What kinds of stores are out there? I've gotten so used to buying most of my things at department stores or large chain grocery stores that if they suddenly disappeared I wouldn't know where to go to buy things. So I'm wondering where you'd get things if you didn't get your things at a large store. [more inside]
posted by Deathalicious on Nov 7, 2009 - 11 answers

Help me learn about the clothing consignment business. [more inside]
posted by mintchip on Sep 21, 2009 - 1 answer

What is the purpose of these mirrors behind the customer, about waist-level, in checkout lanes? They seem to be set up so that the cashier can get a good look at my butt - which I doubt is their true purpose. [more inside]
posted by meowzilla on Jul 20, 2009 - 13 answers

Have any major pets stores (petland, petco, ....) been linked directly to puppy mills? [more inside]
posted by isopropyl on Jun 23, 2009 - 8 answers

Which crunchy/crafty/eclectic/kid-centered type stores should I visit when I'm in NYC? I'll be there for a seminar but will have some free time afterwards. [more inside]
posted by printchick on Jun 8, 2009 - 8 answers

Help me find places in the Washington, DC Metro area to sell edgy men's jewelry, and discover where my target customer shops. [more inside]
posted by Redruin on Oct 28, 2008 - 10 answers

Where are all of the cool shops in downtown Toronto? [more inside]
posted by tomcochrane on Aug 31, 2008 - 23 answers

Where can I get relatively unknown ska/reggae music in New York City (or online)? [more inside]
posted by cyrusdogstar on Aug 7, 2008 - 9 answers

Help me help my friends sell their Palestinian olive wood carvings from Bethlehem, West Bank, via the internet. [more inside]
posted by Baby_Balrog on Jun 25, 2008 - 5 answers

A friend of mine owns an appliance store in the United States. He will be taking a trip to Europe and while in Paris he was hoping to check out how they do things there. [more inside]
posted by devilshgrin on Jun 12, 2008 - 6 answers

I'm looking to buy, or at least locate, a women's lightweight black 3/4 length jacket with slim tailoring (outerwear, not a suit jacket) online. I'm really particular, so I haven't found the perfect jacket yet. What online stores have I forgotten? [more inside]
posted by xo on May 1, 2008 - 20 answers

NameMyStore Filter: Art/party/event space for kids needs a name: details inside... [more inside]
posted by zackola on Apr 14, 2008 - 3 answers

I'm moving to Portland, OR next week, and wanted to get a feel for the area. What are some places that I absolutely should visit, places to dine and drink, and so forth? [more inside]
posted by triolus on Mar 17, 2008 - 13 answers

What store can I find Philadelphia Eagles merchandise (t-shirts, sweatshirts) tomorrow in the DC area? [more inside]
posted by eightball on Dec 23, 2007 - 1 answer

What do stores do with the racks and racks of clothes that just won't sell? [more inside]
posted by esereth on Nov 5, 2007 - 17 answers

DC to Philly road trip - Any recommendations for neat antique or thrift stores along the way (ie, not far off I-95)? [more inside]
posted by citron on Aug 16, 2007 - 7 answers

DC and surrounding area thrift store filter: I am willing to drive into rural MD or VA to find second hand/ thrift/ junk stores that have not been picked over- I am looking to buy mismatched dinnerware pieces and silver. Any recommendations? Hidden treasure troves? [more inside]
posted by mistsandrain on Aug 2, 2007 - 9 answers

A couple of my friends are moving to Glasgow, Scotland for at least a year to play music and do the young Australian abroad thing for a while. I'd like to combine their farewell and wedding present (slightly belated) into a gift voucher they can use once they've moved over there. Any suggestions? [more inside]
posted by pipstar on Jul 12, 2007 - 9 answers

What are some good online sources for pet medicine? Medicine from my vet is expensive, and I want to get the best price without sacrificing quality, service, or my dog's health. [more inside]
posted by kyleg on Jun 25, 2007 - 3 answers

What are some good furniture stores in Toronto? My taste leans towards modern furniture (but not too modern), I really like Room & Board Furniture, as well as Design Within Reach (although it is a little pricey for me). [more inside]
posted by hazyspring on May 19, 2007 - 5 answers

Tall, female MeFites: where do you find buy pants? [more inside]
posted by hazelshade on Jan 24, 2007 - 37 answers

Single Item Online Stores. They are popping up everywhere, which ones do you like? [more inside]
posted by jonah on Oct 25, 2006 - 9 answers

Do you know cool local female clothing stores in DC? [more inside]
posted by blasdelf on Jul 20, 2006 - 8 answers

I am trying to determine if a building I saw once was real or a dream. [more inside]
posted by beetsuits on Jun 19, 2006 - 16 answers

Is there a used games store in Houston, Texas that still deals in Dreamcast stuff? (also, am I killing my Dreamcast?) [more inside]
posted by raygan on Jun 11, 2006 - 9 answers

I live in Los Angeles and wanted to find locations of any clothing outlet stores. I did some basic searches on google with not much luck. Any help on this would be great. [more inside]
posted by matthelm on May 30, 2005 - 8 answers

Banana Republic? Why name your safari-themed clothing store after a phrase that refers directly to violent, corporation-influenced corruption? Was it a wry joke at the time? Were the corporate executives involved completely oblivious or were they banking on the ignorance of the public in the face of such lovely, exotic bananas? Searching online has yielded nothing, and a query through the company's "contact us" page a few months ago has gone unanswered.
posted by nobody on May 25, 2005 - 34 answers

Why do stores often charge .99 cents? A loaf of bread selling for $1.99 as opposed to $2.00, for example. Is there psychological research showing that this makes the price seem cheaper somehow? If so, how significant is the effect?
posted by banished on Feb 23, 2005 - 38 answers

I have another NYC quirks question (my first was about straws): Why is it that if a store (such as Banana Republic) has double doors at its entrance, more often than not one of them is locked? According to my observations all it does is impede traffic (which would be problematic if there was a fire).
posted by o2b on Oct 25, 2004 - 11 answers

A NYC Question: Just what are the socioeconomic and cultural stereotypes for Manhattan's more traditional department stores? In other words, why is Bloomingdale's often referred to as exclusive by (possibly ignorant) British journalists? [More inside.] [more inside]
posted by MiguelCardoso on Oct 6, 2004 - 17 answers

Besides B&H, are there any reputable websites that have a good-sized inventory of gray market photography equipment? Specifically fixed focal length lenses (e.g. 24mm/50mm).
posted by chrish on Jan 8, 2004 - 7 answers

Has anyone had experience opening a small shop as a business? What are the pros/cons of such an undertaking? If you have, please share a bit of the highlights and lowlights of the endeavor! (more inside) [more inside]
posted by BrodieShadeTree on Jan 5, 2004 - 11 answers