A record number of 371,000 cookshop catalogues have been ordered by Home Hardware retailers. 

Garland Products reported a 40% annual increase in business for 2013 and then addition of 800 new UK garden accounts for its recently-introduced Worth Gardening brand. 

One of Ireland's Gardenworks garden centres is to close after the company reported huge losses in 2011 and failed to keep the store alive. 

The British Chambers of Commerce has upgraded its UK growth forecasts for the next three years, saying the figures are encouraging but recovery is still not secure. Export activity is also reported to be at record levels but manufacturing figures have declined, with only a small output increase expected in 2014. 

Crown Paints is to sponsor ITV's new 'Through the Keyhole' programme. 

B&Q has made around 180 redundancies across its store management teams under restructuring plans across the business. 

An investment banker from Devon has donated his entire £2.3million fortune to the town of Sidmouth, with only one stipulation - plant a million flower bulbs and keep the town "beautiful". 

Homebase is to cultivate its own generation of gardeners through its new Garden Academy apprenticeship scheme. 

A review of the John Lewis Partnership's holiday pay policy found that some partners' pay packet additions have not been paid properly since 2006. 

Topps Tiles is one of the top five climbers in an ongoing survey of retail websites. 

Eric Gallagher, the celebrated founder and chairman of Cardwell Garden Centre near Gourock, Renfrewshire, has died. 

A Hampshire hardware store has denied press reports that a customer who went in to buy a fly swat was asked to produce proof of her age. 

Growing media and fertilisers supplier Bord na Móna UK has become the latest garden products company to join the British Home Enhancement Trade Association. 

Independents are being given the chance to win a free day's consultancy with the small and medium-sized business expert Alex Polizzi in a competition being organised by Autumn Fair International and energy supplier Npower. 

John Toomer, who owned and ran the Toomers garden and pet retail businesses in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, has died. 

Wickes has made plans to halve the size of its Kettering store to incorporate a B&M Homestore. 

Some of DIY's biggest retailers and suppliers have delivered "deeply impressive" results in a scheme aimed at reducing landfill waste and packaging. 

Last week, diyweek.net reported that the OFT had begun an investigation into six retailers over their sales practices. Now, the names of those thought to be involved have been revealed. 

B&Q Ireland is facing two cases in the High Court involving a pair of former employees' claims of sexual assault, intimidation and bullying. 

Six carpet and furniture retailers are under investigation for using misleading reference pricing.