Archives: News
OC Boutique Rents Booths, Sells Decor
West Ocean City, MD – Rachael Almony calls her newly-opened Treasures By The Sea an upscale urban flea market, and a trendy home decor store.
Opened Feb. 19, the store at 9478 Stephen Decatur Highway occupies a storefront that was a thrift store for a long time — and if you’re looking for it, it’s still underneath a thrift store sign for the time being.
In the front half of the store, Almony rents out eight-foot by five-foot retail booths for $125 a month.
International Franchise Expo Moving to NYC
After spending the last 20 years in the Nation’s Capital, the International Franchise Expo is heading to the business capital of the world – New York City.
The 2012 International Franchise Expo (IFE) will take place June 15-17 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, moving the well-known franchising event to the world’s most vibrant marketplace. The three-day event uniquely showcases hundreds of franchise companies offering a wide range of opportunities at virtually every investment level.
Aurora Releases New YooHoo & Friends for 2012
Leading toy and gift manufacturer Aurora World Inc. (www.auroragift.com) debuted a variety of new YooHoo & Friends for its best selling plush animal line at New York’s International Toy Fair last month. Aurora released the original YooHoo & Friends collection in 2006 and has sold more than 14 million pieces around the world since. An assortment based on colors of the rainbow, eight new YooHoo & Friends “WannaBes,” a keychain set with eight greetings, three extra large YooHoos, and a pink gorilla and camel join the line.
Wolcott Mom, Daughter Team Up For Successful Gift Shop
Waterbury, CT – Like most successful corporate executives, Elizabeth Belmonte has a knack for making the right decision at the right time.
That’s one possible way to explain why her decision to leave the corporate world in 2003 and start her own small business has worked out so well.
Belmonte, a Wolcott resident, co-owns Personalized Presents, a specialty gift store that opened in early February in a 4,000-square-foot-area within the Jay Mar party, wedding and Christmas store at 176 Chase River Road. Her partner in the venture is her daughter, Sandi Gagnon, also of Wolcott.
Prinz Premieres 2012 Baby Collection
A baby’s life is filled with so many special moments – from the first appearance in an ultrasound image to preschool graduation – each one deserving to be captured in beautiful frames and albums to be lovingly remembered for years to come. For 2012, Northbrook-based Prinz is pleased to present the newest additions to its Baby collection, featuring a new selection of frames and albums specially designed to commemorate baby’s first precious years.
After 43 Years, Bella Luce Boutique a New Adventure For Couple
Hudson, WI – It’s never too late to mix business with pleasure. At least that’s the philosophy of Dianne and Jim Linden.
The couple, married for 43 years, recently came out of retirement to start a new adventure together – running a hip women’s boutique in downtown Hudson, Wis.
It seemed right up Dianne’s alley – she ran a home decor and design business for 15 years. So when the original owner of the 4-year-old Bella Luce, Stacy Corbo, wanted someone to take over the business, the couple decided to take a leap of faith.
Nunu Chocolates Satisfies Sweet Tooths in Brooklyn With Salt Caramels, Beer-infused Truffles
Brooklyn, NY – Justine Pringle and Andy Laird started selling chocolates the old-fashioned way — by going door-to-door.
The Brooklyn couple, who decided to dabble in chocolate making on a whim six years ago, brought samples of their treats to nearby shops Bierkraft and Blue Apron Foods.
“Andy’s primary passion is music and he used to play a lot in the city and we were thinking ‘What can we sell at these shows that’s not standard merchandise like CDs and t-shirts?'” recalls Pringle, a trained scientist.
New Shop in Darien Sings Olive Oil’s Praises
Darien, CT – For the price of a few visits to Starbucks ($12.99), you can get a small bottle (200 ml) of olive oil that can impress your wine-snob friends when you serve it with bread, in a salad or in a meal.
Then you can give them a bottle as a gift at Christmas or for the hosts at dinner parties.
But let it impress you first. You may even want a bigger bottle.
At Olivette, a new store at 1084 Post Rd.
It Pays To Keep Your Dollars Here
Warsaw, MO – It happens every day in all small towns across America, and most people do it without even thinking twice about it. The typical consumer will head to the big chain grocery stores or the massive retail chains in order to do their weekly shopping.
Craft Shop Hopes to Tap in to Town’s Artist Community
Sherwood, UK – A NEW craft shop in Sherwood is appealing to local artists to contribute ideas and products.
A Room Full Of Butterflies, in Mansfield Road, opened on Thursday and offers a wide range of gifts, from tea cups to purses and stained glass bowls to bags.
Jo Welch, 41, and her husband Andy previously had a shop in Flying Horse walk in the city centre.
Mrs Welch is an artist and her stained glass creations will be sold in the shop, while Mr Welch, 61, will manage the business.
Key Brands Expected to Return to 2nd Annual Gourmet Housewares Show
Scores of leading gourmet products and housewares resources from around the world are expected to return to New York City in August 2012 for the Gourmet Housewares Show® at the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®). The 2nd annual edition of the Show will feature refined concentrations of both housewares and tabletop suppliers, as well as a new four-day date pattern – running Sunday, August 19, through Wednesday, August 22, at the Jacob K.
Lake Wylie Gift Shop Opens at New Location
Lake Wylie, SC – Lake Wylie’s only gift shop is all abuzz since opening at its new location Thursday at The Prosperity Cottage, off S.C. 49 near Plantation Square.
“It’s more like a shop, not an office,” said Nicole Fowler, sales consultant for Bumblebees & Butterflies Gift Shoppe during the grand opening, which even included cake.
Dahl Plans Gift Shop
Rapid City, SD – The only thing visitors to the Dahl Arts Center get to take home with them now is the memory.
But in May, the Dahl will open a gift shop featuring art created by Black Hills area artists.
The shop will help artists find a market for their creations and will help support the Dahl’s budget, said Deborah Gangloff, Dahl administrator and executive director of the Rapid City Arts Council.
Specialty Gift Store Swoozie’s to Open in Cherry Creek
Cherry Creek, CO – Got gifts? You will once Swoozie’s opens March 9 at 589 Fillmore St. Occupying about two-thirds of the former Cherry Creek Card and Party Shop, the store is packed with hostess gifts, baby presents, birthday party favors, tween temptations like lip gloss and headbands, cookies and candy, stationary, cards, books, totes and a slew of monogrammable items.
The merchandise mix constantly changes, according to Kaily Cooke, who is managing the store.
New Store is One of a Kind
Delhi, ONT – Sip on a specialty tea beside the fireplace or browse through an array of knick-knacks. A new store in Delhi hopes to add a touch of whimsical to the downtown area.
Pastime Emporium is a unique gift store and café located on Main Street.
Antique bookcases and tables are filled with novelty gifts, retro candies and local art. The store features handcrafted quilts, scarves, carvings and placements from Delhi; Musoka ginger ale from Gravenhurst, Ontario, and gourmet preserves from Guelph, Ontario. At every turn there is a new item to look at.
Gallerie II Announces the Retirement of Kay Hughes, Marketing Director
Gallerie II, a division of C & F Enterprises, Inc. has announced the retirement of Kay Hughes, Marketing Director.
Hughes’ career spanned more than 40 years in the gift and home decor industry and included stints at Carson Pirie Scott & Co., Silvestri Corp., Wilton Enterprises and Holiday Gallery before she joined C & F Enterprises to manage the start-up of Gallerie II. She started her career as a trainee at Carson Pirie Scott & Co. in Chicago and soon became a buyer, eventually buying stationery and trim a tree which started her love affair with Christmas.
Legacy Publishing Group Enhances Its Team with Addition of Gift Industry Veteran Ken Carmel
Legacy Publishing Group, Inc., the family-owned stationery and gift company located in Clinton, Massachusetts, announces the hiring of Ken Carmel to the newly created position of Vice President ¬– Sales/Key Accounts. A Long Island, NY native, Carmel worked most recently for Marian Heath Greeting Cards, where he served as Executive Vice President – Sales for almost six years.
Fenton USA Introduces New 2012 “Made in America” Beads and Teardrop Earrings
Fenton USA has just introduced more than 30 new designs in its line of Made in America glass beads and Teardrop Earrings. In addition to new handpainted designs, this new collection includes Aurora, Glassato, Three Dimensional, and Vasa Murrhina beads.
Aurora beads feature swirls of color and gold to create a shimmering aura. Glassato beads are created from sparkling coralene glass that is melted into multihued beads. Vasa Murrhina is a Fenton Art Glass treatment from the 1970s that lives again in wearable art.
“Putting Nature on a Pedestal”
Royal Darwin introduces a line of superbly detailed, hand-painted replicas of America’s favorite, iconic animals.
NYIGF Announces New Five-Day Format Beginning in Summer 2012
Following a shift in traffic patterns and an exhibitor survey about market timing, the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) will adopt a new five-day format – opening Saturday and closing Wednesday (rather than Thursday) – beginning with the summer 2012 edition, Saturday, August 18, through Wednesday, August 22, at New York City’s Jacob K.