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 27th June 2008 Haul of illegal lighters seized by Trading Standards Trading standards officers have seized over 5,000 novelty lighters in raids across the south-east of England. The BBC reported that many of the confiscated lighters were designed to resemble cartoon characters or guns. In total, one fifth of the off-licences, petrol stations, car boot sales and pubs inspected during May and June were found to be selling lighters which breached the law. Currently, all lighters must not be designed in a manner that makes them attractive to children and must meet safety criteria. Russell Clarke, a technical enforcement officer at Slough Borough Council, explained to the broadcaster: "The consequences of a child playing with a novelty lighter can be catastrophic, so it is important that we carry out test purchasing to ensure these lighters cannot be bought in the shops." Figures indicate that around 220 people are injured every year in the UK when using illegal lighters. Separately, the BBC reported that trading standards officers have issued a warning to consumers about buying fake goods. The move came after officers discovered £90,000 of counterfeit designer jewellery in Essex. Bryan Lewin, the chairman of the Trading Standards Institute, said that the criminals were even selling some of the fake goods for more than the originals would cost in shops.       (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.