Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Maize insecticide fipronil is 'acute risk' for bees

Another insecticide has been found to be extremely dangerous for honeybees. 
29 May 2013

Spring cleaning steams ahead, says GfK

Almost one million steam cleaners were sold in the last 12 months, according to the latest research from GfK, with an extra £12m worth of steam mops sold in the first quarter of 2013 alone. 
28 May 2013

Hayes Garden World md faces new trial over 'drink-driver-swap'

A garden centre boss who has already been jailed for drink-driving will now go on trial for conspiring to pervert the course of justice over the same offence. 
28 May 2013

Fire rips through relaunched Cherry Lane garden centre

A garden centre acquired by the Cherry Lane chain just four months ago has been severely damaged in a major blaze. 
28 May 2013

Bents celebrates a decade of long-service club

Staff with 10 or more years' experience with Bents Garden & Home have been celebrating the tenth anniversary of the company's exclusive 10+ Club. 
28 May 2013

Future for shops is bleak, says retail report

The number of shops in the UK will fall by 22% over the next five years, while online retail sales will almost double over the same period. 
28 May 2013

Rustins acquires Briwax International

Briwax owners, the Bollom family, head for retirement, selling company and brands to competitor Rustins Limited. 
23 May 2013

Hozelock Flexi Spray scoops top Chelsea product award

The innovative design of Hozelock's new Flexi Spray watering accessory has won it the prestigious Product of the Year 2013 title at this week's Chelsea Flower Show. 
22 May 2013

DIY job could have caused fatal explosion

A DIY job going tragically wrong may be responsible for a fatal accident at a home in Nottinghamshire last weekend. 
22 May 2013

New B&Q service provides vetted tradesmen at fixed prices

B&Q has launched a new service which it says will give customers an easy solution to addressing DIY tasks that they either cannot or should not undertake themselves. 
22 May 2013

Woman will stand trial over £55k garden centre theft

A woman is due to stand trial after being charged with the theft of a large sum of money from Chepstow Garden Centre. 
22 May 2013

Garden centres' 2013 sales slump - then soar

Garden centre sales in the first three months of 2013 plummeted by over a quarter compared to the first three months of 2012, with the cold weather keeping gardeners away. 
21 May 2013

Homebase and B&Q amongst Chelsea's winners

Homebase, B&Q and Bord na Móna have all been awarded medals for their gardens at this week's Chelsea Flower Show. 
21 May 2013

DIY disasters cost enthusiasts over £3bn a year

Britain is a nation of deluded DIY-ers, with most people believing they are good at DIY but collectively wasting billions of pounds each year on decorating disasters. 
21 May 2013

Lakeland man lined up for BHETA forum

Matthew Canwell, director of buying at Lakeland, has been signed up as guest speaker at BHETA's member forum on September 26. 
21 May 2013

New Bristol trade counter for Screwfix

A 5,500sq ft trade counter unit at IM Properties' Longwell Green trade park development in Bristol has become the latest notch in Screwfix's belt. 
20 May 2013

Woodie's DIY robber gets five-year jail sentence

A man who colluded with an employee of Grafton Group's Irish chain Woodie's DIY to steal almost €60,000 from the retailer has been put behind bars. 
20 May 2013

DIY store theft man must pay compensation

An out-of-work man has been told by a court that he will have to pay compensation to a kitchens and bedrooms store from which he stole. 
20 May 2013

April brought shoppers flooding back to high streets

The warmer weather in April reversed the fortunes of high streets, new footfall figures reveal. 
20 May 2013

Acquisition takes Hughes Electrical into Spalding

Independent electrical specialist Hughes Electrical has opened a new outlet in Spalding, Lincolnshire. 
20 May 2013
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