Small Business: Boutique Battleground

: There goes the neighborhood?

After a decade of growth, Chicago boutique owners struggle to stay open as the economy weakens and big designers and chain stores move in on their turf.
Read the cover story

THE VENDOR'S VIEW: Tough time to be in jewels

Jewelry designer Kristen Amato began as a hobbyist and now sells her lines in a number of Chicago boutiques. She's seen the retail sector's ups and downs first-hand.
Read more

BOUTIQUE BUST: Ones that didn't make it

From soaring rents to encroaching big designer names to the slumping economy, it's never easy running a small business. Here are a few that didn't make it.
Read more

Interactive Map: Battle of the boutiques

The blocks surrounding the hot North / Damen / Milwaukee intersection exemplify the citywide trend affecting small retailers. Here's an interactive look at the area's layout.
View the map

Retail planning from A to Z

So you want to be a Chicago boutique star? Here are some tips from Jason Felger, executive vice-president of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and co-chair of the Mayor's Fashion Council.
Read more

Once you're open . . . survival tips

Keeping a boutique successful is difficult, but it can be done. Here are a few tips from owners, designers and retail consultants on how to run a thriving retail business despite the current economic downturn.
Read more

Previous months’ Focus: Small Business sections
2008 Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul
2007 Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

Most Viewed
Most Emailed
Most Searched

Today's Most Viewed Headlines

Today's Most Emailed Headlines

Today's Most Search Keywords

View All of Today's News Headlines

Advertising

Today's Features

Chicago Business Today - Sept. 5
GOP may have first candidate for governor... Navistar lands $752 million deal for military trucks... Plus: Take a look at Illinois' burgeoning wine industry.
See More
PHOTOS: Chicago Landmark Awards
Twenty-two projects were honored Thursday with the Chicago Landmark Award for Preservation Excellence. Check them out on ChicagoRealEstateDaily.com.
See More
RNC: Illinois' lowly place; latest Obama knock
Much talk in St. Paul about how to put the Illinois Republican Party back together, who's jockeying for offices in 2010 and other news from the RNC convention.
See More
Who's Who in Chicago business in 2008
So, who's the face behind that suit? Year in and year out, Crain's seeks to identify the individuals who are shaping Chicago. Here are the faces we think you should know.
See More
Check, Please! visits Ina's
As president and CEO of the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Lynn Osmond has an eye for spaces. That’s one of the reasons she loves Ina’s, the West Loop breakfast…
See More