Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Alan Titchmarsh gives garden manufacturers TV opportunity

GIMA is urging all garden manufacturers to put their products forward for inclusion in the new Alan Titchmarsh TV series Love Your Garden, to be aired from June 10. 
21 April 2011

Akzo Nobel reports strong first quarter

Dutch firm sees 13% uplift in decorative paints, with promotional activity helping to grow market share in the UK. 
21 April 2011

Homebase sales stronger than stablemate

Home Retail Group (HRG) full-year results, issued this morning, show Homebase has outperformed both its sister chain Argos and the group results for the 52 weeks to February 26. 
20 April 2011

Argos md steps down

Argos md Sara Weller is stepping down from her position "for personal reasons", parent company Home Retail Group (HRG) announced this morning. 
20 April 2011

Obituary: Alan Silverwood

Alan Silverwood, founder and chairman of bakeware specialist Alan Silverwood, died peacefully on April 17, his 85th birthday. 
20 April 2011

Changes at the top at B&Q

B&Q operations director Martyn Phillips has been promoted to the new role of ceo for B&Q UK and Ireland with immediate effect. 
20 April 2011

Online sales see strongest Q1 growth in 3 years

Online spending increased by 18% during Q1 2011 compared with the same period last year, the strongest first quarter growth since 2008, according to the latest IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index report. 
20 April 2011

Hozelock denies sale rumours

Garden watering firm "surprised" by story published in The Telegraph claiming it is up for sale for £200m. 
19 April 2011

Tesco increases UK profits, but says "we can do better"

Tesco has reported group sales up 8.1% to £67.6bn for the 52 weeks to February 26, 2011. 
19 April 2011

Asda Income Tracker reveals improvement

The Asda Income Tracker has revealed the first month of improvement in spending power in more than a year. 
19 April 2011

London Gift Fair postponed

Organisers take the decision to put off the September show until market conditions improve. 
15 April 2011

John Lewis’s sales boosted as customers get back into their gardens

Department store chain reported 8% sales up lift last week as home and outdoor living ranges flew out the door. 
15 April 2011

B&Q launches project demos

April 16 will see B&Q launch a series of project demos focusing on DIY jobs that can be completed in one weekend. 
15 April 2011

Fashion chain Next trials garden centre format

Fashion retailer Next is set to open a new store this August featuring a garden centre-style offer alongside its existing home and clothing ranges. 
15 April 2011

Tradesmen predict business uplift in 2011

More than 60% of people say they'll be making changes to their home this year, according to the latest Wickes Home Improvement Report. 
15 April 2011

Spending confidence picks up in March

Nationwide Spending Index reports an increase for the first time since the VAT increase, with overall consumer confidence also up five points, but figures still lag behind pre-recession levels. 
14 April 2011

New stores boost sales at Dunelm, but like-for-likes dip 1.3%

Homewares retailer Dunelm Mill has reported a 1.3% decline in like-for-like sales for its third financial quarter. 
14 April 2011

The Garden Store expands with new acquisition

Garden centre chain takes over the Walled Garden Centre at Elton Hall, marking the opening of its seventh outlet in the UK. 
14 April 2011

Flying Brands warns on profits

Multichannel retailer Flying Brands Limited has suffered a difficult first quarter with its bird food and flowers businesses continuing to underperform. 
14 April 2011

Sarum holds online stock sale

Sarum Wholesale is holding an online auction of its stock after entering administration at the beginning of March. 
13 April 2011
*

Most read stories