| Glitch hinders search for bargains
Future Shop is one of Canada's most successful online retailers. Customers wait anxiously for its Boxing Day sale. But, just after the sale began last Monday night, the Futureshop.ca website had to be closed down for almost two hours. "This glitch certainly caused some grief for our customers," says Mike Chuback, vice-president of services and sales development. "The link between the website and the payment system was not there. Everything backed up and got worse, so we had to shut down the system and repair it." Customers who came early on Monday night found they could put items into their shopping carts. But they couldn't check out with their purchases. Frustrated buyers started hurling insults at Future Shop and consoling each other at the company's online forums, while getting progress reports on the attempted fix.
Big-city landscape sprouts in rural area
Change is coming to East Montgomery County, along a mostly rural area dotted with trailer parks. New subdivisions of brick homes are now replacing aging mobile homes, and large tracts of land along U.S. 59 are being tapped for housing and retail development. The area also is attracting many international businesses. Several are now building in the industrial park in New Caney home to the Wal-Mart distribution center bringing good jobs and property tax dollars. East county "used to be the armpit of Montgomery County, but now people are taking notice," said longtime resident Vickie Thumann, a member of the East Montgomery County Improvement District board. ''We want to better our community and we have worked for that." All the growth is transforming east county into a place where people can live, work and play, said Frank McCrady, president and chief executive officer of the East Montgomery County Improvement District.
Mall of America, Nickelodeon and Levy Restaurants Partner to Introduce ...
CHICAGO and MINNEAPOLIS, Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Mall of America (MOA), the country's largest shopping and entertainment destination, Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, and award-wining, industry leading Levy Restaurants announced today plans to partner to create and deliver a re- invented theme-park dining experience at Nickelodeon Universe, set to open at Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, in 2008. Levy has been chosen for its culinary expertise and passion to create one-of-a-kind food experiences for the quick service dining destinations in the park, including the general concessions areas, portable carts and catering. Through the new partnership with Levy, Nickelodeon and Mall of America plan to introduce healthy dining options throughout the park's eateries.
Corrections and clarifications
That amount is nearly 13 times higher than a year earlier. M&I also said it could write off up to $195 million in bad debt in the quarter, compared with $15 million a year earlier. *** An item Saturday in the Religion Briefing misstated the address of St. Francis Chapel at the motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis Assisi, where Bishop William Callahan will preside at a liturgy at 9 a.m. Jan. 6. It is at 3221 S. Lake Drive, not 1501 S. Layton Blvd. The Milwaukee Archdiocese provided incorrect information. 12/29/07 An item in the Regional News Watch on Nov. 3 transposed the names of a man charged with reckless homicide and the victim. It was William G. Stone, not Marvin G. Wise, who faced fines and prison terms after being charged. Wise was the victim.
One-stop bridal shopping coming to Tamarack Feb. 23
The ninth annual Bridal, Prom and Special Occasions Fair will be held Saturday, Feb. 23, from noon to 4 p.m. at Tamarack. The event is sponsored by The Register-Herald, Belk, Party King, All Seasons Floral & Tuxedos, Harvey's Fashions & Bridals, Beckley Renaissance and Tamarack Conference Center."This is one event we can always count on as a success," said Chuck Jessup, advertising director of The Register-Herald. "The quality of the show has made a name for itself, and people from all over the area know this will be an event where they can find lots of help in planning weddings and all kinds of special occasions."Attendees to the free event can also enjoy the fashion shows provided by Harvey's Fashions & Bridals and browsing among vendors' booths.There is still time for vendors to register by calling Ann Kelly at 255-4411.
Toy Aisle Tips for Retailers to Help Holiday Shoppers
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- More than half of U.S. consumers (53 percent) say they will buy toys this holiday season, according to a recent Maritz(R) Poll. And, gift-givers in Gen X (62 percent) and Gen Y (61 percent) say they will buy toys at significantly higher levels than Baby Boomers (42 percent). However, recent toy recalls will impact buying decisions across all generations this season: "Toy safety is clearly a concern for consumers this holiday season and you wouldn't know it by looking at American toy aisles," said Gloria Park Bartolone, vice president, Maritz Research's Retail Group. "There's little or no signage to restore customers' confidence in toy safety, and most associates are not informed about the recalls. Retailers need to prepare, and fast." Toy Recall Impact The survey analyzed the effect of the recalls on toy shopping.
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