Archives: News
Douglas Brands Fashion as Christine Clarke
The Christine Clarke Sassy Kidz Fashion collection from Douglas Company is the brand that young fashionistas simply can’t get enough of. Since Sassy Pet Saks™ rolled out in 2004, Douglas Company has had its finger on the pulse of what’s hot when it comes to a young girls’ sense of style.
Christine Clarke Adds New Sillos & Sillo-ettes
Christine Clarke™ is the Sassy Kidz fashion line from Douglas Company that’s turning little ladies’ heads all over town. The fun and excitement just never ends. Coming soon, by fashion designer Christine Clarke, are six new Sillos™ and six new Sillo-ettes™.
Sweet Boutique: A Shop for the Sweetest of Gift Givers
Clayton, MO – Naysayers told Kristen Held that the struggling economy was hard on small businesses, but that didn’t stop her from opening Sweet Boutique gift shop in Clayton this October.
She saw the lack of gift shops in Clayton as an opportunity and decided to fill the need.
“I felt like the timing was right. Other areas are just full to the brim with gift shops,” she said.
Artists from Shuttered Dekalb Market Sell Wares at Boerum Hill Gift Shop
Boerum Hill, NY – The Dekalb Market is history, but some of the artists who sold work there have found a new home for their wares at a Boerum Hill gift shop.
Albert Chau, 36, who sold art-inspired toys and gifts at the Dekalb Market before it closed in late September, opened the storefront earlier this month on Bond Street. Now, it’s offering new opportunities for Chau and other artists who lost their retail space after the market closed.
“We met at the Dekalb Market, so we try to help each other out,” Chau said of his store, called Grumpy Bert, located at 82 Bond St.
Shop Small, Shop Local: Supporting Merchants Keeps Money Here
Queen Creek, AZ – Shop small. Shop local. That’s the message being sent to Queen Creek and San Tan Valley throughout the year, but especially during the busy holiday season.
While huge corporations such as Amazon and Best Buy prepared for long lines of consumers on Black Friday, Nov.
Old-Fashioned Candy Store Coming to Clifton
Cincinnati, OH – Chris and Joey Jenco have always loved candy.
“A lot of our memories from growing up involved candy stores,” says Chris. “We would always visit one on vacation and spend our allowances on candy.”
The Jenco brothers, both in their 20s, began their business venture in the summer of 2010. Joey saw a candy store in Indiana and thought it would be a viable business model. For about two years, the brothers worked through what opening their own business would mean and what it would require.
Ambiente Talents Serve Up Fresh Creativity for Kitchen and Table
New concepts for seasoning, preparing and serving food: young designers are currently opening up the theme of cookery in a fresh, unconventional way. In the Dining area at the Ambiente fair, which will be held from 15 to 19 February 2013, there are a dozen talents just waiting to present their new ideas and surprising interpretations of table and kitchen themes.
“You can tell very clearly by the projects of the Talents 2013 just how strongly the theme of cookery has been accepted in the young designer community as a social and aesthetic subject.
Treasure Garden Exhibits for First Time at AmericasMart
Treasure Garden, award-winning designer and manufacturer of outdoor shade products, opens its first showroom at AmericasMart® this January for The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market in the Living. Outdoor/Indoor.® The Gardens® on floor 10 of Building 2 WestWing. The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market is Jan. 9-16, 2013. Temporary exhibits are Jan.
OmegaNet, Inc. Launches A Thread of Blue Cameo EZ Wholesale Website
The CAMEO EZ© website enhances A Thread of Blue’s existing retail site at www.athreadofblue.com and was designed to enhance online revenue from the company’s business-to-business customers.
A Thread of Blue was created in 2011 by sisters-in-law and close friends, Debbie Rosmarin and Rachel Albert. The women share a love of family, friends and community involvement.
7 W New York hosts Retail Design Collective
A.R.E.’s Retail Design Collective, scheduled for December 5-7, 2012 at 7 W New York, will feature daily conference sessions focused on design and visual merchandising trends. Trend forecasting experts will highlight this year’s program, along with a panel discussion on the re-invention of department stores.
The smaller, more-focused sessions, sponsored and developed by media partners DDI, Stylus and VMSD, will be held in 7 West’s Retail Lounge. Below is a summary of the following sessions:
Wednesday, Dec.
Gift Industry Veteran Dick Duff Joins Midwest‐CBK as General Manager
Midwest‐CBK, LLC, national designer and manufacturer of holiday, gifts and home and outdoor décor, announced the addition of Dick Duff as general manager. Duff brings 29 years of experience in the gift industry, including five years with Midwest of Cannon Falls as the executive vice president of sales and marketing.
“Dick’s proven track record and knowledge of the gift industry is second to none,” said Howard Ganz, president of Ganz, which acquired Midwest‐CBK from MVP Group International, Inc., in October.
Debra Valencia Signs Nine New Licensing Deals in 2012
Artist Debra Valencia™ is pleased to announce a bountiful year in 2012 boasting nine new licensing deals spanning stationery, textiles, housewares, gifts and fashion accessories.
Shark Tank Winner Lollacup to Exhibit at PBJ
Dallas Market Center today announced that Lollacup, a uniquely designed sippy cup alternative made in the U.S.A. and recently featured on the show Shark Tank, will exhibit in PBJ: Play. Baby. Juvenile. PBJ is a new, juried trade event for innovative baby gifts and gadgets to be held each spring. The inaugural show will take place March 21-22, 2013.
Lollacup’s functional design helps infants and toddlers successfully use a straw by featuring a weighted straw at the bottom that anchors itself in liquid.
Eggplant Gift Boutique Takes a New Owner
Charleston, WV – Elisa Payne likes to quote her husband’s assessment. “He says it was cheaper to buy me the store than for me to continue to work in the store.”
The store she is referring to is Eggplant, the glittering, glamorous magnet that draws customers from South Hills and beyond to the Bridge Road shops.
In early October, she and her husband, Charles K. Payne IV, bought the store from longtime owner Thebe Warren. They signed the papers, exchanged money and then everyone went back to the store for a champagne toast.
Dreams Travel Full Circle for Downtown Retailer
Yuma, AZ – Joely Leeper Beck didn’t necessarily create her Dream Gift Shop for Yuma visitors, but it was quite a journey that landed the Yuma native in the new retail storefront at 250 S. Madison Ave. in the Historic North End.
A Yuma High grad (Class of 1987), Beck spent 20 years living and working in San Diego.
Mini Threadz Children’s Clothes Stores Opens for Business in Louth
Louth, UK – Louth Mayor, Councillor Jill Makinson-Sanders, showed her support for Louth’s independent retail stores by cutting the ribbon at the official opening ceremony for the opening of a new children’s clothes and gift shop.
Minithreadz is a new Independent shop that has recently opened in Upgate selling clothes and gifts for children ranging from newborn right up to 15 years.
Louth Town Partnership said: “Filling empty shop units and broadening the products on offer in the town is particularly important following the national recognition the prestigious BBC Countryfi
Women in Business: ‘Loved Again’ Gift Shop Finds a Niche, Flourishes
Eastbrook, AL – New store owner Angie Ingram views her home decor, book and gift store in Eastbrook as a chance to relive childhood days.
“The store gives me the opportunity to express myself,” she said from behind a busy counter in the store facing Coliseum Boulevard. “I feel like I’m playing house like when I was a little girl.”
The Selma native ran Loved Again from inside the Eastbrook antique mall for about 14 years before deciding to strike out on her own in February.
Residents Move Toward Locally-Owned Stores
Marietta, OH – In spite of the lure from big box discount stores that offer cheap prices on merchandise during the holidays, a growing number of people are apparently choosing to buy local.
“I prefer smaller local shops over the bigger stores, and would rather spend my money on something local and unique,” said Jacinda Hutson, 21, of Marietta.
She particularly shops local for close family members.
Small Toy Stores Stick With the Tried and True
Worcester, MA – Betsy Madson is happy to show customers around her toy store. She will point out the new items and make gift recommendations.
Just don’t ask her about this season’s hottest toys.
“It’s kind of the antithesis of how I structure my store,” said Ms. Madson, owner of Classic Toy Shop on Worcester’s Park Avenue. “I don’t buy something because it’s popular. … We sell more perennial favorites.”
‘Couple of Nuts Selling Quality Nuts’
Mokelumne Hill, CA – So what kind of person works a straight job all week, spends the weekend operating a small business and then is also active in the booster group for the high school band their kids are in?
You’re right, and Steve and Judy Brown admit it on their business card: “Just a couple of nuts selling quality nuts,” it says.
Still, they also claim to get plenty of sleep and to be entirely happy to be owners of Mokelumne Hill nuts, a small shop in downtown Mokelumne Hill that is open only on weekends.