Archives: News
Thanks to Bank, Local Shoppers ‘Mob’ Eagle’s Nest
Westerly, RI – A sunny Saturday morning was the perfect setting for Washington Trust’s first-ever “cash mob,” an event designed to help support the economy of downtown Westerly and Rhode Island at large.
The event, which attracted about 30 guests, was part of the local bank’s “I Luv RI” campaign, an initiative to promote businesses, destinations and more that make the state unique.
Store Adds Mexican Pottery to Decorative Inventory
Grafton, IL – Iron Decor N’ More, known for its ironworks and kinetic wind sculptures, just added a new type of artistry to its mix that possesses a style native to Mexico.
Talavera pottery of Puebla, Mexico, is a type of majolica pottery, distinguishable by a milky-white glaze. Iron Decor N’ More owner John Everett obtained an inventory from a fellow business owner who closed his shop.
Sold Out Ex-Tracts Shows Growth in Organic & Natural Resources
Natural and organic personal care lines will be well-represented at the sold-out summer edition of EX•TRACTS®, one of ten divisions of the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF), running Sunday, August 19, through Wednesday, August 22, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Nearly 30 percent of the 100 exhibitors, most notably Farmhouse Fresh, Kneipps and J.R.
New C.R. Gibson Baby & Kids’ Collections Debut at Summer Shows
C.R. Gibson, a leading manufacturer of treasured gifts that preserve, create and celebrate memories, announces the introduction of new kids’ collections for summer featuring the artwork of Emily Green and Jill McDonald. Both brands focus on creative gifts for kids, debuting sketchbooks, sticker pads, play sets and puzzles, some designed for kids as young as two years old. The introduction thoughtfully expands C.R.
C.R. Gibson Debuts Premium Imprintable Invitations
C.R. Gibson, a leading manufacturer of treasured gifts that preserve, create and celebrate memories, debuts a new category of imprintable invitations by Cid Pear, a brand founded by Tina Givens known for its soft, sophisticated premium stationery. Forty-eight different invitations feature high design and opulent papers with character-driven motifs for bridal, baby, everyday and kids’ events. All designs come in packs of 10 with coordinating envelopes featuring printed interiors and elegant square flaps. MSRP $20
Cid Pear imprintable invitations are part of C.R.
The Chicago Market Launches Redesigned Web Site: New Tools Including Travel Booking & New Product Locator Make Market Planning Easier
The Chicago Market steps up in improving the online experience for buyers with the launch of a newly redesigned and improved Web site – www.shopchicagomarket.com The site showcases the new look of The Chicago Market and provides buyers tools for online hotel booking and pre-market planning.
“We are committed to listening to our buyers and providing the tools they have requested to help them shop our market,” says Toni McIntosh, vice president of gift, The Chicago Market.
Fuller Sisters’ Start Beautiful Beginnings
Western Springs, IL – Sisters Jackie Wilkinson and Debbie Feiler grew up working for their family business, Fuller’s Carwash. As Fuller’s expanded, so did these sister’s desire to create a business of their own.
In 1994, the two sisters opened a store in Western Springs that would specialize in “fine furnishing for baby and child’s room” which they called Beautiful Beginnings.
Bright Idea Toys – Did You Know?
Manchester, MO – Bright Idea Toys just moved to it’s new Town and Country location, 1050 Schnucks Woods Mill Plaza, in May.
Although the business has been operating in Town and Country since it initially opened next to Straubs at Mason Village Shopping Center six years ago, the Woods Mill Plaza location, next to Schnucks at the intersection of Clayton Road and Highway 141, offers more space and traffc for the store.
“We liked that plaza, but this is so much more space and it’s so visible,” explained Jessie Seiter, store manager. “Just a great vibe.”
Six-Year-Old Entrepreneur, Mollie Price, Opens Her Third Candy Store In Wales
Welshpool, Wales – Mollie Price has become one of the youngest entrepreneurs in the United Kingdom after the six-year-old girl launched her own chain of candy stores, the Shropshire Star reports.
With a little help from her mother, Mollie recently opened her third sweet shop in Welshpool, Wales.
“It might sound crazy but believe me Mollie is the real brains behind the operation. It was Mollie’s idea to set up the shop,” the little girl’s mother, Becky, told the Sun.
LockerLookz Charms Tillywig Toy Awards as Dull School Lockers Transform into OMG!
The Tillywig Toy Awards have seen everything when it comes to judging the best in fun and joy for kids. Toys for the home, the car, the backyard or on-the-go are expected. But bringing joy to the drab school locker is worthy of a special prize. The chic accessories from Lockerlookz — rugs, wallpaper, curtains, chandeliers and more — left the Tillywig judges speechless.
Sky Clothing Line Introduces Novel Way to Bridge Gap Between Kids & Early Literacy
What’s black and white and read all over? That old joke seems new again as a novel children’s clothing line, SKY, introduces a simple way to get kids excited about reading — one outfit at a time. Using seasonal graphics and prints on its apparel to tell a story, SKY weaves a focus on early literacy and school readiness for tots up to 6 years old.
Local Women Team up to Open Gift Shop on Iron City Cutoff Road
Anniston, AL – While the Choccolocco valley doesn’t have a lot to offer in the way of retail shopping, lifelong friends Patsy Hamlin and Lena Brooks have set out to change that by offering local residents a one-stop shopping location for gift giving and gestures of concern.
With the opening of Muscadine Mountain Memories Gift Shop on the Iron City Cutoff Road around the corner from the White Oak Winery, Hamlin and Brooks have turned a once-idle empty storage space into a wealth of beautiful home gifts and flower arrangements.
The gift shop, which keeps store hours on Fridays a
How Small Shops Economize by Sharing Space
A smart storefront and the right location are vital in retailing, but commercial real estate in eye-catching urban corridors can be expensive and hard to find. Add to this a tough economy, and many startup retailers find themselves bunking up both to economize and build their businesses.
Retail space sharing isn’t new. Big-box stores began subletting a few years ago to reduce real-estate expenses, and benefit from store-within-a-store branding.
One of Europe’s Most Popular Candies is Introduced in the U.S by Sweet & Sour USA
Ralf Conrad, CEO of Sweet & Sour USA, announced the introduction of “Sour!Tails” and “Sweet!Tails” at the recent Sweets and Snacks Expo in Chicago. The product is a filled rope candy that measures nearly three-quarters of an inch in diameter and slightly less than two feet long. It is available in more than twenty sour and sweet fruit flavors. Although manufactured in Europe, the candy is warehoused in Wilmington, Delaware, for North American distribution.
FINDS Dallas Temp Show Categories Double In Size
Dallas Market Center today announced that Design FINDS, Fashion FINDS and Red Haute FINDS have doubled in size and will offer a wide range of new products throughout the FINDS Dallas Temp Show. Design FINDS will be open Wednesday, June 20 – Sunday, June 24 and Fashion FINDS and Red Haute FINDS from Thursday, June 21 – Sunday, June 24 (staggered opening and closing dates for temps).
“FINDS has grown overall by more than 30 percent since its launch in 2006,” said Bill Winsor, president and CEO, Dallas Market Center.
New & Next is Here
What’s new and next in all things Gift moves into the global wholesale spotlight when the world’s single-largest product collection takes the main stage at AmericasMart and The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market in July.
FalconBlue Acquires Mrs. Smith’s Diaper Bags; Will Relaunch as The Drawer Bag Company
FalconBlue, a strategic brand development consulting firm established to manage and grow consumer product brands, recently acquired Mrs. Smith’s Bags, the manufacturer of the only diaper bag with patented pull-out drawers. FalconBlue has partnered with Rachael Smith, the former owner of Mrs. Smith’s Bags, and will be re-launching the company in late August under a new name: The Drawer Bag Company.
“When our team met Rachael nearly a year ago, we were immediately impressed with her creative vision and patented product,” said Julie Dix, president of FalconBlue.
Midwest-CBK and SnapRetail Partner to Introduce Monkeez Makes a Difference E-Marketing Program
Midwest-CBK, a leading designer and manufacturer renowned for its design, style and sparkle, has partnered with SnapRetail to provide independent retailers with a free, turnkey SnapRetail Monkeez E-Marketing Program. SnapRetail offers a web-based system for online marketing and sales that is used by thousands of independent retailers.
The program brings retailers a complete social media and email marketing campaign to drive store traffic and sales of Monkeez Makes a Difference Genuine Monkeez & Friends™ products.
Self-Sustainable Workshops Design Trollbeads for Women Across the Globe
They are young, artistic and surrounded by an immense mix of colors. The talented glass artisans from Malawi create the most intricate and playful glass beads. Each of the beads’ inspiration can be found in the everyday lives of their designers; from a pattern of a woman’s vibrant dress on the street, a combination of exotic fruits in the marketplace, or a peculiar flower in the grasslands. Once trained by Lise Aagaard, Owner of Trollbeads, these skilled artisans are now running a flourishing business by designing glass beads for women across the world.
Every story has a bead.
Artists Supporting Artists at Coast Collective
Colwood, BC – Working out of one small office in a heritage house, the five women of Coast Collective help organize and support the work of nearly 300 artists.
Everything from paintings to pottery to CDs to handmade toys and pretty much anything else you can imagine, can be found in every nook and cranny of the collective’s home and gift shop at Pendray House in Colwood. Old closets have been converted into shelving for displays, the collection is spread throughout multiple rooms and you can hardly see the walls from all that hang on them.
But it works.