News

Small retailers play to strengths off the beaten path

The Mosaic's Lisa Theut wanted to be near her son's school. That's why she opened her store in Fulshear. She says half her customers live in Fulshear and the rest come from Katy and Houston.... more »

Retail sales jump 6% in November

Lured by steep discounts, shoppers stormed the nation's retailers in November — but to keep the momentum going, analysts say, merchants will need to keep pushing discounts."Given that there's one less shopping weekend in December,... more »

Black Friday Deals Come Downtown

While the deals didn't start at 4 a.m. in downtown Port Jefferson, savvy shoppers opted for a less crowded shopping experience on Black Friday.Local businesses opened their doors the day after Thanksgiving for the kickoff... more »

Find Max the Moose in downtown shop windows

If sports teams can have mascots — the Bulls have Benny, the Sox have Southpaw and North Central College has the Cardinal — our downtown can have one, too.This holiday season downtown Naperville merchants have... more »

The Desert Trail’s view: Think local, shop local for your holiday gifts

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it is time to concentrate on the most important activity of the year, finding the perfect holiday gifts for family and friends. While many of our readers are... more »

Maven markets Maine-made merchandise

The Maine Maven, a new shop offering gifts and one-of-a-kind Maine items, opened in downtown Orono on Black Friday, Nov. 26.The store is owned by Kristen Andresen Lainsbury, a writer and editor for the University... more »

To keep up with the big stores, small retailers get creative

Amy Rutherford, owner of Red Barn Mercantile in Alexandria, has a full agenda of holiday promotions and events planned at the furniture and gift store. On top of the early-bird specials on Black Friday, she... more »

Still vintage after all these years

Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee is home to a great selection of vintage gift shops, but none quite like Closet Classics. Located on an unassuming corner on North Avenue, the store is Riverwest's most open secret.... more »

Things Remembered a hotspot for personalized gifts

Dover, Del. — Things Remembered is a mainstay in many malls, and Dover Mall is now part of that group. Things Remembered opened a kiosk in Dover Mall Oct. 29, and since then Manager Angel... more »

Plainfield stores get boost

Plainfield, IL - The weekend after Thanksgiving brought a festive atmosphere downtown and an important boost in customer traffic.Plainfield celebrated Candlelight Christmas on Saturday, a daylong event culminating with the traditional creche lighting in the... more »