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JC Toys Group, Inc. Partners with the Toy Industry Foundation After Toy Fair
At the close of The 2012 International Toy Fair, JC Toys donated dolls in excess of $1000 to benefit the Toy Industry Foundation’s partnerships with Ronald McDonald House Charities, the My Stuff Bags Foundation and more organizations throughout the U.S.
The items donated included a range of dolls and accessories from collectibles to play dolls.
“The JC Toys slogan is ‘We design smiles.’ We are so glad we could partner with the TIF to help bring out smiles and imagination in the children they aid” said JC Toys’ Melaine Diaz.
Toy Shop Offers Quaint Alternative
Fairhaven, MA – The Village Toy Shop offers a quaint, convenient alternative to the usual big box toy retailers.
“Both children and adults enjoy coming in here. Shopping for toys should be a fun experience, no matter what age you are,” said Caroline Britto, a longtime employee of the family-owned store located in the Lifestyles Plaza on Route 6 in Fairhaven.
While it originally started out as The Village Toy Shop and Ice Cream Stop over seven years ago, the plan is to remodel the ice cream shop portion of the storefront into an expansion of the store itself.
Olive Oil Business Branches Out in Gustine
Gustine, CA – The Olive Branch is open for business in downtown Gustine, selling a variety of flavored olive oils under the label DeCastro Family Olive Oil.
Owners Dennis and Angela Castro opened the doors of their quaint shop last week after testing the market through online sales, special event sales and a holiday sampling for local residents. The response was so positive, they decided it was time to fully open a store downtown.
“The trial run downtown was really successful,” Angela reported.
Urban Expositions To Launch New Gift Trade Show for Southern California Marketplace in Winter 2013
Urban Expositions has announced plans to launch a new gift industry event designed to revitalize the trade show marketplace for retailers throughout southern California and surrounding areas. Set to debut February 2-5, 2013 in California’s Anaheim Convention Center, The L.A.
Norwich Woman Sets Up New Craft and Gift Store in Hall Road
Norwich, UK – From jewellery to jams to photography, The Craft Room, in Hall Road, stocks an array of artistic delights.
It is the idea of 31-year-old Bryony Snelling who opened the shop on February 6.
Ms Snelling, who has a 16-month-old son called Josh and lives close to the shop, said: “I have always wanted to run a shop and I love arts and crafts.
“I dabble with all sorts of crafts.
Simplicity Décor Adding Second Kirkland Store, Celebrating Six Years
Kirkland, WA – Irrepressible downtown entrepreneur Suraphong “A” Liengboonlertchai has something to celebrate: His shop Simplicity Décor is six years old and he is expanding his Park Lane empire with the opening of a children’s shop.
Simplicity ABC will feature children’s products and is scheduled to open around the end of April at 107 Park Lane, the location now occupied by Lakeshore Gallery, which is closing at the end of February after 29 years in Kirkland.
“It’s a big challenge, that’s for sure,” says Liengboonlertchai, who has just hired and is training fou
National Stationery Show – Pre-Show Report
North America’s most comprehensive showcase of all things paper – from greeting cards, custom invitations, gift wrap and partyware, to journals, frames, writing instruments, decorative desktop and complementary lifestyle gift – will return with the latest trend-setting products from nearly 800 exhibiting companies, May 20-23, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
NYIGF Accepting Applications for Design-Focused Divisions
Designers, artists and manufacturers are invited to submit applications for three juried, design-focused divisions at the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®): Accent on Design®; Handmade® Designer Maker; and Handmade Global Design. Applications for A+™: The Young Designers’ Platform at Accent on Design, a showcase of emerging design talents within Accent on Design, are also being accepted.
Applications, which are available online at www.nyigf.com/apply, are due by Thursday, March 15, for Accent on Design, Handmade Designer Maker and Handmade Global Design.
Byers’ Choice Announces 2012 Product Launches
While for some, the holiday season may have come and gone quickly, artisans at Byers’ Choice—makers of the handcrafted Caroler figurines—intend to keep the Christmas cheer going. The company is debuting its newest products for 2012 after their successful introductions at the winter market trade shows.
Some of the new Carolers include a Firefighter and accompanying Dalmatian Dog, complete with his very own fireman’s helmet.
A Look Inside Beautiful Things Interiors & Gifts
Somers, CT – Since Nov. 2008, Lori LaDue’s Beautiful Things Interiors & Gifts has occupied a small storefront on South Road in Somers.
The shop has a boutique type feel to it, but it is also very homey and welcoming. LaDue and her staff greet every customer as they enter and with a smile, help them find what they are looking for.
“I like being tied to the community,” LaDue said. “I love to chat with people and when they come in, I feel like they’re my friends, or we talk about something of interest. I get a lot of repeat people who come in too.”
Beatriz Ball Collection Awarded Top Prize in Tabletop Category of ARTS Awards for the Second Time
Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, announced New Orleans-based metalware manufacturer, Beatriz Ball Collection, winner of the 23rd Annual ARTS Awards in the Tabletop Category. The company was awarded the same top prize two years ago.
The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry, and recognizes excellence from retailers, manufacturers, sales representatives and designers.
For This & That Gifts Owner, Annalee Collectibles Have Personal Appeal
Frankfort, IL – This & That Gifts owner Nancy Cartolano started collecting Annalee dolls over 20 years ago shortly after she got married.
“Once I saw that first Christmas one, that was it,” Cartolano shared. “I started with the big Mr. and Mrs. Claus the first year. Then I got a snowman. Then I got a gingerbread man. Every year I’d add something.”
As she collected them, she set them out with her Christmas china on her buffet as part of her holiday decorating. But then she began expanding her collection.
Kingdom Greetings® 4U Debuts at the National Stationery Show
Kingdom Greetings 4U®, a distinctive Bible-based stationery line, will debut at the National Stationery Show in Booth #1167. The line features boutique-quality cards that showcase a variety of decorative, handcrafted techniques to celebrate life’s milestones.
In addition to being handmade and beautifully embellished, the collection is unique because it offers traditional greeting card categories as well as specialty designs and sentiments related to members of the Church.
Introducing a Unique Chocolate & Fruit Combination
Cape Cod Provisions LLC has created an innovative chocolate and fruit combination. Juicy ripe mango is infused with key lime, dried and drenched in luscious dark chocolate. The resulting mélange of flavors tantalizes the taste buds.
Harvest Sweets® Dark Chocolate Covered Key Lime Mango is all-natural and has a 12- month shelf life. It is available in 4-ounce boxes packed 12 per case and in 5-pound and 25-pound bulk. The gable-top boxes are adorned with eye-appealing photos of fresh lime and mango on a soft white background with light green highlights. Suggested retail is $4.99.
Calypso Studios Bendi-Bandz Wire Headband Launch Exceeds Expectations
Calypso Studios introduced their newest product during the January show circuit. While the product was not available to ship until recently, many styles of the new Bendi-Bandz were sold out by the time the product arrived at the warehouse on February 3. To date, Calypso Studios has sold 25,000 Bendi-Bandz.
Calypso employees demonstrated the benefits of Bendi-Bandz at each show the company attended in January. For buyers who were not able to attend such shows, Calypso Studios uploaded a variety of “how to” videos on YouTube.
What’s Next & Who’s Open at 7 W New York During Home Fashions Market Week March 5 – 8, 2012
This market, 7 W New York will be a full-house, including nine additional showrooms setting up for Home Fashions Market and HTT Global Home Show, while Volta NY takes over the 11th floor event space.
As interest continues to grow in American-made goods and buyers continue to demand, 7 W New York has dedicated this market to their showrooms that are Made In America.
• Orian Rugs, Inc.
Now you see it: Visuals can drive merchandising
Whether you love merchandising or think it’s a pain, as a retailer, it’s a requirement.
Most store owners and experts agree merchandising, at its core, is a blend of art and science. Those who get it right know how to walk that fine line.
At the recent 2012 Las Vegas Market, merchandising was a hot topic. Here are some of the takeaway tips.
Look at the first 500 feet of your store. This is where you should introduce customers to pricing, including any advertisements you’ve placed or specials you’re running.
Birds and Flower Jewelry from Schmutzerland Impresses Retailers at the New York International Gift Fair
Schmutzerland, the image based jewelry specialists, unveiled its new line of bird and flower image jewelry at the New York International Gift Fair this past January, to an enthusiastic reception. The new line features colorful illustrations of flowers and birds, with a vintage, nostalgic feel. These pieces are perfect for that special accent to go with a spring outfit.