Kingfisher plc, the international home improvement company, has unveiled plans to install energy storage batteries at B&Q’s Swindon distribution centre. The installation is the latest milestone in Kingfisher’s strategic roadmap for sustainable ...

After months of speculation in the industry, Dobbies Garden Centres confirms Nicholas Marshall has left the business, with an announcement that chief operating officer Graeme Jenkins is stepping into the role.Rumours began circulating in January ...

Commercial horticultural nursery Johnsons of Whixley is trailing a new type of plant pot that is detectable by recycling centres, to help lead the fight against plastic waste in the industry.Johnsons’ new cream-coloured plant pots are detectable by ...

Following a shake-up of its kitchen and bathroom sales process, DIY giant, B&Q has now begun recruiting 800 new colleagues to its showroom areas. The retailer says the move “reinforces its commitment to the kitchens and bathrooms market”. It ...

Wyevale Garden Centres has agreed the sale of eight of its largest garden centres to Alan Roper’s Blue Diamond chain.Currently the UK’s third biggest garden centre operator, Blue Diamond will grow its portfolio to 29 with the acquisition ...

SCA has officially changed its business name from SCA Timber and will now be called SCA Wood.The SCA Group has six business areas: wood products, forestry, pulp, paper, energy and logistics. The company believes the name change from SCA Timber ...

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) is calling for a cut to tax complexity and the ‘red tape’ that it says is hindering British businesses.The vast majority of UK businesses believe the cost of complying with the UK tax system has escalated over ...

The Hultafors Group which owns Snickers Workwear, Solid Gear Safety Footwear and Hultafors Tools has acquired Scandinavia’s Leading PPE Innovator, Hellberg Safety. Hellberg Safety has been manufacturing specialist PPE Equipment since 1962 . Its range ...

The Redditch-based POS and retail display firm, which has worked with a number of major high streets retailers and brands, has called in administrators after losing key contracts, including Sainsbury’s, and suffering “a significant decline in ...

The online tile retailer’s chairman Mo Iqbal revealed plans for 15 physical showrooms within the UK, following the success of its two branches in Stoke and Manchester.Speaking to DIY Week, Mr Iqbal said: “We believe, if we put 15 locations across ...

Home security experts, ERA, has achieved the prestigious Investors in People Gold accreditation.The Investors in People standard, which ERA first achieved in 2014, measures how well an organisation meets three key criteria, namely leading, ...

Poundworld is set to vanish from high streets as its administrator announces all stores will close by August.The Administrators of Poundworld Retail Limited, Deloitte UK, has announced that the distribution centre operations will close on Friday 20 ...

Non-food sales suffered in June, according to the latest ONS Retail Sales Index (RSI), falling 0.6% in volume terms, whilst online reported some uplifts. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that retail sales in June grew 2.9% on an ...

Akzo Nobel has announced its operating income fell 23% to 225 million euros (£199.92 million), however Decorative Paints return on sales1 up at 12.2% (2017: 11.6%) driven by 5% higher selling prices. The first wave of price increases were successful ...

Valspar Trade has announced it is launching a range of new trade products aimed at professional decorators with the two major retailers nationwide.The Sherwin-Williams-owned brand has a long-standing exclusive relationship with B&Q, since it was ...

A £1billion VAT bombshell will hit building supplies to the UK if builders merchants are forced to pay 20% VAT upfront on European timber and other materials. Parliament voted this week to ban the UK from raising taxes bound for the EU unless the EU ...

The merchant group says it is reaping the rewards of expansion, with turnover set to pass £150million in FY2018/19. Bradfords Building Supplies (BBS) reported a 19% year-on-year increase in total sales for 2017/18. The business continues to expand ...

The wholesale and cash and carry operator has announced a change of status, as it prepares for future growth. The Stax business has been re-registered as a Private Limited Company and will now be known as Stax Trade Centres Ltd.“This is a ...

The winners of the GIMA awards 2018 were announced at the Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, in South Wales last week. The pinnacle of the garden retail industry’s calendar, the event brought together manufacturers, retailers, members of the press and ...

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) is set to host the International Garden Centre Association congress for the first time in 10 years, with garden retailers from across the globe to attend the 20119 event.The GCA is expecting 250 delegates from ...

Wholesale operator, Stax Trade Centres has expanded its own-brand offering with the acquisition of the Groundsman brush range range of household brooms, brushes and dustpans.The Groundsman brand, which was previously distributed by LG Harris, joins ...

Discount retail chain reported its best-ever first quarter early summer trading season, with record sales from garden and outdoor leisure ranges and like-for-like sales up 1.6% across the UK business. The strong start to the year, B&M believes, ...

A new report on the UK bathroom retail market finds that sales have increased by £235million in the past six years, with a new boost for ‘full service’ bathroom retailers likely from 2019 following the withdrawal of B&Q’s Homefit installation ...

The DIY and garden chain has announced plans to lower prices on 2,000 products across the business in a bid to deliver its ‘Do It For Less’ strategy and to make its pricing more transparent for customers. B&Q said it is investing more than £...

Covers will celebrate the official opening of the revamped doors and windows showroom at its Chichester branch on Wednesday, July 18.The improved showroom follows a refurbishment of the branch in Quarry road last year and the opening of the new-look ...

Further sales declines mean 2018 is on course to be worst year on record for UK high street, with the British government urged to step up and help retailers.This year may be remembered for the Royal wedding, a summer of sunshine and the World Cup, ...

E-commerce platform Shopware is opening a dedicated London office in response to increased demand for its services, as it describes the UK as “one of our most important markets”.Shopware reports that it has enabled more than £5billion in gross e-...

Amazon has dubbed this its “bigger than ever, Prime Day (and a half)”, with the promotional event extending from 30 hours to 36 hours this year and featuring more than one million deals globally, with 40% more ‘Spotlight’ deals in the UK than in ...

The online giant has retained the top spot in the UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI), with John Lewis coming in at number two and as many as eight non-food retailers making up the top 20, including Argos, Wilko, M&S and Pets at Home....

B&Q sweeps the board at Hampton Court with award-winning Bizzie Lizzie gardenAs well as proving a huge success instore, B&Q’s impatiens revival, the Imara Bizzie Lizzie, has landed B&Q a Gold medal at the RHS Hampton Court Flower Show, ...

The tile specialist’s latest trading update revealed a 2.3% decline in like-for-like (LFL) sales for the 13 weeks ended July 1, as Topps reports challenging market but strives to stay ahead with investments in promotional activity and a stronger ...

HTA and APL members are showcasing garden and plant displays at RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, taking place this week (3-8 July 2018), with many winning top awards at the show.The awards are as follows: SHOW GARDENSGOLD - The Landform Garden ...

Tesco and Carrefour has announced its intention to enter into a long-term, strategic alliance. The Alliance will cover the strategic relationship with global suppliers, the joint purchasing of own brand products and goods not for resale. It will be ...