Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Plant Plot Garden Centre changes hands

Lichfield-based garden centre Plant Plot has been bought by David Rusholme, who has revealed plans for a new cafe bistro and digital sales platform for the business. 
5 January 2017

B&M has “best ever” Christmas but warns prices will still rise

Discount retailer B&M delivered record sales over the Christmas trading period, with like-for-likes up 7.2% in the three months to December 24, but has warned that prices will still rise in 2017 due to the devaluation of the pound. 
4 January 2017

Next Christmas sales fail to live up to expectations

Sales over the festive period at Next were down -0.4% on last year, a result which bosses admitted fell short of expectations. 
4 January 2017

Screwfix to open major new distribution centre

More than 700 new jobs are to be created at a £50m distribution centre for Screwfix in Staffordshire. 
3 January 2017

New Year sales fail to perform on high st

Footfall over the New Year weekend fell by 16% on the UK high street, and by 50% in shopping centres according to retail benchmark analyst Springboard. 
3 January 2017

B&Q to install 'emergency kitchen' for couple after order blunder

A Bristol couple have been left “frustrated and appalled” after B&Q delivered them the wrong kitchen three times, leaving them without a kitchen in the run up to Christmas. 
23 December 2016

Pre-Christmas rush expected to bring in £900m

Last minute purchases today (Friday, December 23) are expected to account for £900m spent in stores across the UK, according to the Centre for Retail Research. 
23 December 2016

GCA delegates to get ‘fascinating explanations for everyday numbers’

A world-renowned behavioural economist, award-winning Financial Times columnist and BBC broadcaster will be offering delegates at the Garden Centre Association (GCA) annual conference in January an insight into the economics of daily life. 
22 December 2016

Rainy Day Trust looks to deliver new services after being granted CIO status

?The Rainy Day Trust has announced that it has been granted Charitable Incorporated Organisation status by the Charity Commission which will means that it can evolve and grow, delivering new services in partnership with both industry and other charities. The change will take place on January 1, 2017 
22 December 2016

2016: A Year to Remember

With the multi-million pound sales and purchases of three major players in the DIY and garden industry, the repercussions of a Brexit vote and the announcement of all new business rates, not to mention the introduction of the living wage, 2016 has been quite a year. 
21 December 2016

Staff at new B&M store to face Christmas Eve redundancy

It is not shaping up to be a very merry Christmas for 11 members of staff at the new Pwllheli B&M store, who are facing redundancy on December 24. 
21 December 2016

Garden centre faces closure after vicious arson attack

The cafe of family-run Acton Garden and Aquatic Centre in Long Eaton was recently the target of an arson attack which has left the owner “gutted and devastated” and facing possible closure. 
21 December 2016

B&Q slashes the price of Christmas trees as the big day approaches

B&Q has cut the prices of its real Christmas trees – some to as low as 10p – as the countdown to Christmas Day narrows. 
21 December 2016

Victorian Plumbing set to launch appeal against Victoria Plum ruling

Online bathroom retailer Victorian Plumbing is set to launch an appeal against a recent court judgement in relation to a claim brought against the company by rivals Victoria Plum. 
19 December 2016

Thieves steal garden centre's centre stage Christmas feature

A three metre, light-up cherry tree, which stood in pride of place at the front of Fermoys Garden Centre in Ipplepen, Devon, has been stolen. 
19 December 2016

Blackbrooks Garden Centre celebrates record year

Staff at Blackbrooks Garden Centre rounded off the year with a celebration party held at Leeford Place Hotel, Battle on December 13 in recognition of the business' outstanding achievements in 2016. 
19 December 2016

Santa draws a crowd at Sturmer Nurseries GC

More than 620 children and their families visited Santa's grotto at Sturmer Nurseries Garden Centre this weekend, helping raise over £3,000 for charity via the Haverhill Lions Club. 
19 December 2016

'Panic Saturday' set to bring in £2.6bn

The last weekend before Christmas is almost upon us, and payments processor Worldpay has predicted a £2.6bn boost to retail over the weekend as consumers flock to make their last minute purchases. 
16 December 2016

Black Friday boosts retail sales in November

The quantity of goods bought in retail was estimated to have grown by 5.9% this November compared with the same month last year, with all shop types showing growth. 
15 December 2016

Thieves raid £6k worth of power tools from B&Q

B&Q in Stanmore was recently targeted by thieves, who made off with £6,000 worth of power tools from brands including DeWalt and Makita. 
15 December 2016
*

Most read stories