The Tile Association has revealed the shortlist for the 2012 TTA Awards, set to take place next month, honouring the best of the wall and floor tile industry. 

DIY sales are expected to flourish over the St Patrick's and Mother's Day weekend, says Retail Ireland, the Irish Business and Employer Confederation (IBEC) group that represents the retail sector. 

The solar garden product supplier is celebrating an "outstanding" year, as it reports a 100% increase in sales to garden centres in 2011. 

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) and Waterwise are delighted that agreement has been reached with Thames, Anglian and South East water companies to allow gardeners to use drip irrigation during the hosepipe ban. 

OMNOVA Solutions, the US-based company who owned the Muraspec wallcoverings business, has announced the sale of the UK-based business to a2e Venture Catalysts Ltd and its principal Amin Amiri, based in Manchester. 

Glee and the Pet Care Trade Association (PCTA) have decided to axe the separate pet show format in favour of integrating pet exhibitors into the main Glee show. 

More than 60 new staff members have been recruited for the new garden centre, which has been constructed over the last year on 15 acres of land previously housing commercial greenhouses alongside the original Roundstone Garden Centre. 

Both retailers celebrated at a recent awards ceremony, which saw Pets at Home take second place and Homebase 20th in The Sunday Times 25 Best Big Companies to Work For 2012 list. 

The gardening supplier’s area sales manager Louise Cross has pledged to raise £1,000 for Greenfingers by running the London Marathon next month dressed as a dragonfly. 

According to a new report by market information company PMR, the number of DIY stores in central Europe has increased by 36% in the last four years. 

BHETA's latest initiative with homewares and garden retailer, Robert Dyas is already fully booked with almost a month left to go before the event takes place. 

Over the next four months independent retailers all over the country are being encouraged to join the Independents' Day campaign, which encourages the public to buy at least one thing from their local independent shop on July 4. 

DIY Week reporter Jenni Briscoe asked Mica members to show their support for the industry charity at their annual dinner - and they did! 

Non-food sales remained static last month with small gains in DIY and garden, while discounts to try and stimulate growth continue to eat into retailers' margins. 

DIY retail giant B&Q has teamed up with social housing provider Home Group in a pilot scheme aimed at improving the DIY skills of its tenants through voucher, free course and rent holiday incentives. 

The John Lewis Partnership's financial results for the year ending January 28, 2012, revealed the group's operating profit declined by £37.7m to £393.3m, impacted by heavy investment in store openings and new initiatives. 

The Irish group, which owns Woodie's DIY and Atlantic Homecare, revealed that underlying operating were profits up 13% to €54.7m for the year, but that sales in its retail division dropped by 4.7% to €219.7m. 

The candle maker and supplier has appointed Junction Eighteen as its new distributor for garden centres and retail channels. 

Mica DIY members joined some of the industry's leading suppliers for a day and evening of 'slow dating' style networking, awards and entertainment last weekend. 

The Mica DIY member and supplier awards, held at the Mercure Bristol Holland House hotel last weekend, saw Stax Trade Centres walk away with the Supplier of the Year award for the second year running.