consumer trends

Small Business Administration Offers Loans To Rebuild Local Economy

As search and rescue teams scour the disaster zones for the human casualties of the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is putting plans into place to revitalize the private business sector suffering from the... more »

Trending Up Spring 2011

Gourmet Garbage Gourmet Garbage is a blend of dark, white and milk chocolates, butter crunch chunks, peanut butter morsels, and chocolate covered pretzel pieces in a 12oz. jar. Works with ice cream, cupcakes and more.... more »

Consumers Spending More In La Salle County

The busy holiday shopping season, which spans the final three months of the year, can represent a make-it-or-break-it period for many owners and operators of stores and restaurants.And last year, the final three months of... more »

Retailers Expect A Happy Easter

Even though Easter falls later on the calendar this year — April 24 — retailers are expecting to see sales hopping. Total Easter spending is expected to increase 13 percent to $14.7 billion this year,... more »

Thirty Year Retail Vet Shares Twitter Secrets For Retailers

World Wide Web—Tweet, tweet! Calling all retailers to tweet with an article in national trade magazine Gift Shop's spring issue edited by Poornima Apte. It is "Twitter 101" and it is just what the retail... more »

New ‘Shop Local’ Program Aims To Boost Pleasanton Business, Shopping

A new program to connect Pleasanton shoppers with local businesses is launching today at ShopPleasanton.com. The new website -- a directory of nearly all businesses in Pleasanton -- features profiles of companies, special offers and... more »

US Retail Sales Solid In March Despite Late Easter

retailers weathered all manner of obstacles - including chilly weather, the late Easter holiday and higher fuel prices - to top downbeat March forecasts, according to results posted yesterday (7 April), as shoppers continued to... more »

5 Retail Stocks: Which Will Win March Madness?

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Poor Peter Cotton Tail is receiving the blame for what retailers can't seem to do on their own: woo shoppers when there's no catalyst to shop.March retail same-store sales are expected... more »