Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

The Pier - Everything must go

The Pier has been unable to find a buyer over the Christmas period and looks likely to close with the loss of 350 jobs. 
2 January 2009

Retail traffic up 3.2% for Christmas

Sales encourage non-food shopping trips during Christmas week, resulting in the first increase on 2007 in nine weeks. 
2 January 2009

Is Whittard's the next credit crunch casualty?

Tea, coffee and housewares retailer Whittard of Chelsea is understood to be on the brink of administration. 
23 December 2008

Hultafors Group acquires Snickers

The Hultafors Group has owned Snickers Workwear since December 2006, however, in a deal announced today, it will acquire the franchise company Snickers Original in the UK. 
23 December 2008

Home Retail's return to FTSE a disappointment

Shares in Argos and Homebase parent company drop 13% to 204p after a six month absence due to concerns over level of discounting. 
23 December 2008

British company bucks trend

Shutter and blind retailer The California Company has reported a 26% increase in like-for-like profits for the three months to October. 
22 December 2008

Klondyke Group buys 24th centre

Bob and Dorothy Gault, owners of the Klondyke Group of Garden Centres, including Strikes Garden Centres, have confirmed the acquisition of Brookside Garden Centre at Poynton, Cheshire. 
22 December 2008

Plastic shopping bag use to be cut by 50%

Major retailers have signed up to a government initiative to cut the use of plastic bags in half by spring 2009. 
19 December 2008

Hobbycraft profits up 10%

Hobbycraft is so far proving immune to the economic downturn by revealing turnover has grown by £7.7m to 62.1m. 
19 December 2008

Poundland fined after selling knife to teenager

A Poundland store has had to pay more than £4,000 after being caught selling a knife to a 17-year-old. 
18 December 2008

UPDATE: M&S cuts prices again

Marks and Spencer is again cutting prices on homewares in the run up to Christmas. 
18 December 2008

Akzo Nobel acquires majority ownership of Japanese venture

Decorative coatings company agrees a 75/25 majority interest in joint venture with Nippon Kayaku. 
17 December 2008

Impressive attendance at NBG annual conference

More than 250 people flock to Hilton Hotel in Newcastle for National Buying Group event on December 2. 
17 December 2008

Woolworths to close all stores by January 5 [UPDATED]

Staff informed of retailer’s decision to close doors for the final time in New Year after administrators fail to find a buyer. 
17 December 2008

Electrolux axes over 3,000 jobs

Domestic appliance supplier reduces employee numbers after ‘sharp decline in demand’ means the company won’t reach full year target for 2008. 
16 December 2008

Looking bright in the long-term for lighting industry

Independent lighting retailers will have a tough time next year but a healthy 2010, according to a new report. 
15 December 2008

BHETA members say yes to merger

Members of the British Home Enhancement Trades Association (BHETA) have voted overwhelmingly in favour of joining forces with the British Jewellery, Giftware & Finishing Federation (BJGF) in a 95% to 5% victory. 
15 December 2008

Kingfisher pushes for fair deal on rents

DIY giant joins the ranks of retailers pushing landlords for better payment deals and elimination of quarterly rents. 
15 December 2008

British Hardware Federation announces merger

The BHF announced this morning that it is to merge with the British Shops and Stores Association (BSSA), hot on the heels of the news that BHETA is to merge with the BJGF. 
15 December 2008

Bryan Farthing

Bryan Farthing, the former editor of Hardware Trade Journal - which became DIY Week - died on Saturday December 6. He was 82. 
12 December 2008
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