Room specific products during the Easter 2012 weekend saw a 16.4% boost according to a new report by the GfK, which said the dismal weather meant people spent more money - as well as time - indoors. 

The DIY retailer has recently been in the spotlight for a deal which saw social housing tenants in South Shields given vouchers only valid at a B&Q superstore, described as "grossly unfair" by neighbouring independent DIY traders. 

The retailer said the sector was "almost entirely impacted by our decision to withdraw from technology." 

Garden products supplier announces move into a new market with the launch of a pet care accessories range. 

Following the success of last year's visit to the Canton Fair, Home Hardware Scotland's general manager, Chris McEwan and senior buyer, Derek O'Ware are set to make a return 10 day visit at the end of April. 

In the wake of the sky-rocketing interest in garden centre catering, Glee organisers have got in on the action and for the first time visitors to the September show will be able to take advantage of the newly launched Food and Catering Zone. 

The Mica co-operative group has just gone live with brand new upgrade, featuring additional supplier resources alongside a contemporary new look for consumers. 

Billy + Margot, a unique new iced treat made especially for dogs was launched across 27 Dobbies Garden Centres today, making it the first and only garden centre to currently stock the new iced treat in its pets department. 

Notcutts has teamed up with Greencup Coffee in an exclusive deal to provide the garden centre chain's customers with a unique, recycled coffee garden fertiliser that uses beans from coffee sold at its Notcutts centres. 

An area of wasteland in Kettering is currently under construction to be transformed into new retail units including a Dunelm Mill store, as the retailer announced a 0.6% like-for-life sales growth in Q3. 

In celebration of all things shed-related, Cuprinol recently commissioned famous shed-lovers Vic Reeves, Christian O'Connell, Joanne Harris, Alex Johnson and Sarah Beeny to create their ultimate "garden havens" which are now open to the public in beauty spots across the country. 

Gordon Thompson, 34, who admitted to starting a fire which destroyed a 144-year-old furniture store in Croydon during the London riots last summer, is expected to receive a significant jail sentence today. 

The garden products supplier announces the purchase of Cranswick - a leading manufacturer in the wild bird and small animal markets. 

Gordon Thompson, 34, has been sentenced to 11 years and six months in jail for setting fire to House of Reeves in Croydon in what was described in court as "an act of cynical cowardice." 

It was a mixed report of trading for garden centres across the country following the long-anticipated Easter Bank Holiday weekend, with many seeing an initial bright start on Friday, followed by poor footfall during Monday's rainy weather. 

A scheme for tenants of South Tyneside Homes has been criticised by independent DIY retailers in the area because the customers' £200 home improvement allowance is only valid at a B&Q store in South Shields. 

According to Deloitte, 69 retailers fell into administration during the first quarter of 2012 compared with 60 in the same period last year, with an estimated 10,000 job losses. 

The Garden Centre Group has agreed a new partnership to run the plant centre and gift shop at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum in Gloucestershire. 

The unseasonably hot weather in March sent shoppers to the high streets, with homewares sales up 4.1% on last year according to the BDO high street sales tracker. 

The Somerset-based garden centre announced in January it was planning to give away thousands of sapling trees to worthy causes around the South West, and this week announced the successful replanting of more than 2,000 of the trees in 31 different projects.