Americans are spending less on hobbies. How's that affecting stores that rely on them?

May 18, 2023
Commerce Department data shows retail sales for sporting goods, hobby, instrument and book stores were down 5.4% in April compared to a year ago. Sales for garden equipment and supplies were down too.
Lindsay Farrell, who works at Canton Games in Baltimore, holds out a 100-sided die. It costs $44.99. Stephanie Hughes / Marketplace

Some indie bookstores find ways to succeed online

Dec 10, 2021
Bookstore sales plunged during the pandemic, so independent sellers pivoted to the internet. They say the hybrid model is here to stay.
The pandemic spurred Raven Book Store owner Danny Caine, author of “How to Resist Amazon and Why,” to expand online sales.
Carlos Moreno