Lure of a global marketplace has craftspeople competing for shoppers through such sites as Etsy.com, Artfire.com and 1000 Markets.

This just might be the boldest fashion statement at the shows so far—letting shoppers actually buy the clothes.

Retail sales rose in January as consumers bought more electronics and appliances, but a separate consumer-sentiment index fell in February, highlighting the mixed signals coming from the economy.

In the long run, the record snowfall that has assailed the Washington region will go down as a mere blip in an economic landscape dominated by the recession, the experts say. But that is cold comfort to many local businesses forced to shut down and dig out over the weekend just as they hoped to turn the corner toward recovery.

The recession pushed shoppers to pick necessities over discretionary items, discounts over luxury. But retailers hope to shift such behavioral changes further in coming months, affecting what consumers will buy, pay and experience at stores.

Independent stores nationwide seem to have done as well or better than the chain-dominated retail industry during the 2009 holidays, according to a survey issued Thursday.

American consumers have been profoundly altered by the recession in a way that will have a lasting effect on how they shop and buy.

RECENT RESEARCH SHOWS that buying local campaigns provide only limited and short-lived results for small businesses. So, as budget-conscious consumers turn to mass retailers, Internet and malls for bargains, what can small business owners do? Here are three suggestions.

Saks CEO discusses the luxury retail economy at Retail’s BIG show.

Tory Burch and Steve Sadove, Chairman and CEO of Saks, spoke on the challenges that have faced luxury retailers during the past year and opportunities for growth in the future at Retail’s BIG show. Read their tips here.

Staples is launching a new campaign aimed at helping small business get its groove back, with a tough-love approach to New Year’s resolutions. Its “stickK to it! Business Challenge” is scheduled to run from Jan. 12 through April 12, and uses an incentive-based form of goal-setting to motivate people to stay with their good intentions.

The new year could be brighter for luxury retailers, as improving stock markets and economic conditions pave the way for a potential recovery, an analyst said Monday.

A more upbeat outlook on jobs pushed Americans’ confidence in the economy higher in December for the second month in a row, a survey released last Tuesday said.

Yesterday is gone. 2010 is the time to start anew. It’s true that many of my clients and colleagues are tightening their belts now through the first quarter of 2010, but it’s not due to fear carried over from 2009. Instead, many of them are streamlining processes and making divisions more efficient in preparation of new growth during the second half of 2010.

Discounters, price-conscious teen stores and social-media-savvy retailers are best-positioned to thrive in the new year, according to retail experts.

Groupon, a company that is active in 26 cities and has been profitable since June 2008, “sends daily e-mails to members offering discounts on local products and services,” the Tribune reports. “A certain number of people have to sign up for the deal in order to activate it. If not reached, no one gets the coupon.”

Distinct merchandise is still moving, Gill said, and outstanding service is what helps sales. And many shops have become more creative about marketing. What’s more, they’re responding to customers’ tighter budgets.

Quirky, distinctive local stores always need to stay nimble to survive and thrive in the very competitive world of retail. This year, they face two additional big challenges posed by the recession. One is that shoppers will spend less this holiday season, and the other is that conditions for many are so dire that more people will shop at big-chain discounters.

Shoppers cautiously re-emerged in October at both the low-priced and upscale ends of the market, pushing retail sales for the month up modestly from October 2008, the second straight gain after a year of declines.

Small brick-and-mortar shops that rely on seasonal sales are seeking creative ways to avoid last year’s bloodbath of discounting, as cash-strapped consumers are expected to gravitate toward big-box and discount retailers.