LOS ANGELES — For 13 straight years, energetic REI store manager Nikki Mashapure spent her Black Friday in the retail trenches, trying to keep from being overrun by invading shoppers at work.

WARSAW — With Black Friday only one week away, area residents are gearing up for some major holiday shopping. However, before they camp out Thanksgiving night or rush the doors early Friday morning, it may help consumers to consider exactly what it is they plan to buy and whether or not it is really worth what they are …read more.

GOSHEN — Ignition Music Garage has been Elkhart County’s only full-service record store since opening in February 2012. With over 10,000 titles in stock, they are also the largest vinyl/CD retailer in the Michiana area.

By TERRI RITTER Public Relations Coordinator, North Webster Public Library The state of Indiana turns 198 years old on Dec. 11 and we will be celebrating with some Indiana Trivia at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. Retired Indiana history teacher Paula Markley will share unusual and little known facts about the Hoosier state. Come and …read more.

Traditional retail stores this holiday season have fully embraced the Internet and continue to close the gap with major online retailers such as Amazon, according to an Indiana University Kelley School of Business expert. “Three years ago, brick-and-mortar retailers sometimes perceived their own websites as competition,” said John Talbott, associate director of the Center for …read more.

Scammers are sure to be out in full force this holiday shopping season. Attorney General Greg Zoeller offers some tips to help protect shoppers from becoming victims of scams or identity theft. When shopping online: Research the online business you plan to purchase from and confirm their physical address and phone number in case you …read more.

By MICHELLE HANSEN Shopko Public Relations Shopko announces that its stores will be open for extended hours beginning Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27 through Friday, Nov. 28. Special store hours and pricing will be available at the retailer’s Shopko and Shopko Hometown stores and on Shopko.com. A Shopko store is located in Syracuse. Shopko stores …read more.

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, gets its name from the fact that it used to be the day that retailers’ profits moved into the black for the year. “Now retailers are out to get consumers early and often,” Richard Feinberg, Purdue University professor of consumer science and retailing, said. “So Black Friday-like sales have …read more.