Shop expansion offers hope for Cathedral Quarter

The owners of a Cathedral Quarter gift shop say the opening of their new vintage-style clothing boutique indicates a shift in the economic climate.This time last year many retailers in the area were facing up... more »

Toy sellers playing with prices to kick-start holiday sales

The No. 1 toy trend this year isn't a toy.Topping this year's hot list is lower prices.Three months before Christmas, and the deals are already day-after-Thanksgiving caliber.Retailers are pulling out deeper discounts earlier this year... more »

The Shrinking of the Fantasy Gift

Even our fantasies are being downsized.Neiman Marcus Group Inc. mailed out its annual Christmas Book catalog, which each year features over-the-top "fantasy" gifts, to one million customers on Tuesday. But for the first time in... more »

Country Store offers crafts, homemade food items

An annual tradition for more than half a century, the Country Craft Store began as a Presbyterian Women's Association project and gradually evolved in a whole church function.Held on the first Friday and Saturday in... more »

Small Businesses Prepare for a Hit from the H1N1 Flu

Small businesses already hit hard by the recession may soon undergo another pummeling, this time by the 2009 H1N1 virus, the frightening new subtype of a strain that's been around for decades."Right now the bulk... more »

Peking Handicraft Debuts New Trina Turk Designs, Birdcage and Triptych

San Francisco, Calif. -- Peking Handicraft, Inc., an international manufacturer and wholesaler of high quality home decor, tabletop and giftware items, debuted two new designs by Trina Turk, Birdcage and Triptych. The new pillows are... more »

NRF Forecasts One Percent Decline In Holiday Sales

Washington — The National Retail Federation today released its 2009 holiday forecast, projecting holiday retail industry sales to decline one percent this year to $437.6 billion.* While this number falls significantly below the ten-year average... more »

Retail sales stage a comeback

After steep falls over the past couple of months, retail sales rebounded sharply in August, rising by 0.9 per cent.This augurs well for retail landlords as they approach the crucial lead-up to Christmas and the... more »

Gift shops may see a boost in business

Greenfield, MA - The leaves are changing. That usually brings in the cash. Some are saying they believe that to be true this year more than others.From near and far, they're coming to see the... more »

‘Big-Box’ Retailers Spice Up Gift Cards For Holiday Season

New York -- Some "big-box" retailers may be spicing up an otherwise plain-vanilla product this holiday season to lure in value-conscious consumers - the gift card.Certain of these retailers - whose stores are physically large... more »