Archives: News
Happy Accident
Denton, TX – Claire Amano attributes a few happy accidents with the recent opening of her shop — Serendipity on the Square.
Amano has been making gifts and holiday decorations for years and was selling them at area stores such as Garden Gate.
But she recently decided she wanted a shop of her own.
Amano and her husband were planning to have a booth at Arts, Antiques & Autos and in the process found a space to open a shop.
Who is the Silver Goddess?
Oxbow, SK – Stacy Lamontange believes there is a Goddess within all women, but sometimes the Goddess needs a little encouragement and flattery before she’ll let herself shine.
This belief led the mother of four — a 9-year-old daughter, a 7-year-old son and 4-year-old twins — to take a chance and open Silver Goddess Boutique in Oxbow.
“With women, I think our egos stop us,” Stacy explains. “We don’t want to be so great that somebody sacrifices. But in the end, I think that if you’re a great woman, than everybody around you is inspired.”
Museums of San Benito Reopens Gift Shop
San Benito, TX – Breathing new life into the Museums of San Benito is the goal of a new and expanded gift shop, museum supporters said at a Saturday opening ceremony.
The three museums are located inside the Community Building, 210 E. Heywood St.
“We are called the Museums of San Benito. We are comprised of the San Benito History Museum, Freddy Fender Museum and Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum,” said Tootie Madden, president of the San Benito Historical Society and president of the San Benito Museum Coalition.
Ambiente 2013 Already 97 Percent Booked Up
The platform for your success – with six months still to go before the doors open, exhibition space at the world’s most important consumer-goods trade fair is already occupied to 97 percent and, therefore, almost fully booked up. As in 2012, the coming Ambiente from 15 to 19 February 2013 will occupy all of Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre. The Dining section will be located in Halls 1 to 6 and thus fill the whole of the eastern part of the Exhibition Centre while the Giving and Living sections share the western part.
NYIGF Extends Online Presence With Blog and E-Newsletter
In an extension of its online activities, the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) will resume twice-weekly blog posts and weekly e-newsletters, beginning Tuesday, October 9, and running through the opening of the winter 2013 NYIGF, January 26-30, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 & 94.
7-Month-Old Funnybone Toys Finds Itself The “It” Products
It’s Christmas in July for one new company as Funnybone Toys enters its first 4th-quarter. For many start-up companies, this could be a make-or-break quarter with all- important Christmas sales, but to the company’s delight, it steps into the Christmas fray with sales ringing and museums calling thanks to their quirky creative team who linked 21st century design with 19th century ink-paper mechanisms.
The results are brainy card games that are truly beautiful with colors, hues and play patterns that could be shown in a museum.
Family Owned Business Helps Transform Your Home and Garden
Woodlands, TX – With the nicer autumn weather comes the opportunity to do a bit of home improvement without breaking a sweat. Local business, Spring Home and Outdoor , sells merchandise to decorate both the interior and exterior of the home.
“Spring Home and Outdoor is a one-stop shop for home and garden décor and fine cast stone garden accents from top manufacturers,” President and Owner Eduardo Llaguno said.
NobleWorks’ Gets a Big Heart On With New Valentine’s Day Cards
NobleWorks Inc. is in the mood for love – and laughs – with the introduction of 35 humorous new cards for Valentine’s Day on February 14th.
From sweet to naughty, NobleWorks’ valentines offer something for everyone in love or lust.
Just in Time for the Holiday Season, Jewelry and Lifestyle Brand Waxing Poetic Debuts a Trio of Giftable Necklaces ‘Everybody Needs’
Led by CEO Patti Pagliei, the creative team at Waxing Poetic has always functioned like a creative constellation in which ideas, dreams, and visions are kept in close orbit. One thing on everyone’s mind this year was universal need, how to come up with a collection that truly embodies what everyone needs at Waxing Poetic’s unmatchable price point, a collection that draws regular and new customers alike into celebrating themselves and the season with a gravitational pull.
After months of brainstorming, it came to light: everybody needs love, peace, and an angel of their own.
Paperblanks’ Exquisite Journals, Address Books and Day Planners Offer the Perfect Gift for Inspiring Personal Creativity This Holiday Season
Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Paperblanks®, now celebrating its 20th anniversary as a leading provider of quality writing books worldwide, today announced its top picks of writing journals, address books and 2013 dayplanners for holiday gifts and stocking stuffers.
Vermont Soap Introduces Green Gold, A USDA Certified Organic Herbal Moisturizer That is Safe and Non-Toxic for Sensitive Skin
Vermont Soap introduces GREEN GOLD Organic Herbal Moisturizer; an age defying beauty treatment for face, hands, neck and all sun damaged skin. GREEN GOLD is a unique, non-toxic anti-aging moisturizer that is safe for the most sensitive skin. It replaces petrochemical based lotions, salves, serums and balms with 100% organic plant based ingredients rich in botanical goodies. Make GREEN GOLD part of YOUR daily anti-aging regimen.
Safari Ltd Honors Teacher with Classroom Giveaway
In August 2012, Safari Ltd®, manufacturer and worldwide distributor of museum-quality, educational toy collections, honored inspirational teachers in a Back- to-School Giveaway Contest on Facebook. Based on fan nominations, Diana Mount, 3rd grade teacher at Chinook Elementary School in Vancouver, WA, was selected because of her ability to recognize strengths in children that may be viewed as weaknesses.
Mount won an assortment of educational replicas and posters to accommodate her classroom of approximately 30 students.
Toys ‘R’ Us to Boost Seasonal Staff for Christmas Online Surge
Toys “R” Us Inc. (TOYS), the world’s largest toy retailer, said it will hire an additional 5,000 temporary workers over the Christmas period at both its stores and online distribution centers across the U.S.
The retailer will employ 45,000 temporary staff over the holiday, compared with 40,000 last year, the Wayne, New Jersey- based company said in a statement today.
St. Paul’s Standing Stones Gift Shop Has New Manager
Norwalk, CT – Ginny Green likens the retail industry to selling real estate, and that’s a good thing for St. Paul’s on the Green.
In August, the longtime Rowayton resident took the reins at St. Paul’s Standing Stones gift shop, which offers a variety of spirituality-based books, nick-nacks and fair trade items for sale. The gift store celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
“It’s very exciting for me,” said Green, a semi-retired Realtor with William Pitt Sotheby’s in Darien. “My love of retailing and helping people is what I really enjoy about this.”
Business of Business: Handmade Baskets Anchor Third Shop
Sycamore, OH – After 15 years as a gift shop owner in Marblehead and Lakeside, Elinore Ames has made her way down Ohio 4 and over to Ohio 231 to open her third shop (located at 3849 Ohio 231), and she did it for love.
While operating her gift shop at Marblehead, Ames met and fell in love with Larry Goodman, who lives on Ohio 231 near Sycamore.
“The shop was a barn, but Larry renovated it for me and did an absolutely beautiful job,” Ames said of the quaint shop she calls Country Baskets at the Barn Gift Shop.
The Cash Mob Strikes Again
West Milford, NJ – Support for local businesses seems to be growing, as at least 45 people turned out on Saturday afternoon for the second West Milford Cash Mob, sponsored by Sustainable West Milford and the West Milford Chamber of Commerce.
The Ground Floor: Knickknacks in The Neighborhood
Cedar Rapids, IA – The phrase “It runs in the family” typically refers to things such as eye color, height, a sense of humor or a talent.
But what runs in the Amborn family is a bit more retail. They have a knack for the gift business.
“My parents had a gift shop here and in Fort Madison,” said Catherine Roach of Cedar Rapids. “I had one sister with a gift shop in southern Illinois.”
La Grange Shop Offers Charm With a Vintage Flair
La Grange, IL – Surround yourself with the things you love, but don’t get too attached might be Nancy Allodi’s business model.
The owner of Vintage Charm in La Grange spends hours poring through antique markets and fairgrounds around the Midwest, but in the end, all of her treasures are for sale, even the display pieces.
“If it sells, that’s OK. That’s what it’s there for,” Allodi said. “We’re constantly changing and get new merchandise in daily.”