More people are paying for goods with cash than a year ago, according to new findings by the BRC. 

The blueprints for the £8million construction, which is the first of its kind and would see a Dobbies Garden World trading alongside a Tesco supermarket in King's Lynn, are now under scrutiny at the Borough Council of King's Lynn and West Norfolk. 

The Hillview Group's garden centre arm has expanded its portfolio with the acquisition of Hilltop Garden Centre, Ramsden, Oxfordshire from Paul and Adrian Prové. 

A new play area, tried and tested by the grandchildren of the garden centre's Bent family owners, is the latest stage in the multi-million pound 'Bents the future' plans for the business. 

More than 8 million Thames Water customers could see the hosepipe restrictions lifted before autumn thanks to the recent rainfall, which has seen water levels of the river Thames restored to normal. 

The DIY retailer's marketing director Rob Murray and former md Jeremy Bird will join more than 200 of their colleagues in training for the Big 10 Cycle Challenge this month. 

There’s just one week to go for suppliers to get their entries ready for the 2012 Garden Industry Manufacturers Awards. 

Retail sales values were up by 1.3% in May 2012 compared with May 2011, when the LfL figure was down 2.1% on the previous year. 

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has announced the rose as its June plant of the month. 

The online and mail order supplier of ironmongery products to the trade has its eyes firmly on its multi-channel offering, testing new markets with its second national TV campaign and launching a mobile website for tradesmen on-the-go. 

British suppliers of garden, leisure and pet products attending the June 20 'Meet the Buyer' day by Gardenex and PetQuip are aiming to match the recent successes of firms who are now selling in Dubai following a similar event. 

Gardman announces plans to relocate all production operations for its wild bird foods to a single site in Kings Lynn, leading to the closure of its plants in Devon and Moulton. 

The Local Data Company has jumped on board the Mary Portas Pilot project, which will see 12 trial high streets rejuvenated in an attempt to boost vacancy rates. 

According to the BDO High Street Sales Tracker, homewares sales across UK retailers were buoyed by the improved weather in May and Jubilee shoppers' lifted spirits. 

Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) have reported that the additional footfall hoped for over the Jubilee weekend never happened, with the poor weather blamed for the most part. 

DIY Week's publishing company Faversham House Group has changed its name to Faversham House Ltd and relocated to East Grinstead. 

Atlantic, a member of the DIY division of Grafton Group Plc, has filed a petition seeking the appointment of an examiner, meaning it is now under the protection of the High Court while the company restructures for survival. 

The annual GIMA charity golf day and evening dinner took place in Northamptonshire recently, raising money for Greenfingers, Rugby for Heroes and Sporting Hearts. 

Bad weather was blamed for B&Q's dip in sales during the 13 weeks to April 28, falling 8.9% to £968million, a downward slide of more than 11% compared with this time last year. 

Complimentary lunches for retailer visitors, and a cap on stand size to encourage major suppliers back into the show - those are the two major initiatives planned for Totally DIY 2013.