HTA reports that consumers have upped their spend on wild bird care products, with garden centres accounting for a quarter of all sales. 

Solid demand for leisure and gift boosts the sector, while homewares is kept afloat by cookware and home accessories. 

Department store chain experiences surge in home sales and online purchases, stating that there are 'big opportunities' to gain ground in coming weeks. 

Sales up 2.9% for Home Retail Group-owned DIY chain but gross margin is hit by heavy discounting. 

Merchant buying group Unimer has described the 12 months to April 2009 as its "most challenging trading period in living memory". 

Pilkington's Tiles Group chairman and one of the highest profile figures in the ceramics industry, passed away September 7. 

DIY giant hopes to improve showroom employees' knowledge and design skills to cash in on the 'don't move, improve' trend. 

BHETA DIY and brushware sector director Andy Vaughan is the latest to leave the association in the wake of the defeated proposal to merge the association with the BJGF. 

B&Q parent company releases indicative trading figures nine days ahead of scheduled date after "administrative error" sees draft numbers circulated. 

"Deceptively good sales" in summer months are not indicative of a growth in consumer confidence as retail sales fall again in August. 

Discount retailer unveils strong sales figures and ambitious plans. 

Builders merchant and DIY group sees 31% drop in turnover but has witnessed more "stable sales" in recent months. 

Publishing and events company, Media 10 snaps up the famous show 100 years after its launch. 

Department store chain set to take on supermarkets and cheaper rivals, such as Ikea, with new discount homewares lines. 

Loyalty shift to private label lines could be permanent, says Verdict, with customers opting for premium own-brand and eco-friendly ranges when recession is over. 

Non-food retailers experience disappointing shopper numbers, with a recorded 2.9% fall in footfall compared with August last year. 

Home retail chain set to create 1,800 new jobs including Christmas staff and permanent positions. 

The demise of Woolworths and customers feeling the pinch has seen discount retailers and pound shops take over prime pitches in the UK. 

Decline in consumer spending in 2010 will drive up number of business collapses, predicts BDO Stoy Hayward. 

Parent company DSG International says sales drop was better than expected for the quarter and reports an "encouraging start to the year".