It’s Shop for a Cause Day in Old Port Saturday

PORTLAND — Old Port shops are donating a portion of their sales on Saturday to a local charity as part of Portland’s Downtown District’s annual Shop for a Cause Day. The event is an opportunity to promote Portland’s local, independent businesses while supporting less fortunate members of the community, said Janis Beitzer, the Downtown District’s […]

Baldacci backs global economy

At the annual governor’s breakfast, he says the state’s future lies in doing business overseas.

Baldacci stresses foreign investment at business breakfast

Also speaking was a Canadian energy executive who promoted wind farms as an important contributor to Maine’s economy.

It’s a gold rush (even in Maine)

PORTLAND — The decade-old pair of earrings in your jewelry box may be worth more than you think.

Area jewelers say record high gold prices are enticing more and more consumers to sell their old gold jewelry back to jewelry stores in exchange for cash or store credit. And in some cases, buyers-turned-sellers are getting back much more than they originally paid.

“We are probably seeing double the number of people coming in” to sell old gold jewelry, said Jeff Corey, president of Day’s Jewelers, which has seven locations, including one in South Portland. “People are sometimes getting double what they paid.”

Cross-border invasion is a boon to retail

Drawn by a favorable exchange rate and duty-free incentives, Canadians by the busloads will be heading to Maine for a weekend of holiday shopping.

Stores happily brace for early customers

Maine Mall area retailers will open in the wee hours Friday, as early as 12:01 a.m.

Health groups pledge ten $250 business grants

Companies can qualify by encouraging employees to exercise, providing on-site health screenings or creating a healthy food policy, for example.

Toy safety improved, but risks do remain, groups warn

A consumer group urges further improvement in getting dangerous toys out of stores.

Maine businesses to pay more to cover unemployment

The state says higher insurance premiums will stabilize the trust fund.

L.L. Bean makes Consumer Reports’ “nice list”

The magazine likes Bean’s 100 product-satisfaction guarantee.