JUNE TRADE NEWS Manchester businesses look to council help to thrive Wholesaler praises local retailer Three convicted of selling fake goods on eBay Retailers rejoice as Tesco planning application is rejected Haul of illegal lighters seized by Trading Standards Canterbury MP pledges to fight illegal street traders Retailers report June slowdown Retailers welcome Edinburgh redevelopment approval Government to improve Cornish infrastructure eBay asks EU to look at online trading rules Tesco criticised over misleading planning application Chester's council looks to save city-centre retailers US firm gets tough on eBay counterfeiters Wholesalers report slowing sales in first quarter Government looks to extend Sunday openings for garden centres Merseyside bridge tolls worry small firms Retailers 'have shielded consumers from price rises' HMRC cutbacks 'could hurt small firms' Retail sales surge in the UK New Scottish unit looks to tackle rogue traders Welsh men face court for selling fake goods in eBay FPB backs Lords criticism of business tax changes Government urged not to add to retail pressure Small firms urged to continue to network Consumers plan to continue to buy clothes Retail sales in London soar Consumers 'still spending on green items' Businesses worried about sales in the coming months FSB blasts government agency workers deal NI retailers urged to tackle shoplifters Scottish SMEs told to use internet to reach global market Workplace stress 'hits small businesses hard' Lords say businesses hurt by tax changes Rail transport services 'could become cheaper for wholesalers' Organisers 'need to make sure SMEs get involved with 2012 projects' Consumer confidence plummets, hitting retail spending Manchester congestion charge 'could be bad news for small businesses' Retail sales recover in May Cambridgeshire business protest higher parking charges Women start small businesses to increase flexibility BRC calls for end to EU anti-dumping tariffs BRC welcomes interest rate decision eBay guilty of selling counterfeit goods Retailers not passing on 'full impact' of rising costs Dream of being own boss can 'blind people' to business difficulties BCC determined to boost success of sole traders and startups Independent retailers help Wrexham become 'top shopping town' Online retail sector continues to boom Business startups can benefit from relocating Birmingham urged to help smaller retailers Walsall developer backs Dragon's Den style competition Trade News Archive June 08 May 08 April 08 March 08 February 08 January 08 Subscribe to our newsletter   Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory 4th June 2008 BCC determined to boost success of sole traders and startups The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has affirmed its commitment to helping sole traders and startup firms become more successful. The BCC has joined together with the Accredited Chamber Network to announce a series of services designed to encourage the success of new firms, the first of which is a Business StartUp Pack. This pack has been designed as a result of demand from startup companies in a bid to help them cope with the various issues they initially face. It includes a number of benefits such as telecommunications and mobility offers, discounts on products and free legal advice. John Dunsmure, managing director of the BCC, asserted that the number of sole traders and new firms who struggle and fail in the UK every year was the inspiration for the pack, particularly in light of the unstable ecomomy. He said: "Encouraging entrepreneurship is high on everyone's agenda but that is not enough - you have to match that commitment with practical support for startup businesses in their critical first few years. "I meet with businesses up and down the country all the time. Everywhere I went the story was the same - cash strapped new firms were spending too much money they could ill afford, on things they did not need, or buying the wrong equipment. There was no spare cash and when the going got tough so many had to fold. It is heart breaking to witness this especially when so many had such great potential. I was certain we had to act then but with the economy taking a turn for the worse it was crucial we moved quickly." The startup pack will be followed by other services, including an online business networking and advice portal, as well as a nationwide programme of Chamber Business Growth Clubs.   (c) 2008 Adfero Ltd.   Comment on this news story To comment on any story please click on the above link, put the story title in the subject line and please provide your name, trading style ie. retailer or wholesaler and the town where you trade.