Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

Latest News

Garden centre sales slow during Jubilee weekend

Members of the Garden Centre Association (GCA) have reported that the additional footfall hoped for over the Jubilee weekend never happened, with the poor weather blamed for the most part. 
6 June 2012

DIY Week has moved offices

DIY Week's publishing company Faversham House Group has changed its name to Faversham House Ltd and relocated to East Grinstead. 
6 June 2012

Troubled Atlantic Homecare enters Examinership

Atlantic, a member of the DIY division of Grafton Group Plc, has filed a petition seeking the appointment of an examiner, meaning it is now under the protection of the High Court while the company restructures for survival. 
6 June 2012

GIMA members tee off for charity

The annual GIMA charity golf day and evening dinner took place in Northamptonshire recently, raising money for Greenfingers, Rugby for Heroes and Sporting Hearts. 
6 June 2012

B&Q LfL sales down 11.7% for Q1, but Screwfix flourishes

Bad weather was blamed for B&Q's dip in sales during the 13 weeks to April 28, falling 8.9% to £968million, a downward slide of more than 11% compared with this time last year. 
31 May 2012

Free lunch planned for Totally DIY visitors

Complimentary lunches for retailer visitors, and a cap on stand size to encourage major suppliers back into the show - those are the two major initiatives planned for Totally DIY 2013. 
31 May 2012

Emulsion paint: value up, volume down

According to the latest figures from GfK, 5% fewer litres of emulsion paint have been sold in the UK during the first part of 2012 compared with the same period last year, but 6% more UK pounds have been spent on it. 
31 May 2012

Nearly 40% of Brits planning to splash out on garden products this summer

It's been estimated that Brits are going to spend more than £820million on celebrating the Diamond Jubilee - and according to Cuprinol, 37% will be directing their cash towards sprucing up their garden. 
31 May 2012

Homebase launches Facebook app

The home improvement retailer has claimed its new app is the first of its kind within the sector, incorporating three different stages to guide users through a home DIY project. 
30 May 2012

Retail sales volumes and outlook improved in May, says CBI

Furniture and carpet retailers saw a particularly strong sales increase during the month, with 72% more reporting growth than those reporting decline, according to the latest Distributive Trades Survey from the CBI. 
30 May 2012

Topps sees -4.7% LfL drop in H1 but turns corner with current trading

The tiling group, which owns 299 Topps Tiles stores and 20 Tile Clearing Houses, saw like-for-like revenue for the 26 weeks ending March 31, 2012 drop by 4.7% to £86.6m, which bosses said was "in line with expectations." 
29 May 2012

Moore's Mica DIY is town's first DIY store

New Mica members Eric and Margaret Moore have opened a brand new DIY store in the town of Aghagallon, County Armagh. 
28 May 2012

B&Q invests £69million in new product ranges

The Kingfisher-owned retailer has announced three new major product range changes launching across its 359 stores, including a £19m capital expenditure investment in new tiling and flooring shops. 
28 May 2012

Glee to run workshops to help 2012 exhibitors

A special one-day workshop aimed at showing exhibitors at this year's Glee how to optimise their show visibility will take place on June 14. 
28 May 2012

Eurocell and Yale announce lock partnership

The latest range of Yale cylinder and multipoint locks will be distributed by Eurocell thanks to a new partnership between the pair. 
28 May 2012

DIY and gardening just as important as street parties over Jubilee

The same number of people who will be celebrating the Jubilee weekend will opt for a spot of DIY or gardening over the long bank holiday, according to a new survey by TNS. 
25 May 2012

Wholesale DIY for a pound

Discount retail giant Poundworld is launching a new wholesale website this week, selling a variety of cheap products including DIY tools, home improvement accessories and garden products to retailers. 
25 May 2012

Flying Brands' garden retailers continue to struggle

Orders at the group's Gardening Direct and Growing and Live Despatch (GLD) businesses have fallen to £3.8m for the three months up to March 31 2012, compared with £5.5m over the same period last year. 
24 May 2012

Loctite announces relaunch and £5m ad campaign

Henkel brand Loctite, which has been around since 1953, will be using 2012 to relaunch with a £5m advertising campaign. 
24 May 2012

Screwfix website climbs ranks, as DIY giants slip

The results are in for the latest Sitemorse survey of the top 500 retail websites in Q2, and following its bottom ranking last quarter, Screwfix will be pleased to see its position raised to 414. 
24 May 2012
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