Deals & shopping

  1. Small business owners support plan requiring Amazon to collect sales tax

    Retail

    Small business owner Melane Nelson sees it all the time. Moms come into her store looking for information on cloth diapers, baby carriers and other kids' accessories. They touch and test every product and ask about the pros and cons.

  2. Amazon may bring 3,000 jobs, tough work conditions to Florida

    Retail

    Amazon has a saying it teaches all its new employees: Work hard. Have fun. Make history.

    Staff at an Amazon warehouse in Wales process orders. Workers in some warehouses have to wait in security checkpoints for 25 minutes before they can leave, time for which they’re not paid.
  3. Florida Aquarium offers price break on Thursday nights

    Events

    Kids are out of school and you're trying to fill the summer days, but the Florida Aquarium has a deal for those summer nights. You can get into the aquarium for only $15 after 4 p.m. every Thursday this summer (after 5 p.m. on July 4) starting this week. The aquarium, which normally costs $21.95 for adults, $16.95 for …

  4. Clearwater chamber tries again to woo Latino-owned businesses

    Retail

    CLEARWATER — The city's Latino population is booming, but Hispanic businesses along Drew Street — or "Avenida Latina" — cater almost exclusively to Mexicans and other Latinos.

    Toni Rangel cuts Gladys Enriquez’s hair at Amaryllis Beauty Salon in Clearwater. The Chamber of Commerce is trying to attract the city’s Latino community after years of failure.
  5. $10,500 Game of Thrones watch sells at International Plaza

    Retail

    TAMPA — A local jeweler selling one of 25 Ulysse Nardin watches inspired by the Game of Thrones said it wouldn't last long on the shelf.

    And it didn't.

    Senior buyer Darren Delgado talks with TAG Heuer representative Lenny Matolka on Wednesday at Old Northeast Jewelers in International Plaza mall. Old Northeast Jewelers sold one of 25 limited-edition watches by Ulysse Nardin inspired by the hit HBO series Games of Thrones. The black and red diver’s watch — the red symbolizing the blood often spilled in the violent medieval show — was priced at $10,500.
  6. Contractor files permit for Trader Joe's store in Tampa

    Retail

    TAMPA — Evidence is mounting that Trader Joe's plans to open a specialty grocery store in south Tampa.

  7. Recalls: Ford, Lincoln, Jeep, Toyota, Lexus vehicles and more

    Consumer

    Ford, Lincoln vehicles

    Company: Ford Motor Co.

    Quantity: 390,783.

    Why? The fuel delivery module may develop a crack, allowing fuel to leak.

  8. Plans move forward to open Trader Joe's in South Tampa

    Retail

    TAMPA — Trader Joe's is a big leap closer to opening its first specialty grocery store in the Tampa Bay area.

    Tampa Bay area shoppers have been disappointed that Trader Joe’s chose to open Florida locations in Naples, Gainesville and Sarasota, above, before opening one here. But a blueprint of a project named TJ-Tampa that uses the same style lettering as other stores suggests Tampa may get a Trader Joe’s soon.
  9. Scary: Busch Gardens pushing Howl-O-Scream ticket deal now

    Florida

    Believe it or not, summer has only just started and Busch Gardens has announced it is getting ready for Halloween.

  10. International Plaza unveils tourism campaign to introduce shoppers to wonders of Peru

    Retail

    TAMPA — You might associate glitzy International Plaza with fashion-forward places like New York, Los Angeles or Milan.

    But Peru?

    Absolutamente.

    Artist Patricia Filomeno will give painting demonstrations at International Plaza as part of the Peru tourism campaign.