Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Burgon & Ball settles with Gardman following infringement lawsuit

Following a long-running legal dispute between Burgon & Ball and Gardman concerning infringements on Burgon & Ball's products, a settlement has been reached. 
21 February 2013

Locksmith ad gave fake address

An ad showing a locksmith's address to be in Salisbury when it wasn't was likely to mislead consumers into thinking they were dealing with a local trader. 
20 February 2013

Like-for-likes slip 7.6% at Wickes during Q1

The first seven weeks of 2013 saw a LfL revenue drop of 7.6% at Wickes, a 2% reduction on last year's drop
20 February 2013

Home Hardware members get record payback

Home Hardware Southwest paid an unprecedented £139,000 back to members last year in the form of rebates, dividends and investment interest. 
20 February 2013

Axminster Carpets poised to go into administration

The Devon manufacturer of high-quality carpets, Axminster Carpets, is on the brink of calling in the administrators. 
20 February 2013

2012 vacancies report names and shames

A report on shop vacancies in 2012 published today reveals a widening gap in the performance of town centres, shopping centres and retail parks across Great Britain. 
19 February 2013

Frogtape firm steps up TV advertising

Shurtape has announced its biggest ever investment into national and regional TV advertising this year to capitalise on Easter break. 
19 February 2013

Shock-risk Philips spotlight recalled

Philips has recalled an LED spotlight because of the danger it poses to end users. 
18 February 2013

Snowfall crippled January footfall, reveals BRC

January's footfall fell by 4.6% year-on-year, the British Retail Consortium has revealed, despite reporting sales were up earlier this month. 
18 February 2013

ONS reports January sales drop at odds with BRC

Retail sales fell by 0.6% year-on-year in January, according to the Office for National Statistics, which reported it as the first time year-on-year growth had halted in the sector since August 2011 - in total contrast to a sunnier picture painted by the BRC. 
15 February 2013

Vacant ex-Woolworths stores down by 40% since 2009

There are now just 63 vacant ex-Woolworths stores in the UK compared with 385 in December 2009, a reduction of more than 40%. 
14 February 2013

Shock redundancy sweep at John Lewis

Despite consistent sales growth and its reputation as a beacon of hope for the beleaguered British high street, the John Lewis Partnership is to cut 325 managerial jobs. 
14 February 2013

Greenfingers receives £1000 following bank ad campaign

Haskins Garden Centres' chief executive Julian Winfield recently featured in a Santander national advertising campaign as one of four business owners, and to thanks him the bank paid £1,000 to his charity of choice, Greenfingers. 
14 February 2013

Yale launches burglary-revealing app

Security supplier Yale has launched the Crime Watcher app which shows the user how many burglaries have taken place within a mile of their home in the last month. 
14 February 2013

DIY and gardening records "healthy performance" in 2012, says GfK

The DIY and gardening retail sector, the largest tracked by GfK, remained stable throughout 2012 despite bad weather and total consumer durable spending dropping by 2.8%. 
13 February 2013

Wright's Home Hardware opens in Forres

Scottish hardware chain Wright's Home Hardware has opened its eighth store. 
13 February 2013

'No-location' kitchen supplier rapped by ad watchdog

A kitchen supplier has been taken to task by the ad watchdog for failing to say on its website where the company is located. 
13 February 2013

Millbrook GC names charity partner for 2013

The Children and Young Peoples' Service (chYps) has been named as Millbrook Garden Centre's charity of the year. 
13 February 2013

Mica Exchange 2013 a sell-out

The Mica DIY Exchange is back for a third year this spring, and the meeting of the Mica clan has once more proved a sell-out. 
13 February 2013

Kitchen retailers warned of 'deaf customer' scam

Retailers of kitchens and bathrooms are being warned about an internet scam that involves a bogus customer ordering goods with stolen credit cards. 
13 February 2013
*