consumer trends

Antioch business workshops try to keep small employers afloat

Parwin Fazli is determined to keep her company afloat even as every week seems to bring word of another business caving to the weak economy. "We have to make it," said Fazli, co-owner of the... more »

Main St. bucks the recession

Madison, WI – Can it be that Main Street, Madison, bucked the national recession that saw steep declines in retail sales for December's holiday shopping season?With a little help from its friends in the community,... more »

Neva’s provides Lake Dallas retail shopping

In a city with little to buy except a pack of gum or a bottle of gin, Neva's Affordables is quite the change of pace. By stocking items custom tailored to the Lake Cities and... more »

Lafayette strip mall has friends in town

Lafayette, CO — Bob Beard, an out-of-work engineer, shows up every afternoon like clockwork at Barlow's Premium Cigars in Lafayette. Even though Beard was laid off from Sun Microsystems, he hasn't given up his noontime... more »

After St. Helens antique shop closes suddenly, nine vendors start anew

The loss of Antiques St. Helens, the 3-year-old antique shop in the heart of St. Helens' waterfront district, has shaken vendors and customers, but several sellers have started a new venture, Elegant Clutter, which will... more »

Gift cards pitched as way to entice shoppers to Palm Springs

With more than 500 businesses in downtown and uptown Palm Springs, shoppers have plenty of choices.But unlike the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon (130 stores) or Westfield Palm Desert (150 stores), downtown Palm Springs... more »

Nimblest retailers will trump hard times

Marianne Hassan has one rule when it comes to surviving the recession: when the going gets tough, the tough deliver personally.Despite declining sales since November, the owner of Ottawa's high-end lingerie boutique, BraChic, hasn't taken... more »

Save Our Shops campaign launched in Harborough

Market Harborough needs your help.For the first time in many years the spectre of closed and boarded up shops has appeared in the town.As the credit crunch bites across Britain, the plight of high street... more »