Retail

2018 Holiday Shopping Totaled $707.5 Billion

Retail sales were up by 2.9 percent over 2017, below a projected increase of 4.3 to 4.8 percent, according to new statistics.

02/15/2019 By Staff

Retail

New Pet Store Opens Saturday

The pet supplies, accessories and grooming store Pet Supermarket is opening a new store at 3476 Clark Road, Sarasota.

02/15/2019 By Staff

Retail

Valentine's Day Spending Predicted to Reach $20.7 Billion

Just 51 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Valentine's Day this year, down from 55 percent last year and a high of 63 percent in 2009.

02/12/2019 By Staff

Shop Talk

Trend Report: Designer Tourist Sandals

Heather Saba takes a deep dive into a slightly peculiar new trend.

02/11/2019 By Heather Saba

Retail

American Spending During Super Bowl Expected to Reach $14.8 Billion

American adults plan to spend $81.30 on average while watching the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams play in Super Bowl LIII.

01/28/2019 By Staff

Retail

Consumers Increasingly Expect Free Shipping With Online Orders

Three quarters of consumers expect free shipping on orders under $50, according to a new National Retail Federation survey.

01/21/2019 By Staff

Retail

Florida Consumer Confidence Rises

After four months of declines, consumer confidence among Floridians increased in December.

01/02/2019 By Staff

New Year, New You

Make 2019 Your Best Year Yet With These Four Fab Finds

Start the new year with four items you'll feel good about buying.

12/26/2018 By Megan McDonald

Chic in Sarasota

2019 Is the Year of the Headband

It's time to embrace your inner Blair Waldorf.

12/21/2018 By Heather Saba

Retail

New Furniture and Art Store Opens

Byron Schenk recently opened Curios at 821 Apricot Ave., Sarasota.

12/19/2018 By Staff

Data

Florida Consumer Confidence Drops for Fourth Straight Month

The November reading of 95.1 represents the lowest figure for the University of Florida survey in the last 13 months.

12/19/2018 By Staff

Retail

Bookstore Sales Up in October After Two Months of Declines

Bookstore sales totaled $699 million in October, up 7.7 percent from $649 million in October 2017.

12/17/2018 By Staff

Retail

Holiday Gift Card Spending Expected to Rise

Americans plan to spend $29.9 billion on gift cards this holiday season, up from $27.6 billion last year, according to new survey results.

12/07/2018 By Staff

Deals

Former Furniture Store Sold for $1.4 Million

Hoke Investment Company, LLC, recently merged Pelican Cottage and The Flamingo’s Nest Furniture Store into one new store, Pelicans and Flamingos.

11/30/2018 By Staff

Retail

Great Grandson of Bealls Founder Named Retailer's Next President

Matt Beall is the great grandson of the Bradenton company's founder, Robert Beall, who started the company in 1915.

11/28/2018 By Staff

Retail

Average Spending By Thanksgiving Weekend Shoppers Tops $313

That's down from last year, when shoppers spent an average of $335.47 over the holiday weekend.

11/28/2018 By Staff

Shop Local

Shop Small, Shop Local This Black Friday and Beyond

Fashion blogger Heather Saba rounds up the best local Black Friday and Small Business Saturday sales.

11/21/2018 By Heather Saba

Retail

164 Million Americans Expected to Go Shopping Over Thanksgiving Weekend

Twenty-one percent of shoppers plan to shop on Thanksgiving Day and 71 percent plan to shop on Black Friday, according to new survey results.

11/19/2018 By Staff

Shop Talk

Seven Must-Haves Finds for the Holiday Season

Embrace the hygge movement.

11/16/2018 By Heather Dunhill

Retail

Goodwill Manasota Opens New Bargain Barn Location

Goodwill Manasota recently relocated one of its Bargain Barn outlets to its Whitfield Logistics Center.

11/16/2018 By Staff