News Archive November 2015
Brutons Home Hardware scoops top Christmas window prize
30 November 2015
Staff at Brutons Home Hardware in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, are celebrating having been announced as winners of this year's Home Hardware Christmas window dressing competition.
BIRA slams removal of business rates discount
30 November 2015
Independent retailers are being warned that pain for the high street is set to continue after the Chancellor did away with the £1,500 business rates discount in last week's Autumn Statement.
Petition aims to change 'shoplifting' to 'shop theft'
30 November 2015
The word 'shoplifting' is under fire from the boss of a Cambridgeshire hardware independent, who says it is simply a euphemism for stealing.
Travis Perkins helps deliver teddies to refugee children
30 November 2015
Travis Perkins (TP) has joined up with a charitable organisation to help distribute thousands of teddy bears and messages of hope from British school children to children living in refugee camps.
Recovering economy delivers UK growth in Kingfisher's Q3
24 November 2015
A stronger economy helped combined sales at Kingfisher's UK B&Q and Screwfix businesses rise by 5.5%, and by 4.6% on a like-for-like basis, in the 13 weeks to October 31, the company said this morning.
Vets and grooming boost Pets at Home
24 November 2015
Pets at Home's ambitious expansion plans are on track, the retailer said today, as it released its half-year results.
Living Wage plea to Chancellor
24 November 2015
Bringing forward the Living Wage timetable in tomorrow's Autumn Statement would be "devastating for businesses", the Chancellor is being warned.
Home Hardware names its Retailer of the Year
24 November 2015
Philip and Kate Wyatt of Somerset independent Ilminster Home Hardware are celebrating having been declared Home Hardware Retailer of the Year at the organisation's convention this month.
Home Retail Group shares jump over sale rumours
23 November 2015
Homebase and Argos parent company's share prices increase over rumours that it has caught the eye of private equity firms.
John Herbert to speak at GCA conference
19 November 2015
The General Secretary of both the DIY-Retail Association (EDRA) and the Global Home Improvement Network (GHIN), John Herbert will fly in from Germany to speak at the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) golden jubilee event in January
Broad Street DIY scoops Retail Excellence award
18 November 2015
Bromsgrove independent Broad Street DIY has been awarded a highly-commended accolade at the Midlands Family Business of the Year.
Suspended prison sentences for Floors-2-Go directors
18 November 2015
Two directors of Floors-2-Go have been handed suspended prison sentences after the retail chain collapsed into administration for a third time.
Europe gives the all-clear to Roundup and glyphosate
18 November 2015
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide products, has effectively been given a clean bill of health by European regulatory authorities.
Hitachi buys Metabo
18 November 2015
Japanese power tool giant Hitachi Koki has announced that it will acquire 100% ownership of German power tool firm Metabo Aktiengesellschaft (Metabo) and its parent company.
Major plant supplier John Woods Nurseries in administration
17 November 2015
John Woods Nurseries, one of the UK's leading suppliers of plants to the garden retail market, has gone into administration.
Notcutts reports huge profit jump and reveals big investment plans
12 November 2015
Family-owned garden centre, Notcutts has revealed a 469% profit increase for the 12 months to February 2015, from £1.3m the previous year to £7.4m.
Woodie's sees like-for-like growth as recovery in Irish market continues
12 November 2015
Woodie's DIY, part of the Grafton Group, reported good like-for-like figures in its parent's latest interim trading statement, boosted by an increase in consumer spending and confidence in Ireland.
Asda steps away from Black Friday chaos
11 November 2015
Following the chaos seen in stores last year, Walmart-owned retailer, Asda, has announced that it will scale back promotions on Black Friday in response to customer demand.
Brits spend £1m on digital gift cards
11 November 2015
A digital gift card provider has announced that Britons have bought £1 million worth of digital gift cards over the past 12 months
Sales of outdoor categories up in October
11 November 2015
Garden centres across the UK report a surge in sales of furniture and outdoor plants during October, with early indications of Christmas sales also good.
Decco teams up with Greenfingers
10 November 2015
Wholesaler Decco has been announced as the logistics partner for Greenfingers' 'Turn Old into Gold' Scheme
Brits head outdoors this Christmas
9 November 2015
Nearly a third of Brits want to enjoy their turkey alfresco this Christmas, says new survey, as more people than ever embrace the growing trend of eating outdoors all year round.
Shower market to benefit from water saving and ageing population
9 November 2015
Following a relatively volatile period, there has been a notable increase in the market for showering products, and this year its value is predicted to have risen by around 4% over 2014.
Halloween drives footfall surge in October
9 November 2015
Halloween and the half-term holidays spelled good news for UK retailers, with the last week of October becoming the busiest shopping week of the year.
DIY Week Awards: One week left to enter
6 November 2015
The deadline for entry to the DIY Week Awards is fast approaching, with just seven days left to get your top product or stand-out retail business recognised. Don't miss out.
Argos leads up to Black Friday with colourful promotions
6 November 2015
Argos will launch 'Red, White and Blue' Fridays leading up to Black Friday as part of its Christmas campaign.
Home Retail Group raises £1.1m for charity
5 November 2015
General retailer Home Retail Group, owner of Argos, Homebase and Habitat, has reached the first £1 million milestone for Macmillan Cancer Support, since the launch of its two-year partnership in March this year.
Retail shrinkage costs UK stores £3.1bn
5 November 2015
The annual Global Retail Theft Barometer, underwritten by Checkpoint Systems, reveals that UK retailers lost more than £3.1bn worth of inventory in 2014, equating to 0.89% of total retail sales, with shoplifting the biggest problem for home improvement stores.
Wilbys Home Hardware acquires builder's merchant
4 November 2015
In a deal sealed yesterday, the owners of Wilbys Home Hardware have added a builder's merchant to their chain of three Suffolk and Norfolk hardware shops.
Use merchandising to drive wild bird care sales, says Gardman
4 November 2015
With weather forecasters predicting a cold winter ahead, retailers should now be getting their wild bird care departments in shape in order to maximise sales in this key period, says Gardman.
Training roadshow will help garden centres boost sales
3 November 2015
A series of training events is being rolled out around the UK early next year aimed at helping garden centres maximise sales.
Christmas 'will be good - though not great'
3 November 2015
UK retail sales are set to grow by 2.5% in December 2015, reaching £42bn, but the appetite for spending online is stabilising.
DIY Week Awards - deadline fast approaching
3 November 2015
Don't miss your chance to shine at the DIY Week Awards - get your entry in by Friday, November 13.
Hardware indies top sales growth league
2 November 2015
Another good result in the third quarter means that hardware and DIY independents have now enjoyed the longest-running period of sales growth of independents across all sectors.
B&Q to highlight climate change with LED lighting discounts
2 November 2015
In a bid to raise consumer awareness of the environmental challenges facing the planet Kingfisher stores are to offer discounts on energy-saving products to coincide with the upcoming United Nations climate change conference in Paris.