Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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M&S goes international

Marks & Spencer has launched an international delivery service giving potentially millions of customers access to its home accessories range through the internet. 
18 November 2008

Wolseley to axe further 2,300 jobs

Majority of job losses will take place in UK as building materials supplier reacts to market with ‘aggressive but measured cost reduction’. 
18 November 2008

Garden centres compete for Ruxley Rose prize

Ten Garden Centre Association stores from around the country are battling it out for the Ruxley Rose plant retailing competition. 
18 November 2008

Workmen opt for ‘labourer’s latte’ over builder’s brew

Wickes poll reveals 60% of Britain’s tradesmen now down tools for a cup of coffee rather than the nation’s favourite, a cup of tea. 
18 November 2008

Marshalls' sales drop 9.7%

Landscaping company blames ‘poor summer weather’ and weak demand as like-for-like revenue falls to £128m. 
17 November 2008

Kim Wilde opens new £4m Dunweedin' production plant

The pop-star turned horticulturalist has officially opened the plant in Cheshire. 
17 November 2008

Sales have shot up 23% since a Welsh DIY store opened its new drive-through

The new-look Leekes' Building Centre was officially opened in June after the firm identified a local market in Llantrisant, Glamorgan for easy access to building materials and cost-effective ranges. 
17 November 2008

Home Hardware Scotland sees 20% sales rise

At a time when there is so much bad news in the marketplace and so many companies are struggling, it's a pleasure to report some good news. Home Hardware Scotland's autumn sales brochure has seen a like-for-like sales rise of 20.5% compared with last year – proving people are still spending. 
17 November 2008

John Lewis sales down by almost 10%

Eighth consecutive weekly decline for the department store chain as director Nat Wakely blames economic uncertainty and ‘grim weather’ for difficult trading conditions. 
14 November 2008

New look for DIY store John Lyne Home Hardware

Family-run DIY store John Lyne Home Improvements has rebranded and is now known as John Lyne Home Hardware. 
14 November 2008

JCB to axe 398 jobs

Company blames ‘significant reduction’ in orders for job cuts despite staff compromise over working hours to save hundreds of jobs last month. 
14 November 2008

101-year-old Whitehall Garden Centre boss is honored by the Queen

The country's oldest boss Phyllis Self, of Lacock in Wiltshire, became a Member of the British Empire this week. 
14 November 2008

Henkel managing director Kim Walker has stepped down after 22 years

The long serving MD has been planning his retirement for some time, and, says the company, the timing of his departure is entirely unrelated to the 58% fall in profits announced earlier this month. 
13 November 2008

DIY Week informed of Homebase job cuts

Anonymous tip-off reveals staff are shocked by news of 160 redundancies as consultation period begins at DIY retail chain. 
13 November 2008

Tesco makes first move into fitted kitchen market

Tesco has made an aggressive move into the fitted kitchen market by revealing a ready to install set for under £1000.
 
13 November 2008

Homeowners 'get a shed' with property enhancements

Garden and bathroom improvements top the bill as favourites to add value to homes during credit crunch. 
12 November 2008

Homebase offers incentive to move

DIY retailer launches new scheme to help buyers furnish their homes to help reduce ‘additional moving-in costs’. 
12 November 2008

Sainsbury's profits up 13.3% as firm announces push on homewares

Sainsbury's has, as the financial market widely predicted, announced pre-tax profits were up 13.3% to £272m. The supermarket now plans to increase the availability of its new 2,000-strong homeware line 'TU Home' launched in April this year. 
12 November 2008

Woolworths stalwart Jones dies

Non-executive director passes away after 50 years with the company. 
12 November 2008

Worst retail figures for three years...but DIY holds up!

Like-for-like UK retail sales values fell 2.2% in October compared with 2007 and total sales were lower than a year ago for the first time since April 2005 according to the latest figures from the BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. 
11 November 2008
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