Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Westland partners with the British Trust for Ornithology

As a key partner in the supply of bird care products to garden centres, Westland has said it is committed to driving the sector and educating the public. And to further this, the company has announced a new partnership and has joined forces with the ... 
21 May 2019

GCA Conference 2020 venue announced

The Garden Centre Association (GCA) has announced that the location of its 2020 annual conference is to be Bristol (January 26 until 29, 2020). The GCA’s annual event will be held at the Mercure Bristol, Grand Hotel from January 26 until 29.Mike ... 
20 May 2019

Tech guru helps Brits get smart home savvy

To mark the beginning of Smart Home Week, tech guru Jason Bradbury hosted a pop-up tech clinic at Charring Cross Station in Central London ahead of the week on Saturday 18 May.From 11am – 3pm inquisitive consumers dropped into the pop-up tech clinic,... 
20 May 2019

Waste compliance an important issue for BHETA members

BHETA members logged on to a webinar set up by BHETA associate member, Wastepack, to provide updates on the latest government consultations on Defra’s Resource and Waste Strategy, which was launched at the end of 2018. There are currently several ... 
20 May 2019

Retailers, including Tesco, Amazon and Argos caught selling knives to underage shoppers

As many as six in 10 retailers in some UK areas were found to be breaking the law and selling knives to children as young as 14, whilst Tesco, Amazon and Argos were also caught out by a BBC Watchdog.A test purchase operation by North Yorkshire ... 
17 May 2019

Kingfisher launches GoodHome to "solve the nightmare"

Véronique Laury, CEO of Kingfisher, opens the Innovation Day at Olympia LondonKingfisher, the home improvement company, launched GoodHome yesterday, a new international brand and have said GoodHome will provide a simpler way of helping home ... 
17 May 2019

Wyevale Garden Centres identifies plant varieties set to see sales boost from Chelsea

As the RHS Chelsea Flower Show gears up for its most popular edition yet, garden centres across the nation are bracing for a surge in sales, as Brits recreate their own show gardens at home. The world-renowned event has reported unprecedented ticket ... 
16 May 2019

Glee 2019 introduces the Taste Village

With catering and food sales continuing to offer major add-on profit opportunities for garden centres, garden trade show Glee (10 – 12 September, NEC Birmingham), will be offering retailers extensive inspiration at the newly introduced Taste Village.... 
16 May 2019

Original Poundworld founders continue ambitious roll out of new discount chain

One Below, the new discount retail venture launched by Poundworld founder, Chris Edwards and his son, will be opening yet more stores later this week, with a view to reaching their target of 100 outlets across the UK.Chris Edwards (senior) launched ... 
16 May 2019

Ikea teams up with designer Tom Dixon to explore sustainable growing at Chelsea

The Swedish home retailer is back at the famous flower show this year, this time with an exhibit exploring the importance of sustainable growing, looking at the contrast of the hyper-natural and hyper-tech – and showcasing exclusive prototypes of a ... 
15 May 2019

Kingfisher sees sales uplift but international business struggles

Owner of DIY giant B&Q, and Screwfix, Kingfisher plc reported an increase of sales for the its first quarter ended 30 April 2019 with total sales for UK and Ireland +5.0%, with like-for-like sales having increased by 3.4%. B&Q UK & ... 
15 May 2019

Bridgford Garden Centre owner negotiates for Trespass to set up shop on former site

Edward Tarbatt has completed a deal with the outdoor clothing retailer, which will see it take up a 10-year lease on 4,500sq ft unit on the former garden centre site in NottinghamIn 2017, Blue Diamond agreed a 35-year lease with Bridgford Garden ... 
14 May 2019

2019 DIY Week Awards winners revealed

A host of innovative suppliers and forward-thinking retailers took home accolades at the annual lunchtime event, which brought together representatives from across the industry to celebrate at the Tower Hotel in London. Critically-acclaimed ... 
14 May 2019

LifestyleGarden opens new showroom and distribution centre

LifestyleGarden has announed further growth with the opening of its new showroom and distribution centre. Located in the heart of Essex, the new LifestyleGarden showroom offers 14,000 sq ft of outdoor furniture. It was previously the home to ... 
13 May 2019

Ikea announced partnership with children's organisation Barnardo's

Ikea UK and Barnardo’s today announce a new three-year national partnership to support children and young people across the UK, with a focus on young carers.The partnership brings together Ikea’s focus on creating better lives and better lives at ... 
9 May 2019

TV gardener to open new look garden at Tong Garden Centre

TV gardener Katie Rushworth returns to Tong Garden Centre later this month to open her new look garden and outdoor living space. The ITV Love Your Garden co-presenter will officially open the show garden that has been brought to life by Ms Rushwroth ... 
9 May 2019

Tile Mountain acquires Walls and Floors

The latest deal to take on Kettering-based business Walls and Floors has secured Tile Mountain Group’s place as the UK’s largest privately-owned tile retailerEstablished in 1987, Walls and Floors is headed up by Duncan Lewin and Richard Greenbank. ... 
9 May 2019

Travis Perkins delivers strong profit growth in Q1 results

Builders' merchant Travis Perkins reported strong group revenue growth of 4.8%, and 4.9% on a like-for-like basis, in its Q1 results, showing continued market outperformance in the Contracts division and Toolstation, with LFL sales up 19%.... 
9 May 2019

Is till-free the way forward?

This week saw Sainsbury's launch the first-ever till-free store in the UK and Argos open its first self-service digital store. But some experts ask if digitalising the way consumers shop enough of a solution for bricks-and-mortar stores? On Monday, ... 
3 May 2019

Borrowing for home improvements on the rise

The average home improvement loan has increased by 16% in 2019, with households in the South East borrowing more for home improvements than any other region in the first quarter of this year, whilst the East Midlands saw biggest spike in home ... 
3 May 2019
*

Most read stories