Former Wickes boss Bill Grimsey is set to embark on a national tour as part of the Labour Government's high street and business rates support campaign. 

Hollywood star Jude Law and former Dr Who actor David Tennant have been added to the list of celebrities supporting Garden Re-Leaf Day's Gardening Quiz. 

A drop in the number of empty shops in December 2013 is being hailed as "very significant". 

Underfloor heating specialist Warmup is celebrating after winning a prestigious award for one of its in-store displays. 

Multi-channel hardware and DIY tools supplier Screwfix is opening its first stores in Northern Ireland, creating 50 new jobs. 

The websites of DIY giants B&Q and Homebase came near the bottom of the pile in a recent report comparing eight of the top homewares retailers online, while Ikea's site shone through. 

Topps Tiles is launching its Boutique store chain, which is a new smaller high street format, with the opening of its Walton-on-Thames store tomorrow (January 10). 

In November, 16.9m searches were made by consumers looking for home and garden-related terms on Google UK, with searches for furniture keywords the most popular. 

Value retailer QD Commercial Group Holdings has posted increased like-for-like sales over the key Christmas period for the fourth consecutive year. 

Timber garden products supplier Forest Garden Group has acquired fellow timber goods company M&M Timber. 

The website of and an email from cookware and kitchenware supplier Jean-Patrique have broken no fewer than seven of the Advertising Standards Authority's (ASA) rules. 

Topps Tiles has enjoyed a strong start to its new financial year, with the recovering housing market generating better-than-expected sales. 

The UK has been hit by adverse weather in recent weeks, leaving some areas without power and parts of many towns under water. Weather warnings are also still in place in some parts of the country. 

Dunelm saw like-for-like sales dip in the first half of its current financial year, although they were significantly better in the latter weeks of the period. 

Dobbies Garden Centres has submitted planning applications to extend its retail offer at its Braehead and Dundee stores. 

Plans have been submitted to Norwich City Council to reduce the size of the B&Q store at Neatmarket to allow Morrisons to move in. 

There are now only five weeks to go before the identities of the prestigious Gold winners in the 2014 DIY Week Awards are revealed. 

Growing media supplier William Sinclair has secured an injection of working capital that will allow it to reinvigorate its brands and push forward with the development of its Ellesmere Port manufacturing site. 

Sales for the year to December 24 are 1.25% ahead of expectations and sales growth in the final week before Christmas reached nearly £24m. 

Axminster Tools & Machinery has been created the 15th corporate member of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers of the City of London.