Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Stanley fantasy football returns for new season

With the start of the new English Premier League season edging closer, Stanley has announced that it will again play host to a fantasy football tournament, running for the duration of the 2013-2014 season. 
12 August 2013

QVC launches two new channels

Home shopping channel QVC has launched two new channels, one dedicated to its fashion lines and the other, QVC Extra, showing the best of its entire product range. 
9 August 2013

Ikea launches new augmented reality app

Ikea has created an augmented reality app for customers to trial new products from the comfort of their own home. 
8 August 2013

Dyson challenges Black & Decker's steam mop claims

Household cleaning giant Dyson has been left red faced after the ASA overruled its challenge whether ads for the new Stanley Black & Decker steam mop were misleading due to unsubstantiated claims. 
7 August 2013

Rainy Day Trust signs IKO as its latest Partner

The DIY and housewares industry charity The Rainy Day Trust has welcomed another Partner in this, its 170th birthday year. 
7 August 2013

BHETA does deal on meet-the-press event

Members of the British Home Enhancement Trade Association are being offered special rates to take part in a show that will bring them face to face with the cream of garden and home consumer journalists. 
7 August 2013

Work starts on Next's new Hedge End Home and Garden

Work has begun on a new multi-million-pound Next Home and Garden store in Hedge End, near Southampton. 
7 August 2013

Leading plant supplier bought out of administration

RA Meredith & Son, a supplier of plants to major DIY and garden centre retailers, has been rescued via a pre-pack administration. 
7 August 2013

Ad watchdog rules on 'despatched' and 'delivered' claims

The Oak Furniture Land chain has been taken to task by the Advertising Standards Authority for misleading customers over delivery times on its website. 
7 August 2013

Young conservationists Bee&Q it

Watford MP Richard Harrington has paid a visit to his local B&Q to watch children in action helping to save Hertfordshire's bees. 
7 August 2013

July delivers best retail sales since 2006

The British Retail Consortium has reported a 2.2% like-for-like increase in UK retail sales for July, with the recent heatwave leading to mixed figures for the DIY/gardening industries. 
6 August 2013

Best-ever July for Home Hardware Scotland

Home Hardware Scotland says it has enjoyed the best July on record, thanks to a huge uplift in sales of DIY and garden products. 
6 August 2013

DIY and gardening enjoy major growth in June

With value growth of 16% compared with the same month last year, the DIY and gardening sector stood out as a clear winner in the durables sector during June, according to the latest report from GfK. 
5 August 2013

Relocation delivers massive expansion for Ross-on-Wye store

A Herefordshire DIY store has increased its selling area more than tenfold after expanding into new premises - and is now preparing to add a garden centre. 
5 August 2013

Longacres to add second garden centre

Longacres, which claims to be the largest independent garden centre in the south-east of England, has acquired a second outlet. 
5 August 2013

Entry now open for Glee New Product Showcase

Next month's Glee exhibition is calling for entries into its New Product Showcase, hoping to find the next big thing or something with the potential to boost the profits of any garden retailer. 
5 August 2013

Smart Solar acquires Greentree supplier

Garden products supplier Greentree has been acquired by Smart Solar for an undisclosed sum, and its founder Gary Ackers has been appointed to a new role of commercial director. 
1 August 2013

QD Stores to open online shopping channel

Norwich-based value retailer QD Stores has announced it will be opening an online shopping channel to complement its high street business. 
1 August 2013

Flooding causes garden centre fire

Customers and staff at Fryers Garden Centre in Knutsford had to be evacuated this week after a fire started in an electrical cupboard. 
31 July 2013

Operating profit up 353% at Robert Dyas

Business has boomed at Robert Dyas following its July 2012 takeover by former Dragon's Den star Theo Paphitis, with operating profits up to £4.89m for the year to March 30, 2013 - an uptake of 353% since last year's £1.08m. 
31 July 2013
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