Within the last several years, FCC authorized "Family Radio Service". I know that many stores have great success with them. Though, they are not legal for use by business. Just families. Still, many stores use them.
They are seriously cheap on Ebay. And can be bought with rechargable batteries, and charge stands. So you're not spending piles of money on batteries.
Cheaper than using cell phone minutes for everything.
I like my gadgets. And FRS walkie talkies are on my list of neat gadgets I like to play with. Who has used them, and how did they work?
My major experience has been picnics. From picnic base to firewood team, they are good for chit chat. The only time I've used them for anything real, was one time I was pincic with a friend. His daughter wandered off. He went to look for her, and I stayed at the base.
Used them while working on a heating and AC job. They were a serious help, there. We could have guys in the cellar, or in the attic, and saved a lot of running around.