At the annual suppliers lunch, held this year in the London Dorchester Hotel, Robin Millwood, CIH chairman, said: “In another consecutive poor year in retail, our turnover is only marginally down and this is with fewer members, but in a market place that in some areas is over 10% down. With more cost savings and streamlining, we have managed to reduce the members’ costs as well as maintaining profit in the company.”

Retail expert Mary Portas has published her report on the UK's high streets listing her recommendations for breathing new life into town centres.

The report is a result of a six-month review requested by the Government for which Portas consulted with retailers, councils and trade bodies to identify ways of helping high streets to prosper.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Independent Business Awards the organisers have teamed up with Belling, which is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. Together they are able to offer a golf day, on the spectacular golf course at The Forest Of Arden Hotel, on 20 June 2012.

The Forest of Arden Hotel and Country Club, is one of the UK's most impressive golf destinations, featuring two top-class courses.

Bissell, the American floorcare brand, best known in Britain for its deep cleaning appliances, has redesigned its product line-up, with a number of market firsts scheduled for 2012, and has just launched a compelling rental proposition for the independent channel.

The company, founded in 1876 in Michigan by Melville and Anna Bissell, is still a family-run business, managed by Mark Bissell, CEO, the great grandson of the founders.

Shaun Barrett of Barrett’s Digital World.

Barrett’s Digital World enjoyed a good year in 2010, and I believed that the market had recovered after the credit crunch and recession of 2007-08. What made 2011 so hard to grasp and comprehend was the size and speed of the downturn throughout the year.

Although the finishing line is finally in sight, customers are still confused with digital TV options on offer, both in terms of services and recording, reports George Cole.

By the end of the year, the UK will have completed the switchover from analogue to digital television. UK Digital, which has been managing the switchover, says the last analogue signal will be switched off on 24 October 2012, and at the time of writing, just four TV regions – London, Meridian, Tyne Tees and Northern Ireland - have yet to complete the switchover. Around 18 million UK homes now have Freeview, and Freesat sales have passed two million.

Tavistock Sound and Vision, is one of the late Michael Peters’ companies, renowned for their customer service and retailing excellence. Paul Mead, managing director of Tavistock, told Anna Ryland how during the age of the internet, a local independent can stay at the heart of its community.

Paul Mead, managing director of Tavistock Sound and Vision and Michael R. Peters is not a stranger to receiving industry awards.

Is a recession the right time to sell best in class cooking appliances?

Anna Ryland investigates.

Even the most experienced retailers admit that the current trading conditions are very tough and the Christmas season is unlikely to deliver the usual volume of cheer to the electrical stores. Can you hope, therefore, to be able to tempt customers with cooking appliances that represent the best that the industry can offer?

AMDEA is the UK trade association for domestic appliance manufacturers.  Many people assume that this means large appliances such as cookers and washing machines but AMDEA members also make a range of small appliances. This month AMDEA’S Sian Lewis looks at the range of household gadgets available on the market that are subject to energy and safety regulations.

Tom Cole reviews recent events in the multiples sector and the prospects for 2012.

 cole.tom@virgin.net

Wherever you look there is no shortage of gloomy news, but whilst the general outlook is clearly bleak for many retail sectors, the shake-out in electrics, with Best Buy closing down and Comet soon to be under new management, will be welcomed by others in the trade.