St. Paul, MN - Operating a boutique on a busy corner is difficult enough, but down an alley, without any street visibility? That's retail suicide. Or European.

Allee Metro Chic opens today in an old caretaker's house behind the buildings on the northwestern corner of Selby and Snelling avenues in St. Paul. You can't see it from the street, but the boutique began attracting attention weeks ago, just from its sign above a charming cobblestone alley. Once a dingy stretch between boarded-up buildings riddled with graffiti, the walkway was completely remade to resemble a candlelit alley in Paris. Even the shop signs are French. Read more...

Brookfield, WI - If you're looking for a gift for that hard-to-buy-for person, Brian Benecky has you - and them - covered.

As owner of Fan Appreciation at Brookfield Square, Benecky has carved out a niche in the apparel market by being able to take photos, images, words - or a combination of all three - and make them into a custom shirt or sweat shirt. Read more...

Gifting is a tough category; it’s one that really isn’t right for every garden center.

There are many out there that deal strictly in live goods and don’t get into the chichi-froufrou products that can come along with gifting sections. And that’s OK. Believe me. If I see one more poorly done gifting section, I’m going to scream. Do what you know best. If you don’t have a talented gift buyer and merchandiser, then it’s likely not for you. Read more...

Tuscumbia, AL - Downtown Tuscumbia now has a unique shopping experience to check out!

Fiddledee D! opened on Main Street in June, but it's not your typical retail store. It features six different businesses all in one building. Read more...

Atlanta, GA - For two months, there was no such thing as Swoozie's, the Atlanta-based paper and gift retailer. For several months prior to that -- when a liquidation sale that began in March emptied the stores of all merchandise and fixtures -- the company might as well as have ceased to exist. Read more...

Old Orchard Beach, ME - Months of perfect weather in northern New England have helped the region's tourism industry rebound from a dismal 2009, but consumers still wary of the economy have been tight with their money and shopping for bargain-basement prices. Read more...

Foursquare is the new social network marketing app the allow members to check in and reveal their location. Many businesses have seen a rise in the number of people who find out about them through a comment or tip on Foursquare. This new way of discovering the one-of-a-kind antique shop, or the coffee shop that is the perfect place to study has given businesses a fun, rewarding way to market their good and services. Read more...

Pensacola, FL - Salt Life bumper stickers and T-shirts have been all the rage for years among Pensacola-area residents.

Wearing or displaying the popular logo declares a love for all things the Gulf of Mexico and area bays offer: fishing, diving, surfing, boating, sunbathing and swimming. Read more...

Palo Cedro, CA - What prompted you to start your own business? Last November it came to my attention that there was a Western Store/Salon for sale in Palo Cedro. After years of working for equine veterinarians in the area, I got to know many friends with that same passion for horses that I had. Since I lived in Millville, this was the perfect location for me to strike out and take that chance of owning my own business. Read more...

Omaha, NE - When Marie Clifford was on a buying trip to New York last week, the owner of the Afternoon, a popular Omaha gift shop, let herself go a little.

“I ordered things I haven't dared to order before, very high-design, very contemporary,” she said. “One (item), for instance, is a table done by a craftsman, with a metal base that curves and seems to be off-balance ... it's a handcrafted, one-of-a-kind thing.” Read more...