Home Hardware (Scotland) has reported a sales increase of 9.7% for the month of December 2008 - the best December trading since Home Hardware began trading in 1983. 

High street retailer Next has reported a 7% decline in like-for-like sales for the half year to December 24 2008 - at the bottom end of its guidance range of between -4% and -7% given back in September. 

Department store reports a 1% increase in gross transaction value on last year with online sales up 37.4% 

Waterford Wedgwood has called in the administrators this morning after failing to prove it has enough cash to secure further loans. 

As UK unemployment looks set to peak at 3.1m in 2009, The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) warns companies of the hidden cost of redundancies. 

A new delivery system, from kitchen and bathroom distributors Mark Two, allows consumers to arrange their own delivery and check or change their order themselves, despite having bought through national retailers such as Wickes, Next and Tesco. 

The speaker line up for the GIMA Business Meeting at the end of this month has been finalised and includes names from some of the UK's most respected and largest retailers and suppliers. 

Marketing director Jo Kenrick parts ways with company as it sets out new commercial agenda. 

Specialist tea, coffee and tabletop retailer Whittard of Chelsea was rescued just before Christmas in a 'pre-pack' buyout agreement. 

A DIY store owner left his shop open and attended only by an honesty box on Boxing day and made almost £200. 

The Pier has been unable to find a buyer over the Christmas period and looks likely to close with the loss of 350 jobs. 

Sales encourage non-food shopping trips during Christmas week, resulting in the first increase on 2007 in nine weeks. 

Tea, coffee and housewares retailer Whittard of Chelsea is understood to be on the brink of administration. 

The Hultafors Group has owned Snickers Workwear since December 2006, however, in a deal announced today, it will acquire the franchise company Snickers Original in the UK. 

Shares in Argos and Homebase parent company drop 13% to 204p after a six month absence due to concerns over level of discounting. 

Shutter and blind retailer The California Company has reported a 26% increase in like-for-like profits for the three months to October. 

Bob and Dorothy Gault, owners of the Klondyke Group of Garden Centres, including Strikes Garden Centres, have confirmed the acquisition of Brookside Garden Centre at Poynton, Cheshire. 

Major retailers have signed up to a government initiative to cut the use of plastic bags in half by spring 2009. 

Hobbycraft is so far proving immune to the economic downturn by revealing turnover has grown by £7.7m to 62.1m. 

A Poundland store has had to pay more than £4,000 after being caught selling a knife to a 17-year-old.