Archives: News
Marvelpress Announces Launch of ‘Marvelpress Mobile’
Marvelpress USA announced the debut of its complete service solution for ‘print on demand’ personalization of mobile device cases for retailers and designers. According to company executives, the service provides the highest quality finished product at the best possible price points available in the industry today.
“This is a true breakthrough,” says George Scarvelis, Marvelpress USA.
International Market Centers Names Dorothy Belshaw President of Gift Division
HIGH POINT, N.C. and LAS VEGAS (March 13, 2012)—International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premium home furnishings, gift and home décor showroom and exhibition space, announced that Dorothy Belshaw has joined the company as the President of its Gift division.
Most recently, Dorothy Belshaw was a Senior Vice President at GLM, serving as its Director of the New York International Gift Fair®, overseeing GLM’s sales, customer service and corporate communications departments.
FINDS Dallas Temp Show Adds Categories for June
Dallas Market Center recently announced that two new product categories—Foodie FINDS and Table & Houseware FINDS—will debut during the FINDS Dallas Temp Show being held June 21-24 (staggered opening and closing dates). Both categories are located in Temporaries on 12, World Trade Center 12th floor. This expansion means at total of 19 categories are now featured within the Temp Show.
“These categories deliver new, in-demand resources to our buyers,” said Cindy Morris, COO, Dallas Market Center.
Byers’ Choice Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day With Live Music
Byers’ Choice Ltd., makers of the handcrafted Caroler figurines, will host a St. Patrick’s Day celebration featuring musical guests SEASONS. The group of sibling musicians will perform a free concert at the Gift Emporium and Christmas Museum on Saturday, March 17, from 12—2 p.m.
SEASONS is comprised of siblings Mary-Kate Spring, Peter Winter, Mary-Teresa Summer and Mary-Grace Autumn Lee. The popular quartet is known for their unique fusion of traditional Celtic, popular and original music.
Gift Store With Michigan-Made Products Expands
New Baltimore, MI – Customers will have more merchandise and space when shopping for Michigan-made products by local artisians in downtown New Baltimore.
Celtic Sisters Candles and Candies at 51059 Washington St. is planning to reopen May 1 at the larger building occupied by Moon River Soap Co.
Moon River is relocating to Rochester. The natural soap store will close March 23 in New Baltimore and reopen in the Oakland County spot in mid-April.
Laughing Moon: Downtown Boutique Finds Keys to Success
Plymouth, MA – In the old days, you could feel fairly certain your favorite store would still be around next week, next month and probably next year. But these days, customers may not be as sure. Even the most promising business can disappear in a twinkling. The cost and challenges in a still struggling economy have generated a revolving door in the downtown Plymouth business district. Here today, gone tomorrow may prove to be the motto for 2012.
That’s why the tenacious success of Laughing Moon Boutique, at 1 Court St.
A Beading Heart
Spring Hill, FL – When Eileen Alberti lost her husband to cancer, she had choices: She could live her days comfortably embraced in the memories of their time together, or she could begin living again.
After 10 years of battling the illness that grounded them to a constant predetermined path of home, doctor appointments and hospital visits, the Spring Hill resident was faced with a new journey to reclaim her life.
Douglas Company Introduces Purr-fect Standing Cats
Douglas’ new Standing Cats are purr-fectly adorable. The New Hamphire-base plush toy maker and lifestyle gift creator Douglas Company has created a new series of cats that are remarkably realistic.
Douglas, known for their classic breeds, recently introduced five new 12″ Standing Cats. These kittens have cattitude as they strike a pose with their classic cat gestures. They have that take-me-home-look about them and are irresistibly endearing and uber soft. Each one stands straight and alert seeking love and attention. Even their tails are perky in a happy-go-lucky way.
MOGO Design Signs Two New Retail Distribution Deals
MOGO Design, Inc. (www.mogocharm.com) announced today that is has signed a distribution agreement with FAO Schwarz®. Under the deal, FAO Schwarz will market and sell the company’s magnetic charm accessory line in its flagship New York City store. The MOGO collection, which includes MOGO Charmbands (MSRP $10) and MOGO Charms (MSRP $12), will be showcased in the girl section at the end of March.
In addition to FAO Schwarz, the company also gained distribution in 35 Mardel retail stores throughout Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Colorado.
Victory Home Décor Stores In The Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN – If you’re particular about style and only the best will do, but you can’t jump on a jet to Paris or London every time you need a new lamp or pillow or silver-serving piece, listen up. A person of distinct taste will not be happy with just any home décor shop, but don’t despair because there is a place in Minneapolis that will delight your senses and inspire you to add splendor and elegance to your life.
A visit to Victory is like a taking a trip around the globe, but it takes a lot less time and there’s no jet lag.
Laughs are Serious Business with Leanin’ Tree Cards
Times are still tough for a lot of Americans, and consumers respond favorably to products that provide a little comic relief without breaking the bank. Leanin’ Tree, a family-owned greeting card company founded in 1949, has just what they are looking for – America’s favorite funny cards! According to national retailers participating in independent surveys by Giftbeat, with 2012 results just released in March, Leanin’ Tree has produced the top-selling humor cards for four years in a row.
C&F Enterprises Increases Footprint in Gift+Home at Las Vegas Market
World Market Center Las Vegas today announced that C&F Enterprises has signed on to more than double its existing showroom space while also extending its lease for another six years on a Gift+Home floor of Las Vegas Market.
The Newport News, Va.-based producer of artist-designed bedding, table linens, and holiday and home décor for specialty retailers, will expand its existing 8,647 square feet of showroom space to 18,218 square feet of showroom space.
National Stationery Show Announces Seminar Lineup
From wedding market insights, multicultural marketing advice, and design and color trends, to social media tips and retail strategies for success, the 2012 National Stationery Show® (NSS) seminar program will serve as the industry’s foremost opportunity of the year to stay ahead of trends and marketing tactics driving the social stationery business forward. This professional development opportunity coincides with North America’s most comprehensive exhibition of social stationery and related lifestyle product manufacturers, May 20-23, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K.
Young Jewelry Designers Get a Fresh Eye
Berkeley, CA – Sometimes all you need is a little perspective.
Viv & Ingrid, owners of Viv & Ingrid’s jewelry boutique learned that lesson recently.
A few months ago, a retired Tiffany consultant sauntered into the Berkeley-based jewelry boutique. She carefully looked over the delicately placed jewelry displays; the precisely stacked designer stationary; the elegant square soap tiles.
‘Cash Mob’ Invades Danville Store
Danville, VA – A new phenomenon is taking over Danville. It’s called a “cash mob,” where a crowd goes to local businesses to spend money, and the first one happened Friday night.
It has become a nationwide craze, Flash Mobs taking over public places. And now “mobs” in Danville are taking over with their wallets.
“I love surprises, and that was a real good one,” said LeeAnn Neddo, owner of Gourmet Frog.
Local Group Organizes to Support Small Businesses
Blacksburg, VA – A rainy downtown Blacksburg was hit by a mob during spring break.
Zia Sun Offers a Little Piece of Telluride
Telluride, CO – Owning a toy and gift store in a small town is a great way to meet all sorts of different people: vacationers looking for a piece of Telluride to bring home with them; locals in search of a unique gift; lookeeloos cruising down main street with no particular agenda.
Paul and Christine Reich have owned and operated Zia Sun — a shop featuring an eclectic mish mash of everything from toys, gifts and greeting cards to custom engraved knives — for the past 10 years, and said that it’s enabled them to be fully functioning members of Telluride’s community and economy.
Talent in The Bag
Thonglor, Thailand – If you’re searching for a gift or something to cheer up your home, you might want to check Apostrophe’s, a cute boutique on trendy Thonglor that’s owned by graphic designer Chanida “Oou” Oradidolchest.
Chanida opened her first shop back in 2008 at Chatuchak Weekend Market selling her hand-made fabric bags and ceramic decorative items.
In 2010, she quit her full-time job and opened a larger shop in Pure Place community mall on Ramkhamhaeng Road only to find that the amount of pedestrian traffic was too little for her business.
Cash Mob Charlotte Aims to Make Day For Small Business
Charlotte, NC – They came. They spent. They promise to hit again.
They are members of Cash Mob Charlotte. About 30 mobbers, some toting signs urging support of local small businesses, swarmed Atherton Market on South Boulevard one evening last week.
Solon Boutique Strives for the Unique
Solon, IA – It took years of searching for Sara Grover, a former athletic trainer, to figure out what she should do with her life.
The 28-year-old Solon resident had been commuting to Dubuque for a year to work as an athletic trainer and a professor at the University of Dubuque but stopped when it became too much. Athletic training just wasn’t cutting it anymore.
Grover said she never saw herself as a business owner, but when the opportunity arose, she opened a women’s clothing and accessory store, Le Grove Boutique, in Solon. Now, everything has changed.