Archives: News
New Huntington Shop Supports Fair Trade, Orphanage
Huntington, WV – All Laurie Reasons has to do is glance around Lamb’s Gate Market in downtown Huntington to see that people do, in fact, care.
The shop was established in just one month, all by volunteers. A man whose wife was due with a baby any day took time out to build the cashier’s desk. Local designers came up with some ideas for decor, and others scoured town for donated items that could make a nice retail space.
‘Cash Mob’ Hits Stores in Cambridge
Cambridge, NY – The concept is simple: organize people through Facebook, Twitter and other social media, and old-fashioned word of mouth, to show up on Main Street at a given time and place and spend $20 or more at an independent, locally owned business.
That’s just what happened Saturday morning in the village of Cambridge, as dozens of people, money in hand, swarmed into shops on the Hubbard Hall block and the west end of the village.
The event, called a “Cash Mob” after social-media inspired Flash Mobs, aims to support local businesses by encouraging people to spend dol
OneCoast Announces Two New Vendors to its National Gift Division: Santa Barbara Design Studio and Olivina
OneCoast is announcing, effective December 1st, the addition of two new vendor partners to its National Division line package, in the gift and consumable product category; Santa Barbara Design Studio and Olivina.
“Our goal in adding these two new vendors is to continue to bring our retailers premier lines with strong sell-through success in both the gift category with Santa Barbara Design Studio and in the personal care category with Olivina,” says Edie Lufkin, Vice President of Strategic Relationships for OneCoast.
NYIGF’s At Home Showcases New Home Decor Resources
New resources in furniture, accessories, bedding and other home décor products will be introduced at the sold out winter 2013 edition of At Home at the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), January 26-30, 2013, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94.
Tervis Drops In With Santa Cruz
Tervis®, the leader in insulated drinkware, is proud to announce a new partnership with Santa Cruz® for a line of drinkware featuring iconic skate inspired graphics and designs – perfect for skate, surf or snowboard enthusiasts.
“We are excited to partner with such a core brand like Santa Cruz, just like Tervis,” says Rich Kaplan, Tervis President of Sales and Marketing, Chief Brand Officer.
Dogeared Jewels & Gifts Announces Winter 2013 Trade Show Schedule
Dogeared Jewels & Gifts, a trendsetting fashion accessories brand known for its cool California aesthetic and innovative designs, will launch its 2013 “Forever” collection at select winter trade shows beginning in January.
Propac Images and Paragon Establish Corporate Showrooms at AmericasMart
Propac Images and Paragon, two prestigious wall art companies, signed leases to establish side-by-side flagship showrooms on Floor 12, Building 1 of AmericasMart® Atlanta. The showrooms will be newly constructed and ready for The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market®, Jan. 9-16, 2013.
The closely held companies are run by second generation siblings: Vince Glassco is the president of Propac Images, Lendell Glassco is the president of Paragon, and Malanta Glassco-Knowles is vice president and works with both companies in product development and marketing.
SCOUT by Bungalow Launches Limited-Edition Gift Collection
SCOUT by Bungalow, a leading supplier of fashion and lifestyle bags, bins, insulated totes and travel accessories for consumers across the country has just announced its first limited-edition Gift Collection, available online.
Finalists Announced for 2013 Housewares Design Awards Inspiring Innovation for 10 Years
Finalists for the 10th annual Housewares Design Awards have been named. Inspiring innovation for 10 years, this prestigious award competition showcases the industry’s dedication to investing in meaningful product design, where form and function meet to enrich daily life with innovation, ease of use and visual appeal.
The 60 finalists represent the best of the hundreds of creatively designed products for the home that stand out for both aesthetics and functionality.
Twelve “Best in Category” winners will be chosen from the 60 finalists.
10th Annual Housewares Design Awards Names “Green House” Design Award Finalists
Finalists have been named for the 2013 “Green House” Design Awards, a division of the 10th annual Housewares Design Awards, the housewares industry’s premier independent design competition. Focused on eco-responsible innovation, the 5th annual “Green House” Design Awards showcases practical beauty and eco-friendly design for the home.
One winner from the five finalists will be announced at the Housewares Design Awards gala ceremony and luncheon on January 29, 2013, at the New York Marriott Marquis overlooking Times Square.
Retailers hail Black Friday weekend as best ever
Retailers are already calling the biggest holiday shopping “weekend” of the season the best ever.
All signs point to a huge Cyber Monday, as more consumers turned to computers and mobile devices to begin looking for deals over the weekend.
More shoppers came out Thanksgiving night, more shoppers hit stores on Black Friday, more shopped online.
Huntington Museum of Art Gift Shop to be First December Cash Mob Recipient
Huntington, WV – As a way to show the community’s appreciation to local businesses, Create Huntington will host a Cash Mob every Saturday in December. The first business to be Cash Mobbed is the Gift Shop at the Huntington Museum of Art. It will be Cash Mobbed 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 1st.
Create Huntington will draw the name of December Cash Mob recipients every Monday in the month. Winners are posted to the Create Huntington Facebook page that afternoon. The business selected will be “Mobbed” the following Saturday.
New Gift Shop at UHC Promotes ‘Buy Local’
Bridgeport, WV – Artisan’s Crossing is a new gift shop at United Hospital Center. What makes it different from the original one? All the items are designed by local artisans. Some of whom are trying to revive our roots.
“Our ancestors lived off what they could do and that’s what I want to preserve,” said Elaine Sinclair of Elaine’s Baskets.
“I’m keeping a heritage, a tradition alive by hand weaving and hand dying,” said Wendy Clerk, of Wenweave.
There’s scarves and baskets, jewelry and books. Even candles and candy and holiday items.
Winthrop Shop Allows Customers to Customize Gift Giving
Riverview, FL – Among Sherry Wilson’s favorite childhood pastimes while growing up in South Africa was making fragrant soaps with her mother, Lynn Braun, in the family’s back yard.
“We were always making something, and making soaps was one of my favorite things to do,” said Wilson.
However, Wilson put her hobby on a back burner when her mother was transferred by her employer, Hewlett Packard, in 1993, and Wilson, then a teen, joined her in the United States.
“Small Business Saturday” Drives Wyoming Sales
Casper, WY – The owner of a downtown gift shop in Casper said her sales were “great” on Small Business Saturday.
“We were up 25-30 percent over last year,” said Lew Windsor, owner of Casper’s Messy Moose store and member of the Wyoming Retail Association (WRA).
“My dream is for Small Business Saturday to be bigger than Black Friday,” she said, noting that customers on Saturday told her they had made a specific effort to shop that day because Small Business Saturday had been televised locally.
Shoppers Hit Small Businesses Saturday
Moses Lake, WA – Two shoppers were looking at ceramic pebbles with inspirational sayings at Art Garden Pottery Saturday afternoon.
“I need to get her a ‘be calm,'” said one shopper to the other, referring to a family member. “Two kids? Definitely, ‘be calm.'”
Another shopper, at Sue’s Boutique, jokingly described the thought process when she found that an item she had considered buying earlier was still there
Small Business Saturday Boosts O.C. Shops
Orange County, CA – Sales at World of Wigs in Santa Ana soared 500 percent on Small Business Saturday, compared with a typical Saturday. And Toy Boat, Toy Boat, Toy Boat, a Corona del Mar toy store, tripled its sales from the post-Thanksgiving sales event in 2011.
American Express started promoting Small Business Saturday between Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2010 to encourage shoppers to support their local merchants.
St. Charles Business Owner Celebrates 40 Years
St. Charles, IL – The Warehouse Antique Shoppe and Confectionary located in downtown St. Charles is celebrating 40 years in business this year.
It is the second longest surviving store currently next to Blue Goose and has endured several periods of economic downturn, such as the recent recession.
“The one thing I think helps is to own your own building,” said Peggy Spear, owner of the shop.
Oak Park Shop Owner Busy Building up Bee
Oak Park, IL – Something new is abuzz in east Oak Park: Bee Home and Garden, 128 Chicago Ave.
The shop, a first foray into retail sales by life-long village resident Colleen Maia, presents new and vintage china, glassware, decorative objects, jewelry and a smattering of furniture.
“It’s a collection of everything I find pretty,” said Maia, who opened Bee at the end of September and is still building an inventory of pieces she collects at venues such as estate sales and auctions.
Highlights at Christmasworld
Christmasworld Trends now for the first time in Hall 11.1
Delight customers, offer them new products, surprise them with great sales promotions – the demands on retailers are enormous. So it’s all the more important for the people in charge to know what the trends are, to take new ideas on board and to bring their own know-how right up to date. Christmasworld in Frankfurt is a perfect source for this.