News Archive February 2012
B&Q discount ad "not misleading"
29 February 2012
The ASA has ruled in favour of the Kingfisher-owned retailer after the Home Retail Group challenged an email advert for a '15% off everything' B&Q voucher.
"DIY and hardware sales continue to fall rapidly" says CBI
29 February 2012
The business organisation has released its Distributive Trades Survey results for the first two weeks of February, which saw overall retail sales "stabilise."
Homewise re-opens as Portchester Home Hardware
29 February 2012
Homewise Hardware of Portchester, Hampshire, celebrated its new identity with a two-day special event on February 17-18.
Garden industry valued at £893m last year
29 February 2012
A new report by market research company Key Note estimates the industry has grown by 2.1% since 2010, and the firm predicts its value will hit £1bn by 2015.
Tinsley owner buys Avocet Hardware
29 February 2012
Hardware distributor Avocet Hardware has been bought out of administration by the owners of Eliza Tinsley.
Greenfingers chair steps down after 14 years
29 February 2012
The charity is keen for a member of the garden industry to take over the role of chair following the announcement that Richard Jackson will be stepping down in June.
Garden Centre Group welcomes apprentices
28 February 2012
An apprenticeship scheme which the Garden Centre Group is calling "the first of its kind for the horticultural industry," is being rolled out across the group's centres and production nurseries.
Garden Centre fined £28,000 for "risking safety of public and staff"
28 February 2012
Saltash-based Tamar View Nurseries Ltd pleaded guilty to eight serious food and health and safety offences at Bodmin Magistrates recently, and was fined £21,000.
Rolawn staff get fit for Garden Re-Leaf Day
28 February 2012
On Tuesday, March 13, gardeners old and young across the country will celebrate the start of the gardening year by raising money for the Greenfingers charity as part of Garden Re-Leaf Day.
Attempted burglary at Monkton Elm foiled
28 February 2012
Three men who attempted to break into Monkton Elm Garden and Pet Centre on Sunday night are now on the run from police after they escaped from the scene empty-handed.
Wickes fraudster thought to have struck 37 times
27 February 2012
Police across the country are stepping up the hunt for a man they believe has defrauded over 35 Wickes stores of around £9,000 in recent months.
Superbrand Dulux transforms London into a 'dogwalk'
27 February 2012
The paint firm has been named number eight in the list of 500 top superbrands for 2012, and today eight models, each accessorized with a shaggy-haired Dulux dog, took to the streets of London to celebrate.
One in ten people are "less scared of DIY"
27 February 2012
According to a survey undertaken by B&Q, 10% of people said they were "less scared" of carrying out their own home improvements than they were this time last year.
Dobbies one step closer to first joint site with Tesco
24 February 2012
The Tesco-owned garden centre chain is planning to open premises on a joint site with Tesco at Campbell's Meadow, King's Lynn.
DIY store Start to Finish suffers severe fire
24 February 2012
Homes were evacuated and eight fire engines rushed to the scene of Gravesend DIY store Start to Finish after it went up in flames last night.
Outdoor plant sales up 20% in Jan
24 February 2012
The Garden Centre Association (GCA) reported the sales increase in its Barometer of Trade (BoT) results for January 2012, which also revealed a 30% jump in landscaping products.
Dragons' Den seeks DIY and garden ideas for new series
24 February 2012
The BBC's popular TV programme Dragons' Den is gearing up for a new series and is on the look out for entrepreneurs who would like to take part and gain the chance to secure investment in their businesses.
Wholesale Pages predicts a summer of DIY
23 February 2012
The B2B wholesale directory said there has been a significant increase in the rate of buying leads for hardware and DIY tools at the beginning of 2012.
Man "bragged" about starting Reeves fire during riots
23 February 2012
A man accused of starting a devastating fire, which ultimately destroyed a House of Reeves store in Croydon during the August 2011 riots, has allegedly admitted to the offence in court.
ASA ban on 'sexually explicit' workwear ad
22 February 2012
Following on from last week's news that
Mem's DIY poster ad was banned for being sexist, the ASA have now ruled against a plumbing and heating merchant's ad for having "strong sexual content [which] was demeaning and offensive" and breached rules of social responsibility.
Following the Garden Centre Group (GCG) Spring show held recently at the Malvern showground, garden centre staff across the country have been celebrating after winning a host of prizes.
Yeoman introduces world's biggest spade
22 February 2012
The tool brand has broken the world record for making the world's biggest spade.
It's a Knockout for Greenfingers
22 February 2012
Members of the horticultural industry recently helped raise more than £2,500 for Greenfingers after participating in the charity’s version of ‘It’s a Knockout’ as part of the GCA’s annual conference.
New home improvement app
22 February 2012
A new app designed to allow the user to find home improvement retailers, access discount offers on products and read reviews of builders from their smartphone or tablet is due for launch later this month.
Tool manufacturer gives away £30,000 car
22 February 2012
A 54-year-old man from Billericay, Essex, has won a luxury Nissan 370Z after entering a competition run by IRWIN Tools.
Jackloc finds key to international success
22 February 2012
The family-run safety lock firm has won an export deal with Russia and has already taken an order for 3,500 of its specialist safety products.
Wickes' annual sales hit by weak demand for kitchen and bathroom
22 February 2012
Travis Perkins-owned chain reported a 1.4% LFL decline in delivered sales in 2011, as demand for delivered kitchens and bathrooms tails off.
President Obama pays a visit to Master Lock
20 February 2012
Praising the security manufacturer on its move to in-source jobs back to the United States from China, the US President dropped in for a tour of the firm's Milwaukee manufacturing plant last week.
Grosvenor receives GCA Excellence status 12 years running
20 February 2012
The garden centre on Wrexham Road, Belgrave was named as a Garden Centre of Excellence for a record breaking 12th consecutive year.
Glee announces new look and new focus
17 February 2012
The industry's biggest gardening show is back for 2012 with a refreshed look and a more targeted exhibition, say organisers, who announced new initiatives, including bespoke guided tours and a bigger push for innovation.
Ironmongery Direct predicts £20million turnover for 2012
16 February 2012
The online and mail order supplier of ironmongery products announced its year end results today, which saw turnover hitting £15m, a 20% increase on 2010.
Natural Garden Gift Vouchers announces Mother's Day promotion
16 February 2012
The HTA-supported National Garden Gift Vouchers (NGGV) group is running a new in-store promotion offering NGGV customers a free pack of 10 notelets and envelopes during the build up to Mother's Day.
New chief exec for B&Q
16 February 2012
Kingfisher announces major boardroom changes - 0'Byrne and Sutherland move up, but Hogsted's role disappears
B&Q sales rise 0.2% in fourth quarter
16 February 2012
“We have ended another challenging year in robust shape,” says group CEO Ian Cheshire.
Pet items stolen from garden centre
15 February 2012
Police in Lancashire have issued CCTV stills of two men they would like to speak to in connection with a suspected shoplifting offence at Barton Grange Garden Centre in Preston.
'Sexist' ad for DIY store banned by ASA
15 February 2012
A poster ad for Tottenham-based Mems DIY Ltd has been banned by the Advertising Standards Authority for "overtly sexual" content which "objectified women."
GIMA offers training to non-members
14 February 2012
The Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) is opening up its training to the wider sector, not just its members.
Screwfix website ranks bottom in retail top 500 for Q1
14 February 2012
New results released by analytics website Sitemorse ranks the DIY retailer's website as the worst retail site in the UK in terms of accessibility, broken links, quality, performance and SEO capability in 2012 Q1.
Children get creative at Garden Centre
14 February 2012
A Somerset garden centre is inviting local children to help add a splash of paint to its 30th anniversary celebrations through free tile-painting sessions.
Garden Centre calls for couples married in '82
14 February 2012
Monkton Elm Garden and Pet Centre is searching for all Somerset-based couples celebrating their pearl wedding anniversary this March to come forward and help mark 30 years of trading.
Ex-Focus boss joins home shopping group
14 February 2012
Bill Grimsey, the former ceo of Focus DIY Ltd, has been appointed as a non-executive director at Findel PLC, a home shopping retail group.
Master Lock shares a bit of love this Valentine's Day
14 February 2012
Security supplier creates a virtual bridge where people can declare and 'lock up' their love with a Master Lock padlock online.
GCA to launch web-based training initiative
13 February 2012
The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has revealed plans to launch a new resource which should provide its members with an accessible online training tool.
£3,500 boost for Greenfingers
13 February 2012
Staff at William Sinclair recently presented a cheque for £3,559.90 to the Greenfingers charity, which is dedicated to creating gardens at children's hospices across the country.
Homebase director completes trip to South Pole
10 February 2012
Temperatures of -40 degrees C and even a broken arm didn't stop trading director Andrew Carnie and his team in their race to the pole to raise a quarter of a million for homeless charity Centrepoint.
Ludlow Homecare named BHF Shop of the Year
10 February 2012
Shropshire retailer wins British Hardware Federation title
Totally DIY matches London visitor numbers
10 February 2012
Snowbound roads, a change of halls, and a massive lack of signposting within the NEC -
this week's Totally DIY show was hit by a combination of adverse factors. But visitor traffic grew steadily throughout the three days, and by Tuesday lunchtime there was a discernible buzz in the hall.
Suspected customer fraud at Wickes store
9 February 2012
Chippenham police officers are investigating a suspected cause of fraud at a Wickes store on Bumpers Farm retail park, involving a man trying to claim a refund on goods he hadn't bought.
High street brands "locked in a spiral of decline"
8 February 2012
A new report on the rate of shop vacancies over the past year has highlighted 'weak housing market activity' as one of the factors behind administrations in the home improvement retail sector.
EXCLUSIVE: Hand tool supplier in liquidation
8 February 2012
Family-run Howard Richard Sales appoints liquidators after more than 40 years of trading.
BHETA puts the emphasis on export with new initiative
7 February 2012
The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has launched the first in what is to become a series of events devoted to helping its members develop their export business.
January report shows 'another quiet month' for DIY sales
7 February 2012
The BRC has released its UK retail sales figures and analysis for January, revealing an overall like-for-like (lfl) decline of 0.3% since last year, with the poor housing market adversely affecting the DIY industry.
Gardman named as Best Stand at Garden Press Event
7 February 2012
Garden products supplier thrilled to win Best Stand Award for its creative exhibit and 'real garden setting' at this year's Garden Press Event.
DriBox to bring manufacture operations home
7 February 2012
DriBox told DIY Week it will start manufacturing its award-winning weatherproof box in the UK by late Spring, cutting shipping costs and lead times, as well as creating new jobs.
Totally DIY exhibitors celebrate product awards
6 February 2012
Four Totally DIY exhibitors celebrated on Sunday evening this week after being named gold winners of this year's product awards.
John Lewis redistributes used furniture to needy families
2 February 2012
John Lewis has joined forces with the Furniture Re-use Network (FRN) to collect some of the 10million items of furniture thrown away in the UK every year and redistribute them to households in need.
B&Q gets into the (green) spirit
2 February 2012
B&Q has announced it will be the first UK stockist of Clean Spirit, the green alternative to White Spirit.
Klondyke acquires Beverley Garden Centre
2 February 2012
The group, which operates Klondyke and Strikes garden centres in the UK has saved the former Garden Centre Group site, which closed down before Christmas.
HRG brings John Walden on board as Argos md
1 February 2012
Home Retail Group believes Mr Walden, an American who has held senior roles at electricals giant Best Buy and retail group Sears, will prove "valuable" to the high street chain, bringing with him a wealth of multi-channel business experience.
B&Q and Wickes cut supply of illegal timber
1 February 2012
The Forest Stewardship Council revealed this week that any sale of illegally-sourced Asia Plywood produce from Wickes and B&Q was done "in good faith" as the supplier failed to inform them that its FSC certification had been revoked.