More than 75% of floorspace at the Garden and Leisure Exhibition has already been booked up ahead of its opening at the NEC, Birmingham on September 14. 

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) today announced what it describes as "a range of ground-breaking ideas for the complete reform of the UK business rates system". 

A host of suppliers were honoured yesterday at a special reception for the New Product Awards at this week's Totally DIY and Totally Tools Shows. 

The end of 2013 saw garden centre sales 6% above those in 2012, with December sales alone up 6%, and consumer confidence is now at its highest level for six years. 

Dunelm is set to expand its furniture ranges as it seeks to expand the business following positive half-year results posted in January. 

A survey has found the most common DIY blunders that electricians get called out to fix - the top two responses involved lighting. 

Bents Garden & Home has secured an £8m term loan facility with Barclays to support the continued growth of the business. 

Sales of flood-protection products have soared at B&Q, and staff at its store in Reading - one of the areas severely hit by flooding - were yesterday filling and handing out free sandbags to anyone who needed them. 

The government has pledged to ease the plight of flood-hit retailers with a series of measures, including a limited period of relief on their business rates. 

B&Q has begun stocking its seasonal home and garden ranges for Spring Summer 2014, this year pushing innovation, ease of use and British design. 

Wolf Steel Group, manufacturer of Napoleon products, announces the acceleration of its strategic plans in Europe, expanding both in the Netherlands and Austria. 

Total retail sales had a real spring in their step in January, putting on the strongest growth since March 2010. 

Webbs Garden Centre in Wychbold has been recognised as a business of customer service excellence by the National Skills Academy for Retail. 

Jobs could be lost at Endsleigh Garden & Leisure in Ivybridge, near Plymouth, following a proposed review of its management and staffing structure. 

Nine out of 10 householders have a go at DIY in their homes - but end up shelling out over £150 a year getting botched jobs fixed by professionals. 

Dobbies has withdrawn its plan to charge charities for using space on its shop floors to collect donations after it was questioned over it. 

Sales in UK construction and manufacturing were up 7% year-on-year in Q4 of 2013 and the decorative and industrial coatings sectors also performed well. 

Van Hage Garden Centre has made an announcement following speculation that the business might be closing down and the company said these claims are untrue. 

Last year saw the number of retail and leisure premises vacancies drop from 12.6% to 12.2%, but there remains a widening gap in the fortunes of towns in the north and the south. 

A Lincolnshire hardware independent has closed its doors for the last time, with the long-time owners now heading for retirement.