Dolly Parton sparkled her way through the grand opening of her brand new Nashville store, Trinkets and Treasures, last week, thrilling fans by appearing on the street out in front to cut the ribbon and christen the colorful gift shop. Read more...

Potsdam — Shavings litter the floor Sunday as three women weave, bend and cut the uncooperative reeds into large Williamsburg baskets.

Two of the women are veteran basket-makers and have come for years to Willow Tree Florist and Landscaping, 7580 Route 11, to learn how to weave reeds and sea grass into different shapes and sizes. For the third, it could be the beginning of a new hobby. Read more...

Three men whose products might be adorning your Christmas tree have branched out to form their own retail business.

After years working for Cormans, the Lexington company known for its display work for major companies, J. Stuart Hurt, Dwayne Anderson and Jeremy Rice have formed their own retail design business to focus on floral displays, interior design, custom upholstery and more. Read more...

Carmel, Ind. -- Matt Griffin was a young bachelor just trying to figure out how to bake some brownies when he hit on an idea that has really cooked.

National newspapers and network television ultimately came calling to hear about his idea that has become one of those only-in-America tales of an upstart entrepreneur. Read more...

Ypsilanti, MI — Thomas Harrison, chief executive of Michigan Ladder Co., has a plan that would contribute to the U.S. economic recovery: Expand the 108-year-old company, adding at least 20 jobs in the process. His chances of getting the loan of $300,000 or more he needs to do so, though, depend in part on what happens to folks like home builder James Haeussler. Read more...

A year after his first “stimulus package” was delivered to employees, Brewton pharmacist Danny Cottrell gave high school seniors at T.R. Miller and W.S. Neal a similar bonus — $30 each in $2 bills.

The only caveat from Cottrell: Shop at home, and give a portion to charity.

For the past few weeks, those bills have been turning up in local businesses, including fast food restaurants and retail stores. Read more...

It's tax crunch time again. From March 15, when some corporations file, to the April 15 deadline for individuals, small-business owners are busily organizing their receipts and books—and looking for as many tax breaks as possible. Read more...

Uzma Quader started her retail business five years ago with a gift shop in Town and Country when her eldest daughter, Zara, was 13 years old. Zara immediately began helping her mother with the store.

Three years ago, they closed the gift store and opened Uzma Q, a clothing and accessories shop for women and tweens. Read more...

In 2009 alone, internationally renowned two-week music, film and interactive festival South by Southwest injected approximately $99 million into the local economy, directly and indirectly, according to a study released by Greyhill Advisors, the consulting firm in charge of analyzing the economic impact the media conference had on Austin. Additionally, Greyhill found the combined value of media coverage totaled $21.4 million. Read more...

You never know what you'll come across on Craigslist. Jennifer Jones can vouch for that. While searching for a midcentury dresser last fall, she happened upon a rental listing for a four-bedroom Eichler in the Oakland hills with a bay view. Smitten, she surrendered her quintessential San Francisco apartment and moved into a light-filled, midcentury retreat.

Some might consider that a bit impulsive. For those who can identify with Jones' craving for vintage, such a move is entirely rational. Enviable, even.

Jones owns Candy-store Collective in the Mission District, the ultimate assemblage for women and men's indie designers, vintage furnishings and kitsch knickknacks, indelible paper goods and a succession of art shows. The texture-rich, scrappy space with bare walls is balanced by rows of jars brimming with nostalgic sweets, sets of salvaged doors transformed into card displays, and cases and shelves with graphic silk scarves, gleaming jewelry and cheeky pottery. Read more...