featuring TV and radio gardening personality Pippa Greenwood.
The Range adds three stores in two weeks
18 November 2014
The Range's relentless drive to hit its 100-store target this side of Christmas continues, with three more outlets due to launch within the next two weeks.
One Man's Week hardware retailer produces book
17 November 2014
The day-to-day experiences and thoughts of a hardware retailer have now been immortalised in a new book of memoirs.
Gardenex/PetQuip arranges meet-the-buyer day for exporters
17 November 2014
British garden, leisure and petcare products suppliers will have the opportunity to acquire valuable export information and to present their products to important overseas buyers at an Open Day and Meet the Buyer event being organised by the Gardenex and PetQuip associations.
£250,000 loan is Christmas boost for Southport wholesaler
17 November 2014
The loan from The North West Fund for Loans Plus has helped Mail Order Online, which sells seasonal goods, stock up in time for Christmas.
BHETA signs up Certainly Wood
17 November 2014
Certainly Wood is the latest home and garden improvement company to join the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA).
October footfall puts in best performance for 10 years
17 November 2014
The UK non-food retail market rallied in October, posting the strongest year-on-year rise in footfall for the month since 2004.
DIY Week Awards: extra time to get your entry in
17 November 2014
Due to an unexpected change of judging date, retailers now have an extra week to get their entries in. Don't miss the boat!
DIY Week Awards deadline tomorrow: Don't miss out
13 November 2014
It is the last chance for retailers to get their entries in for the 2015 DIY Week Awards, with entry forms required by close of play Friday, November 14 or first thing Monday morning to be in with a chance to take home Gold at the glittering awards event in February.
Tesco closes kitchens and bathrooms business
13 November 2014
Grocer takes decision to close dedicated kitchen and bathroom business over concerns about provider Mark Two Distributors
Homebase introduces next generation of gardeners
12 November 2014
Over 1,300 young people applied but just 19 have been picked for a new place on the Homebase Garden Academy training programme.
Aldi to spend £84m over the next year on new-build stores
12 November 2014
Figures released today reveal that the rapidly-growing discount retailer is investing more than £109m in total over the next 12 months, constructing 33 new-build stores and a distribution centre.
£1m full-year loss for William Sinclair
11 November 2014
William Sinclair will report a small loss in its latest financial year, the growing media supplier said today in a trading update.
Yankee Candle looks sheepish for charity
11 November 2014
Bristol-based Yankee Candle has confirmed its continued support for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children charity, Wallace & Gromit's Grand Appeal.
DIY on a roll as indie Q3 sales inch up
11 November 2014
Small shops found marginally more in their tills during the third quarter of this year than they did in the same three-month period last year.
John Lewis £1m Christmas ad links to in-store technology
10 November 2014
John Lewis has been pulling heartstrings nationwide this weekend with the launch of its 2014 Christmas TV ad.
Hardware and garden price deflation highest on record
10 November 2014
Prices of DIY, hardware and gardening products have hit record-breaking levels of deflation, according to new figures.
Twenty more companies sign up to GIMA
10 November 2014
The Garden Industry Manufacturers' Association (GIMA) has attracted 20 more new members in the past few months.
Almost 8,000 shops now 'have no retail use'
10 November 2014
Britain's shop vacancy rate in October remained at its lowest level since June 2010, but one in three empty shops have now been unoccupied for over three years.
Home sales the star of the week at John Lewis
7 November 2014
While sales of winter products were knocked by the warmest Halloween on record, sales in home categories were up 4% for the week to November 1.
Retailers: One week left to enter DIY Week Awards
6 November 2014
Retailers have just one week left to submit their entry to the DIY Week Awards, with the final deadline set for Friday, November 14.
Verdict predicts a click-and-collect Christmas
5 November 2014
An improving housing market and rising consumer confidence will bring holiday cheer to retailers this Christmas, according to Verdict Research.
B&Q successfully challenges Homebase money-off ads
5 November 2014
Homebase has been taken to task by the ad watchdog over a number of offers made on its website after B&Q complained about them.
St Albans' only hardware independent to close down
5 November 2014
The owner of an historic St Albans hardware shop says his customers are "absolutely gutted" that the business is finally having to shut down.
New Mica branding takes the familiar into the future
5 November 2014
Members of Mica were introduced to the new, updated Mica branding at the co-operative group's autumn round of regional meetings.
LAST CHANCE to enter DIY Week product awards
5 November 2014
DIY and garden suppliers - this is your LAST chance to get your top products in front of our judging panel and be in with a chance to win Gold.
Caulders grows to four with Erskine Garden Centre takeover
5 November 2014
Scottish garden centre chain Caulders is this month adding a fourth centre to its estate.
Builders merchant targets DIY market with new website
5 November 2014
Lincolnshire builders merchant Redline Building Supplies & Services has launched a new consumer website as part of ambitious plans to increase online sales of a range of DIY products.
Garden buildings firm helps out with restoration project
4 November 2014
A garden buildings supplier has stepped in to aid an ambitious project to restore a walled kitchen garden to its pre-World War 1 state.
Jewson donates to Red Bull DIY skateboard competition
3 November 2014
Jewson has donated a range of tools and building materials for a competition organised by energy drink Red Bull.
Opening of £25m Sinclair plant speeds no-peat future
3 November 2014
William Sinclair Horticulture's new £25m growing media super-site has opened in Ellesmere Port, signalling a new high-tech era in one of Britain's most traditional industries.
Somerset tools shop doubles sales target in first year
3 November 2014
Somerset shop IM Tools marks exactly one year of trading today, and business has been so good that expansion to bigger premises is now on the cards.