Archives: News
NobleWorks Cranks Out 50 More Crack-Up Cards!
OMG!! NobleWorks has just released yet another 50 hilarious new everyday cards … and that’s not counting the optional blank versions available for many of them!
This latest introduction features nearly 20 outrageous new cards licensed from Ephemera – including the company’s well-known retro-inspired designs as well as an “I Love Bacon” card. An additional 23 new “Talk Bubbles” cards offer topical references to social media, technology and the recent Olympics, plus the occasional fart joke – along with plenty of irreverent messages.
Husband-Wife Team Grab Two Best of Atlanta Awards for Gourmet Excellence
Those who create together, stay together? Seems like it.
The husband-wife team of Jody and Debbie Chidester of Plentiful Pantry grabbed TWO Best of Atlanta awards during The Atlanta Gourmet Market®, Sept. 21-23, at AmericasMart®.
The Pear Tree Store Opens With a Flourish in Dixboro
Dixboro, MI – Jan McCormick says Dixboro, with its village green and annual fair, is just like an English country village. She used to say the quaint center of the town was a great place for a gift shop — and now she’s the owner of the towns newest one, The Pear Tree.
McCormick, originally from Dundee — just north of Edinburgh, Scotland — and her English husband, John McCormick, moved to the United States 28 years ago when he took a job as a writer for Crain’s Auto Week.
Jewelry and More at Jenny Boston Boutique, Reading
Reading, MA – Looking for a necklace or earrings to go with a new outfit? Want to start your holiday shopping early this year? Head to Jenny Boston Boutique on Main Street for unique accessories, chic bags and trendy jewelry at affordable prices.
Jenny Boston has one boutique in Connecticut and six boutiques in Massachusetts, including the one that popped up in Reading in May. The Main Street store is filled with jewelry, bags, belts, scarfs and more.
Their items range in price, but most jewelry pieces are around $20.
Not Deja Vu: Hot Holiday List Filled With Retro Brands
If you were checking out the latest hot holiday toy lists and are filled with a slight sense of deja vu, you are probably not alone.
Several major toy retailers — Toys ‘R Us, Wal-Mart Stores [WMT 74.26 -0.48 (-0.64%) ], Sears Holdings’ [SHLD 55.25 -1.59 (-2.8%) ] Kmart — have weighed in with their picks for this year’s hottest toys. Topping those lists are retro brands like Furby, Lego, Barbie, and new editions of brands that were popular last year.
You’ll also notice another thing: the toys are a little pricier this year.
Americans to Spend More on Halloween This Year
When the black cats, witches and trick-or-treaters come out for Halloween this year, a record 170 million people in the United States will dress up, celebrate, and spend up to $8 billion, according to a retail industry survey.
Seven in ten Americans will take part in the festivities, and the average person will spend $79.82 on decorations, costumes and candy – up from $72.31 last year, according to the National Retail Federation’s 2012 Halloween consumer spending survey conducted by research group BIGinsight.
Halloween, observed on October 31, is the eighth-biggest selling seaso
Lewisburg’s Newest Gift Shop Fulfills Owner’s Dream
Lewisburg, WV – Born and raised in Greenbrier County, Vicki Mattison has held jobs in a number of local businesses — everyplace from Shoney’s to the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. But, no matter what her occupation at the moment, she always held fast to her dream of owning a gift shop, of being her own boss.
That dream came true on Sept. 7, with the opening of Mattison’s, Lewisburg’s newest gift emporium.
“We offer antiques, handbags, jewelry and much more,” Mattison says, noting many of the items sold in the shop come from her personal collection.
Scranton Woman Took Leap of Faith With Organic Shop
Scranton, PA – Starting a business requires a certain amount of risk, but it is a gamble Donna Czarkowski is glad she took.
The Scranton resident’s career path didn’t originally involve creating the teas, granola and other homemade products she sells today as owner of CLOE & Co. in Clarks Summit. But a focus on health has long been part of her life, from her work in nursing to massage.
“It’s really like a domino effect of how I came to be here in this store,” she said.
Cape Coral Hospital: Completely Redone Coral Tree Offers Unique Gift Items
Cape Coral, FL – It has been almost a year since the Coral Tree Gift Shop at Cape Coral Hospital reopened at its lobby location after extensive remodeling.
The gift shop has always been a wonderful place to find flowers or a gift but this complete makeover has made it THE place to shop for that perfect gift. Odette Santos, the store manager, helped design the extensive renovations to improve the display areas and sales desk.
Rachel’s Rumors; Locally Made, Unique Items Offered at New Shop
Springhill, AR – Last week I visited The Blue Kite Boutique at the Sims Place shopping center in Springhill, where I found some interesting merchandise and a great story.
Marla Stanton of Conway is the owner of the shop, which opened Aug. 11. She has a degree in film making and has traveled the world, but we’ll get to all that in a minute.
Anyone who enjoys looking at crafts on Pinterest (you know who you are) or crafts anywhere, I suppose, would probably understand this store.
NYIGF Offers Exclusive Exhibitor “Market Readiness” Webinars
Beginning in October, a monthly series of “Market Readiness” webinars – addressing marketing and selling strategies, tradeshow operations and lead follow-up – will be offered to companies exhibiting in the winter 2013 edition of the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®).
September 2012 Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show Attracts Industry’s Premier Retailers
The September 11-14, 2012 edition of the Las Vegas Souvenir and Resort Gift Show recorded a 6 % increase in attendance over the 2011 edition. Drawn by the show’s extensive, targeted product selection, show-sponsored hotel rates starting as low as $9.99, and a growing reputation as the nation’s largest souvenir and resort gift show, buyers from casinos, theme parks, museums, zoos, aquariums and premier tourist destinations flocked to the seventh annual edition at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“The Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show has truly come into its own.
Curing Stumped Gifters: Unique Boutique Opens Downtown
Sussex, WI – One of the most rewarding aspects of holidays and birthdays is the opportunity to give a gift that causes genuine excitement and appreciation for that special lady in your life. However, sometimes the pursuit of the right gift can be a daunting challenge.
For those stumped shoppers – or others who suddenly had an anniversary pop up on the schedule – there’s a new business downtown that will surely put a smile on faces of those of “the fairer sex”. The Olive Branch, a unique gift boutique, will open its doors at 10 a.m.
Abilis Opens Handmade Boutique in Glenville
Greenwich, CT – A small building connected to the Abilis greenhouse on Glenville Street has been transformed into a sweet-smelling boutique, filled with hand-crafted soaps, jewelry, pet accessories and other gifts created by the organization’s clients.
Abilis, which supports people with developmental disabilities, held the grand opening for the shop on Thursday evening.
The venture is another way that Abilis clients are learning work skills, with the goal of transferring them to jobs in the community.
Ganz Partners With SnapRetail to Become Newest Vendor to Participate in eMarketing System
Ganz, a leader in the gift industry, will become the newest vendor to participate in SnapRetail’s eMarketing system.
Joining more than 100 top vendors, Ganz will provide product photography and other marketing collateral for its core product collection, which includes Plush, Time and Again, Danielson Designs and Giftware. This content will be available to SnapRetail subscribers Sept. 26, just in time for the holiday season.
SnapRetail is the only web-based marketing system created specifically to help local retailers with their online marketing needs.
Leading Manufacturer Ton Savon Launches Online Shopping Featuring Gift Sets and More
Announced today, authentic French bath products and certified organic triple milled soaps from private label manufacturer Ton Savon became available online for consumers looking for the most luxurious French brands at a great value. www.tonsavon.com. Made in a quaint village in Provence dating back to the end of the 11th century with Fragrances from Grasse, France, which just so happens to be the perfume capital of the world-Ton Savon, is able to create soaps pretty close to perfection.
Gift Gallery at Hospital Adds Hours
Miami, OK – The Gift Gallery in the Integris Baptist Regional Health Center is now open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays to give the hospital’s night shift staff a chance to get in on its sales.
Dana Weaks, the center’s volunteer services coordinator who is over the volunteers and gift shop, said the Gift Gallery normally has been open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sectionalizing of Temporary Exhibits Enhances Buyer Experience at Gift + Home at Las Vegas Market
A strategic re-organization of the temporary exhibits at Gift + Home at Las Vegas Market will create ten distinct, themed product sections beginning with the Winter 2013 edition, January 28-February 1, at World Market Center Las Vegas.
New Site Offers a Whole New Experience of Gifting
Ever wonder what to get the person who has got it all? Thanks to the launch of GIVE (www.shopgiveny.com), the New York metropolitan area has far more exciting gifting possibilities than ever before! A gift design agency on a mission to end the curse of the re-gift, GIVE has launched just in time for this year’s upcoming holiday season.
No longer will anyone need to scramble around the city or wonder which fruit basket might be a better option than yet another generic gift.
Denver Merchandise Mart Announces Name Change to Denver Mart
The Denver Merchandise Mart has announced it will now be known by a new name; “Denver Mart.” Under the guidance of new ownership and management, the new Denver Mart name communicates an updated, more sophisticated brand and identity for the iconic Denver tradeshow and event destination.
The new owners, Woodhaven-Hawthorne enlisted the assistance of Denver-based ArtHouse Design for the property’s rebranding mission.