Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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Two burglaries in 24 hours costs garden centre £15,000

"They knew exactly what they were looking for," said Steve Mole, the owner of Manor Garden Centre in Leasowe, Merseyside. 
16 January 2012

New POS to support Plant of the Month campaign


The Horticultural Trades Association has joined forces with Hortipak to provide a new range of point of sale materials for each plant featured in the 2012 Plant of the Month calendar.
 
12 January 2012

Top award recognises growth in export sales

Manufacturer of plastic household products, What More UK has won big for its outstanding growth in export sales. 
12 January 2012

Johnstone's paint trophy a firm fixture until 2015

Paint brand Johnstone's has renewed its longstanding sponsorship of The Johnstone's Paint Trophy for a further three seasons. 
12 January 2012

Homebase sales hit by soft demand for big-ticket items

Home improvement retailer posts 2.6% like-for-like sales decline for 18 weeks from August 28 to December 31 but still manages to grow gross margin during "volatile" trading period. 
12 January 2012

HRG to close HomeStore & More

Homebase parent reveals plans to call time on its UK homewares trial format, closing all four HomeStore & More stores by the end of February. 
12 January 2012

Garden gift voucher sales to drive footfall this Spring

Strong pre-Christmas sales of National Garden gift vouchers and the new gift card will coax more customers into garden centres and nurseries in coming months, says the HTA. 
12 January 2012

Dunelm reports buoyant first half

The British homewares retailer reported sales reaching £299.9m in the 26 week period to December 2011, which its attributes to the group's continued development programme. 
11 January 2012

Topps to continue with expansion despite continued sales slump

Following on from the 36% drop in revenue reported at the end of its last financial year, Topps Tiles' latest interim management statement has revealed that its financial position is unchanged after what it describes as a "tough" first quarter. 
11 January 2012

Charles Bentley named as one of Britain's Brightest Businesses

Brushware supplier is listed in The Telegraph's rundown of 1,000 mid-sized firms that it feels have "weathered the recession and are set to be the foundation of the UK's recovery". 
11 January 2012

PPG Architectural Coatings sign up as Partners with the Rainy Day Trust

PPG Architectural Coatings - the second largest supplier of Paint and sundry products - has signed up for the Rainy Day Trust's Partnership scheme. 
9 January 2012

Pets at Home reports 6.4% sales growth in H1

A record year of new store openings has helped fuel Pets at Home's sales growth for the first half ended September 2011. 
9 January 2012

Retail administrations increase by 27% in Q4

According to Gazette listings the number of retailers who have fallen into administration over the past year has gone from 165 to 183 - and financial experts predict worse to come in Q1 2012. 
9 January 2012

High-ticket sales see increase in lead up to Christmas

GfK Retail and Technology recorded a bumper sales growth within durable product sectors, including white goods and home electricals, in the week ending December 24. 
5 January 2012

John Lewis reports bumper Christmas sales

Home categories saw the biggest increase in the five weeks to December 31, while sales across the department store chain were up nearly 33% in the week before Christmas. 
5 January 2012

More acquisitions likely, says William Sinclair, as company profits soar

William Sinclair chief executive Bernard Burns revealed that the growing media firm could look to acquire other horticultural brands and businesses in the next financial year, following the release of its full year results. 
5 January 2012

Rollins takes on Arrow UK distribution

Tool distributor Rollins Group has taken over UK and Ireland distribution rights for the Arrow Fastener range of staple guns and other tools. 
4 January 2012

B&Q ramps up advertising on kitchens and bathrooms

Home improvement retailer launches its largest digital advertising campaign to help drive spending and promote its winter kitchen and bathroom sale. 
3 January 2012

Obituary: Colin Rodway

Colin Rodway, former BHF national president and owner of Rodways hardware store in Ledbury, Herefordshire, died on December 29 after a long illness. He was 67. 
3 January 2012

Travis Perkins takes full control of Toolstation

Wickes' parent firm announces that it has acquired the remaining 70% of the issued share capital of Toolstation Limited it does not already own from Mark Goddard-Watts and his family trusts for £24m. 
3 January 2012
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