consumer trends

Retail Business Conditions At 3-Year High

Business conditions in the retail sector in the first quarter of 2011 improved for the first time since 2007, the results of the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) Retail Survey released on Thursday show."This is... more »

State Park Officials Focus On Idaho Retail Goods

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Department of Parks and Recreation is trying to find more ways for visitors to take home a piece of Idaho at park gift shops filled with sweets, soaps and other... more »

Time Is Right For A Shop Local Campaign

The recent spike in fuel prices is increasing the pressure on an already moribund local economy - but could there be a silver lining in high prices at the pump for merchants in smaller communities?The... more »

Aurora’s Travel Focused Collection Asks “Are We There Yet?”

Pico Rivera, CA – Aurora World Inc. (www.auroragift.com) celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, is helping parents gear up for summer travel with a line of plush accessories based on one of the company's top... more »

Alexa’s Angels® Debuts New Collection, Keep An Angel In Your Corner™…Fight Like A Girl

(Windsor, CO) -- Alexa's Angels, a leading gift jewelry manufacturer known for its original designs that inspire, continues to enrich their Signature Woman Empowerment Collection with the introduction of their newest theme, Fight Like A... more »

Downtown Hickory Welcomes New Businesses

Hickory--When Julia Rush opened a fine crafts store on Union Square three decades ago, the downtown retail landscape looked a lot different than it does today."There were still department stores like Spainhour's and men's and... more »

Retail Surge: Consumer Spending Maintaining Momentum

THE VILLAGES — Mike and Peggy Rusaw kept pretty busy of late furnishing their new Village of Lynnhaven home.The couple spent somewhat freely this year on décor, furnishings and construction upgrades like new tile and... more »

Three Prinz Collections Debut New Additions For 2011

NORTHBROOK, IL – With a spotlight on sophistication and elegance, Prinz designers pulled out all the stops with new additions to some of the company's most popular frame collections. The Metal Radiance, Luxe and Boutique... more »