News

River Card renews ‘Shop Local’ emphasis

Laughlin — The latest step in the local business community's efforts to encourage residents to "Shop Local" will be the River Card, a gift card that can be purchased for varying amounts. It will go... more »

Fair trade group thinking globally

The mission of global fair trade is simple, yet ambitious: to contribute to global economic development and poverty relief through education and promotion of products that adhere to fair trade principles.Fair Trade Bloomington's goal centers... more »

Florence’s Sweet Serenity Gourmet beats economic downturn by staff caring about what it does

Gift-giving is its business. Customer service and personalized attention keep it in business. For partners Jean Turner and Phyllis Brown, Sweet Serenity Gourmet, a food, basket and gift shop in Florence, is surviving the recession... more »

Three Merchants Beat the Recession by Selling to Kids

Michael Rosenberg, 58; Burhan Okuyan, 52; and Yosef Shimron, 52, all veteran shopkeepers on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, don't know one another. Mr. Rosenberg is in clothing; Mr. Okuyan, art framing; Mr. Shimron,... more »

Co-op of 8 women creates East Village shop

A gift shop featuring the work of local artists and crafters will open Saturday in the Pierce School Mall in the Village of East Davenport. Trixie-Lu, Unique Gifts for You! is a cooperative involving eight... more »

Retail sales leap in March with early Easter, warm days

Shoppers satisfied their urge to splurge in March, scooping up Easter goodies and warm-weather clothing to give retailers their biggest monthly sales boost in more than a decade.Many stores enjoyed double-digit sales increases at stores... more »

NYIGF Expands Tabletop Offerings for Summer Market

White Plains, NY — North America's largest collection of tabletop suppliers will be even bigger this summer, with the expansion of Accent on Tabletop at the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), August 15-19, 2010,... more »

Art Center coming to downtown

Construction workers have paved the way for art in downtown Battle Creek this summer.The Art Center of Battle Creek is moving its gift shop and creating a second, smaller exhibit at 80 W. Michigan Ave.... more »

Downtown Toledo: New enterprises bloom

With the Mud Hens opening their baseball season today, it's not just the pear trees outside Fifth Third Field that are blooming. Businesses old and new in Toledo's Warehouse District are getting ready for a... more »

Easter, longer month increase March retail sales

Increased mall traffic and strong consumer interest in seasonal Easter items bolstered March sales, according to a well-known economic indicator released Tuesday.The Johnson Redbook Retail Sales Index for March rose an average 3.9 percent compared... more »