Travis Perkins’ Q1 results report a LFL sales growth of 2.9% for its consumer division, which includes Wickes, despite a slowdown in growth due to later Easter.

There is still time to book your place at the annual British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) conference and awards, due to take place on May 8.

Despite declines in kitchen and bathroom, Australian retail giant Wesfarmers posted positive sales for its operations in the UK and Ireland, which includes the Homebase chain and its first UK Bunnings store.

Shoppers across the UK are set to splash out on home and garden essentials with the two bank holiday weekends coming up, according to new data from eBay Advertising. The week following each bank holiday will see consumers turn their attention to freshening up their homes ready for summer.

Bunnings has confirmed that the location of its fifth UK warehouse will occupy an outlet formerly owned by its biggest rival, B&Q.

London households are leading the way in applying for home improvements, according to industry analysts Barbour ABI and the Federation of Master Builders.

Carpetright has announced that sales for the 12 weeks ending April 22, 2017, were up 1.4% like-for-like despite “tougher market conditions experienced across the period.”

The owners of Thorpes Home Hardware, Gosforth High Street's longest running shop have made the difficult decision to put their business on the market.

Sales were down 1.4% for the three months to March, marking the first quarterly decline since 2013 according to the Office for National Statistics.

Wyevale Nurseries has recorded a 44% year-on-year increase in sales of ferns in March thanks to botanical interiors and fashion trend.

The owners of Watlington hardware store DG Homeware, which was left completely gutted after a vicious fire on Friday, April 7, have thanked the firefighters and members of the community who helped them.

The new CEO of Debenhams Sergio Bucher, who joined the business last October, has revealed plans to transform the retailer into a “destination for social shopping”, improve online services and potentially close up to 10 of its 176 UK stores.

B&Q has signed a new three year lease for its store at the Maybird shopping centre in Stratford-upon-Avon, quelling fears for the store's short-term future after plans to demolish the building were approved back in September.

Visitors at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show are invited to play their part in Chelsea history by leaving a lasting memory in the Hillier show garden.

Last week saw the opening of the 50th Argos Digital store in a Sainsbury's – and the supermarket has taken the milestone as an opportunity to share some of its plans for the businesses it acquired in its multi-million pound takeover of Home Retail Group last year.

The chief executive officer of Kingfisher retailer B&Q Michael Loeve will be stepping down from his role after two years.

More than 50 firefighters were called to DG Homecare in Watlington on Friday (April 7) when the hardware store went up in flames.

BDO’s Growth Barometer celebrates the best of Coventry and Warwickshire and has recognised UK manufacturer Whitefurze as one of the top 50 fastest growing companies in the region.

London is set to get a little greener this April as home improvement retailer B&Q opens the gates to the Open Garden, a new pop up outdoor space in Soho for Londoners to relax, enjoy and entertain in.

Homewares retailer Dunelm posted a 2,2% decline in like-for-like sales for Q3 but maintains the business is outperforming the rest of the market.

Coffee filters company Melitta UK, part of the German, family-owned Melitta Group has joined the British Home Enhancement Trade Association.

New shop openings and demolitions lead to a dip in vacancy rate for most outlets in March but decline continues for non-food stores and multiples.

Garden products supplier, Gardman has recorded additional retail sales worth £16million of its wild bird care products in its latest year-to-date figures.

Australian retail giant, Wesfarmers Group has opened a new Bunnings Warehouse in St Albans today – the second of its kind in the town and in the UK as a whole.

Online retail giant, Amazon, has launched a huge sale ahead of the Easter Bank holiday weekend, hoping to capitalise on consumers sprucing up their homes.

King’s Nurseries in has opened a new state-of-the art retail site and is increasing its production of specialist plants to meet growing retail and wholesale demand, thanks to a six-figure finance package from HSBC.

Following its successful premiere alongside Christmasworld in January, the trade-fair concept has created a virtual tour that brings to life the fresh flowers, decorative plants and flower arrangements showcased in its 2017 debut.

This week sees the launch of B&Q’s latest TV advert, part of its fully integrated spring campaign. According to B&Q, the aim of the campaign is “to remind customers that whatever their home improvement need or challenge, B&Q always has a brilliant solution, and that B&Q colleagues are enthusiastic problem solvers – always on hand to help them achieve their projects.”

Following its takeover by Sainsbury's last year, Argos has revealed plans to grow its own-brand product ranges, with a particular focus on homewares.

European DIY marketplace ManoMano is celebrating the first year of trading in the UK, having achieved a £4.4m turnover.

The Hultafors Group has acquired Swedish specialist protective clothing supplier Puvab, with a view to complementing its own Snickers workwear range

Sales were down 4.1% during the second quarter at Topps Tiles, bringing the results for its first half to -1.9%, a result of “tough market conditions,” according to boss Matthew Williams.

A B&Q branch in Worthing has said sorry to a disabled customer after she accused the retailer of discrimination after having repeated issues with parking at the store.

Recruitment, food psychology, barista training and communicating allergens are the latest topics to be added to the programme of the HTA Catering Conference – A Piece of Cake? which takes place on Tuesday 13 and Wednesday 14 June at The Belfry in Sutton Coldfield.

The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has received national recognition in the Association Excellence Awards.