Tickets for The Housewares Conference & Innovation Awards 2014 are selling fast and delegates are being urged to book a place now to avoid disappointment. 

United Carpets has reported that like-for-like sales rose by 5.4% year-on-year in the first 21 weeks of the second half of its financial year. 

The growing popularity of click-and-collect is highlighted in a new survey, which shows that 45% of consumers now say they have used it in the past year for their online purchases. 

QD Group has expanded its portfolio of Cherry Lane Garden Centres with the acquisition of Early Dawn Nurseries near Lowestoft in Suffolk. 

This year's Totally DIY and Totally Tools shows have provided an industry boost, following visits from key retailers, a bigger show with plenty of fresh content and positive messages from industry commentators about the future. 

Wickes has launched a charity tool trade-in across its UK stores to enable customers to recycle any tool in return for a discount. 

Millbrook Garden Centre's Gravesend branch has won a visit from ITV gardener David Domoney as part of Garden Re-Leaf weekend. 

The HTA has come out in opposition of a suggested levy on non-native plant imports, claiming it could be seen as a tax on gardening and UK production. 

The Garden Centre Group has selected marketing company SpaceandPeople a five year contract to exclusively manage commercialisation activity across its 135 centre portfolio. 

Garden centres looking to improve their customer service and sales in their restaurants and cafes should be embracing new technology, according to industry experts. 

Birstall Garden Centre in Leicester has been encouraging its customers to get involved with National Nest Box Week (NNBW) this week to help give homes to breeding birds in time for spring. 

Mica is to take its annual conference weekend, Mica Exchange, to Wales for the first time over the weekend of March 22-23. 

The manager of a West Midlands B&Q store has received a suspended prison sentence after systematically stealing goods from the outlet and then selling them on. 

Planters is calling time on its Garden King garden centre in Bradley, Staffordshire, and closing it down on March 30. 

A great night was had by all at the 2014 DIY Week Awards on Monday, with plenty of celebrations all round, as the likes of Yale, Bosch and Westland took home Gold awards, along with multiple and independent retailers - from Screwfix to Bristol's Cotham Hardware. 

More than 75% of floorspace at the Garden and Leisure Exhibition has already been booked up ahead of its opening at the NEC, Birmingham on September 14. 

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) today announced what it describes as "a range of ground-breaking ideas for the complete reform of the UK business rates system". 

A host of suppliers were honoured yesterday at a special reception for the New Product Awards at this week's Totally DIY and Totally Tools Shows. 

The end of 2013 saw garden centre sales 6% above those in 2012, with December sales alone up 6%, and consumer confidence is now at its highest level for six years. 

Dunelm is set to expand its furniture ranges as it seeks to expand the business following positive half-year results posted in January.