Tesco-owned garden centre chain gave away 25,000 tree seedlings to its customers across the UK in 2010 in a bid to encourage homegrown Christmas trees in the future. 

John Lewis smashed its single day's sales record during post-Christmas clearance, with sales on December 27 up 30% on the retailer's previous biggest-ever day, December 27, 2008. 

Nearly two thirds of retail outlets expect retail sales to worsen next year compared with 2010 but still plan to invest in and create more jobs throughout the year. 

Bradfords Building Supplies has marked the completion of its £1m building programme with an opening ceremony led by the Mayor of Taunton Deane at its new-look branch in Taunton, Somerset. 

Timber and builders merchants Covers raised £2,750 for charity this week with its annual carol concert - attended by more than 1,000 people! 

UK shoppers spent £6.4bn online during November according to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini e-Retail Sales Index. 

Defra has called for peat to be completely eliminated from the amateur gardener market by 2020. 

Sales of food preparation equipment have surpassed £100m for the first time ever, with food processors and kitchen machines showing strong growth in 2010. 

Around 35 firefighters attended a stock room fire at Homeleigh Garden Centre in Cornwall last week. 

Heavy snow kept shoppers indoors on Saturday, the last before Christmas, with footfall dropping by nearly a quarter year-on-year. 

As Underground staff threaten to strike on Boxing Day, fears grow that it will damage a crucial part of the capital's economy at its most important time of year. 

Crown Paints has been put up for sale as part of an exploration of "strategic options' for the company. 

Hallstone to operate as a separate company, while also supplying Rolawn with composts for use in its various topsoil mixes. 

2% growth in UK economy forecast for 2011 after a sluggish start to the year, with inflation set to rise higher than previously thought. 

Nursery business secures planning permission for expansion plans at its sites in West Midlands Green Belt with the help of Malcolm Scott Consultants. 

A woman was found dead at the Maidstone branch of Homebase on Friday morning last week, after apparently hanging herself in the store. 

Settlement of £734,400 awarded to more than 400 customers who suffered injuries and burns from sofas they purchased from collapsed furniture retailer. 

HTA Salary Survey 2010 reveals 2.12% wage increase was up on 2009 but still below the UK average, while directors in the nursery and garden centre sector took a cut in remuneration. 

A new legal requirement that businesses must vote in favour before any Business Rates Supplement (BRS) is introduced has been hailed as a "major victory" by the British Retail Consortium (BRC). 

Swedish retailers ends 2010 on a high with stores in Cardiff, Norwich and Doncaster but scales down expansion plans for next year due to economic climate.