WISE COLUMN: Easter spending expected to hop

The Easter Bunny may deliver a basketful of good news to retailers this year despite the rise in gas prices.

Easter spending will rise 11 percent over last year as Americans shell out an average of $145.28 on everything from apparel and candy to food and decorations, according a study by the National Retail Federation. Total spending will reach $16.8 billion.

Shoppers are expected to shell out about $3 billion on clothing and accessories, $2 billion on candy and $5.1 billion on Easter meals.

Discount stores will see the bulk of buying, but nearly four in 10 shoppers, the highest number ever, say they will shop at a department store. Online and specialty shops will see traffic as well.

Charity event

Five percent of the proceeds spent Tuesday at Whole Foods Market in Mount Pleasant will go to Yo Art. The store selects one local nonprofit each quarter to receive 5 percent of one day's net sales.

Yo Art, which partners with the Charleston County School District, was founded to teach children media arts that enable them to handle academic studies and life's challenges with an emphasis on one-on-one mentoring.

Pearly white

Coastal Carolina Family Dentistry is open at 8471 Dorchester Road in North Charleston. It previously was at 8409 Dorchester Road.

Driving in

Lowcountry Auto Brokers recently leased 1,278 square feet at 1752 Jessamine Road in West Ashley, according to Tommy Silver of Palmetto Commercial Properties.

Paper chase

If It's Paper has reopened its West Ashley location at 615 Skylark Drive. The paper specialty store closed in late 2010. Its sister store in Mount Pleasant, which closed at the same time, reopened shortly thereafter as Paper, Party and More.

Salon treatment

Shem Salon Spa is open at 506 Live Oak Drive behind Page's Okra Grill in Mount Pleasant. Owner and operator Lori Rector offers a full-service hair salon as well as nail service, waxing and massages. She previously owned Island Day Spa's two locations on the Isle of Palms. She sold one and closed the other in 2005.

Reach Warren L. Wise at 937-5524, wwise@postandcourier.com or twitter.com/warrenlancewise.