Dobbies announced total sales of £104m for the financial year end (March 2009 to February 2010) on Tuesday, breaking the £100m mark for the first time. 

Hodgsons, appointed administrators for FADS parent company Divalimit, told DIY Week that the company's creditors are now likely to receive a 'prescribed-part payment' following last week's deadline for creditor claims. 

Non-food sales values up 6.7% for the month, with stronger demand expected to drive growth in Q2. 

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) says it will keep up pressure on the Government after assurances that the garden industry will be involved in discussions over a code of practice on hosepipe bans. 

B&Q has joined up with construction equipment manufacturer JCB to develop a range of power and hand tools. 

Retail sales up almost 10% in central London in March, with department stores attracting visitors. 

Spencer Goodall will be announced as the new president of the Garden Industry Manufacturers' Association (GIMA) at its AGM on Thursday. 

Tesco has confirmed its commitment to growing its non-food stores in its preliminary results statement for 2009/2010. 

£6m marketing push on price promise signals a first for the department store chain, with TV ad set to debut this Friday. 

Momentum gathers pace for the Product of the Year Awards 2010, with two new high profile sponsors signing up to show their support for the most prestigious awards event for the whole home improvement industry. 

The BHF Direct Company awarded its 'suppliers of the year' last week at its annual Away Day on April 14th. 

UK shoppers beat the queues this Easter by making their DIY purchases from the comfort of their own homes, says payment fraud protection specialist Retail Decisions (ReD). 

Sales at John Lewis were up 0.6% year on year in the week to April 10. 

Synovate urges retailers to take heart from 'above seasonal average', despite wet weather resulting in an 8.5% drop in shopper numbers over the first week of Easter. 

Confidence among shoppers sees largest monthly fall since July 2008, while spending index picks up. 

The BRC has released its response to the three main parties' manifestos, which were published this week in the run up to May's general election. 

Compost manufacturer reports strong trading and announces £9m advance payment from Defra to cease peat harvesting at its Bolton Fell site. 

Aylett Nurseries in St Albans has become the first independent garden centre to become a full member of the Growing Media Initiative (GMI), the cross-industry scheme to reduce peat in bagged growing media. 

David Quayle, one of the co-founders of B&Q, has died aged 73. 

New rules on long-term sick leave are preventing small firms from hiring new staff, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).