With overall wood-care sales down almost £17m year on year between January and October, it is clear that 2012 has been a difficult time for the market. 

Kingfisher has announced its third quarter trading results, revealing an overall sales slide of 2.8% like-for-like, settling current revenue at £2.7bn. B&Q UK and Ireland saw sales decline 2.3% to £906m, a dip of 4% LfL, but retail profit was boosted by 1.7% due to higher gross margins. 

Home improvement chain yesterday showcased an £800,000 refit of its store in Ruislip, with learnings from its newly revamped Aylesford branch, and the introduction of its first Habitat mini store. 

In the wake of Morrisons and Asda bosses campaigning for longer Sunday trading hours on December 23, independent retailers are divided on whether they would open longer in the hopes of cashing in on last minute purchases, or give their staff the time to themselves. 

Sixteen Travis Perkins branches across the North of England have been earmarked for the roll out o a dedicated tool hire brand called Hire It. 

The Valspar Corporation, which owns PlastiKote among other paint brands, has announced a strategic partnership with B&Q which will see the DIY giant supply a full selection of premium Valspar paints in every store. 

First prize in this year's Home Hardware Christmas window dressing competition has been scooped by the Sutton-on-Sea, Lincolnshire store Watson Home Hardware. 

Dobbies revealed plans this week to build a new £8m Garden World in Harrogate, which, it says, would be a 'state-of-the-art horticultural centre of excellence'. 

More than 80 suppliers braved the recent floods of the Westcountry to attend BHETA's latest Meet the Buyer/Screwfix Innovation Day at the aptly-chosen Yeovil Innovation Centre this week. 

Bentley Brushware has been highly commended in the Manufacturing Excellence category of this year's Midlands Family Business Awards. 

Over 90% of surveyors believe that charges placed on shops and offices are significantly detrimental to the recovery of the nation's town centres. 

Just weeks after selling part of its business to builders merchant Wolseley, the utility and civil engineering products supplier Burdens has gone into administration. 

Another 125 Comet stores are set to face the axe next month, administrators of the electrical chain announced today. 

A hammer has been compulsorily withdrawn from the market after it was found that parts can fly off when it is being used. 

Management at Haskins raised a glass this month to the first-year success of a new restaurant at one of its garden centres. 

Flooring specialist Topps Tiles has announced a £2.2m increase in revenue, delivering a pre-tax profit of £12.5m for the 52 weeks ending October 1. 

A manager who stole from the garden centre where she worked and who kept quiet about being sacked for a previous theft has been given a suspended prison sentence. 

A buyer is being sought for West Yorkshire garden centre Whiteleys, which was placed into the hands of administrator Begbies Traynor last week. 

Wickes has dropped prices on more than 1,000 trade products as a result of a £7.4m investment aimed at benefitting small UK tradesmen. 

The wall, roof and landscaping solutions specialist Wienerberger is celebrating after scooping four awards at this month's Brick Development Association awards.