News
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 »
Greenspan predicts economic growth to hit 3 percent or higher
Washington -- The U.S. economy will grow more than expected in the third quarter, but unemployment also will continue to increase and will pass 10 percent, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said Sunday.Greenspan told... more »
Don’t overlook gift shop at iconic Mai-Kai restaurant
You probably think of the Mai-Kai as a fun place for anniversaries, proposals or other special occasions. It's where locals take out-of-town guests for fruity drinks and Pacific Island ambience. Stroll among the waterfalls, the... more »
Gift mall built on friendship
San Angelo, Texas — Jerrie Wiley and Carolyn Slaughter believe friendship and business can be mixed, and they have their own shop to prove it.Friends since college in the 1960s, their similar interests and dispositions... more »
Artisan gathering showcases sense of community
Fort Edward -- Two train stations at the end of July experienced two entirely different scenarios as the result of flooding.In Rensselaer, disgruntled passengers slept on their backpacks, hoping against hope that news would soon... more »
