consumer trends

TGR Survey Takes Retail Pulse, Finds Specialty Alive and Well

The results of The Gourmet Retailer's latest Economic Pulse Survey are in, and we've got the highlights right here. Our mission was to bring you a snapshot of the current state of business among specialty... more »

Starting to turn the corner: Boro’s small biz owners say customers are coming back

There really is light at the end of the tunnel for some struggling Brooklyn merchants. Drawing shoppers with big discounts and new strategies, storeowners from Flatbush to Park Slope and down to Sunset Park said... more »

Create your own stimulus for the local economy

An individual's $20 expenditure at a neighborhood hardware store can translate into twice that amount from the ripple effect the purchase creates in the local economy. Ripples from thousands of people - each spending $20... more »

Small businesses caught in a financial meltdown squeeze

Portsmouth — Ken and Deborah Smith were caught in a classic business squeeze — they needed to expand their Maine-ly New Hampshire retail shop in downtown Portsmouth but the economic downturn last fall made credit... more »

Neighbour snaps up shop that folded

A music shop which went into liquidation is to reopen in Lincoln after being taken over by the neighbouring retailer.Gift shop owner Linda Wood bought a "large chunk" of the goods from collapsed firm Music... more »

Downtown Laurens sees a new business boom in recent months

Laurens - In the midst of Wall Street worries, Main Street in Laurens is seeing a resurgence, said long time business owner Julie Wurr.Located in northwestern Pocahontas County off Iowa Highway 10, the town of... more »

The Gift-Card Economy

Mother's Day is coming up. Which do you think Mom would enjoy more—a day-spa gift certificate that expires at the end of June, or an otherwise identical gift certificate that expires a year from now?The... more »

Area store thanks customers dollar at a time

Storm Lake, Iowa - When Molly Wilson lived in the Twin Cities, there were days she'd visit a store three times. Nobody bothered to say "Hi.""We were all rats driving down the interstate," she says... more »