Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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Wolf-Garten GmbH announces insolvency

German gardening tool manufacturer experiencing ‘severe cash flow problems’ as it calls in administrators – but UK division remains unaffected. 
20 January 2009

Top awards for show stars

Artex, Blue Spot, Davenport-Burgess, Gator Finishing Products, Sika and STV International topped the winners list in the annual Best New Product awards at the Totally DIY, Totally Tools and Totally Secure show in London on January 18. 
19 January 2009

Fads finds a buyer

Crewe-based decor retailer snapped up by Strategic Retail director Roy Gabbie for bargain price of just over £1.5m. 
19 January 2009

(UPDATED) Visitor numbers up at Totally shows

Visitors numbers to Totally Tools, DIY and Secure this year were slightly up on 2008. 
19 January 2009

Speedy to supply Severn Trent Water

Speedy Tools has signed a one-year agreement - with an option to extend for a further four years - to supply Severn Trent Water with generators. 
16 January 2009

Non-food tops customer satisfaction survey

Non-food retailers have stormed the top ten of stores for customer satisfaction. 
16 January 2009

Akzo Nobel to sell non-stick coatings business

Dutch chemicals company has agreed deal with US firm Whitford Worldwide for an undisclosed sum. 
16 January 2009

Results not Ideal for TV shopping channel

Ideal Shopping Direct - the TV and internet shopping company - has revealed a pre close update for the 52 weeks ending 28 December 2008. 
15 January 2009

Home Retail Group reveals sales drop

Home Retail Group - owner of Argos and Homebase - has announced falling profits at its two flagship chains. 
15 January 2009

Denby Pottery in job cuts plan

The pottery trade has taken another knock as Denby has entered talks with unions over jobs cuts. 
15 January 2009

John Lewis UK’s favourite store

Department store chain voted UK’s favourite retailer for second year in a row, with Swedish store Ikea in second place. 
15 January 2009

Tesco undercuts retailers with deal on energy saving light bulbs

Supermarket chain announces sale of five energy saving light bulb sticks for just 40 pence. 
15 January 2009

Aldi reveals 22.2% profit increase

Aldi has posted a 22.2% sales increase over Christmas compared with the same period in 2007. 
14 January 2009

Government to guarantee bank loans to retailers

The Government has today unveiled measures designed to help small and medium sized business beat the credit crunch. 
14 January 2009

Marshalls sales down 6%

Landscaping products firm plans further closures as part of cost saving initiative. 
14 January 2009

Topps Tiles profits drop

Topps Tiles has announced a profits slump of 18.1% on like-for-like (lfl) sales for the the first 13 weeks of their trading year. 
14 January 2009

Poundland Christmas sales up 24.3%

Discount store flourishes as price savvy customers seek out bargains in the Christmas period. 
14 January 2009

Aga cuts 400 jobs

Oven range and kitchenware manufacturer Aga sheds 400 jobs after announcing a downturn in sales. 
14 January 2009

Tesco like-for-like sales up but not as much as rivals

Tesco has results for the Christmas period show the supermarket chain is making profits - but not as much as its rivals. 
13 January 2009

Morrisons plans to create 5,000 jobs this year

Supermarket chain Morrisons has revealed plans to create more than 5,000 jobs this year as part of its store space expansion programme. 
 
13 January 2009
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