For those of you who like Freecycle and recyling products you no longer use, you may want to check out a new site called SwapItGreen.

I've only taken a quick look, but this site kind of reminds me of a mix between ebay and Freecycle. You list your items that you no longer want and then "sell" them to others for points. Then you can buy other things using your points.

www.swapitgreen.com

This month, Harris Teeter stores in North Carolina will expand their in-store recycling programs. In addition to the bins for recycling plastic and paper bags, shoppers will now see additional bins for bottles and cans. According to Harris Teeter, the new in-store recycling program is intended for items including drink containers, milk bottles from the coffee shop, pharmacy bulk bottles and deli containers.

Clemmy's Ice Cream is now being distributed to Harris Teeter stores, including those in our area.

For those who are unfamiliar, Clemmy's is a premium ice cream that is all-natural and sugar-free. It's on sale at Harris Teeter right now for $4.49 (with your VIC card, of course). And since I'm so nice to you all, there's a $1 coupon to download below. (You can also find the coupon on this Web site.)

One of the best parts about my job is that I get to see things before the general public. I've just returned from a preview visit at the new Trader Joe's store in Raleigh, which will open at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Workers are still stocking shelves and putting the finishing touches on things, but I think all the Joe's fans out there will be pleased. There is plenty of Two Buck Chuck wine (OK, $2.99 wine) and all the other Trader Joe's goodies you've come to know and love.

Tomorrow, I will be tweeting from the grand opening. You can follow my tweets right here on Taking Stock (in the scrolling box on the left-hand side of the page).

A couple of weeks ago in my Retailing column, I wrote about longtime Raleigh hair stylists Keith Woodlief and Wendell Edwards returning to Raleigh to reopen their design studio here.

I heard today from Edwards, who said folks are having a bit of trouble locating the new business. Apparently the phone company does not want to list the studio as "The W." So to make it easier to find, try the full name of the studio, which is The W: Wendell & Woodlief Designs. It is located at 5205 Oak Park Road, off Glenwood Avenue near Taverna Agora. It is scheduled to open in early November.

If you have a bunch of old VHS tapes that are taking up space, Flicko's Video Services will reclycle them for free. Just bring your tapes by the store (1779 NW Maynard Road in Cary) during regular hours and drop them off.

The recycling is free and no purchase is required. But local store owner Gary Chvatal won't be upset if you decide to purchase some of Flicko's services while you're there. The company converts old movies, slides, photos and more into digital files. If you have VHS tapes that you'd like converted to CD before they are recycled, the cost is 25.95 for a two-hour tape.

Wow. Talk about an amazing video. Watch this security tape of crooks wiping out all of the items on display at an Apple store in Marlton, NJ.

Grand total it takes them 31 seconds to get the job done.

Toys R Us announced today that it will join Sears and Kmart in offering layaway for Christmas. These promotions have been really popular with cash-strapped consumers. But be sure to read the fine print on this one:

"Placing a product on layaway at any Toys"R"Us or Babies"R"Us store requires a deposit of 20% of the total purchase, including all applicable taxes, and a $10 service charge. Payments may be made at the store at any time in the form of cash, check, credit card, debit card or gift card. Merchandise will be made available within 7-10 days of final payment, so items must be paid for in full by December 6 to ensure that the gift is available for pickup before Christmas. A fee will apply to canceled layaway orders**."
 

In today's USA Today there's a story about Target and CVS joining the ranks of retailers who offer you a financial incentive to use a reusable bag instead of taking a plastic one.

According to the story, Target will start offering a 5-cent credit for bringing your own bag, and CVS will give you a $1 Extra Buck credit for every fourth time you bring your own.

That's great, and of course adds onto what other retailers including Trader Joe's, Whole Foods and Lowes Foods have been doing for some time. Know of others that give you a credit for bringing your own bag? Feel free to share. 

Capital Bank is having the grand opening of its new branch in Cary today, at 7705 Carpenter Fire Station Road. 

ACC sports broadcaster David Glenn will broadcast his daily sports talk show from the new branch from 3 to 6 p.m. The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 5:30 p.m.