Home Hardware (Scotland) has seen sales records tumble over the last couple of months, with gardening being the stand-out category.
April delivered the best month on record for the group, with turnover up 34.42% for that month and 10.25% for the year to date. The biggest increase was in the gardening department, which saw a phenomenal 81.29% surge.

The group also enjoyed the best March ever, with sales increasing 14.77% on March 2013. There was a big leap in many departments, with hand tools up 30%, power tools up 37% and housewares up 23%. And the 45% rise in gardening was Home Hardware (Scotland)'s best-ever result for the category - until it was trumped by the April figure.

"We're delighted with such a positive start to 2014," marketing coordinator Irene Cross told DIY Week, "and hope that the success will continue with our 20-page spring brochure which came out at the beginning of April.

"The Home Hardware summer brochure is due to hit customers' doorsteps on May 19 and carries a fantastic range of gardening, housewares and DIY from many of the UK's top suppliers."

Home Hardware (Scotland) has 66 member shops throughout Scotland and the north of England.