Dating site eHarmony.com has seen a 20 percent increase in traffic, even though the site charges as much as $60 for membership. Traffic to OkCupid.com is up 50 percent.
recession
Area sales still slipping
Local spending is still in the doldrums, down about 6.4% in the first quarter compared with the same time a year ago. But some sectors of the consumer economy are seeing a sales increase, and a few others are showing signs of improvement.
Richmond libraries boosted by the slump
The public library is back en vogue. Circulation of books and DVDs at Richmond Public Library are up 11 percent month to month over last year, according to Harriet Coalter, the city’s library director. The number of people using library computers is also up 11 percent. Coalter said the poor economy is behind the up tick… Read more »
Sandston shops mourn Qimonda
Sandston, the small Henrico village near the airport, isn’t exactly a company town. But the thousands of employees at Qimonda helped support a handful of locally-owned shops and eateries. One of the first customers at Lizzy Peas Express was a Qimonda worker, according to manager Ollie Taylor (pictured above). “She went back and told other… Read more »
The recession special
Local advertisers, it seems, don’t want to remind us of the lousy economy. But national advertisers are rolling out more and more ads that address the country’s current economic situation, sometimes opting for a humorous tack. A Denny’s ad asks “Who’s gonna bail you out?” to advertise a $4 breakfast special. Crate & Barrel magazine… Read more »
Knowledge is good
Ten days after the University of Richmond set the date for the first information session about next fall’s MBA program, the 40 available seats were already reserved.
The “Recesion-Proof” Myth
When I ask small business owners if they’re seeing a slowdown, I’m told that invoices are taking longer to get paid, that expansion plans are getting put on hold, or that new contracts are slower in coming than in the past. Construction and auto dealers so far appear to be suffering the most. But any… Read more »