News Archive - March 2010

DLF Trifolium sexual harassment case 'resolved' 31-Mar-2010

The employment tribunal brought by Miranda Harris against former employer DLF Trifolium for sexual discrimination and sexual ...

Homebase gears up for Easter 31-Mar-2010

A new Homebase survey revealed the top five DIY jobs people are likely to do this Easter weekend are garden planting, putting...

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Brits opt for holidays over home improvements 31-Mar-2010

Despite promises of the 'don't move, improve' trend boosting DIY sales, UK homeowners would rather spend their money on trave...

Topps 'satisfied' with latest trading figures 31-Mar-2010

--opp- --ile- ha- reported, ahead of the period clo-e, -tronger -ale- than la-t year for the 27-week- to April 3. However, th...

Grosvenor celebrates tenth year of excellence 30-Mar-2010

Grosvenor garden centre in Chester has been awarded Garden Centre of Excellence status for the tenth consecutive year.

Shoppers show support over innuendo ads 30-Mar-2010

Customers are backing a Derbyshire garden centre after it received a complaint over some 'sexy signs'.

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Theft at Blooms Rugby garden centre 30-Mar-2010

Intruders take safe from concession store in night time raid at garden centre site.

Builders merchant hits out at Kingfisher TradePoint launch 29-Mar-2010

Wickes parent company, Travis Perkins, reacts to B&Q's new venture into the trade market, while Kingfisher's ceo Ian Cheshire...

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Selfridges launches transactional website 29-Mar-2010

Department store's e-commerce site to stock '0,000 lines, including leading home brands, with delivery offered anywhere in Br...

John Lewis fined over injured worker 29-Mar-2010

John Lewis was fined £'6,000 at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court on March '9 for breaking health and safety laws.

Controversial garden centre application gets green light 29-Mar-2010

Despite protests from locals, Taunton Deane council approves plans for seven-acre garden centre site in Wellington.

Nine out of ten small firms unhappy over Budget, says poll 26-Mar-2010

Nine out of ten small firms are unhappy over this year's Budget, according to a snap poll....

Green products a 'mass market opportunity', says new report 26-Mar-2010

New research for Homebase has found that helping households reduce their carbon footprint is a 'mass market opportunity'....

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Safety faults exposed at hire firms 26-Mar-2010

Big name hire firms have removed tools from their shelves after safety faults were discovered.

Compere confirmed for awards event 25-Mar-2010

--a href=-http://www.diyweek.net/productoftheyear/bookyourplace.asp- target=-_new->Book your place now!--/a> Comedian Rufus H...

'Toxic' sofa claims rejected by judge 25-Mar-2010

Customers who bought 'toxic' sofas from Land of Leather will not receive compensation, the High Court ruled last week.

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B&Q UK star performer in Kingfisher results 25-Mar-2010

Group retail profit up 64.5% in 2009, with B&Q boosted by showroom sales and successful TradePoint trial.

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The Budget 2010: business groups respond 24-Mar-2010

Support for small businesses played a key part in the Chancellor's Budget announcement today, yet business groups remain anxi...

Stick to smaller independents, says Which? Gardening 24-Mar-2010

Shoppers should shun big brand stores in favour of smaller independent garden centres when buying garden products, according ...

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Sexual harassment case brought against DLF Trifolium 24-Mar-2010

Miranda Harris, a former employee of DLF Trifolium, has commenced legal proceedings against the company for sexual discrimina...

Further tentative growth on the high street 24-Mar-2010

Retail sales grow for second month running but hardware and DIY continue to decline, with the economy not expected to return ...

Carpetright warns of below-market level profits 23-Mar-2010

Flooring specialist posts 4.9% sales increase but has not seen the recovery it hoped for in 2---.

L.G Harris secures £1.5m for expansion plans 23-Mar-2010

Paint brush and decorating products manufacturer L.G. Harris has secured a £'.5m loan from Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets to bo...

Job cuts help drive profit growth at Wolseley UK 22-Mar-2010

745 expected to go from UK arm in first half, while builders merchants reports profit jump of 67.9%.

February UK business insolvencies down 15% year-on-year 22-Mar-2010

UK business insolvencies have fallen '5% year-on-year during February, according to the latest Insolvency Index from Experian...

DSG launches megastore expansion as Best Buy arrives in UK 22-Mar-2010

DSG International, parent company of Currys, PC World and online brand Dixons, is to open 25 new 'megastores' in the UK by Ch...

Homebase fires back at B&Q 19-Mar-2010

Homebase has fired back at rival B&Q with its own series of price-led adverts.

FPB urges government to help small firms lead economic recovery 19-Mar-2010

The Forum of Private Business is calling for radical measures to be put in place by next week's Budget to help small business...

Furniture and kitchens lead the way for John Lewis 19-Mar-2010

Bluewater branch reports 73% increase in sales of furniture, while fitted kitchens and bedroom furniture boosts sales in home...

BJGF suspends BHETA merger discussions 18-Mar-2010

In a letter to members, BHETA president Andrew Weiss has explained that the BJGF Board has requested a hiatus in the discussi...

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B&Q launches new eco shops 18-Mar-2010

B&Q is to open its first eco shops in its flagship stores in New Malden and Sutton this Friday.

Spring has sprung on the high street 18-Mar-2010

Sunnier weather helped boost high street sales for the seventh consecutive week this year, according to BDO High Street Sales...

Rapid acquisition completed 17-Mar-2010

Office products manufacturer Esselte has completed its acquisition of Isaberg Rapid.

Robert Dyas revamps website 17-Mar-2010

Robert Dyas is launching its new revamped website today to reflect its recent re-branding and boost online sales.

Employment law is stifling UK competitiveness, says BCC 17-Mar-2010

New report from the British Chambers of Commerce finds that the 'relentless flow' of complicated employment law is risking fu...

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Scottish retail's worst February since 1999 17-Mar-2010

The SCR-KPMG Scottish Retail Sales Monitor has reported Scottish retail's worst February since ''''.

Two Global Innovator awards for Steamer Trading 17-Mar-2010

The Steamer Trading cookshop chain has been honoured twice in this year's Global Innovator Awards (the GIAs) in Chicago, whic...

Prolonged cold snap stagnates sales on the high street 16-Mar-2010

The coldest winter in more than 30 years offered retailers opportunities in the sales of winter products but has prevented th...

John Baker resigns from BHETA board 16-Mar-2010

BHETA non-executive director John Baker has resigned from the board with immediate effect, but has been co-opted back on unti...

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Stanley Works merger with Black & Decker gets EU approval 16-Mar-2010

U.S. tool maker Stanley Works has won EU regulatory approval for its purchase of U.S. rival Black & Decker.

Debenhams first half profits up 16-Mar-2010

Department store chain increases market share with home range and reports strong sales of own-bought ranges.

Gardening sector outstrips DIY 15-Mar-2010

Recession alters consumer mindset, boosting sales in the garden products sector, as homeowners opt for low-cost pastime and g...

Jewson's parent company smashes waste to landfill target 15-Mar-2010

Jewson's parent company Saint-Gobain Building Distribution UK (SGBD) has announced it has beaten its target for reducing wast...

HTA establishes new Marketing Committee 15-Mar-2010

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is establishing a new Marketing Committee, which will meet for the first time in A...

London sales outperform rest of UK 15-Mar-2010

Retail sales up 9.9% in the capital, with improved footfall, while the country as whole saw an increase of just 2.2% in Febru...

Government calls for total peat phase-out by 2020 12-Mar-2010

Environment secretary Hilary Benn has called for a complete phase-out of peat from the amateur garden market by 2020.

Mulcahy honoured with lifetime award 12-Mar-2010

Former Kingfisher group md Sir Geoffrey Mulcahy to receive the European Home Improvement Lifetime Award.

Charity garden centres burgled twice in a week 12-Mar-2010

Shaw Trust Palmer Gardens victim of two break-ins, losing £3,000 of equipment in latest incident.

Bents launches new charity campaign 12-Mar-2010

Bents Garden & Home supports Ronald McDonald House at Alder Hey Children-s Hospital in Liverpool as its charity of the year f...

Sale raises £1,100 for Rainy Day Trust 12-Mar-2010

Hardware industry charity the Rainy Day Trust is almost £'''00 better off' after a charity sale at DIY Week publisher Faversh...

Harrison to stand for BHETA president 11-Mar-2010

BHETA member Charles Harrison has announced that he is seeking election as president of the trade association at its AGM in M...

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Staff share in £151m bonus pot as John Lewis posts positive results 11-Mar-2010

Waitrose and John Lewis employees set to receive '5% of their salary as a bonus, as the Partnership reports a 6.5% sales incr...

Red Rose blames 'severe financial difficulties' for closure 11-Mar-2010

Bournemouth-based manufacturer and distributor Red Rose Cookware ceased trading this week.

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Homesense opens in West Midlands 11-Mar-2010

Home furnishings chain set to open its largest UK branch in the Black Country at the end of May.

Firms ramp up marketing to fight recession 11-Mar-2010

New FPB survey reveals that smaller businesses hope to beat the recession and boost revenue by stepping up their sales and ma...

Homebase faring better than Argos 11-Mar-2010

While the weather has hit 20'0 sales at both Homebase and Argos, full-year results, released today, show that Homebase outper...

Shop vacancies rise again 10-Mar-2010

'ver '0% of UK high street shops are vacant or available to lease, according to latest Retail Availability survey from real e...

Homebase offers £10,000 community makeover 10-Mar-2010

Home improvement retailer asks the public to nominate projects in their local area as part of its Transforming the Nation cam...

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QVC sales reach £367.9m in 2009 10-Mar-2010

Shopping channel's UK sales bolster after challenging start to the year, with strong second half and online sales over the Ch...

Argos compromises customers' security online 10-Mar-2010

Catalogue-based retailer is revealed to have sent out customers' credit card details in unencrypted emails confirming orders.

Poundland founder to launch mid-market chain 9-Mar-2010

The man behind the hugely-successful Poundland business is launching a new mid-market variety chain called Hub, whose offer w...

Sale DIY to relocate 9-Mar-2010

Sale DIY in Cheshire is relocating after almost 40 years of trading.

New VAT rules 9-Mar-2010

'ew legislation, which comes into force in April this year, will see changes to the way businesses pay VAT and file their ann...

February sales up but figures distorted by snow 9-Mar-2010

UK retail sales values rise 2.2% in February, with homewares returning to growth but BRC stresses that comparisons are weak a...

FPB warns against 'cowboy' rating surveyors 8-Mar-2010

As the deadline for retailers to appeal against business rates approaches, companies are urged to be wary of dodgy firms who ...

Rustins sees strong paint sales 5-Mar-2010

Specialist woodcare and paint company Rustins, has reported a '0% increase in sales in its paint division for 2009.

Tesco launches children's gardening range 5-Mar-2010

Tesco has begun its spring garden activity with the launch of a new children's gardening range.

Price deflation a threat to garden industry 5-Mar-2010

While 2% growth is forecast for the garden products industry in 20'0, price competition looks set to have a serious effect on...

B&Q price checks revealed 4-Mar-2010

B&Q has revealed its price check figures for the first time as it launched its new Decorate for Less campaign today.

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Grafton mitigates weak DIY demand with job cuts 4-Mar-2010

Merchant and DIY chain compensates for 26% drop in sales with cost base reduction of €85m.

Potting compost linked to Legionnaire's cases in Scotland 4-Mar-2010

Health experts call for warning labels on compost following reports of three cases of Legionnaire's disease in Scotland, incl...

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Focus supports the National Vegetable Society for 2010 4-Mar-2010

Focus DIY is continuing its support of the National Vegetable Society (NVS) during 2---.

TV series to examine small businesses 4-Mar-2010

New TV series The Business Inspector is aiming to help people turn their businesses around.

Product of the Year Awards - deadline extended 4-Mar-2010

Deadline for entry into the Product of the Year Awards 20'0 has been extended to March '9. However, this will be the absolute...

B&Q leads government 'green loan' pilot scheme 3-Mar-2010

B&Q is partnering the London Borough of Sutton in a trial of the Government's new Pay as You Save (PAYS) scheme, introduced y...

Retail footfall drops again, while 'fierce competition' keeps prices low 3-Mar-2010

Store traffic dipped --3~ in February, with consumers still exhausted by December-s -buying frenzy-, despite shop price infla...

Retailers still have time to appeal against business rates 3-Mar-2010

Forum of Private Business (FPB) urges companies to assess whether their rate bills over the past five years have been set too...

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Cologne show pulls the crowds 2-Mar-2010

Exhibitor numbers may have been 20% lower than the pre-recession 2008 show, but with around 2,700 exhibitors, the 20'0 Cologn...

Dobbies launches new eco-friendly store 2-Mar-2010

Dobbies will open its most environmentally-friendly store to date in Aberdeen this week.

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BRC calls for spending cuts 2-Mar-2010

British Retail Consortium urges Chancellor to cut public spending and avoid tax hikes in a bid to help retailers recover from...

Impress purchases assets from STI 2-Mar-2010

Packaging manufacturer Impress has purchased the assets of Service Tool International (STI), which has decided to enter into ...

High street boasts strong sales 1-Mar-2010

High street retailers are continuing to maintain strong sales results, according to BDO's High Street Sales Tracker.

Consumers opt for locally sourced garden products 1-Mar-2010

HTA research finds that customers are more likely to buy items displaying Union Jack or local marking.