Archives: News
Dallas Market Center Announces Best of Show Award Winners
Dallas Market Center recently announced the winners of the June Total Home & Gift Market Best of Show Awards. Judging for Best of Show takes place twice a year during the January and June Total Home & Gift Markets. Visual design experts judged and recognized booths and showrooms with fresh, innovative and creative displays.
Triple Treat Radz Now a Triple Winner as 2013 Creative Child Top Toy of The Year Plus Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Product
On the heels of interactive Radz winning Tillywig Toy’s Spring 2013 Top Fun Award, this triple treat — a toy, a candy and a virtual experience — is now a triple industry winner. The novelty line of Radz candy dispensers was just named by Creative Child magazine as the 2013 Top Toy of the Year. At the same time, Dr. Toy taste-tested the adorable and affordable line and deemed it a 2013 Best Vacation Product.
Wrote one mom reviewer from Creative Child, “I can see my kids asking me to buy the entire collection!” Agreed industry guru Dr.
Okoboji Gift Shop Shelters all Kinds of Cats
Okoboji, IA – The Barn Swallow Gift Shop swooped into a new location some twenty-odd years ago, and the store owner started her kitten-saving campaign almost immediately after making the move.
Lori Thomas has a soft spot for the purring pets, and she’s doing her part to educate the public and prevent animal cruelty. One corner of her Okoboji store serves as a short-term shelter for unwanted and abandoned cats, waiting for someone to take them home.
“I just try to help,” Thomas said.
‘Independents’ Celebrated
Suffolk, VA – The city of Suffolk is setting aside this week to celebrate “independents” — independent businesses, that is.
Locally owned restaurants, merchants, galleries and venues in the historical downtown area will offer special discounts and promotions to entice new and existing customers to visit their locations.
Folks who visit a participating business and make a purchase will receive a bingo-like card to take to other participating businesses. Once they get five stamps in a row, they can turn in the bingo card at the Suffolk Visitor Center, 524 N.
Liz’s Interiors Open Almost Four Decades
Odessa, TX – Liz Midgley opened Liz’s Linens on West County Road in 1977, and since then, the business has become somewhat of a family affair.
Midgley said she had worked at a bed and bath store prior to opening her business and at the age of 50 she made the decision to open a business of her own.
“It was a great location. We had very loyal customers on the west side and the east side that would make the drive over,” Midgley said.
Liz’s Interiors offers a variety of home décor items, throw pillows, crystal and china.
About the Home Approaching 15 Year Mark in Gifts and Decor
Grand Ledge, MI – Grand Ledge Independent readers have voted About the Home in Grand Ledge as their favorite gift store.
Recently expanded from rented space next door and merged with the Four Seasons Gift Shop to their current location, the store offers “the full gamut of gifts,” for babies, graduation and weddings.
As the store approaches its 15th anniversary, owner Carolyn Hough Miller attributes the business’ longevity to knowing their customers, and support from their customers.
New Knox-Henderson Shop Presents “Curated” Inventory
Dallas, TX – The narrow storefront tucked between Kozy Kitchen and L.a.r.c. Salon on McKinney Avenue might go unnoticed were it not for the reclaimed-wood sign with Curated spelled out in black Sheetrock screws. Through the door is a small but growing collection of art, pottery, candles, light fixtures, jewelry and furniture.
It’s a mix selected by co-owners and siblings Bryan and Taber Wetz, formerly proprietors of Rising Gallery.
‘Anything Goes’ at This Lafayette Boutique
Lafayette, NJ – There is no need to hop the train to So Ho to find chic, avant-garde pieces, instead stop by a shop called Anything Goes which offers one-of-a-kind articles of clothing and accessories.
The boutique, located in the center of Olde Lafayette Village, was opened by Colleen Vanderveen of Stockholm in April of 2012. And as the name suggests, Vanderveen has gone with the flow and caters to her customers.
“It’s been a matter of listening to my customers,” she said.
ESC and Company, Inc. Announces Addition of Artist Teena Flanner
ESC and Company, Inc. will debut new licensed designs by nationally known artist Teena Flanner. Collections for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter 2014 will be featured at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishing Market July 10-17, 2013. Teena Flanner has a published book Papier Mache Treasures with Teena Flanner and is a member of the Country Living Guild. She has also been featured in Victoria, Southern Lady, Mary Englebreit’s Home Companion, Mary Emmerling’s Country, and Country Living.
Douglas Company Wins 2013 ASTRA “Best Toys for Kids Award”
The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) awarded Douglas Company as the “Best Toys For Kids” recipient in the Pretend Fantasy Play Category for their Dreamy Dress-Ups™ Rainbow Fairy Wings with Glitter.
“Best Toys for Kids” are annual toy awards voted on by the ASTRA Show attendees. ASTRA is a broad national network of specialty toy retailers who are grassroots play experts that know specialty toys inside out.
One Kings Lane Scouts 100+ Products For NY NOW’s 2nd Annual “Open House” Trend Display
From more than 750 product submissions, some 100+ home and lifestyle products, deemed most representative of four key 2013-2014 design trends, have been accepted into the second annual “Open House” exhibit, which returns to the summer edition of NY NOW®, the Market for Home & Lifestyle (formerly NYIGF®), August 17-21, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. NY NOW presents Open House in partnership with One Kings Lane and Sandow Media, publishers of Home Textiles Today, Home Accents Today and Gifts & Decorative Accessories.
cinda b Announces Search for New President; Mandelbaum Appointed to Board of Directors; Capital Investment by Private Equity Firm to Fund cinda b Independent Retailer Initiative
Fort Wayne, Indiana – National handbag, tote, travel bag and accessory manufacturer, cinda b announced today it has launched a search for a new president upon the announcement by the Company’s current president, Art Mandelbaum, that he will leave his position with the Company. Mandelbaum will continue his association with cinda b by serving as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Company concurrently announced the launch of a new, major strategic initiative focusing on its independent specialty gift store and boutique retail partners.
C&F and GII Welcome Expedition Shells by Paul Brent
C & F Enterprises, an artist-designed, quality fabric and home décor specialist, and Gallerie II, an upscale holiday and home décor expert, are pleased to introduce the Expedition Shell collection, by licensed artist Paul Brent.
“Paul Brent composes hand painted coastal elements and infuses them with fashion components like damask prints, vintage post cards and antique maps creating one-of-a-kind designs.” Senior Designer, Kari Phillips says,
“Because of his unique style, he has been wildly successful.
Bella Taylor Announces Partnership With ShopNBC
VHC Brands is excited to announce a joint venture with multichannel electronic retailer ShopNBC emphasizing VHC’s handbag, travel and accessories line Bella Taylor. This partnership is a continuation of marketing and branding efforts to drive sales and increase brand recognition by targeting the end consumer. ShopNBC has a strong presence in the watch and shop anytime, anywhere retail environment by reaching more than 85 million homes nationwide via cable affiliates, satellite, mobile devices, and social media, and is streamed live at ShopNBC.com.
Design Legacy Announces New Javits Center Location
Kelly O’Neal and partner Rene Gutierrez have announced the recent move to the Javits Center at NEW YORK NOW (previously the NYIGF) in New York City. The decision to move was prompted by the changes made to pier 94 where Design Legacy was previously located. Kelly is looking forward to new scenery and invites you to join us for afternoon snacks and light drinks.
Design Legacy’s home furnishings line is a direct result of the items O’Neal began manufacturing for his own retail store, the famed “legacy trading co.” which operated in Dallas and Fort Worth for close to 20 years.
New Monmouth College Grads Open up 61 Gifts Downtown
Monmouth, IL – Jack and Rachel Donnelly grew to love Monmouth as students at Monmouth College — so much that they decided to open a store here.
The couple’s store, 61 Gifts, located at 61 Public Square, opened June 14.
61 Gifts offers a variety of unique new and retro gifts for many occasions.
“There weren’t a lot of places to go shopping around here,” Jack said.
Alessi Presents “Buon Lavoro – La Fabbrica per la Città” (“Working Together – A Factory for the City”)
On June 13th at its head offices in Crusinallo (VB), Alessi, historic family business and well-known Italian designer brand, presents the “Buon Lavoro – La Fabbrica per la Città” (“Working Together – a Factory for the City”) project, an initiative promoted in association with the Municipality of Omegna that will see company employees dedicate a significant number of their working hours to social activities in the community between now and November 2013.
This is the first example of a project that sees a tight collaboration between a private company and a public administrati
Leasing Activity Hits High Gear at Las Vegas Market
Las Vegas Market announced today that another 26 leading gift and home décor suppliers and sales agencies have leased new showrooms, or expanded existing showroom spaces, for the Summer 2013 Las Vegas Market, July 29-August 2.
Numi Organic Tea Announces World of Tea Collection
Numi Organic Tea, known for delicious organic, non-GMO and fair trade certified teas and teasans, is proud to announce an exciting new tea gift set: the World of Tea Collection. Celebrate people, planet and pure tea with an array of flavors that will take you on a journey of tea types and the history of their origin within different cultures.
“At Numi, we have always searched high and low across the globe for the absolute best ingredients available,” says Ahmed Rahim, CEO, Co-Founder and Chief Alchemist at Numi Organic Tea.
Selling is Always in Season For Some Small Businesses
Mathews, NC – It’s always Christmas at Holiday Haus.
Yet on a sticky June day, as employees of the downtown Matthews shop dress Christmas trees, they work alongside American flags and Uncle Sam yard art. Sparkling ornaments are not far from picnic-themed salt and pepper shakers shaped like hotdogs and hamburgers.
No matter what time of year, at least half of the 2,300-square-foot store is always dedicated to Christmas trimmings and thousands of ornaments. “It’s amazing how many people buy Christmas all year-round,” says store owner Connie Kleinberg.