Feller in shops was making return (8)
I believe the answer is:
chainsaw
'feller' is the definition.
(something which fells trees)
'shops was making return' is the wordplay.
'shops' becomes 'chain' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'making return' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'was' written backwards gives 'saw'.
'chain'+'saw'='CHAINSAW'
'in' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for chainsaw that I've seen before include "powered device" , "Texas massacre tool" , "Timber cutter" , "Tree-lopper's tool" , "woodcutter?" .)