Gifts, enjoyable as they are, are a little risky: You may not get what you want. And sometimes, keep getting what you don't want every Christmas or birthday. Some retailers are trying to curb the number of disappointed gift returns.
The National Retail Federation predicts sales this holiday shopping season will come in 3.3% higher than last year. But not everyone is celebrating this time of year. What's the season like for people who don't celebrate Christmas? Mitchell Hartman reports.
Investors, like private equity firms, are eyeing companies like Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts. Prices are still low and there's signs that the economy is slowly, but surely, in recovery.
Stacey Vanek Smith talks with the L.A. Times' consumer columnist David Lazarus about why consumer spending's up this season, and what to be wary of when you're out shopping.
It's hard enough to flag down a salesperson to help you get a different-sized tee, but to receive a thank you card from them? It's the latest strategy some brands and stores are utilizing to keep customers around.
Searching for that last-minute gift? You might find those store shelves empty. Retailers, in anticipation of low shopping numbers, ordered less stock this year, just to play it safe.
The T-shirt company Threadless has been around for about 10 years now and is an icon for crowd-sourced business design. Threadless founder Jake Nickell talks with Kai Ryssdal about the new book he has written on the company's first years, where the idea for the company came from, and what's next.
