Swedish home furnishings retailer Ikea has suffered a 3% dip in like-for-like sales for the year to August 31. 

MFI owner Walker Group has bought the Focus DIY brand from administrators Ernst & Young for a reported £300,000. 

A trail of pine needles helped police catch three thieves in the act of stealing more than 100 Christmas trees from Notcutts Garden Centre in Pembury last week. 

Retail profit at B&Q UK & Ireland grew by 20.6% to £46m in the third quarter of its financial year, according to a statement released today by parent company Kingfisher. 

SMEs will be exempt from business rates for a further six months after Chancellor George Osborne extended the rate relief holiday to April 2013 yesterday. 

MFI officially returns to the market today as an online-only home furnishings retailer. 

Topps Tiles has reported a 36% slump in pre-tax profits for the year to October 1, 2011, as revenues continue to fall. 

Homebase trading director Andrew Carnie is set to lead a team racing to the South Pole to raise money for homeless charity Centrepoint. 

Wickes has appointed former Asda chief operating officer Simon King as its new managing director. 

Department store chain uses Waitrose shop window as a virtual John Lewis, allowing people to shop by scanning QR codes on their phone. 

Crown Paints now recycles 100% of the waste from its main sites after spending three years boosting recycling rates at its manufacturing hubs and decorating centres in the north of England. 

Araldite, the UK market leader in epoxy adhesives, has signed a new UK distribution deal with Velcro. 

The curtain has closed on the first ever DIY Week Awards, with the Gold winners announced at a glitzy evening event at the Manchester Hilton, Deansgate last night. 

The Government has announced a new housing strategy this week to tackle the housing shortage and boost the country's flagging housing market. 

Garden power products have had a tough year after a strong 2010, according to the latest figures from GfK. 

The board and management of EDRA has announced that Easy, Chile, has joined its Global Home Improvement Network. 

Kingfisher group chief executive Ian Cheshire will head up an independent task force aimed at finding new opportunities for UK businesses to drive green economic growth. 

Family-owned retailer Ruthin Décor has moved into brand new premises, which are more than double the size of its former site. 

Bents Garden & Home has been given the green light by Warrington Borough Council for its £10m development programme. 

Department store chain is to release an album of the songs featured in its high profile advertising campaigns covered by musicians including Ellie Goulding and Dionne Bromfield in aid of Save the Children.