'Umbrellas' for your shoes
Many of us are full of genius ideas -- maybe a new invention of some sort or a solution to a nagging problem. (I keep thinking there must be a better way to package cream cheese.) For stylish Chicagoan Rebecca Miller, it has been an eight-year quest to find a fashionable way to protect her cute shoes from the rain, salt and slush during a work commute.
Save big on footwear
Many of us are full of genius ideas -- maybe a new invention of some sort or a solution to a nagging problem. (I keep thinking there must be a better way to package cream cheese.) For stylish Chicagoan Rebecca Miller, it has been an eight-year quest to find a fashionable way to protect her cute shoes from the rain, salt and slush during a work commute.
Restaurants serve up bonus-stuffed gift cards
The nation's eateries want more card-carrying diners, anticipating they will get more cash registers to ring. Restaurant companies pushed gift cards harder this shopping season, with more offering incentives and bonuses to buyers. Denny's, for example, offers a $5 gift card to patrons who purchased $25 cards.
The nation's eateries want more card-carrying diners, anticipating they will get more cash registers to ring. Restaurant companies pushed gift cards harder this shopping season, with more offering incentives and bonuses to buyers. Denny's, for example, offers a $5 gift card to patrons who purchased $25 cards.
Stores slash prices, hope for sales binge
Sweetening up a sour shopping season
Stores slash prices, hope for sales binge
Mark down today's date as the second Black Friday of this wacky shopping season.
Sweetening up a sour shopping season
Shoppers enjoy emptiness at Macy's all-nighter
Inside the store in Schaumburg's Woodfield Shopping Center -- one of about a dozen Macy's is keeping open for at least 108 hours as part of a marathon push to attract shoppers during the worst holiday shopping season in decades -- 60 sales clerks volunteered to pull all-nighters while shoppers mill around racks at a leisurely pace.
Inside the store in Schaumburg's Woodfield Shopping Center -- one of about a dozen Macy's is keeping open for at least 108 hours as part of a marathon push to attract shoppers during the worst holiday shopping season in decades -- 60 sales clerks volunteered to pull all-nighters while shoppers mill around racks at a leisurely pace.
Cut-rate shopping for a Dollar Store holiday
Paige Wiser: This is just not the year to splurge on gifts that are life-size or larger. And that's OK. Even if you've waited until now to assess your shopping list, you can make a good showing come present time -- just by visiting at your local dollar store. We stopped in at the Dollar Tree for odds and ends, and came away with renewed respect for the cut-rate empire. Yes, everything was truly just $1.
Centerstage: 2008 Holiday Guide
Round-the-clock retail hours attract the unsleepy
Wal-Mart winning holiday shopping war
Obama merchandise hot seller for Christmas
Paige Wiser: This is just not the year to splurge on gifts that are life-size or larger. And that's OK. Even if you've waited until now to assess your shopping list, you can make a good showing come present time -- just by visiting at your local dollar store. We stopped in at the Dollar Tree for odds and ends, and came away with renewed respect for the cut-rate empire. Yes, everything was truly just $1. Centerstage: 2008 Holiday Guide
German Christmas markets sparkle in season
NUREMBERG, Germany -- This time of year, the Christmas spirit descends on Germany's cities and towns in the form of wooden stalls laden with pretzels, toys and baked goods of all shapes and sizes.
Stores using survival tactics, look past holidays
Retailers are accelerating their use of survival tactics -- slashing prices further and pulling merchandise off shelves to send to liquidators -- as the number of holiday shopping days dwindles. But January and beyond look scarier for even relatively healthy merchants as the passing of the holidays give shoppers no reason at all to spend.
One local family's pledge to buy black in 2009
Retailers are accelerating their use of survival tactics -- slashing prices further and pulling merchandise off shelves to send to liquidators -- as the number of holiday shopping days dwindles. But January and beyond look scarier for even relatively healthy merchants as the passing of the holidays give shoppers no reason at all to spend.
Anthropologie to open downtown store at Block 37
The long-vacant Block 37 is now the shell of a shopping center filling up quickly, with hip women’s clothing retailer Anthropologie the latest to sign a lease, the developer announced Wednesday. The site between Macy’s and the Daley Center on State Street will be Anthropologie’s first downtown Chicago store. The store will take up 12,000 square feet on the first and second floors of the center, facing State Street.
Anthropologie to open downtown store at Block 37
The long-vacant Block 37 is now the shell of a shopping center filling up quickly, with hip women’s clothing retailer Anthropologie the latest to sign a lease, the developer announced Wednesday. The site between Macy’s and the Daley Center on State Street will be Anthropologie’s first downtown Chicago store. The store will take up 12,000 square feet on the first and second floors of the center, facing State Street.
Shoppers waiting until last minute
Holiday shoppers beset by debt, job instability and stock-market losses are waiting longer to buy gifts this year, leaving retailers to hope they won't miss out entirely, according to a survey to be released today. Shoppers who had started the unenviable task had completed, on average, 47 percent of their holiday shopping by the second week of December.
Holiday shoppers beset by debt, job instability and stock-market losses are waiting longer to buy gifts this year, leaving retailers to hope they won't miss out entirely, according to a survey to be released today. Shoppers who had started the unenviable task had completed, on average, 47 percent of their holiday shopping by the second week of December.
It's a buyer's market in NYC shops
Some 11 million people visited New York City last year between October and December, according to NYC & Company, the city's marketing and tourism organization. Even if that number drops this year due to the economy, you're likely to find Manhattan plenty crowded over the holidays. "The busiest time for visitation to NYC is typically the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas," said NYC & Company spokesman Chris Heywood.
Some 11 million people visited New York City last year between October and December, according to NYC & Company, the city's marketing and tourism organization. Even if that number drops this year due to the economy, you're likely to find Manhattan plenty crowded over the holidays. "The busiest time for visitation to NYC is typically the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas," said NYC & Company spokesman Chris Heywood.
NYC's latest trend mixes private club with a new twist
Blog: Travel with Lori Rackl
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Retail sales and prices fall again
Web site offers gift card bailout
WASHINGTON---- Signs that the recession will be long and severe mounted Friday with a fresh round of bad economic news, including plunging sales from manufacturers to stores and falling prices that raise fears of dangerous deflation.
Shopping catches on with men
Bill Flesch is shopping for himself this holiday season, looking out for the business-casual clothes essential to him now that he is involved in company-sponsored social and charitable groups.
