Independent builders merchant EH Smith was the star in this year's Toolbank Christmas display competition. 

Dog Rocks has announced a distribution agreement with garden products supplier Solus Garden & Leisure. 

Retailers will be hit by additional costs of £350m next year, says the BRC, after the Government confirmed a 5.6% uplift in business rates. 

Glass fibre insulation manufacturer announces it will commence a £6.5m capital expenditure programme at its Stirling manufacturing plant in March next year with completion scheduled for March 2013. 

Homebase stores across the country are hoping to raise hundreds of pounds each for Teenage Cancer Trust in a national Christmas collection fundraiser this weekend. 

Britain's high streets have seen the worst sales growth for six months, with sales values down 1.6% like-for-like last month compared with November last year. 

Bishops Home Hardware in East Sussex has been named Home Hardware Retailer of the Year. 

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.