Ray Scotting, until recently managing director of Liberon Ltd, died on Christmas Day. He was 68, and had been diagnosed with cancer earlier in 2012. 

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) is asking MPs to prioritise listening to local businesses to help halt high street decline, in the wake of empty shops reaching a new high of 11.3% in town centres. 

Strong sales of festive decorations and plants helped value retailer QD achieve record Christmas trading figures. 

Enthusiastic shoppers helped John Lewis break a raft of sales records over the Christmas period, the department store retailer said today. 

According to the latest CBI report, more retailers saw a sales increase during the first two weeks of December than those who did not, but the number was far below retailers' expectations for the festive buying period. 

Former Kingfisher CEO Euan Sutherland, who was named chief operating officer last February, has announced he is leaving the home improvement giant from March 2013 to become CEO of The Co-operative Group. 

Hand tools manufacturer Irwin Tools has set itself the target of raising £50,000 for Help for Heroes next year through sales of a limited edition handsaw. 

A 22-year-old DIY store in Pembrokeshire will close for good tomorrow (Thursday, December 20) - marking the sad demise of a "wonderful business" for owner Malcolm Walker. 

The Garden Centre Association is calling all garden centre members to cast their votes for the Associate Member of the Year award, recognising efficiency, helpfulness, professionalism and best product. 

Members of the Garden Centre Association have reported Christmas product sales up 11% during November 2012 compared with November 2011. 

The final 49 Comet stores will shut up shop for good today after administrators failed to find a buyer for the electrical chain, which would have celebrated 80 years of trading next year. 

The second ever Garden Re-Leaf Day will include a competition run by Westland Horticulture for retailers who run the most effective campaign - launched last year as the garden industry's Comic Relief equivalent - to win compost worth £6,000. 

Turf and topsoil supplier is awarded Conditional Gold status by the Green Achiever Scheme. 

The company behind the Kitchen-compare website, Insight Retail Group has launched a new website Bathroomcompare.com, featuring products from B&Q, Bathstore, Homebase and Wickes. 

The Glee show is returning to its former Sunday to Tuesday format because "Sunday remains a viable option for smaller independent garden centre visitors." 

Retailers hoping for a last-minute Christmas boost from shoppers won't be disappointed, said national head of retail and wholesale at BDO, Don Williams. 

A 'Support for Independent Retail' campaign urging independent traders to lead by example and only shop in fellow indie stores is underway in light of research compiled by the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA). 

Last week saw more Christmas shoppers hitting the streets, according to the latest footfall figures from Ipsos Retail Performance's Retail Traffic Index. 

Retail sales within railway stations are steadily outstripping those on the high street, new figures show. 

Kingfisher's first ever Europe home report reveals 90% of homeowners across Europe regularly carry out home improvements, and all are more likely to spend money on improving their homes rather than a holiday in the next 12 months.