Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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Demand boost for Home Hardware promotion

During April, Home Hardware retailers will collectively distribute over 1.1m Home & Garden brochures and leaflets, an increase of over 4% on the previous year. 
12 March 2013

Waitrose to open within Watford John Lewis

John Lewis today announced that it is to trial a new food concept at its Watford department store. 
12 March 2013

Brico and Praxis speaker lined up for BHETA forum

Delegates at the next British Home Enhancement Trades Association DIY forum will have a chance to discuss business with a key representative of the Belgian Brico and Dutch Praxis DIY multiples. 
12 March 2013

DIYer recovers after screwdriver penetrates head

A DIY enthusiast is expected to make a full recovery after falling onto a screwdriver, which pierced his skull. 
11 March 2013

Warmup awarded ISO quality certification

Underfloor heating manufacturer and supplier Warmup has achieved ISO 9001:2008 certification for its quality management system. 
11 March 2013

DIY staff 'are best at explaining products'

Staff in DIY stores and garden centres emerge in a new survey as having the best product knowledge and being most effective in explaining product benefits to customers. 
11 March 2013

BEE UPDATE: GCG and Dobbies become latest to pull neonicotinoids from shelves

The Garden Centre Group has confirmed it has banned pesticides containing neonicotinoids - chemicals which the EFSA have labelled harmful to bees - across its 129 stores. Dobbies, too, has also confirmed a ban. 
11 March 2013

Eco Technology Show expands

The Eco Technology Show, designed for a London and south-east audience, is promising to be a bigger event this year. 
11 March 2013

Mica members gather in Scotland

Mica DIY members and suppliers gathered for the voluntary group's Annual General Meeting and Supplier Exchange at the Dalmahoy Marriott Hotel outside Edinburgh on March 3 - the first time the group has taken its annual event north of the border. 
8 March 2013

Homebase Food on 4 sponsorship will showcase kitchens

Homebase has signed a sponsorship deal with Food on 4 television programmes that will allow it to showcase a range of home enhancement products. 
8 March 2013

Wickes to stock Dulux paint offer

The Travis Perkins-owned retailer, known for its policy of stocking almost entirely own-brand ranges, will now carry the Dulux paint range in its stores. 
8 March 2013

Online marketplace set up for UK nurseries

Newly-launched GreenPlantSwap will act as a new location-based online marketplace to help nurseries reach gardeners via the web without the hassle of setting up their own site. 
8 March 2013

Long-term investment drives strong performance at JLP

Partners will each walk away with a 17% bonus - almost nine weeks' pay - after John Lewis Partnership announced a 9.3% boost in annual gross sales, the retailer said today. 
7 March 2013

Dreams enters administration, 400 redundancies made

Bed retailer dreams has entered a pre-pack administration, with 90 stores earmarked for closure and 400 jobs culled. 
7 March 2013

Henkel reports record results

Adhesive and sealants firm saw sales rise 5.8% to 16,510m Euros in 2012, with operating profit up 15% 
7 March 2013

Top industry names prepare for second Global DIY Summit

The second Global DIY Summit will be taking place in Rome this June, with guest speakers from the country's leading DIY and home improvement brands. 
7 March 2013

300 jobs go as Axminster Carpets succumbs to administration

The historic Devon-based manufacturer Axminster Carpets finally collapsed into administration yesterday, a move which the company described as unavoidable. 
6 March 2013

February's shoppers drive retail sales to three-year high

Retailers have been given a welcome confidence boost this morning with the news that last month's retail sales enjoyed the strongest growth for three years. 
5 March 2013

Waitrose setting up garden centre trial

Waitrose is looking to extend its presence in the horticultural products market by trialling a small garden centre. 
5 March 2013

Debenhams sales plummet 10% during snow-hit weeks

Homewares department store Debenhams suffered a significant drop in like-for-like sales during the last two weeks of January as heavy snow kept shoppers from the high street. 
4 March 2013
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