DIY and hardware independents enjoyed the best growth of 10 product sector retailers surveyed for the first quarter of this year.
The latest quarterly monitor from the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) shows that their sales grew 3.50% year on year, and beating even the previous quarter's 3.14% growth.

Garden machinery and tool hire indies achieved 0.75% growth over last year's equivalent period, but that was a fall from the previous quarter's 7.33% rise, while pet product retailers saw year-on-year sales down by 5.71%, consolidating the previous quarter's 5.52% fall.

Furniture, floorcoverings and beds sales fell year on year 3.80%, having experienced a high the previous quarter with 8.29% growth, and sales in cookshops were up marginally year on year at 0.88% - but an improvement on the previous quarter's 3.13% drop.

Other product sector categories monitored by BIRA range from clothing and gifts to stationery and toys.

The 11th category, the non-specific 'Other', was the only one to show higher yearly growth than that achieved by DIY and hardware retailers, at 4.57%.

Overall, some 56% of BIRA members reported higher sales than in the matching quarter of 2013, and confidence among independents is rising sharply as overall trading continues to improve. With seven in 10 now feeling confident or very confident, the confidence index is at its highest level since 2008.

Comments submitted by BIRA members along with their figures reveal the huge role the weather plays in sales performance. One DIY retailer in the north west said: "Lack of a real cold spell meant a total lack of associated sales eg de-icer, rock salt etc. so we will be having to carry this stock over."

Another north-west retailer had the same problem: "Winter was very mild & wet so there were no sales of sledges, snow shovels and rock salt."

A pet products retailer in the Midlands commented: "Mild weather in Jan and Mar has once again reduced sales of wild bird feed affecting overall sales."

On the other hand: "Fuel, bird feeds, sledges, shovels etc way down. Most other lines up and of course a much earlier start to spring," reported an East Anglian hardware independent. And from another in the same region: "Early spring - loads of flies and weeds - bonus!"

"Increase due largely to better weather than last year which boosts gardening section," commented a Midlands hardware retailer. And from the embattled south west: "Weather wrecked February - we were flooded for one day but cut off for several. However everybody then needed spades & brooms so turnover was clawed back."