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Pilkington's brand is back

Former Pilkington's Tiles ceo Ray Tarr is to re-launch the brand in the British market. UK manufacturing operations, however, will not re-open. 
6 May 2011

B&Q to take over 31 ex-Focus stores

Parent firm announces that it has agreed to buy up to 31 leasehold properties from administrators for £23m. 
6 May 2011

QVC on the hunt for guest presenters

Shopping channel looks to the industry for people with a passion for kitchenware and household products to star in demos. 
6 May 2011

Four out of ten Brits planned home improvements over Bank Holiday weekends

40% of British homeowners planned to carry out DIY jobs over the recent Bank Holiday weekends, according to a new survey from HSBC. 
5 May 2011

DIY retail business lifts Grafton sales in Ireland

Woodie's DIY and Atlantic Hardware contribute 4.6% growth in parent firm's retailing operations, easing declines in Ireland in Q1. 
5 May 2011

UPDATE: Focus appoints administrators

Focus DIY has entered administration, appointing Ernst & Young this morning after defaulting on its credit facility and announcing its intention to file yesterday. 
5 May 2011

BHF-BSSA reveals new identity

Going forward the association will now be known as the British Independent Retailers Association, or Bira. 
5 May 2011

Shop price inflation edges up

Shop price inflation increased marginally to 2.5% in April from 2.4% in March, as rising food inflation outweighed slowing non-food inflation, according to the latest BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index. 
4 May 2011

Bank Holidays boost sales

Retailers and suppliers have a reported a fantastic Bank Holiday fortnight with large increases in sales as consumers enjoyed barbecue weather, time off work and a royal celebration. 
4 May 2011

Brits strive to save May Day as Bank Holiday sales soar

As garden centres and the HTA report record sales over the Bank Holiday weekends, new research finds that 78% of people in England and Wales want to keep May Day in May, rather than move to another date, as proposed by ministers. 
4 May 2011

Squires buys Shoots Garden Centres

Family-run garden centre chain Squire's has confirmed that it has acquired Shoots Garden Centres for an undisclosed sum. 
4 May 2011

Focus to enter administration

Focus DIY has said it intends to appoint Ernst & Young as administrators, suggesting reported talks between its owner Cerberus and potential buyer GA Europe were unsuccessful. 
4 May 2011

Squires to buy Shoots Garden Centres

Family-run garden centre chain acquires Shoots for undisclosed sum. 
3 May 2011

Confidence of UK consumer businesses lags behind global trends

UK consumer businesses expect to see their financial performance improve this year, but their confidence falls below the global trend, according to a new survey from KPMG International. 
3 May 2011

Silverhills Nursery victim of arson attack

Fire at garden centre in Kibblesworth, Gateshead, which caused around £30,000 worth of damage, may have been started deliberately. 
3 May 2011

Sunshine and Royal Wedding boost sales at John Lewis

John Lewis has reported a 7.6% sales uplift for the week to April 23, 2011, as customers enjoyed the sunny weather. 
28 April 2011

Job creation struggles in retail sector

While the number of full-time jobs in UK retail picked up in the first quarter of 2011, March figures saw a decline on last year, with a sharp increase in the number of redundancies. 
28 April 2011

Fermoy's celebrates cupcake win

Fermoy's Garden Centre Café is celebrating this week after its cupcakes were judged best in the UK at the Bakers' Fair in Newberry on April 10. 
27 April 2011

B&Q recreates famous horror scenes to 'take fear out of DIY'

DIY giant films its own versions of classics, including Psycho, The Shining and Poltergeist, with a DIY twist as part of new viral campaign. 
27 April 2011

Carpetright issues third profit warning

Carpetright has issued its second profit warning in a month after sales declined further in the 11 weeks to April 16, 2011. 
27 April 2011
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