BlackRock Real Estate has acquired the portfolio of eight garden centres within The BlackRock UK Long Lease Property Fund from LaSalle Investment Management. 

Dunlop Adhesives has announced that well-established independent Ace Décor Preston is now stocking its new Pro Décor range. 

Building checmicals manufacturer Bond It has opened a new training centre at its head offices and manufacturing site in Elland, West Yorkshire. 

Home furnishings retailer Habitat is reportedly poised for significant expansion. 

UK retail traffic dropped in August, with shopper numbers 5.4% lower than in July, when they reached their summertime peak. 

A Cambridgeshire garden centre that closed down - despite help from TV business guru Alex Polizzi - is now in new hands. 

The success of its latest TV campaign has prompted Dreams to try its hand at conquering the UK singles charts with the release of the track from the ad. 

Having been given the go-ahead in its acquisition of 99p Stores Ltd, Poundland has now launched an online store boasting 2,000 products and no minimum order. 

British plastic storageware manufacturer What More UK has acquired the innovative bakeware brand PushPan. 

Workwear specialist Dickies has donated over 30 coveralls for the volunteers and staff at the Wild Futures Monkey Sanctuary near Looe, Cornwall. 

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA) has launched a direct marketing campaign aimed at 600 of the UK's top home improvement and garden retail buyers. 

Following several difficult years the UK market for floor and wall tiles grew by an estimated 4% in 2014, and is set to inch forward again this year. 

Topps Tiles has launched its third store in Northern Ireland, having opened the doors to its new Bangor outlet on Saturday. 

Travis Perkins and Briggs Equipment have collaborated to provide a new van, worth over £20,000, to a charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities. 

The tool market is mature and has seen moderate growth rates, though 2014 proved to be a good year. 

Home improvement across England reached a record 417,000 planning applications between March 2014 and March 2015, up 18% over the same period 2011/2012. 

The garden centre section of a Kent branch of B&Q had to close when a giant swarm of honey bees took a fancy to a hanging basket. 

A man with an artificial leg has been saved months in a wheelchair or several thousand pounds - thanks to a hardware shop hero. 

Garden and horticulture products manufacturer Vitax has appointed a new Irish distributor as part of its strategy to grow its presence across Ireland. 

The world's largest glass and tableware company, Arc International, has joined the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA).