Archives: News
‘Shop Local’ Initiatives Making Headway in South Jersey
Woodbury, NJ – With dozens of large retail chains nearby, including two Walmarts–both within a five minute drive from each other–small businesses like those in downtown Woodbury need all the help they can get these days .
Boutique Supports Goods Handmade by Women
Middletown, CT – The ladybug is known as a symbol of good fortune in many cultures. And for Amy Becker, owner of the Ladybug Boutique since 2006 on College Street in Middletown, that luck has held true.
And although the familiar red and black spotted beetle is sprinkled in various incarnations all across her gift shop, Becker says the origins of her business muse actually began 14 years ago.
“When my niece was born, I called her my little ladybug. She was the first grandchild in the family, the first niece, and she started collecting them.
Uniquely Greek Ribbon Cutting
Conway, AR – What type of business is it? Greek sorority/fraternity merchandise and unique gift items
What specifically does your business do? We sell greek merchandise, and create individually designed items like applique letter shirts, or embroidery on blankets, T-shirts, jackets, cosmetic and tote bags. We have unique gift items, and offer a wish list for anyone that would like a little help getting just exactly what they like. Bid day, birthday, graduation, Christmas or just a “you are special to me” gift.
Checkerboard Introduces Dazzling Line of Personalized Gifts & Home Decor Products
Today, Checkerboard Ltd, award winning designer of fine stationery for over three generations, introduces a line of finely crafted personalized gift and home décor products that include framed wall décor, supple throw pillows and elegant dinner plates, designed around themes of romance, love, home, hearth, and even pets.
“To meet increased demand for personalized products that express consumers’ unique personality and lifestyle, Checkerboard created a line of stylish home décor and gift products that customers can customize to their own taste,” said Micah Chase, president, Check
Biggest Selection On The Beach: Grand Strand Gift & Resort Merchandise Returns December 2-5, 2012
The nation’s largest, longest-running coastal souvenir, resort gift show, the Grand Strand Gift & Resort Merchandise Show, returns December 2-5, 2012 to South Carolina’s Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
Three Companies Receive Summer 2012 Eco-Choice Awards
As a result of popular balloting, three companies – are you?, Box Play for Kids and Iskin Buenos Aires, Argentina – have been named winners of the 6th semi-annual Eco Choice Awards recognizing the most innovative and environmentally responsible gift, home, and lifestyle products at the summer 2012 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), August 18-22, at New York City’s Jacob K.
Tokidoki Collaborates With Ju-Ju Be on New Bag Collection
tokidoki, the pop culture brand meaning “sometimes” in Japanese, is partnering with renowned diaper bag company, Ju-Ju-Be, on a brand new collection launching in stores September 2012.
Launched in 2005 and known for its fun features, the definitive Ju-Ju-Be ‘Super-Smart’ bag is about to get super cool. Each bag will have the outstanding quality and detail Ju-Ju-Be is known for, including crumb drains and mommy pockets, with tokidoki’s signature urban prints, “Iconic” and “TD Dreams,” throughout eleven unique styles.
Cuddle Covers Brings Kids Comfort and Friendship at Bedtime This Holiday Season
The search is over for this year’s perfect holiday gift! Tis the seaon to turn your child’s everyday pillow in to their everyday friend with Cuddle Covers™. These six cozy buddies come to life by unzipping the side and slippping over any standard pillow. From Berry the Bear, Don the Dinosaur, and Izzy the Unicorn to Kit the Cat, Louie the Lion and Max the Dog, each snuggily pal has its own story and is up for any adventure.
Olives and Grace Brings Specialty Hand-Made Gifts to Tremont Street
Boston, MA – At Olives and Grace, it’s not just about the taste. It’s not just about where it’s from. It’s not just about the message.
It’s about all of the above.
Sofi Madison, who opened the speciality gift store at 669 Tremont Street in the South End a few weeks ago, curates the most unique, hand-made and feel-good products from emerging artists, artisans and small batch food makers from near and far.
Creating Opportunities – Downtown Brainerd Provides An Open Door
Brainerd, MN – After looking for work and finding nothing for a year, Mary Wohl saw an opportunity to create her own job.
In July, she did just that by opening a store on Laurel Street in downtown Brainerd.
“I started this because I was out of work,” Wohl said. “I was a social worker for 22 years.”
She searched in the area, the Twin Cities and St. Cloud but said the results never bore fruit.
Plimpton’s Attracts Lovers Of Paper and Pen from Around the State
West Hartford, CT – Those of us who grew up in the pre-Internet age love to tell our children that, despite what they might think, we managed very well with rotary phones, manual typewriters with ribbons, black-and-white televisions without remote controls, adding machines, large green ledgers rather than spreadsheets, and even conventional snail mail.
In fact, for many of us it was a thrill to receive our own personalized stationery so that we could pen letters to family and friends and thank you notes at holiday and birthday time.
Eve’s Addiction Fall 2012 Jewelry Trends Guide
Fall styles have begun surfacing and the most noticed trends thus far for jewelry are big bold pieces, natural jewelry, and classic styles making a modern comeback.
Big, bold pieces are having a huge impact on the fashion world. This summer, people layered numerous small pieces to achieve a bold look. As fashion transitions to the fall season, people are switching out that layered look for large, bold accessories. The bigger the jewelry, the trendier the look!
Bold and Natural: As we transition into Fall, demand has continued to grow from customers for Baltic Amber.
SCAD Launches Working Class Studio Fall 2012 Collections
Working Class Studio, a product development venture of the Savannah College of Art and Design, debuts new products this August at the New York International Gift Fair.
Business Owner Uses Gift Shop to Showcase Area Artists
West Milton, OH – Karen Callahan combines an enjoyment of shopping with a love of art to fill her Really Cool Stuff Gift Shop and Gallery.
For more than six years, the shop in an early 1900s building at 5 N. Main St. has helped keep the village resident on the run along with a job at the Human Race Theatre Company in Dayton, where she serves as a part-time grant writer.
Really Cool Stuff started as a joint project of Callahan and friend Vickie Hathaway. Callahan, who then was working full time for the theater, surprised herself when she agreed to join Hathaway in the venture.
A to Z with you and me, a revolutionary new company in early education, is debuting at The New York International Gift Fair in New York City August 19 – 22, Booth #5830
Who said learning can’t be fun – and personal? Introducing A to Z with you and me – a revolutionary new concept in early education – offering personalized DVDs that allow parents to create a one-of-a-kind educational experience for their child by using pictures and names of people and things from the child’s own environment. Children are captivated at the sight of seeing themselves and people they know in their very own, custom DVD.
Steady Traffic Seen at Holiday/Resort 2012 LA Fashion Market
Los Angeles – The Holiday/Resort 2012 Los Angeles Fashion Market took place August 13-16, 2012 at the California Market Center (CMC). Steady traffic and new accounts were the predominant reports from many of the CMC’s showrooms and exhibitors of the Market’s featured tradeshows, including SELECT Contemporary Tradeshow and TRANSIT LA Shoe Show.
Las Vegas Market’s Summer 2012 Gift+Home Show Reports Brisk Business and Enthusiasm for Accelerated Growth Plan to Create Premier Gift Destination in the West
Las Vegas, NV –The Summer 2012 Las Vegas Market delivered an energized Gift+Home show highlighted by the debut of more than 90 new-to-market lines, 282 Gift+Home Temporaries, and the debut of a high-end home décor showcase on the 3rd floor of Building B (B3).
Classy Art Gets New Showroom in Tupelo
Classy Art Wholesalers Inc. is proud to announce its new location at the Tupelo Furniture Market. After 15 years of being located in building 1, Classy Art has decided to move into a new location in building 6 (#6204).
“We are quite pleased that we were able to solidify a location in building 6 as many colleagues mentioned to me that they tried, but there were no openings.
‘Tis the Season for Stores to Shop for Christmas
Malton, ON – It’s a good thing the Toronto Gift Show, taking place this week at the International Centre in Malton, is closed to the public.
With all the holiday ornaments, gifts and wrapping, you have to pinch yourself every so often to remember it’s okay you haven’t started holiday shopping because it’s only August.
Buyers, more than 16,000 of them, are attending the show, which began Sunday and continues until Wednesday.
Rent-a-Mob Helps Stores to Cash In
Cambridge, UK – Cash mobbing is coming to Cambridge.