Essential reading for retailers and suppliers in the home improvement market

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HTA catering conference to provide best-in-class advice

The HTA's summer catering conference is providing 'useful and inspiring' advice for delegates to run more profitable catering operations. 
25 May 2007

Glee introduces a green trail

Glee is introducing the industry’s first Going Green trail to make it easier for buyers to pinpoint environmentally friendly products and suppliers. 
25 May 2007

Karting challenge raises £5,000 for Rainy Day Trust

A new three level racing track, new karts and new teams combined to raise a record £5,000 for the Rainy Day Trust at the 14th Annual Hardware Trades Karting challenge. 
24 May 2007

Notcutts wins Gold at Chelsea

Notcutts Garden Centre and Notcutts Landscapes has won a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show for its colourful exhibition of water features, climbers and flowering plants. 
24 May 2007

Topps Tiles continues steady performance

Topps Tiles reported a 4.4% jump in like-for-like sales and a slight drop in half year pre-tax profit. 
23 May 2007

Home delights for Marks & Spencer

Preliminary results for 2006-07 show a 26% rise in net profit on strong sales up 10%. 
23 May 2007

Garsons wins food retail award

Family-run garden centre business Garsons has scooped top prize at the Re:fresh Awards 2007 as the Foods from Spain Independent Retailer of the Year. 
23 May 2007

B&Q's website revamp is proving a 'big hit' with customers

B&Q’s recent style refresh of its website DIY.com – making the site easier to use, search for products and check stock levels – is proving a 'big hit' with customers. 
23 May 2007

EDRA appoints Kingfisher European development md as president

At the European Home Centre Retail Association (EDRA) annual General meeting today, George Adams, managing director, European development of Kingfisher, was appointed president of EDRA. 
23 May 2007

Asda to open 300 homeware stores

Asda chief executive Andy Bond has been given the go-ahead to open 300 Living stores from parent Wal-Mart. 
21 May 2007

Malobel failure interrupts Asher launch

Supply of the new Jane Asher non-stick bakeware and cookware has been interrupted following supplier Malobel’s collapse into voluntary liquidation. 
21 May 2007

Above-average temperatures lead to the death of traditional British plants

According to research from Halifax Home Insurance, British garden centres have witnessed a dramatic increase in customers reporting the death of well-established traditional British plants. 
18 May 2007

Business round-up

Homewares generates strong sales at John Lewis, ScS Upholstery stuggles with interest rates 
18 May 2007

Catalogue and online sales boost April retail figures

Non-store retailers who include internet retailers, and other non-food stores saw a rise of 3.3% - the highest growth since march 2004, official figures show. 
18 May 2007

Steyport restructures paint department

Steyport has announced a restructure of its paint department to refocus its sales on own-brand production and labelling for high street retailers. 
16 May 2007

Bissell's London launch provides springboard for international roll-out

Around ninety trade partners and journalists joined senior Bissell executives to witness the launch event for the international roll-out of the company's Proheat All-rounder. 
16 May 2007

Wickes is trading in line with expectations

Chairman of Travis Perkins Tim Stevenson told his latest agm that the diy business continues to trade in line with its expectations. 
16 May 2007

Gardening Express pursues delivery company for loss of earnings

Chris Bonnett, chief executive of online garden centre Gardening Express has asked his insurers to pursue home delivery specialists Amtrak for loss of earnings. 
16 May 2007

Profits slide at Home Depot

Home Depot has announced a 30% profits drop in its first quarter and a lower forecast for yearly earnings as the US housing market continues to slow. 
16 May 2007

Home is still where the heart is

British homeowner's spending on property accounts for almost four pounds in every £10 
15 May 2007
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