Consumers extend purchasing power with rewards programs

As consumers adopt new means to shop for the holidays, they continue to leverage innovative ways to extend their purchasing power. Eighty-four percent of consumers are planning to shop at a store where they are... more »

Retail experts weigh in on retail landscape before holiday sales

Black Friday marks the unofficial start to the holiday shopping season. As companies begin to entice shoppers with deals and free... more »

Business and the Art of Social Media

If you open just about any social media app, you’ll likely find a handful of cute pet photos within the first five minutes of scrolling. With “Insta-famous” pet accounts and hashtags dedicated to online pet... more »

Operation:MADE focuses on veteran-made products

A new gift shop in Warwick, Rhode Island, has opened with a mission to empower and encourage the military community through entrepreneurship. Operation:MADE, owned by military spouse Nicole O'Brien, carries gifts and home decor from... more »

Toy of the Year Award finalists unveiled

The Toy Association has unveiled the 123 finalists for the 2019 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. The TOTY Awards program recognizes the top toy, game, and licenses in the industry, and supports children in... more »

Crafting through Kenya

Have you ever walked into a store and saw some amazing handmade crafts and wondered where they came from and how they were made? This story will transport you to Kenya to explain how some... more »

California wildfires: how you can help victims

Wildfires continue to wreak havoc in northern and southern California. Northern California's Camp Fire has destroyed more than 6,400 homes. In Southern California, two wildfires are burning just northwest of Los Angeles. At least 31... more »

Consumers integrate tech into their purchasing habits

Consumers are increasingly powering up their computers and mobile devices or simply interacting with their virtual assistant during the holiday season, according to results from a nationwide Citi Retail Services Holiday Survey. While nearly three-fourths (73... more »

IMC announces new leadership team for combined markets

Following its recently concluded merger with AmericasMart, International Market Centers has announced a new executive leadership team with over 150 years of collective experience in the gift, home furnishings, and apparel industries: Greg Avitabile, EVP,... more »

Shop Local Saturday is coming. Are you prepared?

In 2017, 108 million shoppers spent $12.9 billion on Shop Local Saturday, and nearly half of these shoppers visited a small business that they had not been to previously. Don’t miss out on potential sales... more »