Kaomi Goetz

With cellphones nearly ubiquitous, fewer people are relying on watches to tell time. But some retailers are doing brisk business marketing watches as fashion statements, or by appealing to shoppers' sense of novelty or nostalgia.

Many freelance workers opt to work in co-working spaces, where they rent cubicles and other office resources by the day or the month. Now, some companies, in an attempt to promote a certain environment, are becoming increasingly selective about who can work in their space.

Some of today's offices barely resemble their predecessors: grey, steel furniture is giving way to bright colors, soft fabrics and warm lighting. Manufacturers say the trend speaks volumes about the work force employers want to attract.