Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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Kingfisher to invest £50m in renewable energy

B&Q and Screwfix owner Kingfisher has unveiled plans to invest £50m in renewable energy as part of a plan to reduce its energy consumption from the national grid by 10% in the next two years. 
2 December 2015

G Plants takes on distribution of BeeMat

Seed and bulb supplier G Plants has incorporated the BeeMat collection into its product portfolio, offering retailers increased access to the seed mat range. 
2 December 2015

Brutons Home Hardware scoops top Christmas window prize

Staff at Brutons Home Hardware in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, are celebrating having been announced as winners of this year's Home Hardware Christmas window dressing competition. 
30 November 2015

BIRA slams removal of business rates discount

Independent retailers are being warned that pain for the high street is set to continue after the Chancellor did away with the £1,500 business rates discount in last week's Autumn Statement. 
30 November 2015

Petition aims to change 'shoplifting' to 'shop theft'

The word 'shoplifting' is under fire from the boss of a Cambridgeshire hardware independent, who says it is simply a euphemism for stealing. 
30 November 2015

Travis Perkins helps deliver teddies to refugee children

Travis Perkins (TP) has joined up with a charitable organisation to help distribute thousands of teddy bears and messages of hope from British school children to children living in refugee camps. 
30 November 2015

Recovering economy delivers UK growth in Kingfisher's Q3

A stronger economy helped combined sales at Kingfisher's UK B&Q and Screwfix businesses rise by 5.5%, and by 4.6% on a like-for-like basis, in the 13 weeks to October 31, the company said this morning. 
24 November 2015

Vets and grooming boost Pets at Home

Pets at Home's ambitious expansion plans are on track, the retailer said today, as it released its half-year results. 
24 November 2015

Living Wage plea to Chancellor

Bringing forward the Living Wage timetable in tomorrow's Autumn Statement would be "devastating for businesses", the Chancellor is being warned. 
24 November 2015

Home Hardware names its Retailer of the Year

Philip and Kate Wyatt of Somerset independent Ilminster Home Hardware are celebrating having been declared Home Hardware Retailer of the Year at the organisation's convention this month. 
24 November 2015

Home Retail Group shares jump over sale rumours

Homebase and Argos parent company's share prices increase over rumours that it has caught the eye of private equity firms. 
23 November 2015

John Herbert to speak at GCA conference

The General Secretary of both the DIY-Retail Association (EDRA) and the Global Home Improvement Network (GHIN), John Herbert will fly in from Germany to speak at the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) golden jubilee event in January 
19 November 2015

Broad Street DIY scoops Retail Excellence award

Bromsgrove independent Broad Street DIY has been awarded a highly-commended accolade at the Midlands Family Business of the Year. 
18 November 2015

Suspended prison sentences for Floors-2-Go directors

Two directors of Floors-2-Go have been handed suspended prison sentences after the retail chain collapsed into administration for a third time. 
18 November 2015

Europe gives the all-clear to Roundup and glyphosate

Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide products, has effectively been given a clean bill of health by European regulatory authorities. 
18 November 2015

Hitachi buys Metabo

Japanese power tool giant Hitachi Koki has announced that it will acquire 100% ownership of German power tool firm Metabo Aktiengesellschaft (Metabo) and its parent company. 
18 November 2015

Major plant supplier John Woods Nurseries in administration

John Woods Nurseries, one of the UK's leading suppliers of plants to the garden retail market, has gone into administration. 
17 November 2015

Notcutts reports huge profit jump and reveals big investment plans

Family-owned garden centre, Notcutts has revealed a 469% profit increase for the 12 months to February 2015, from £1.3m the previous year to £7.4m. 
12 November 2015

Woodie's sees like-for-like growth as recovery in Irish market continues

Woodie's DIY, part of the Grafton Group, reported good like-for-like figures in its parent's latest interim trading statement, boosted by an increase in consumer spending and confidence in Ireland. 
12 November 2015

Asda steps away from Black Friday chaos

Following the chaos seen in stores last year, Walmart-owned retailer, Asda, has announced that it will scale back promotions on Black Friday in response to customer demand. 
11 November 2015
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