Paintbrush and roller maker Mako UK has moved to new premises in Burnley, with a spacious showroom, improved order processing and advanced IT support. 

Lloyds Banking Group has begun the process of selling the Garden Centre Group, with a deal expected to raise £300m. 

The award-winning York retailer has announced plans to open a new cookshop in the city in around six weeks' time. 

Solus is opening up its extensive Droitwich showroom for a pre-season trade event from October 3-14. 

Kingfisher-owned DIY chain manages to grow profits but blames tough retail environment and Focus clearance sale for decline in sales in H1. 

Garden retailers are reporting strong sales of bulbs and autumn bedding as an early autumn sets in, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has reported. 

As a "highly competitive trading environment" impacts on John Lewis' profits for the first half, online sales soar 27%, with predictions johnlewis.com could achieve a turnover of £1bn by 2014. 

Home Retail Group (HRG) has appointed a new managing director for Habitat. 

Economic uncertainty and lack of mortgage finance led to a decline in the number of property sales over the past three months. 

Homebase is testing several new ranges and services as part of its strategy to become 'first for decorating'. 

Kingfisher group to plough £115m into opening nine new Castorama home improvement stores over next two years. 

Homebase has launched 'Create the Look' touch screens at its Aylesford branch to help customers visualise different products in their homes. 

Solus garden tool brand Yeoman is celebrating its 21st anniversary with a Guinness World Record attempt. 

DIY Week is delighted to add the Garden Industry Manufacturers Association (GIMA) to a growing list of sponsors for the 2011 DIY Week Awards. 

Retailers are cutting their losses and closing older and poor performing outlets in secondary locations, in a bid to boost sales and footfall in a continuing tough climate. 

Like-for-like sales held flat at Homebase for the first half of 2011, but slumped 9.1% at sister chain Argos. 

Non-food shop price inflation increased to 1.4% in August from 1.3% in July, the first increase since May, driven by accelerating inflation in the DIY, gardening and hardware category. 

UK consumers spent £38.7bn on the home and garden in 2010, according to new data from the Mintel British Lifestyles 2011 report. 

Retailer plans to redefine its home assortment and bring decorating ranges and home accessories together to create a one-stop shop, complete with room sets and 'create the look' cards in store. 

UK retail sales values fell 0.6% like-for-like in August, against a 1% rise in August 2010, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor.