Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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B&Q signs sponsorship deal with Channel 4

B&Q has signed a one-year deal to sponsor Channel 4's property shows including Property Ladder, Grand Designs and Location, Location, Location. 
27 October 2008

John Lewis’ sales drop for fifth week in a row

Like-for-like revenue down 7.6% to £48.2m for week ending October 18 as nervous shoppers stay away. 
27 October 2008

High interest Argos payment card described as ‘wicked’

APR of up to 222.7% on Easy Shop Card could exploit cash-strapped shoppers in the run-up to Christmas. 
27 October 2008

Wickes Limerick store to create 40 jobs

New branch first in a line of stores due to open across Ireland in next five years. 
24 October 2008

Calling all manufacturers - Channel 4 documentary helps out in hard times

Renowned businessman Sir Gerry Robinson to offer advice and financial support to some of Britain’s businesses. 
24 October 2008

Focus relaunches the Payless brand

Payless, a name which disappeared from the UK diy market a decade ago, is back... 
24 October 2008

Confusion over Christmas forecasts

Differing figures and reports leave sales predictions open to speculation for festive period. 
24 October 2008

Sam's Trade Centre supports BBRA

Sam's Trade Centre is the latest company to lend it's support to Britain's Best Retailer Awards organised by DIY Week, www.diyweek.net and sister titles Housewares Magazine www.housewareslive.net, and Hardware and Garden Review. 
24 October 2008

Poll leaves Wyevale after just four months

Newly appointed director of e-commerce, Deborah Poll is the second member of senior management to quit the garden centre chain in two months. 
23 October 2008

Wickes hits half a million

DIY retailer Wickes has raised a fantastic £500,000 in its first ever national charity partnership with cancer charity Leukaemia Research with plans to extend the partnership until the end of 2009. 
22 October 2008

B&Q staff star in new campaign

B&Q has announced that it is launching a new advertising campaign that signals a return to using real-life store staff. 
22 October 2008

Webbs proves a real winner

Webbs of Wychbold picked up seven out of 11 awards at the recent Garden Centre Association (GCA) Midlands Area Awards presentation. 
22 October 2008

Homebase sales drop 10%

Homebase has reported a like-for-like sales drop of 10.3% for the 26-week period to August 30. 
22 October 2008

Co-op gets thumbs up for Somerfield purchase

The Co-operative Group has been given the go ahead by the Office of Fair Trading for its £1.6bn deal to purchase the Somerfield chain. 
21 October 2008

Re-bookings ‘strong’ for Glee 2009

Despite a drop of more than 17% in visitor figures from just over 22,000 last year to 18,112 this year, Glee show director Daniel Thurlow was pleased with the show... 
21 October 2008

Dobbies could triple HO staff

In what was perhaps the clearest indication so far of Tesco's expansion plans for the Dobbies garden centre chain, the company applied for planning permission to double the size of its head office building in Midlothian earlier this month. 
20 October 2008

Homebase trials Check & Reserve

Home improvement retailer rolls out new facility across seven stores, following launch of national 'online stock check' service in May. 
20 October 2008

Job losses announced at M&S

Marks & Spencer is the latest high street retailer to announce job cuts in an effort to mitigate declining sales in the face of the credit crunch. 
20 October 2008

Wilko to trial new look

Wilkinson has announced a makeover with a new look to be trialled in three of its stores across the company. 
17 October 2008

HoF to buy Baugur stake?

House of Fraser has said it would consider buying the 35% of the chain owned by troubled Icelandic investment group Baugur...and that it has the funds to do so. 
17 October 2008
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