Record collectors rejoice! Your national (and fast-becoming international) holiday is upon us again: It’s Record Store Day—the day when thousands of independent music retailers across the U.S. offer an incredible selection—literally hundreds—of exclusive limited edition releases that are only available at indie record stores. The focus skews heavily towards vinyl including special more...

Are you looking for lovely, local ways to say "I love you" on Valentine's Day? Supporting locally owned businesses is like giving Portland's economy a hug. So, keep your dollars local and dosomething sweet for your beloved and for the city you love. Help Queen Bee eradicate childhood hunger in the U.S. Proceeds from each special Valentine's Coinpurse and Just In Casebagsold will go to ensuring more...

SMART ENERGY—A NEW CATEGORY OF FUNCTIONAL BEVERAGE Smart energy beverage products represent a new category in the functional/energy drink market category. Smart energy beverages are different than many of the energy drinks on the market today. Today’s energy drinks offer large quantities of caffeine and toxic B vitamin levels with the associated side effects and complications. Many individuals who more...

Judy Richardson never thought of selling lavender products as a career goal. In fact, it all started as a dream. “I was sitting on my acreage in NE Portland on the Columbia Slough watching my horses when I visualized a sea of purple flowers. I didn’t know what they were, but I knew they meant something.” It wasn’t until she began exploring classes at Oregon Extension in 1995 that she saw her more...

As the seasons change, we must remember our four-legged friends have needs too. Yes, our furry companions who live only to love and be loved might need to prepare for the heat with a haircut or the drizzle with a raincoat. And to ensure those needs are met locally, we have six indie options for you to stock up on all your pets’ needs—and probably a few treats too—without having to step into the big more...

Paperjam Press is a locally owned digital printer with an artist's touch. We've always loved working with artists, but starting on June 1, we are taking that love to a whole new level by offering individual cards and notecard sets created by local artists. Each piece was carefully chosen and printed by us and cannot be found anywhere else. In addition to the new cards, we will also be selling our own line more...

The allure of one-stop shopping is undeniable. Abundant locations and cheap prices may explain the success of big box home and garden stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s. But cheap and easy can be misleading as big box stores do little to support the local economy or maintain the independent retail landscape that makes Portland unique. With spring giving way to summer, as well as yard and household projects more...

Whether you're planning a quick trip to the farmers' market, a day at the beach, a weekend getaway to wine country, or even your daily commute, a good tote bag will help you navigate a whole host of summer activities in style. For some serious style points, though, get your carry-all bag at an indie retailer and support the local economy. Because that's how we roll in Portland. Downtown, West End more...