Fledgling businesses lined up last week to impress a panel of seasoned judges from John Lewis in a bid to get their big break. 

Almost a third of shoppers have bought gardening equipment and DIY tools from a supermarket, according to new research. 

The bitterly cold weather kept shoppers indoors in March and slashed 5.2% off the year-on-year footfall figures 

Single-price retailer 99p Stores is to open its first outlet in Scotland over the next few weeks. 

Temperatures have finally reached the double digits, and retailers have been making the most of the sunniest weather of 2013 so far, pulling out all the stops with springtime promotions and offers on seasonal products. 

As the debate on neonicotinoid pesticides and their potential harmfulness to bees rumbles on, B&Q is launching the B&Q Bee Friendly Campaign and signing up to support Friends of the Earth's call for stakeholders to protect the UK's bee population with a National Bee Action Plan. 

Revenue for the 13 weeks to March 30, 2013, was up 15.4% at Dunelm Mill, bringing total sales value for the 39 weeks to March 30 up to £517.9m, an increase of 12.3% since last year. 

A state of the art redevelopment is on the cards for Notcutts garden centre in Pembury, Tunbridge Wells in spring 2014. 

Pets at Home is investing in its veterinary services by snapping up Vets4Pets, in a deal rumoured to have cost the specialist retailer between £30m and £50m. 

Screwfix has launched a European shipping service as a result of what it calls "intense interest from international customers". 

B&Q Ireland's Athlone store has been given a reprieve after the company managed to negotiate a better rent deal with its landlord. 

A new Al-Murad tile and DIY superstore has been officially opened in Croydon. 

Sales during March were up 1.9% like-for-like for retailers last month compared with March 2012, with a total increase of 3.7%, according to a new report from the BRC and KPMG. 

Buyers visiting this year's Totally DIY and Totally Tools show had the chance to walk away with a host of prizes on offer from exhibitors, and the organisers have now brought together and released all the names of the lucky winners. 

Young people are unable to do the simplest of DIY skills, such as wiring a plug and using a power drill, a new survey has found. 

The UK could be in danger of a triple dip recession due to a poor retail performance during an unseasonably cold March this year, which saw sales contract by 0.9% year-on-year. 

The future of Axminster Carpets was secured over the weekend with the sale of the business as a going concern. 

Suppliers are being warned about a scam under which they are being targeted by a 'buyer' purporting to be from Tesco. 

Following DIY Week's move to Datateam Publishing last Friday, new contact details are now available for the editorial and advertising team. 

Former B&Q director John Colley has been appointed chief executive officer of Praxis, having spent the last few years as chief commercial officer of parent group Maxeda.