Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Staff role changes at Grosvenor Garden Centre

Chester's Grosvenor Garden Centre has seen a number of changes to staff following its acquisition earlier this year by Blue Diamond Group. 
22 August 2012

UK is second-biggest target of e-crime, says BRC

E-crime is the most significant emerging threat to the retail sector, and UK companies are the world's second-biggest targets. 
22 August 2012

Recall for electric-shock Sealey vacuum cleaner

A Sealey vacuum cleaner that can deliver an electric shock has been recalled. 
22 August 2012

Nail in the coffin for Williamson Hardware

An independent hardware store in Broomhill, Sheffield, is facing extinction after its landlord received planning permission to alter the shop layout against the will of its current staff workers, who suspect they're being ousted in favour of a Sainsbury's. 
22 August 2012

Floramedia to attend Glee 2012

The horticultural design and print company has announced it will be attending the upcoming Glee show at the Birmingham NEC. 
22 August 2012

Women line up for B&Q DIY classes

Enrolment figures from B&Q's skills classes suggest that more and more women are tackling DIY jobs. 
21 August 2012

Independent DIY retailer faces difficulty selling 'unique store'

Following a rollercoaster 37 years, Milton Keynes DIY and building supplies store Sid Telfers has been put up for sale by its eponymous owner, who is hoping to find a buyer who will continue the store's legacy for "Aladdin's cave" convenience. 
21 August 2012

Rogue trader gang targets consumers with cookware

Knutsford is being targeted by a gang trying to sell bogus kitchenware direct to consumers. 
20 August 2012

Atlantic Homecare granted more time to save itself

Beleaguered Irish retail chain Atlantic Homecare has been given more time by the High Court to try to turn its fortunes around. 
20 August 2012

Household goods retail sales volumes up 2% in July...

...And overall retail sales volumes defied expectations of a 0.1% fall to climb 0.3% between June and July 2012 according to the latest from the Office for National Statistics. 
17 August 2012

Garden centre boosts employee numbers despite recession

The Old Railway Line Garden Centre in Powys is bucking the national trend for job cuts and recruitment freeze by employing more staff this month. 
16 August 2012

Dulux trials new packaging with 70% less plastic

The paint brand is continuing its sustainability drive with new eco-refill paint pouches, which it claims "offer more than 70% reduction in landfill waste" when compared with the current standard 2.5 litre can. 
16 August 2012

Catering continues to bolster garden centre sales

The GCA's Barometer of Trade for July reveals that garden centres are still relying on their catering operations to boost overall sales, as other categories struggle. 
16 August 2012

Mascot makes an appearance on Big Brother

Workwear brand gains exposure and reaches millions of viewers via 2012 series of Channel 5's Big Brother, as housemates don Mascot padded range for a week. 
15 August 2012

Cash mob boosts local DIY store

New trend for 'cash mobbing' where customers visit a store en masse at an agreed time to spend money is gathering pace, recently boosting sales for US DIY store Crowder Bros Ace Hardware. 
15 August 2012

Shoppers camp out to get first glimpse of all-new Wilko

Broadway characters from Marilyn Monroe to the Cowardly Lion and Mary Poppins entertained hundreds of visitors to the newest Wilko store in Crawley this morning, some of whom had camped out overnight to get the first look at the experimental new format. 
15 August 2012

DIY personalities hit the target at charity clay pigeon shoot

More than 70 retailers, suppliers and wholesalers from the home improvement industry took part in a charity clay pigeon shoot at the Royal Berkshire shooting school recently, raising more than £7,000. 
14 August 2012

Santa Claus is coming to town - in August!

A general goods retailer in Eastbourne is hosting Santa's workshop this weekend, despite forecasters predicting up to 32C heat in the seaside town. 
14 August 2012

Denby site to add garden centre and retail complex

The Derbyshire site of tableware manufacturer Denby is poised for a dramatic new development that will see the addition of a garden centre, hotel, pub and retail complex. 
14 August 2012

Anti-riot shop shutters planning move scrapped by government

A proposal to cut planning restrictions on retailers who want to install security shutters following the August 2011 riots has allegedly been scrapped by the government, for fear of creating "an unwelcoming environment" in towns. 
13 August 2012
*

Most read stories