Hillview Garden Centres, the garden retail arm of merchant banking firm The Hillview Group, has today confirmed the acquisition of The Garden Store business and its six garden retail sites. 

Entry to the DIY Week Awards is now open, with Gold awards in 16 categories up for grabs and the chance for outstanding retailers and innovative products to take centre stage on February 16, 2015. 

The Home Retail Group-owned retailer reported a 2.8% sales decline in Q2, impacted mainly, said the company, by the closure of six stores during the period - a 2.9% reduction in net store space. 

Screwfix continued to outshine B&Q in Kingfisher's first half, the group revealed today as it reported retail profit from the UK and Ireland business up 17.7% to £166m, and sales up 6.6% to £2,419m - 4.4% like for like. 

A Kent branch of B&Q is experiencing phenomenal sales of spades and sieves as locals crowd onto the beach to prospect for gold. 

Home Hardware Southwest has recently paid £140,000 to its members in the form of dividends and rebates. 

Shopping centres are filling empty shops faster than town centres - and one in two shops in shopping centres are now independents. 

RatedPeople.com, which puts homeowners seeking help with home improvements in touch with tradespeople, says it has seen £812m-worth of job postings this year so far. 

The LED lighting market is experiencing an explosion in growth - but sales in the retail side of the market remain relatively subdued. 

US home improvement giant The Home Depot has confirmed that its payment systems have been hacked - a data breach that is on target to be the biggest ever experienced. 

Family-run run UK manufacturer Monument Tools has invested in a new promotional campaign, launching a competition for tradesmen to win VIP hospitality tickets to premiership football games. 

This month's export forum marked the start of "a concerted export initiative" from the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA). 

This Christmas will perform at least as well as last year's, and most likely better. 

London's Bayswater has been chosen as the fourth site for one of Topps Tiles' new high street Boutique stores. 

Squire's first-ever garden centre, in Twickenham, is celebrating half a century in business this month. 

Today the Dulux Let's Colour Cycle Team is making its way down to Land's End to begin the epic Ride Across Britain event tomorrow, cycling 969 miles in nine days. 

Home Hardware (Scotland) Ltd has launched its new, member-owned website, homehardwaredirect.co.uk to coincide with the distribution its Autumn brochure at the start of this month. 

Crown made a return to our screens last weekend, as ITV welcomes back a second series of Through the Keyhole. 

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has confirmed its ongoing support of Glee, with a new three-year agreement. 

DeWalt has today announced a new partnership with UK military charity, Help for Heroes, a charity formed to help those who have been wounded in conflict.