In what the business described as a "controversial decision", Beckworth Emporium in Mears Ashby has announced it will close its doors on Monday, June 4 and Tuesday, June 5 to allow staff to enjoy Diamond Jubilee festivities with family and friends. 

The two Home Retail Group businesses raised the landmark amount in just 21 months, smashing through their initial fundraising target of £2.5m for the group's official partner charity Teenage Cancer Trust. 

Retail sales value were down 3.3% like-for-like for April 2012 compared with April 2011 according to the British Retail Consortium, with the poor weather hitting outdoor products particularly hard 

The continued squeeze on household budgets and a subdued housing market have been blamed for the lowest level of DIY expenditure in 15 years, as revealed by a recent report by Lloyds TSB. 

In a deal worth £0.8m, Garden Bird Supplies, Garden Centre Online and the Listen2 businesses have all been sold by Flying Brands to home entertainment distributor MBL Group plc. 

It's historically been heralded the 'Bank Holiday of DIY' and major retailers B&Q, Homebase, Wickes and even Argos are all vying for a slice of the action with promotions, deals and exclusive offers this May Day Bank Holiday. 

After Bayer's TV ads received a good reception from retailers and gardeners, the firm has decided to extend the high profile campaign and run the commercials throughout the May and Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday weekends. 

The retailer reported the strongest sales performance in over three years for its last quarter, up 10% year-on-year. 

Argos boss John Walden, who joined as managing director in February, has drafted in consultants and launched a full review of the catalogue retail chain. 

Following research which revealed 47% of Brits are "put off DIY because they don't know what they're doing," the ICI brand has teamed up with augmented reality platform Aurasma to launch a free demonstration app. 

A Bill to suspend the Sunday Trading Laws, which restrict opening hours to six continuous hours between 10am and 6pm, received Royal Assent in government this week, meaning all shops with relevant floor space over 280 sq m (3,000sq ft) can open longer during the London Olympics. 

While many retailers are looking for a boost in sales from the upcoming London Olympics, a garden centre in Kent is expecting its turnover to take a hammering. 

Garden centre and horticultural industry staff are being urged to start limbering up for a fundraising event being held at the Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference in 2013. 

Pritesh Pancholi of Melton Ironmongers in Leicester has named BHF Young Retailer of the Year for 2012. 

The group is in discussions with potential purchasers interested in the online garden shop and is hoping to complete a deal by the end of June. 

Kitchen Kapers director Caroline Gordon was elected president of the British Independent Retailers Association at the AGM on April 24. 

The balance of sales volumes for DIY and hardware retailers has dipped to -45% after holding steady in March, according to the latest distributive trades survey by the CBI. 

With first store Mainlys of Devizes Mica having gone from conception during a conversation at the 2010 Totally DIY show to winning the 2011 Silver Hardware Retailer of the Year DIY Week Award, owners Colin and Clare Henrich decided the time was ripe to open a second store. 

Employment opportunities in non-food stores rose for the first time in almost a year, according to the latest figures produced by the British Retail Consortium. 

In a recent DIYWeek.net poll, 74% of respondents said they thought the hosepipe ban would negatively impact garden centre trade, but according to the latest results from the Garden Centre Association, like-for-like sales were up 11.5% during March.