Archives: News
New Home Décor Store Promises to be Above and Beyond
Truro, MA – Home decorators rejoice, a new “niche market” store is now available in Truro.
“Trendy, traditional and timeless,” said Liz Toole, of the tagline for a new store she and sister-in-law Anne Toole are setting up in a portion of the former Margolians building.
Called Above and Beyond Home Décor, the store will offer such items as prints, lighting, kitchenware, small appliances, pillows and throws, kitchen linens, cloth napkins, place mats, dishes, tablewares and rugs.
Support Local Stores, Discover Your Hometown
Leavenworth, KS – The other day while hanging out with my friend she stated, “You know all the fun places in town.” That’s because I choose to.
I choose to support local stores; this isn’t just a West Coast movement. It is happening right here. I choose to support other people’s dreams. The shops downtown Leavenworth represent people, their passions, and their visions. I’m tired of hearing how downtown is failing, that people are always going out of business. I want to be someone that believes in how fun, interesting, and fascinating our town is.
Canine Cupboard Relocates on State Street
Portsmouth, NH – Dog lovers don’t have to travel far to find the new home of the city’s premier dog boutique, Canine Cupboard.
The specialty canine store, formerly at 102 State St., is now just down the road at 220 State St. Owners Bill and Maribeth Girard moved to the new location May 27 after having sold the former location to the Common Man restaurant, which is planning an expansion.
Bill Girard said the new location has nearly double the square footage, which means more space to offer new products as well as better visibility downtown, he said.
Paragon Introduces Michael Friedes Art Collection
Paragon is set to premiere an exclusive collection of art from award winning interior designer Michael Friedes at the summer markets.
Friedes’ designs blend the cosmopolitan sophistication of New York with the casual graciousness of California. His interiors are beautifully livable spaces layered with surprising textures, inviting colors and details.
Consumers to Spend (Almost) as Much on Dad
Washington, DC – While dads usually don’t get the same caliber of gift for Father’s Day as moms do for Mother’s Day, if the results of NRF’s latest survey are to be believed, dads should be pretty pleased with what they receive this year.
According to NRF’s 2012 Father’s Day spending survey conducted by BIGinsight, the average person will shell out $117.14 on dad’s gifts this year, up 10% from $106.49 last year and closing the gap between its biggest competitor: Mother’s Day (consumers planned to spend an average of $152 on the holiday).
Tervis Is Going “Greek” with New Collection Featuring Sororities and Fraternities
Tervis is going “Greek” with the announcement of a new license agreement with 19 national sororities and fraternities. The “Greek” collection of drinkware will be initiated this summer at a variety of Tervis retail partners including gift stores and college bookstores.
“The sorority and fraternity community aligns well with our brand,” said Rich Kaplan, President and Chief Brand Officer at Tervis.
KooKoo Bear Kids Introduces Online Catalog by Google That Showcases Designer Kids’ Rooms & Unique Gifts
KooKoo Bear Kids, an online, catalog, and retail store marketer of designer kids’ rooms and exceptional gifts, announces a new online catalog by Google that showcases their unique lines of designer children’s rooms and gifts.
New Candy Shop to Open in Bend’s Old Mill
Bend, OR – This summer, it will be even easier for Bend residents and visitors to satisfy their sugary cravings with the upcoming opening of Sweet Tooth Candy Shoppe in the Old Mill District.
Sweet Tooth will offer a large variety of candy, from more than 400 bulk candy choices all the way to specialty Japanese candy and gift items.
Chamber Introduces Shop Local
Vermilion, AB – Ever wonder if a certain product or service was offered in town, but didn’t know where to look?
The Vermilion and Area District Chamber of Commerce looks to shine a light on Vermilion’s hidden gems with their latest initiative focused on highlighting local retailers.
Marlene Beattie, president of the chamber of commerce is leading the “Shop Local” campaign and her group hopes to put an end to leakage in the town of Vermilion.
Leakage is the term used to describe locals commuting to other cities to do their shopping.
Cash Mobs Connect Local Folks Who Like Discovering, Supporting Local Businesses
What’s behind the recent phenomenon of “cash mobs,” and is it likely to have a significant impact on small businesses beyond a one-day boost at the cash register?
Other than the basic template of using social media connections to get a sizable group of people to show up together and spend money at a local business, cash mobs take different approaches and basically operate however their organizers choose.
In some places cash mobs might adopt the style of a flash mob, when people suddenly assemble in a public place for some random activity or performance.
Increase in Key Buyers Highlights 2012 National Stationery Show
A notable influx of executive-level buyers, as well as a substantial increase in the number of brick and mortar retailers, led to a robust National Stationery Show® (NSS) for 804 exhibitors and 10,301 attendees, May 20-23, 2012 at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Seventy-six percent of buyers walking the aisles hold decision-making positions, an increase in purchasing power of 10 percent over previous years.
WWRD Expands at AmericasMart
WWRD (Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton), the legendary purveyor of crystal, china and other tableware and gifts, is making a major expansion of its AmericasMart showroom space. For The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, July 11-18, 2012, WWRD will display in more than 4,600 square feet in its expanded location in AmericasMart Building 2, just steps off the escalator on floor 9.
AmericasMart is the preferred destination for wholesalers and retailers to meet to sell and buy home furnishings, housewares, gifts and apparel.
California Gift Show Welcomes New Permanent Showrooms and Temporary Exhibitors to the 2012 July CGS Market
California Gift Show (CGS) announces an impressive roster of new and expanded permanent showrooms and new and returning temporary exhibitors to launch the CGS summer show. This recent flurry of leasing activity signals the market’s response to the strength of the region and the L.A. Mart/California Gift Show brand.
“As the U.S economy begins to improve and as consumer confidence begins to notch upwards, the gift industry in the region is responding accordingly,” said Jeff Sampson, vice president marketing, L.A. Mart/CGS/L.A. Mart Design Center.
BeginAgain Earns First Toy Awards
Toy testers and experts are starting to notice BeginAgain, a new eco-toy company making playthings with both old-fashioned play value and modern planet value.
BeginAgain’s new Kickin’ Putt outdoor game is a finalist in ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids 2012 award program. Families use two “kickin’ golf balls” made from natural rubber and a “scoring disc” made in the USA from wheat starch plastic to play this innovative game that combines the fun of soccer, golf and flying discs.
Warner Brothers Consumer Products and Pressman Toy to Introduce Games Based on “The Lord of the Rings” Motion Picture Trilogy and the Upcoming Film “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey”
Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Pressman Toy today announce two exciting new games, based on The Lord of the Rings blockbuster trilogy and the highly anticipated The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Both games will be available at retail this fall.
The deluxe The Lord of the Rings game incorporates story elements from all three fan-favorite films – The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Put a Little Glam in Your Game with Glitter Girlz Headbandz
Jacki Ralph, a high school cross country coach and her 17-year-old daughter, Abby Ralph, are the founders of Glitter Girlz Headbandz, a company that makes an affordable headband that is designed to stay on an athlete’s head no matter what type of sports you’re playing.
In five short months, the mother-daughter team has sold over 3500 headbands through simple facebook marketing. They have 28 ¾” glitter colored bandz and more than 40 5/8″ polka dot grosgrain styles of headbands with plans to launch a summer line-up as well as a fall line.
New Kuhn Rikon Baguette Knife Colori: A Must-Have for Bread Lovers
Combining a slice of whimsy with new practicality, the new Kuhn Rikon Baguette Knife Colori® is designed to make a clean and easy cut through crusty baguettes and other French breads.
This attractive wheat colored knife has a shape reminiscent of a loaf of French bread. Featuring a gently scalloped edge and a long handle for maximum maneuverability, this baguette knife is perfect for creating small bites or big sandwiches, without crushing or tearing the bread.
The 10.25-inch blade is made of high-quality Japanese carbon steel, with convenient nonstick coating.
Petite Mills with Grand Style: Colorful New PepArt Petite Tulip Sets
Add a surprising splash of color and style to the table with the new PepArt Petite Tulip Sets from William Bounds. Designed exclusively for William Bounds by Robert Wilhelm, an artist known for his surprising exploration of form, function and surface decoration, PepArt Petite Tulip Sets are perfectly sized and styled for everyday use in the kitchen or on the table.
Petite in size, but grand in style, the Petite Tulip Mills measure 3.25 inches tall. The gently curving tulip-inspired shape of the body is accented with a colorful two-tone style.
Quick, Accurate and Advanced: Folding Thermocouple (TCT572) from CDN
The colorful new CDN Folding Thermocouple (TCT572) provides accurate temperature measurements in just 3 seconds.
Creative Co-Op to Give Away Three 32GB iPad 3s at the Dallas, Atlanta & Las Vegas Gift Shows This Summer
Creative Co-Op is celebrating its 10th anniversary throughout 2012 and continues the celebration at the 2012 summer markets in Dallas, Atlanta and Las Vegas.
Creative Co-Op has recently announced three 32GB iPad 3 giveaways for visitors to our Dallas, Atlanta and Las Vegas showrooms at the upcoming summer markets.
Entrants will be entered into a drawing for one of today’s hottest “toys” – the iPad 3!