B&Q's own brand composts topped the tables in Which?'s research into the bet composts on the market, but Homebase came bottom of the leader board. 

E-commerce businesses end 2009 on a high with a 51% increase in sales over the festive period 

According to media reports Chris Dawson, founder of home and leisure retail chain The Range, is planning to open ten new stores this year, at a cost of around £15m. 

Retail theft rose by a third in 2009, as an incident occurred almost every minute. These are the findings of the British Retail Consortium's Retail Crime Survey 2009, published today. 

DIY Week wants to hear how the snow has affected your business. Two retailers we spoke to have had very different experiences, but with one thing in common... rock salt. 

In what was an incredibly tough year for many retailers, Home Hardware (Scotland) saw 2009 turnover increase by more than 14% making it the best ever year since trading began in 1983. 

Irish builders merchants and DIY retailer Grafton Group has seen a further stabilisation in its turnover according to a trading update released this morning for the year ended 31st December 2009. 

Festive figures fall below expectations, as consumers opt to shop for themselves in the sales rather than buy gifts. 

Arc International, which makes glass products under brands including Pyrex, Cristal D'Arques and Luminarc, has sold its Spanish plant to the management there. 

Barry Digby, the former advertisement manager and then publisher of DIY Superstore magazine, died on Monday January 4. He was 65. 

Department store chain reports 15.8% rise in sales over the festive period. 

Police investigate theft, as Dobbies also announces downsized plans for Carlisle centre, which are more "appropriate" in the current economic climate. 

Electrical items and cookware are among items that people buy in sales but never use - and which tot up to more £85 a head. 

The recent freezing weather across the UK could cost employers up to £230m in a single day of employee absenteeism according to the Forum of Private Business (FPB). 

John Lewis is expected to confirm tomorrow that its sales last week (week commencing December 28) were up 30% on the same period last year. 

Customer loyalty continues to diminish, while home and garden leisure is bolstered by recession, as homeowners focus on careful budgeting. 

Footfall figures released by Synovate Retail Performance show that the Bank Holiday on Monday, December 28 was the busiest shopping day of 2009. 

Clas Ohlson is continuing its UK roll out with the signing of an agreement for lease on a new store in Leeds, UK. 

Four out of five retailers who took part in the British Retail Consortium's 2010 Concerns Snapshot Survey said they expected sales to be the same as in 2009. Not one thought that sales would be worse and a fifth thought they would improve. 

A new Tile Depot store and head office will open on January 4 on the Farnham Road Trade Park in Slough.