News Archive February 2015
Garden Re-Leaf Day walkers seek sponsorship
25 February 2015
Major international retailers to speak at Global DIY Forum
25 February 2015
Representatives from Lowe's, Kingfisher and Ace Hardware International will speak at the Global DIY Forum in London this June.
Valspar launches a dominant shade of grey
25 February 2015
Paint brand Valspar is the latest name in the DIY industry to capitalise on the frenzy surrounding the recent release of the erotic film Fifty Shades of Grey.
New Crown range only at Toolstation
24 February 2015
Crown has done a deal with Toolstation that will see the retailer have exclusivity on a new range of contract paints.
Plaid Cymru slates Help to Buy home improvement ban
24 February 2015
Plaid Cymru has called for a rethink of the Help to Buy initiative in Wales, calling it "impractical and unfair" that people who have bought homes under the scheme are banned from doing home improvements.
CCTV posters trap hardware thief suspect
24 February 2015
An alleged hardware shop thief who went to the police to complain about CCTV-image posters of him displayed in the store is now facing prosecution.
VegTrug launches American subsidiary
23 February 2015
VegTrug, the self-contained, raised vegetable garden company has launched a wholly-owned subsidiary in the USA, which commences trading on March 1.
Totally exhibitors celebrate awards triumph
23 February 2015
Organisers of this year's Totally DIY and Totally Tools shows have described the combined event as "positive and optimistic".
Home Hardware helps Norwich couple set up new store
23 February 2015
A hardware store which has been created from scratch opened its doors for the first time this month.
The Range reaches target and opens 100th store
23 February 2015
Despite missing its original Christmas 2014 deadline, The Range opened its 100th store in Peverell on Friday morning.
Key European buyers will meet Gardenex/PetQuip suppliers
23 February 2015
Six key European buyers of garden, leisure and pet products will be at the next Meet the Buyers event to be staged by the Gardenex and PetQuip export associations.
Scotts Miracle-Gro brands back on TV
23 February 2015
Several of Scotts Miracle-Gro's biggest brands, best-selling products and new launches will be hitting TV screens again this spring and summer.
It's crunch time for burglars, says gravel firm Deco-Pak
23 February 2015
The desire to deter thefts from the home and garden is sparking a trend for gravel, according to decorative aggregates supplier Deco-Pak.
Squire's plant show a success
19 February 2015
Squire's Garden Centre hosted its first-ever "Plant Supplier Show" this month, attracting 35 suppliers from across the UK to showcase their latest plants to the Squire''s team.
J Rotherham runner-up in business awards
18 February 2015
J Rotherham, the supplier of natural stone and composite surfaces to the bathroom and kitchen industry, has been named a regional runner-up in the EEF/Aldermore Future Manufacturing Awards.
Storm crisis plan boosts Grange business
18 February 2015
Fencing and garden buildings supplier Grange has won 60 new stockists already this year, thanks, it says, to its positive handling of last year's storm damage crisis.
Bonnington Plastics wins £80,000 for Kingfisher brand infringement
18 February 2015
Bonnington Plastics, the company behind the Kingfisher gardening and homewares brand, has secured a five-figure settlement from a group of companies after bringing a claim in the High Court for intellectual infringement.
'Positive drivers' for growth in floorcoverings this year
18 February 2015
The floorcoverings market is set to benefit from a £250m boost between now and 2019, according to a new report.
DIY Week Awards 2015: Gold winners revealed
18 February 2015
Hundreds of leading DIY and garden suppliers, wholesalers and independent and multiple retailers came together this week at the 2015 DIY Week Awards to find out who had scooped Gold.
GCA conference boosts attendance by 15%
17 February 2015
The Garden Centre Association's (GCA) annual conference at the end of last month was one of the biggest in the association's 49-year history.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor is face of Dulux Colour of the Year
17 February 2015
Singer, song-writer and Strictly Come Dancing star Sophie Ellis-Bextor is to be the face of Dulux Colour of the Year 2015, Copper Blush.
La Hacienda set to open new showroom
17 February 2015
Outdoor heating products La Hacienda will celebrate its 25th anniversary with the official opening of new showroom facilities.
Homebase unveils key garden looks for spring/summer
17 February 2015
Homebase has unveiled its spring/summer 2015 collection of outdoor living furniture and accessories, defined by three al fresco living trends.
Industry names celebrate winning BHF Awards 2015
16 February 2015
The winners of this year's British Hardware Federation Awards have been announced by the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA).
Totally announces plans for two-day format in 2016
16 February 2015
Organisers of Totally DIY & Totally Tools have revealed that the shows will take place on a Tuesday and Wednesday next year, in a bid to create a more focused event.
Federation backs moves to clamp down on illegal plywood
16 February 2015
New efforts to crack down on illegally-sourced plywood imported from China have been backed by the Wood Panel Industries Federation (WPIF).
Bird food flies off the shelves in January
16 February 2015
Garden centre sales of wild bird food and associated products soared by 16% in January compared with the previous January, according to new Garden Centre Association (GCA) figures.
Gorilla Glue issues 'fifty shades of red' warning
13 February 2015
With the release of the film Fifty Shades of Grey at the weekend, Gorilla Glue is urging its customers not to use its products if they wish to recreate scenes from the erotic film.
Oak Furniture Land defends Christmas delivery claim
11 February 2015
Oak Furniture Land has successfully backed up its claim in a television advertisement that customers could have their goods in time for Christmas.
Earthy Marsala is Pantone colour of the year
10 February 2015
Global colour authority Pantone has chosen Marsala, a robust and earthy wine red, as its colour of the year for 2015.
Prepare for bondage products boom, B&Q tells staff
10 February 2015
In what has to be the most bizarre directive ever sent by a head office to its staff, B&Q is telling employees in all its branches to mug up on sexual bondage practices.
Distributor Jegs clocks up 45 years of business
10 February 2015
Family-run distributor Jegs celebrates its 45th anniversary in April, having grown from an initial £400 investment into a multi-million pound company.
Garden industry's great and good get going for Greenfingers
10 February 2015
Key members of the garden industry will join together to raise money for charity by taking part in a 20-mile sponsored walk along the Thames through London next month.
Conservatories market enjoys a boost
10 February 2015
Increased spending on higher value home improvements is benefiting the conservatory market, according to a new study.
Dragons' Den DIY supplier wins 'most innovative' accolade
9 February 2015
Wiltshire company Grip It Fixings, which successfully pitched for investment on Dragons' Den, has been named as one of Britain's most ground-breaking businesses.
Tile giant Al-Murad asks to withdraw fire-risk 'guilty' plea
9 February 2015
Independent tile retail giant Al-Murad is embroiled in a protracted legal wrangle over alleged health and safety breaches.
'Sensational' outcome for BHETA Screwfix day
9 February 2015
No fewer than 40 Screwfix personnel came along to allow suppliers to 'meet the buyer' at the latest initiative organised by the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA).
Tommy Walsh: 'I'm really proud of my £1 tools'
9 February 2015
Floorcoverings market sees steady improvement
9 February 2015
A significant decline in the floorcoverings market between 2008 and 2011 has been followed by a moderate but steady improvement.
Fiskars joins the BMF
6 February 2015
Home and garden products manufacturer Fiskars, is the latest member to join the Builders Merchants Federation, bringing total membership to 472.
Johnstone's celebrates 125 years
6 February 2015
Decorative brand Johnstone's Paints marks its 125th anniversary this year.
Floors-2-Go dismisses rumours of financial strife
5 February 2015
Troubled flooring retailer Floors-2-Go has refuted suggestions that it is having financial problems, as regional director Jim Laird insists that the business is "going from strength to strength".
DIY Week Awards: Last chance to book
5 February 2015
With less than two weeks to go until the evening of DIY Week Awards, and with places going fast, don't miss out on your last chance to be part of this year's leading industry event.
Eight years for £14,000 Wickes cash thief
2 February 2015
An armed robber who stole £14,000 in cash from a West Midlands branch of Wickes has been jailed for eight years.
Topps chooses Knutsford for next boutique store launch
2 February 2015
Topps Tiles is to extend its boutique store format with the launch of a new outlet in Knutsford, Cheshire.
Indies urged to support Easter egg hunt and boost footfall
2 February 2015
The Support for Independent Retail campaign is urging small retailers and towns across the UK to organise and run Easter egg hunts in their areas, as the annual Enjoy an Independent Easter event marks its third year.
DIY indies maintain winning sales streak
2 February 2015
DIY and hardware independents achieved their fifth quarter of sales increases in a row in the final three months of 2014, according to new figures.
Company calls for shops to push bath mat standard
2 February 2015
A company boss is calling for wider public awareness of a safety standard for bath and shower mats after highlighting the fact that there are no official statistics kept for slips and falls in the bathroom.
Bents completes next phase of major development
2 February 2015
The latest phase in the Bents journey has been completed and the centre has announced the opening of six new retail departments, including outdoor clothing retailer Trespass and arts and craft specialists C-Craft.
Toolbank signs up with BHETA
2 February 2015
Yet another well-known brand, Toolbank, has joined the British Home Enhancement Trade Association (BHETA).