Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Green light for Next Home and Garden in Wilmslow

Next has been given the go-ahead to build a new Home and Garden store in Cheshire. 
21 August 2013

UPDATE: Lowe's bid for Orchard hardware chain approved

US home improvement chain Lowe's has had its bid to acquire rival Orchard Supply Hardware approved by a bankruptcy court. 
21 August 2013

New criteria for 2013 Ruxley Rose competition

The Garden Centre Association has launched its annual Ruxley Rose competition, recognising excellent quality and range of plants, but with a new twist for 2013. 
21 August 2013

Consumers use hammers and screwdrivers to open packaging

Frustrated consumers are having to resort to Stanley knives and screwdrivers in their efforts to get through the packaging of some everyday products. 
20 August 2013

Orchard to sue Home Depot over Makita supply row

US giant Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, is being taken to court by rival Orchard Supply Hardware after the supply of Makita and Milwaukee power tools to Orchard dried up. 
19 August 2013

Expansion plans at The Range

The Range is set to open 45 stores in the next three years, and opened its first store in Scotland on Friday. 
19 August 2013

Hardware shop sign causes row over racism

A shop owner advertising 'immigrant bags' has caused uproar among locals in Crowborough and sparked outrage on Twitter over the offensive image. 
19 August 2013

Salisbury MP says parking charges review not a retail fix-it

Wiltshire Council has agreed to carry out a review of car parking charges in Salisbury in 2014, but local MP John Glen has said this won't automatically fix all local retailers' problems. 
16 August 2013

Garden centre sales up 5% on last year

July garden centre sales show retailers are up by 5% on 2012, but still behind 2011 and 2010. 
16 August 2013

John Lewis sets target to boost UK-manufactured offer

John Lewis is ramping up its support for UK manufacturing with a plan to boost significantly the amount of home-produced goods it sells. 
15 August 2013

Work begins on new £10m gardens at Bents

Work is underway at Bents to transform wasteland next to one of its stores into an area of extensive natural environmental and wildlife gardens. 
15 August 2013

New stores and new staff for Homebase

Homebase is to target a new generation of store managers to head up its newly refitted stores as part of its redevelopment programme. 
14 August 2013

Single homeowners cause a rise in 'wasted' DIY call outs

The decline in marriage rates is leading to a rise in the number of botched DIY jobs around Britain's homes. 
14 August 2013

Wind farm to power Ikea's stores in Ireland

Furniture giant Ikea has bought a wind farm in Ireland to power its two stores in Belfast and Dublin. 
13 August 2013

DIY retailer relocates business across the road

Independent retailer Do It Best Hardware is re-locating and re-launching and hoping for a boost in business. 
13 August 2013

Rayware donation boosts Rainy Day Trust

DIY and housewares industry charity The Rainy Day Trust has received what it calls "a significantly large donation" from homewares supplier Rayware. 
12 August 2013

B&M eyeing up B&Q retail space

Retailer B&M Bargains is considering moving into a new unit at a Dundee retail park that is currently occupied by B&Q. 
12 August 2013

Exclusively Housewares to add small appliances hall

The Exclusively Housewares show is embarking on a two-year project that will culminate in the creation of a dedicated hall for its small domestic appliance exhibitors in 2015. 
12 August 2013

Lowe's on brink of Orchard Supply Hardware acquisition

American home improvement retail giant Lowe's is on target to succeed in its bid to acquire the Orchard Supply Hardware Stores chain. 
12 August 2013

A re-decoration of the paint industry

A new online paint retailer has been launched, claiming it will 'change the paint industry'. 
12 August 2013
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