News Archive June 2015
Glee launches market intelligence reports for buyers
30 June 2015
Glee organiser i2i Events Group is launching a new resource of market data and intelligence for retailers.
DIY drives surge in Pinterest use
30 June 2015
Pinterest, the website that allows people to upload their own images and browse other people's, says DIY is now users' favourite topic.
Beleaguered Wm Sinclair seeks 'significant funding'
30 June 2015
William Sinclair said today that it needed "significant progress towards a funding solution in the next few weeks", as it revealed a half-year slump in sales and profit.
Next chooses Plymouth for new Home store
29 June 2015
Next has announced plans to build a new Home store in Plymouth.
Homebase on the lookout for next generation of interior designers
29 June 2015
Homebase is offering 14 young people an opportunity to join its training scheme designed to help them gain experience and qualifications in interior design and decorating.
BIRA hits the road to help retailers
29 June 2015
The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) will be taking to the road again this summer to speak with independent retailers in towns across the UK, providing a range of ideas to help their businesses.
Sabichi opens homewares concept within Dreams
29 June 2015
Homewares brand Sabichi has partnered with leading UK bed specialist Dreams to open a new concept within its Watford Dreams at Home store.
Garden centres back Cultivation Street campaign
29 June 2015
Leading garden centres, Kew Gardens and The Princes Foundation for Building Community are all getting behind national gardening campaign Cultivation Street in 2015.
Homebase sheds light on booming storage sales
29 June 2015
Householders are seemingly turning to creative ways of increasing storage space in their homes, with Homebase reporting a 200% year-on-year surge in sales of plastic sheds.
£11m funding will drive growth at Stewart
29 June 2015
Stewart, the British manufacturer of plastic home and garden products, is poised for significant expansion after securing multi-million-pound funding.
Construction workers 'lack confidence to do DIY'
29 June 2015
Almost half of construction workers don't do DIY jobs around their own home - either because they don't have the time or confidence.
New ownership and new investment for Gardman
24 June 2015
Gardman announced today that it has been bought out by its management, backed by private equity fund Rutland Partners.
Al-Murad to open new outlet every six weeks
23 June 2015
Tile multiple Al-Murad is celebrating 30 years in retail with the announcement of a huge investment in expansion.
Award for Lynwood marks growth into Europe
23 June 2015
The Lynwood Decorating Products brand of British paint brush manufacturer LG Harris has won a prestigious award in recognition of its growth in Europe.
Catering serves up good garden centre sales in May
22 June 2015
Catering was the best performer in garden centres during May, new figures from the Garden Centre Association reveal.
Glee introduces sales inspiration to Green Heart
22 June 2015
Originally designed as a showcase of UK growers, Glee's Green Heart feature will be expanded at this year's show to incorporate international growers and new promotional ideas.
Bostik secures international football sponsorship
19 June 2015
Bostik took centre stage at the latest England football international fixture this month, as part of a high-impact sponsorship deal.
Kingfisher's Tradepoint launches new design tool
19 June 2015
TradePoint has launched a new online design platform, Tradepoint Spaces, which will enable tradesmen to show clients an exact visual of how their finished project could look in a 3D rendered view.
Kingfisher announces new B&Q CEO
18 June 2015
Kingfisher plc has appointed Michael Loeve as CEO of B&Q UK & Ireland.
Europe Roundup ban reports untrue, says Monsanto
17 June 2015
Agrochemical giant Monsanto is defending its Roundup weedkiller against a claim that it can cause cancer, and says reports that it has been banned in France and other European countries are untrue.
Wilko full-year profits take a dive
17 June 2015
A failed inaugural TV advertising campaign and growing competition from value retailers saw full-year profits plunge at Wilko.
QVC suppliers make record donation to Garden Re‐Leaf Day
16 June 2015
Suppliers who contributed to shopping channel QVC's Greenfingers Garden Re‐Leaf Day 2015 activities have helped raise in excess of £50,000 for the charity.
Squire's restaurant bags HTA awards
16 June 2015
Squire's Garden Centre in Badshot Lea took home two awards at The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) Catering Conference on June 9.
Homebase starts the year strong with LFL sales up 5.4%
16 June 2015
Home Retail Group's trading statement for Q1 saw Homebase kick off 2015 with a good performance, whilst Argos reports declines, impacted by poor performance in electricals.
New owner for Suffolk garden centre
16 June 2015
Family-run Marlows Home and Garden Centre in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk has been sold by its owners, who are looking to retire.
Visitors and exhibitors give thumbs-up to Exclusively
16 June 2015
Reaction to this year's Exclusively Housewares and its new sister show Exclusively Electrical has been overwhelmingly positive, show organisers said today.
Fiskars and James Wong spread the gardening message
15 June 2015
Wyevale's Bicester Avenue garden centre has hosted a special event with Fiskars and its brand ambassador James Wong.
'Retailers face 60% business rate tax' warning
15 June 2015
Two leading property industry trade bodies have warned that unless government significantly changes the business rates system, businesses could face a 60% rate of tax by 2022.
DIY and garden Bank Holiday footfall outstrips all
15 June 2015
May brought non-food retailers their busiest week of the year so far in terms of shopper numbers - and DIY, homewares and garden were the biggest winners of all.
Peter Stone quits BHETA to support Centurion's global drive
15 June 2015
Leading DIY and garden market figure Peter Stone is to leave his role as home improvement sector director of the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) to take up a new position as sales and marketing director of Centurion Europe.
Gorilla Glue secures major listing with Wilko
11 June 2015
The glues, tapes and adhesives supplier are hitting the shelves of nearly 200 Wilko stores throughout the UK this month.
Ikea to open small-format store in Norwich
10 June 2015
The Swedish furniture giant will trial the new format in a location on Sweet Briar Retail Park in Norwich.
DIY Global Summit opens its doors
10 June 2015
The 3rd Global DIY Summit will kick off today - held for the first time in the UK, at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel in London.
BHETA elects new president
8 June 2015
The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA)'s recent AGM saw the election of Roger Morgan Grenville as its new president.
2016 GCA conference will mark 50 years
8 June 2015
The Garden Centre Association's (GCA) 2016 golden jubilee year conference is to be held at the Grand Hotel in Brighton, January 24-27.
Taskers makes TV debut on Channel 4
5 June 2015
Liverpool independent Taskers to star in new Channel 4 series Running The Shop, presented by Dragons' Den star Hilary Devey.
Wyevale buys Armitage's Garden Centres
4 June 2015
Wyevale Garden Centres (WGC) today announced that it has acquired Armitage's Pennine and Birchencliffe garden centres
Savvy shopping habits are now 'deeply engrained'
3 June 2015
Whilst 2014 marked the fastest rate of economic growth in the UK since 2007, UK consumers are holding on to their savvy-shopping habits acquired from the downturn.
100 job losses at Wm Sinclair as it restructures
2 June 2015
Growing media and garden chemicals producer William Sinclair is closing three sites and shedding over 100 jobs in a move to consolidate its English operations at its new production facility in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.
Aldi to bulk buy warehouse space this year
2 June 2015
New data reveals that proposed floorspace for supermarket warehousing in the UK is being spearheaded by the fast-growing German retailer Aldi.
Chelsea appearance boosts sales for Fallen Fruits
1 June 2015
Garden giftware company, Fallen Fruits has seen a rush of trade orders for its Old Rectory bench after it was featured in Hillier Nurseries and Garden Centre's gold medal-winning Chelsea garden.
BIRA members head to inspirational Dublin
1 June 2015
Members of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) are heading to Dublin to tour the retailing highlights of the city and gain insights into Irish retail.
B&M takes B&Q sites as profits rise 56%
1 June 2015
With plans to open another 60 UK stores over the next year, B&M Retail has reportedly taken up most of the sites so far let go by B&Q as it looks to shrink its estate by the same number.
Glee launches Buyers Power List award
1 June 2015
The most outstanding buyers from the garden retail industry will be celebrated with a special awards programme at this year's Glee.
Multi-store gift cards 'provide £7bn boost for high street'
1 June 2015
Retailers participating in prepaid gift card schemes are accessing a market worth more than £7bn annually, according to a new industry report.
BIRA announces first inter-division charity golf day
1 June 2015
The British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) is to host its first-ever charity golf day next month.