consumer trends

Stores get early start on wooing holiday shoppers

If you think layaway went away with rotary dial phones and disco, think again. Retailers are using that old-fashioned perk, as well as newfangled promotions, to persuade cash-strapped consumers to spend, spend, spend.The promotional push... more »

Mister, can you spare a latté?

San Diego and New York—When Think Coffee on Mercer Street in Manhattan opens at 7 a.m., there are usually people waiting outside to duck in and stake their claim. As the day wears on, freshmen... more »

NRF’s Top Tips for Buying Gift Cards

(WASHINGTON) -- Once again, gift cards will be the most requested gift this holiday season. According to NRF's 2008 Holiday Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, 54.9 percent of consumers would like to... more »

Financial meltdown won’t spoil Halloween fun

New York - Global stocks markets are plummeting, house prices are slumping and jobless figures are rising but Americans are not about to let a financial crisis dent their Halloween fun.About three quarters of Americans... more »

Retailers hope sales, promotions will convince consumers to get into the holiday spending spirit

It's a buyer's market on the retail scene as stores focus on promotions, service and inventory to fatten up scrawny sales.Unsettled by shaky consumer confidence and foundering economy, retailers need a strong holiday season to... more »

Local businesses get creative as the economy turns sour

Locally owned small businesses are using some creative ways to be noticed by shoppers during this downturn in the economy.And in a few sections of the city times have changed and business owners are coping... more »

About Face Designs Hires New Sales Agencies

(HIGHLAND, IL) -- About Face Designs hires new sales agencies in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic markets.Link 2 Sales has been hired to represent About Face Designs in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North... more »

Thinkfun aligns staff, sets for growth

(Alexandria, VA) -- When ThinkFun, the leading creator of Mind Challenging Games, recently appointed John Esteban Chief Operating Officer, one of his first priorities was to align the company with its Core Values of innovation,... more »