Retail and Shopping
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St. Charles among few local municipalities that hasn’t decided on 1% grocery tax in 2026
May 23, 2025 2:23 pm - Most municipalities in Kane County have chosen to maintain the 1% grocery tax even after the state allows it to expire at the end of 2025. Still, St. Charles has not yet decided whether it wants to continue receiving roughly $2 million in annual revenue from the tax.
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A guide to farmers markets in the suburbsMay 23, 2025 8:04 am - Farmers markets are opening throughout the suburbs. Some start in June or later while others have already begun. Here’s a helpful guide.
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The Biz Week That Was: Sears’ HQ nearly razed, Dick’s buys Foot Locker, and Walmart warns of higher pricesMay 17, 2025 1:35 pm - The demolition of Sears campus in Hoffman Estates is almost done The demolition of Sears’ former 2.4 million-square-foot headquarters in Hoffman Estates is entering ...
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A rare warning from Walmart during a US trade war: Higher prices are inevitable
May 15, 2025 8:58 am - Walmart, which became the nation's largest retailer by making low prices a priority, has found itself in a place it's rarely been: Warning customers that prices will rise for goods ranging from bananas to car seats. Executives at the $750 billion company told industry analysts Thursday that they are doing everything in their power to absorb the higher costs from tariffs ordered by President Donald Trump. Given the magnitude of the duties, however, the highest since the 1930s, higher prices are unavoidable, and they will hurt Walmart customers already buffeted by inflation over the past three years. Walmart reported strong sales for the first quarter on Thursday, though profits slipped.
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Dick’s Sporting Goods to buy struggling shoe chain Foot Locker for $2.4 billion
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Leveraging local: How to build a brand that belongsMay 14, 2025 10:04 am - In a retail and service world filled with Amazon, Costco, Target, Walmart and other massive, multinational companies, there still remains a surprising amount of space for local business.
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US businesses that rely on Chinese imports express relief and anxiety over tariff pause
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BBB: Scammers target Mother’s Day shoppersMay 09, 2025 12:44 pm - With spending on par with Christmas, scammers see the Mother’s Day holiday as a lucrative opportunity. Whether buying flowers, jewelry, or gift cards, the Better Business Bureau urges you to shop wisely.
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WGN9’s Around Town will be live at Conscious Cup on May 13May 08, 2025 11:31 pm - WGN9’s Ana Belaval and the Around Town crew will sip into the world of specialty coffee on Tuesday, May 13, during a live presentation from Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters Coffee Laboratory in Crystal Lake.
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Luxury designer Christos Furs creates new biodegradable fashionsMay 05, 2025 10:34 pm - Christos Furs' 20th anniversary fashion show displays luxury designs made from recycled materials like plastic bottles and bike chains, proving sustainability can be stylish.