News Archive September 2014
DKB has best stand at Home Hardware autumn show
30 September 2014
DKB Household, whose brands include Cole & Mason, Jamie Oliver Ken Hom, Zyliss and Culinare, won the title of Best Display Stand at Home Hardware Southwest's autumn trade show this month.
Warm weather could dent Next's profits
30 September 2014
Next is warning that if the current spell of unseasonably warm weather continues into next month, and shoppers continue to shun autumn clothing, its full-year profits will take a hit.
Calling all security retailers - your chance to win Gold at the DIY Week Awards
30 September 2014
The Security Retailer of the Year category has been brought back for the upcoming 2015 awards event - don't miss your chance to enter and be in with a chance to win Gold.
Scotts Solus Brands opens the doors at October event
30 September 2014
A Solus Trade Event is being held next month which will allow visitors to see ranges of products under both the Solus and Scotts Miracle-Gro brands.
Wyevale Garden Centres acquires Welsh border centre
30 September 2014
Wyevale Garden Centres said today that it is adding to its estate with the acquisition of Moreton Park Garden Centre.
Re-energised Glee enjoys strong rebookings for next year
29 September 2014
This year's Glee attracted 7,066 visitors, but revisits boosted overall footfall equal to 8,085, the organiser has revealed.
Amenity sales on the up at Wyevale Nurseries
29 September 2014
Hereford-based Wyevale Nurseries has reported a 15% increase in amenity sales this year, with a rise in demand for trees, hedging transplants, container-grown hedging and specimen shrubs.
Weather boosts garden centre clothing sales by 25%
29 September 2014
Every cloud in August had a silver lining for garden centres, as the unseasonal weather boosted sales of clothing.
The Range set for October Kilmarnock opening
29 September 2014
The Range has named October 31 as the opening day for its new Kilmarnock superstore, in premises formerly occupied by Homebase.
BHETA gains two more major home and DIY brands as members
26 September 2014
Magimix, the inventor of the food processor, and decorating products manufacturer, LG Harris, are the latest members to join the British Home Enhancement Trade Association.
Tool Shop celebrates official opening of 11th store
25 September 2014
London hardware retailer Tool Shop is opening the doors of its new store on Upper Street in Islington today.
Garden market poised for volume and value growth
24 September 2014
Sales of garden products are set to top £5bn for the first time by 2018, prompting rising optimism in the sector.
Green-fingered students graduate from Homebase academy
24 September 2014
After a year of studying, the first Homebase Garden Academy students have graduated from the scheme and have all been given a Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Level 1 Award qualification.
Christmas and cookshop brochures set new Home Hardware records
23 September 2014
Home Hardware says record numbers of this year's Christmas brochures and cookshop catalogues have been ordered by its retail members.
Notcutts plans celebration weekend for refurbished Wheatcroft launch
23 September 2014
Notcutts will celebrate the launch of its newly-refurbished Wheatcroft Garden Centre in Nottingham on the weekend of October 4 and 5.
Scotland and N Ireland winners unveiled by GCA
23 September 2014
The Garden Centre Association (GCA) winners for Scotland and Northern Ireland were revealed at a presentation yesterday evening in Dumfries.
J Rotherham shortlisted for The Manufacturers Awards 2014
22 September 2014
Stonemason and supplier of natural stone and composite surfaces to the bathroom and kitchen industry, J Rotherham has been shortlisted for The Manufacturers Awards 2014 in the Small Sized Enterprise of the Year category.
Large-format home stores are the way forward for Next
22 September 2014
As Next announced its first-half results this month, the home and fashion retailer revealed that large-format out-of-town retail sites were key to its strategy going forward.
UPDATE: Home Depot eliminates malware after major hack
22 September 2014
US home improvement giant The Home Depot says the malware used in the recent
breach of its payment systems has been eliminated from its US and Canadian networks.
Wavin is once again supporting the Wilts and Berks Canal Trust by donating drainage products to help with the restoration of a 30m long section of canal at Pewsham.
Wilbys Home Hardware opens third store, in Norfolk
22 September 2014
A Norfolk town has a new hardware shop now that a husband-and-wife team of independent retailers have grown their duo of outlets to three.
LG Harris works with independent to boost sales
22 September 2014
Decorating products manufacturer LG Harris & Co Ltd has been working with Stamford independent retailer, Harrison & Dunn to implement some initiatives to help increase its sales of decorating products.
Notting Hill independent completes major store revamp
18 September 2014
Lords of Notting Hill has completed a major refurbishment of its Westbourne Grove store in London W2.
“The buzz is back”, say Glee exhibitors
18 September 2014
Exhibitors raved about this year's exhibition at the NEC Birmingham, calling the event 'refreshed' and 'much improved', whilst also praising the new format and location in halls 17-20.
John Lewis at Home to open in Worcester
17 September 2014
John Lewis has today announced plans to open an At Home shop in Worcester in 2017.
New benefits on Draper Tools' redesigned website
17 September 2014
Draper Tools says its redesigned website offers new features and benefits for all visitors, whether retailers, tradespeople or DIY enthusiasts.
FenceFin supplier wins GIMA £5,000 seed corn fund
16 September 2014
The winner of the inaugural GIMA Innovators' Seed Corn Fund has been named as SteadyPost, with its solution for erecting fences more easily.
Nordic scoops retailers' best product award at Glee
16 September 2014
Nordic Garden Buildings' Veranda summerhouse was revealed this morning as the winner of the New Products Retailers Choice Award 2014 at this week's Glee.
Glee New Product Award winners announced
15 September 2014
Nine new garden products have been named as the winners of the Glee New Product Awards 2014.
Garden Press Event bookings on the up
15 September 2014
Bookings for The Garden Press Event 2015 - the show set up exclusively for journalists - are up by 38% on the same time last year, with over 60 exhibitors already signed up.
Growing customer numbers drive half-year sales at JLP
15 September 2014
Sales growth at John Lewis is being driven by increasing numbers of people choosing to shop there, attracted by the retailer's omnichannel offer.
Hillview acquires the Garden Store
12 September 2014
Hillview Garden Centres, the garden retail arm of merchant banking firm The Hillview Group, has today confirmed the acquisition of The Garden Store business and its six garden retail sites.
DIY Week Awards: Your chance to win Gold
11 September 2014
Entry to the DIY Week Awards is now open, with Gold awards in 16 categories up for grabs and the chance for outstanding retailers and innovative products to take centre stage on February 16, 2015.
Store closures cause Homebase's sales to dip in Q2
11 September 2014
The Home Retail Group-owned retailer reported a 2.8% sales decline in Q2, impacted mainly, said the company, by the closure of six stores during the period - a 2.9% reduction in net store space.
Screwfix shines in Kingfisher H1 but B&Q on a 10-year high
10 September 2014
Screwfix continued to outshine B&Q in Kingfisher's first half, the group revealed today as it reported retail profit from the UK and Ireland business up 17.7% to £166m, and sales up 6.6% to £2,419m - 4.4% like for like.
Folkestone gold rush sends spade sales soaring
10 September 2014
A Kent branch of B&Q is experiencing phenomenal sales of spades and sieves as locals crowd onto the beach to prospect for gold.
Home Hardware pays out £140k to members
10 September 2014
Home Hardware Southwest has recently paid £140,000 to its members in the form of dividends and rebates.
Shopping centres beat high streets on vacancy reduction
9 September 2014
Shopping centres are filling empty shops faster than town centres - and one in two shops in shopping centres are now independents.
Website reflects home improvement demand
9 September 2014
RatedPeople.com, which puts homeowners seeking help with home improvements in touch with tradespeople, says it has seen £812m-worth of job postings this year so far.
LED lighting shines - but retail sector remains wary
9 September 2014
The LED lighting market is experiencing an explosion in growth - but sales in the retail side of the market remain relatively subdued.
Home Depot data hack could be biggest ever
9 September 2014
US home improvement giant The Home Depot has confirmed that its payment systems have been hacked - a data breach that is on target to be the biggest ever experienced.
Monument supports new launch with competition
8 September 2014
Family-run run UK manufacturer Monument Tools has invested in a new promotional campaign, launching a competition for tradesmen to win VIP hospitality tickets to premiership football games.
BHETA puts new focus on export
8 September 2014
This month's export forum marked the start of "a concerted export initiative" from the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA).
Most retailers think it will be a happy Christmas
8 September 2014
This Christmas will perform at least as well as last year's, and most likely better.
Topps Tiles opens fourth Boutique store in capital
8 September 2014
London's Bayswater has been chosen as the fourth site for one of Topps Tiles' new high street Boutique stores.
Squire's trailblazing garden centre is 50 years old
8 September 2014
Squire's first-ever garden centre, in Twickenham, is celebrating half a century in business this month.
Dulux set to Ride Across Britain again for charity
5 September 2014
Today the Dulux Let's Colour Cycle Team is making its way down to Land's End to begin the epic Ride Across Britain event tomorrow, cycling 969 miles in nine days.
Home Hardware Scotland lauches new website
4 September 2014
Home Hardware (Scotland) Ltd has launched its new, member-owned website, homehardwaredirect.co.uk to coincide with the distribution its Autumn brochure at the start of this month.
Crown Paints renews Through the Keyhole sponsorship
4 September 2014
Crown made a return to our screens last weekend, as ITV welcomes back a second series of Through the Keyhole.
Glee and the HTA confirm new three-year agreement
3 September 2014
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has confirmed its ongoing support of Glee, with a new three-year agreement.
DeWalt Help for Heroes products will raise charity cash
3 September 2014
DeWalt has today announced a new partnership with UK military charity, Help for Heroes, a charity formed to help those who have been wounded in conflict.
Wolseley clarifies distribution centre sale reports
3 September 2014
Plumbers merchant chain Wolseley UK has released a statement clarifying reports about the sale of its North Yorkshire regional distribution centre.
Updated Carl Kammerling website helps online retailers
3 September 2014
Carl Kammerling International has launched a refreshed corporate website, incorporating new developments and additions designed to provide greater ease of use for customers.
European expansion for Screwfix as it launches German stores
3 September 2014
Screwfix is poised to expand into Europe with the launch of four trial stores in Germany.
Full-year sales and profits struggle at Wilko
3 September 2014
Latest full-year figures from Wilko Retail reveal that the variety retailer has had a tough 12 months, with sales and profits sliding.
Mannequin Dickie reveals the shocking truth
3 September 2014
Shoppers in Cambridge have come to know and love Dickie, the mannequin who stands outside their local hardware shop - but now it seems there's a whole lot more to Dickie than anyone realised.
Steamer Trading picks Bluewater for new flagship store
2 September 2014
The Steamer Trading Cookshop chain is opening a new store in Kent's Bluewater shopping centre - the first that is not in a town centre location.
Administrators go into Nottinghamshire aquatic business
2 September 2014
A 30-year-old Nottinghamshire garden centre and aquatic business has gone into administration.
HTA: Relieve garden centres of Sunday trading burden
2 September 2014
The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is calling on government to exempt garden centres from what it calls the "outdated" 1994 Sunday Trading Act.
E-cloth supplier joins BHETA
2 September 2014
EnviroProducts, the company behind the E-cloth no-chemicals cleaning range, has joined the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA).
Crest Garden and Desch Plantpak link to boost gyo
1 September 2014
A joint venture aimed at revitalising the retail grow-your-own (GYO) propagation market has been launched by Desch Plantpak and Crest Garden - the
new company created by former Solus managing director Nick Davies.
Grafton Group, which operates builder's merchants and DIY businesses, has acquired Direct Builders Merchants.
Independents boost BIRA Direct summer turnover
1 September 2014
BIRA Direct, the buying arm of the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA), significantly increased sales for the trading months of June and July.
GIMA to announce seed corn fund winner
1 September 2014
The Garden Industry Manufacturers' Association (GIMA) will announce the winner of its £5,000 Innovators' Seed Corn Fund at next week's Glee.
Home improvement demand spikes in Bank Holiday washout
1 September 2014
The total washout that much of the country suffered on last week's Bank Holiday generated a big boost in householders looking to carry out home improvements.