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Argos includes Habitat products in new catalogue

Launched this week, Argos' new autumn/winter 2012 range and catalogue include Habitat products for the first time. 
25 July 2012

Fifteen more towns named as Portas Pilots

Local government minister Grant Shapps today named 15 more towns and cities that will become Portas Pilots and so receive regeneration funding. 
25 July 2012

Retail and wholesale hampering UK economy recovery

The latest Gross Domestic Product estimate has revealed a 0.7% drop, and despite making a 0.3% increase last quarter, the distribution, hotels and restaurant sector fell by 0.4%, with retail and wholesale held responsible for the majority of this. 
25 July 2012

Hope for "sheddies" in search of a pint

A "pub shed" in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, has been crowned the 2012 Shed of the Year. 
24 July 2012

Casswells wins Home Hardware Olympic window contest

Casswells in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, has scooped the first prize in Home Hardware South West's Olympic-themed window dressing competition. 
24 July 2012

June rain hammers homewares sales

The wettest June on record saw the UK homewares retail market slump 26% compared with May, according to GfK. 
23 July 2012

Retail theft and fraud increase by 10%

Retail theft and fraud are rising at an alarming rate but expenditure on prevention measures is falling. 
23 July 2012

Prince of Wales opens Aggbag Jubilee garden

The Prince of Wales formally opened a Jubilee show garden during the East of England Show in Peterborough. 
20 July 2012

Rose is B&Q Young DIYer of the Year

Rose Canham from Northamptonshire, has been awarded the title of Young DIYer of the Year by B&Q. 
20 July 2012

Kingfisher sales pick up in second quarter

B&Q and Screwfix's parent company reported sales up 3.7% in current currencies, but down 0.4% like-for-like for the 10 weeks to July 7, 2012. 
19 July 2012

Home Hardware Scotland hosts Akzo Nobel training day

A successful one day training event held at Home Hardware Sctoland's Ayrshire head office gave attendees a crash course in all things colour - from planning schemes to interpreting psychology and language. 
19 July 2012

Employers urged to play fair with staff during Olympics

With the opening of the London Olympics just days away, employers are being reminded that flexible working arrangements and a fair approach to time off will make for a more productive workforce. 
18 July 2012

Jewson signs deal with flood defence supplier

The provider of flood solutions, UK Flood Barriers, has formed an exclusive partnership with builders' merchant Jewson, which will be selling the company's Flood Angel defence products through a number of its branches. 
17 July 2012

Men jailed for operating Kent nursery cannabis factory

Two men have been put behind bars for their part in running an illicit cannabis-plant factory at a Kent nursery. 
17 July 2012

Wickes backs DIY youth volunteering scheme

A Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) programme involving nearly 2,000 young people aged 14 and up across the country launched last week with the backing of Wickes, which has dedicated its tradespeople to train and mentor the participants. 
17 July 2012

HTA targets young gardeners with autumn campaign

"Plan it, plant it this autumn" - that's the latest message from the Horticultural Trades Association, which is hoping to tap into younger consumers' growing interest in gardening and ensure they're kept busy year-round. 
17 July 2012

BRC says rain-hit retailers are to thank for inflation fall

Consumer Price Inflation (CPI) has fallen to its lowest level for two and a half years, and it's all down to price-cutting by retailers, says the British Retail Consortium. 
17 July 2012

Retailers central to future peat reduction, concludes report

Retailers will play a key role in ongoing efforts to reduce the amount of peat in UK retail bagged growing media. 
17 July 2012

Sandtex TV campaign revisits the lighthouse

Sandtex is running a TV campaign for the first time in 20 years with a reworking of a classic ad for its masonry paint. 
17 July 2012

Online retailers must improve provision of refund info

Under a new regulation, online retailers will now have to be more rigorous when it comes to telling customers about their cancellation and refund rights - or face a prolonged wait for their money. 
16 July 2012
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