Stores tackle physical and virtual realities

JC Penney, the mid-price US department store chain, cut back on expenses last year, as the recession hit its core middle-class shoppers.But it did not stop spending on everything."We invested heavily in our digital initiatives,"... more »

Beachlovers, business owners fear oil spill’s effects

Along the Gulf Coast -- Teresa Waller walked the beach of Gulf Shores thinking about memories of family trips there as a child. She drove the 30 minutes from her home in Robertsdale for another... more »

Granville woman spices up life

Granville, OH -- Cooking and creating new recipes always has been a passion for Aimee Williams.Combining that with her love of working with retail customers, Williams has created a niche market for her business, Aimee's... more »

Yankee Candle® Joins SnapRetail TrafficBuilder Marketing Program

Yankee Candle, the leading designer, manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer of premium scented candles, announced it will participate in the SnapRetail TrafficBuilder program. TrafficBuilder will enable its gift channel wholesale customers to easily market Yankee Candle... more »

Green Stationery, Inc. Note Cards Selected for Swag Bags at the Sex and the City 2 Opening Night Parties

Eden Prairie, MN – Green Stationery, Inc. is providing 1,000 eco-friendly sets of note cards to The Party Goddess and The Henley Company for the Sex and the City 2 opening night parties, scheduled for... more »

First & Main gift shop to open Memorial Day weekend

Hudson -- Shoppers looking for gift ideas for home, friends or office will soon have an added downtown option.Epiphany, 105 First St., will open its doors to the public during Memorial Day weekend.The 1,200-square-feet space... more »

Flower shops’ business blooms for Mother’s Day

Florists are traditionally busy just before Mother's Day, and those in the Plymouth area are no exception."Pretty much anybody who comes in the store today is going to be a Mother's Day shopper," Sarah Klatt,... more »

Flower shop notes surge in Mother’s Day spending

Michigan — Mothers Day is expected to bring a big boost to the economy.According to a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation, this year people are likely to spend more money on mom compared... more »

Couple who own 16 shops bringing back Independence Square

Kansas City — On the once-dreary Independence Square, Cindy McClain seldom stops.That's her against the old-brick backdrop, clutching a white iPhone and moving from place to place. From the dining rooms of Ophelia's to the Uptown... more »

Get Ready to Meet regreet

Minneapolis, MN – regreet is "hopping over" to the National Stationery Show, May 16-19 to showcase its greeting card re-use kits and a greeting card organizer. As the world's first kits to reuse greeting cards,... more »