Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Recycling enterprise offers DIYers cheap timber

A former banker is now helping to reduce the amount of timber waste going to landfill by recycling it for use by DIY enthusiasts. 
7 June 2013

Home Hardware launches new Summer Savings gap filler

Following requests from its members to organise additional promotional activity during the later summer months, Home Hardware has launched a new sixth promotion, Summer Savings. 
6 June 2013

Online shoppers want more delivery info

Many online shoppers feel left in the dark when it comes to the delivery of their purchases, with one in three saying they often don't hear anything until their parcel arrives on their doorstep. 
6 June 2013

Summerseat acquires second garden centre

Summerseat Garden Centre has bought out Stephen H. Smith's Garden & Leisure Bolton branch, a 1.67 hectare purpose-built business including a restaurant and Edinburgh Woollen Mill concession. 
5 June 2013

Online home improvement giant bags new funding

The rapidly-growing UK-based home and garden online retailer WorldStores has raised £10m to help its future expansion. 
5 June 2013

BHETA names new president and executive chairman

The British Home Enhancement Trade Association's recent AGM saw the appointment of a new president and executive chairman. 
5 June 2013

Topps Tiles earmarks more Tile Clearing Houses for brand conversion

Topps Tiles is to strengthen its brand presence in the market by converting more of its Tile Clearing House (TCH) outlets to Topps Tiles Clearance branches. 
5 June 2013

Garden lights multi-buy ad did not mislead on costs

A teleshopping presentation for a pair of solar-powered Tiffany-style garden lights did not mislead viewers over the cost of post and packaging, the ad watchdog has decided. 
5 June 2013

Garden centre staff mark 86 years of service

Seven members of staff at a family-run Powys garden centre are celebrating this month after clocking up more than 86 years of dedicated service to the business between them. 
5 June 2013

W. L. Brown Ironmongers celebrates 100 years

Pershore-based family firm W. L. Brown Ironmongers will be celebrating a century in business this August. 
4 June 2013

Flooring shines as May boosts retail sales

Retailers across the board enjoyed sales growth in May, with furniture and flooring the star category, according to figures released today by the British Retail Consortium. 
4 June 2013

Car tears through Aylsham Garden Centre

Norfolk business Aylsham Garden Centre suffered a devastating blow on Friday when a car ploughed through the building, causing around £50,000 damage. 
4 June 2013

Paul Grinsell gets on his bike for charity

Totally Shows director Paul Grinsell will be trading in his motorcycle leathers for Lycra on Sunday, June 16 to take part in the London to Brighton cycle ride to raise money for industry charity the Rainy Day Trust. 
3 June 2013

Cold German spring hits Praktiker sales hard

The fortunes of German DIY and home improvement giant Praktiker mirrored those of many UK companies this spring as cold, wet weather sent a chill through sales. 
3 June 2013

New rules 'will turn high streets into money-lenders' ghettoes'

Planning rules that have just come into force in England risk draining the life from high streets. 
3 June 2013

Retailers to investigate retail taxation

The British Retail Consortium has announced that it is to investigate retail taxation - as B&Q's boss highlights the disparity in taxes paid by bricks-and-mortar and online retailers. 
3 June 2013

Home Hardware celebrates customer service

Home Hardware has been promoting quality customer service within its corporate membership by inviting all corporate stores to take part in two mystery shopper surveys, taking part over the busy Christmas period and earlier this year. 
3 June 2013

Retail sales plummet by fastest rate in a year

Retail suffered its worst decline in more than a year during the first half of May, according to the latest Distributive Trades Survey from the CBI. 
31 May 2013

B&Q revenue drops 5.6% LfL during Q1 as weather cripples outdoor sales

Total sales at the Kingfisher retailer B&Q fell by 5.7% to £913m during the 13 weeks to May 4, 2013, with unseasonably cold temperatures blamed for lower footfall and depressed sales of outdoor products. 
30 May 2013

Cash use down 10%, but remains customers' payment of choice

New technology has transformed the way people pay for products on the high street and online, according to the BRC's Cost of Payment Collection Survey, which reported a 10% decrease in cash spending in the retail industry over 2012. 
30 May 2013
*

Most read stories