Archives: News
Quirky Gift Shop Opens On Archibald Yell
Fayetteville, AR – As Fayetteville has grown, the city has tried to cultivate a local-business friendly culture. At the farmer’s market, you’ll see a myriad of “Keep Fayetteville Funky, support local businesses” t-shirts and bumper stickers.
The newest business to carry on this funky Fayetteville tradition is the Four Legged-Bird, located at 275 S. Archibald Yell drive, a gift shop with a little bit of everything.
Four Legged Bird’s grand opening was April 12.
Pocomoke Boutique Offers Unique Goods
Pocomoke City, MD – New Orleans is a long way from Pocomoke City, yet a famous French Quarter fragrance is now available in Maryland’s southernmost city at the new Market Street Boutique.
Owner Kimberly Jackson said she’s dedicated to offering her customers truly unique goods that can’t be found elsewhere locally.
“I won’t carry what everyone else carries,” she said.
Missoula Shop’s Stationery in Running for National Greeting Card Award
Missoula, MT – The owners of Missoula’s Noteworthy Paper and Press got a pleasant surprise on the eve of the launch of their wholesale stationery line.
Working almost around the clock to prepare for the new venture, Taylor Barrett Valliant and Amy Zekos Dolan recently learned that their custom wedding invitation featuring a wistful mountain and river scene was chosen as a finalist for a Greeting Card Association LOUIE Award.
The Noteworthy invitation will compete against two other cards in the “wedding invitation between $3 and $10” category at the association’s 25th ann
‘One of Smallest Mini-Malls Ever’ Open in Charles City
Charles City, IA – Darbe & Co Boutique, which recently opened in downtown Charles City, is several stores in one.
“There’s something here for everyone,” said owner Deb McNelius, who described the place as “one of the smallest mini-malls you’ve ever been in.”
One part of the store called Birdies and Bo’s features baby and children’s clothes and gifts.
Business and Family Mix at Chocolatebox Home Near Peebles
Peebles, Scotland – RUTH and David Hinks will always be grateful to his former childhood home near Peebles for giving them the perfect space to launch their business
SOME OF the best ideas or ventures in life come about in apparently happenchance ways. For Ruth Hinks, co-founder – with her husband David – of Cocoa Black, her passion for chocolate dates back to her childhood in South Africa. “I wanted a double tape deck radio,” she recalls, “and my Dad wouldn’t just buy me one; he said, ‘You need to make your own money’.
Made in America Makes its Mark in Falls
Niagara Falls, NY – A woman from the Philippines strolling through the souvenir shop in One Niagara smiled as she flipped over the “Niagara Falls” cap to inspect the label inside.
“What I thought was made in the U.S., I found was made in China,” said Percy Tabogdir, who now lives in Toronto. But that’s not the case any longer, she noted. Ms. Tabogdir appeared delighted to be among customers for the grand opening on Saturday of the Made in America store on the second level of the former Occidental Chemical Center, Niagara Street and Rainbow Boulevard.
Camphill Gift Shop Opens on Warren Street
Hudson, NY – Camphill Hudson now has a gift shop: Friends, supporters, Camphill villagers and staff gathered for festivities when the ribbon was cut Friday afternoon at 360 Warren St., Hudson.
Camphill is an international organization of people who live and work with people with developmental disabilities. There are now four Camphills in Columbia County; the other three are Camphill Copake, Triform, in Livingston, and Camphill Ghent.
Camphill Hudson opened in September as the first urban Camphill in the United States and Camphill’s first center for the social arts in the world.
Michigan-Focused Gift Shop Opening in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town
Ypsilanti, MI – A new gift shop, The Eyrie, will open in Ypsilanti’s Depot Town by the end of April and will sell predominately Michigan-made products.
Owner Janette Rook said her 750-square-foot business at 9 E. Cross St. will sell about 95 percent locally made items and the rest will be from California.
The Eyrie will be the second Michigan-focused store to open on Cross Street.
Local Workers Impacted By Warm Glow Growth
Centerville, IN – Jackie and Alan Carberry started a business in their home in 1995.
Now the Warm Glow Candle Co. is burning bright.
The Carberrys’ Centerville factory produces 5,000 to 8,000 candles a day and employs 30 workers during its peak season of August-December.
Birmingham Shop Owner’s Business Really Takes Off
Birmingham, UK – Ever since she was a little girl, Michelle Jamie dreamed of running her own shop.
But, playing shopkeeper as a child, she could never have dreamt she would go on to own three boutiques and ultimately be head-hunted by Birmingham City Council.
Her childhood fantasy became a reality after she and her neighbour got together to watch Desperate Housewives over a glass of wine.
“Owning a shop is something I’d wanted to do from a very early age,” says Michelle, 37, who lives in Shrewsbury with her husband Joe.
GHTA Offers 90-Day Trial Membership to Prospective Members
The Gift and Home Trade Association, the industry’s leading non-profit trade association, announces a free 90-day trial membership for vendors, sales agencies, service providers, and retailers interested in experiencing the benefits of GHTA membership at no charge.
“The GHTA continues to grow and improve membership value in a variety of ways,” shared John Keiser, president of the Gift and Home Trade Association and CEO of OneCoast.
Concord-Based Mom Launches Storytime Toys, Jumpstarts Production Funding with Successful Kickstarter
Storytime Toys today announced that less than 24 hours after launching its Kickstarter campaign to fund the first full production run of its collection of three toy house and storybooks sets based on classic fairy tales, 75 percent of its funding goal has been reached. The campaign, which will run through May 6, 2013, has set a new goal to raise an additional $20,000 through the campaign’s end to create and develop a fourth toy house and storybook to be decided on by Kickstarter contributors.
There’s No Place Like Home
Louisburg, KS – Now, instead of walking over a small bridge and a babbling brook, patrons of Louisburg’s Bungalow Boutique will be walking under an arbor that will soon be bursting with the colors of spring.
The arbor then opens up to welcome shoppers to the porch of what the Bungalow’s owner Kim Hall said might be the second oldest house in Louisburg.
Hall opened the store’s doors in the new location, 405 S.
Kiddie Kouture: Stylish Children’s Boutique
Philadelphia, PA – Spring Has Arrived at New Boutique on Girard Avenue!
If you’re still going to big-box stores to outfit your kids for birthdays, holidays, and special events, it’s time for a change. Though those stores may be cheap, do you really want to spend hours digging through piles of merchandise just to find the same old stuff?
Introducing Sorority By Dogeared: Charm Necklaces that Celebrate Sisterhood
Dogeared Jewels & Gifts understands that sisterhood is a beautiful thing. To celebrate the pledge, the trendsetting fashion brand has launched a 32-piece collection of charms that represent top sororities throughout the country.
Sales from Sorority by Dogeared purchases benefit Step Up Women’s Network, a national nonprofit that inspires teen girls and women to reach their full potential.
Lifestyle Category Demonstrating Strong Growth at Gift+Home in Las Vegas
An influx of new lifestyle resources to Las Vegas Market’s Building C – from both new and expanding tenants and temporary exhibitors, as well as extensions of lifestyle lines by leading sales rep showrooms – is a precursor to International Market Center’s official launch of the new “Lifestyle Collection” on C10 and relocation of lifestyle-focused temporary exhibits to C11, at the Summer 2013 GIFT+HOME at Las Vegas Market, July 29-August 2, 2013, at World Market Center Las Vegas.
“The lifestyle category is experiencing exponential growth in Las Vegas,” said Dorothy Bels
New Abbey Press Line Puts a Fresh Spin on ‘Vintage’
Debuting July 1, the new Abbey Press “Vintage Values” collection offers gift and home décor products featuring a trendy distressed design look with sentiments appealing to time-honored virtues and values.
The attractive collection includes a Home Peg Plaque ($34 SRP), Serenity Wall Plaque ($30), Blessings Photo Frame ($30), Family & Friends Wall Plaque ($25) and Scripture Wall Cross ($24).
Showcasing a charming vintage look, the pieces are crafted of whitewashed wood with inset grooves simulating barn wood.
Paramus Store’s Success Was in the Cards
Paramus, NJ – Gregory and Diane Kechejian sell hundreds of greeting cards for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and other occasions in their store in Paramus Park. But none of those cards is exactly right for the milestone they are marking this week.
The Kechejians are owners of Gregory’s Hallmark, the top independently owned seller of Hallmark cards in North Jersey.
Baby Boutique Comes to Cedarhurst
Cedarhurst, NY – Within just one year of starting her baby clothes venture, Esther Miller moved her new business, Lavish Layette, from a small operation she ran out of her Woodmere home into a big storefront that rests in the heart of Cedarhurst’s business district.
Shortly after setting up her home business, Miller built up a small but loyal group of customers who urged her to expand and move to a traditional storefront setting. According to Miller, it was good advice.
Open for the Season: Erika’s Place Moves to New Storefront
Southampton, NY – Joanna Mincarelli’s Southampton Village clothing, accessories, home decor and vintage furniture store Erika’s Place II has moved into new digs on Jobs Lane, a few doors down from its original location.
The shop recently took over the space at 67A Jobs Lane, after first coming to Southampton in May 2012 in a courtyard storefront that was set back from from the sidewalk.