JULY TRADE NEWS Independent retailers are working hard to keep prices down Summer sales fail to help independent retailers Retailers resist pressure to go out of business Wholesaler praises Exeter's transport links Online system revealed to help local retailers Rural post office alternative does not have the funding to help businesses Independent retailers 'set to benefit from online sales boom' Suffolk market town to be transformed with new high street retail development Independent electric retailers struggle as sales slow Couple reveal joys of independent retailing Retail sales slump after May’s blip Small businesses urged to reduce energy usage Independents prepare for 3rd Vodafone boycott Government plans welcomed by retailers Independent booksellers join forces to compete Better training for retail workers Large firms take advantage of small wholesalers Sheffield authorities donate fake goods to overseas charity Economic downturn prompts calls for business rent change Falling sales hit business confidence CCTV 'can help retailers improve sales' Wholesaler uses government system to measure environmental impact Bosses 'don't feel they can take holidays' Niche service 'helped new business compete with national wholesalers' Midlands village ditches plastic bags Post office closures 'will hurt local retailers' eBay wins US court case over fake jewellery Retailers and residents join forces to protest new supermarkets Retail sales dip in June Retailer blames supplier after fake goods conviction Independent retailers boycott Vodafone Small business owners 'plan to stick with their companies for many years' Small businesses would have welcomed rate cut Businesses 'not surprised by rate hold' FSB calls for support for local retailers Small retailers 'increasingly face court over grey market goods' Around the world in a tea daze Politicians urged to always consider the smallest businesses Report warns small businesses fear recession Government looks to alter planning law to protect small retailers Small businesses are 'saving to guard against recession' UK sites handle £800m worth of fake goods every year Lack of disposable income 'could affect' retailers Yorkshire police link fake goods with drug trade Northern Irish retailers to fight Tesco plan UK business 'understand the importance of a good internet presence' Buggy manufacturers make it hard for retailers to sell online British consumers 'happy to buy fake goods' Kew retailers stop offering plastic bags More retailers 'will go bust this year' Welsh officials educate public on fake goods Attempts to save Devon post offices UK businesses threatened by rising fraud   Trade News Archive July 08 June 08 May 08 April 08 March 08 February 08 January 08 Subscribe to our newsletter   Go to The Wholesaler UK Directory 28th July 2008 Independent electric retailers struggle as sales slow Independent retailers bore the brunt of a recent slowdown in the sales of consumer electronics, a report has stated. Research by Gfk was seen by the Independent, which reported that the figures showed that sales of consumer electronics slipped by 0.3 per cent for the three months from April to June compared with the previous quarter in 2008. In particular, the report said that independent retailers had faired the worst, adding that their sales had dropped 16.7 per cent in May and 9.8 per cent in June. Interestingly, the research suggested that much of this fall was due to weak sales of LCD televisions, hampered by the England football team's failure to qualify for the European Championships. While sales of LCD TVs increased 11 per cent in June, the report said that price deflation prevented retailers enjoying any value growth. James Randall, the commercial director at GfK, explained to the paper: "The warm weather had a significant impact on sales of consumer electronics, with consumers switching to buying products for their gardens. "But, looking at the quarter as a whole gives the clearest indication of what is happening in the market and it's not good news." Recent figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that retail sales overall dropped 3.9 per cent in June.     (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.