Archives: News
Cardingtons in Stratford: A Neighborhood Gift
Stratford, CT – Jeff Weiss, the owner of Cardingtons at Paradise Green, has a goal to reach for: the store his grandmother runs in Brookline, Mass., called Irving’s Toy & Card Shop.
“That store is a piece of history up there,” Weiss said. “It’s been open since 1924.”
Weiss only opened Cardingtons, at 3649 Main St., in July 2010, so he has a ways to go before it is considered a piece of Stratford history.
The store stocks greeting cards at discount prices, plus gifts for all occasions and toys. It is open seven days a week.
HumanKind Fair Trade Adds Events
San Luis Obispo, CA – Organization: HumanKind Fair Trade
What she said then: In September 2009, HumanKind Fair Trade held a grand opening celebration for its store at 982 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. It opened the doors two months earlier. The nonprofit sells décor, jewelry, toys and foods from artisans in fair-trade cooperatives in a variety of developing countries.
“We’re partners with people from all over the world who can live better because we’re expanding their market,” said Elizabeth Aebischer, a founder and chairwoman of the board of directors.
Judith March’s Collection Highlights Atlanta Apparel Mart’s Daily Strut at AmericasMart
The Atlanta Apparel Mart will feature the distinctive designs of Judith March at the Daily Strut as AmericasMart presents the year’s first Atlanta Apparel Market, Feb. 2-6 (Temporaries: Feb. 2-5).
Dallas Market Center Announces January 2012 Best of Show Award Winners
Dallas Market Center recently announced the winners of the 2012 January Total Home & Gift Market Best of Show Awards. Judging for Best of Show takes place twice a year during the January and June Total Home & Gift Markets.
Five “Best New Product Awards” Presented at Baby & Child
Five companies were presented with Baby & Child Best New Product Awards today, with The Wonder Forge™ receiving the “Blogger’s Best” distinction for its Angelina Ballerian Dance With Me interactive game. Baby & Child, one of 10 divisions in the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), runs through Wednesday, February 1, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
In addition to the “Blogger’s Best” award, Baby & Child Best New Product Awards winners are recognized semi-annually for excellence in four categories: toy, décor, gear and apparel.
Atlanta Apparel Mart Offers Seminars, Networking Opportunities and Fashion Shows In February
Atlanta Apparel Mart will turn up the wattage on style and retail opportunities as AmericasMart presents the Atlanta Apparel Market Feb. 2-6 (Temporaries (Feb. 2-5).
GLM Launches New Artisan Resource Market in August 2012
In response to growing demand, GLM will launch a first-of-its-kind artisan production-sourcing event for U.S.-based importers, direct import retailers and wholesalers in August 2012.
GLM’s Allison Rober Promoted to Sales Manager of New Artisan Resource Tradeshow
GLM has announced the promotion of Allison Rober to the position of sales manager for Artisan Resource™, a new semi-annual tradeshow in New York City offering U.S.-based importers, direct import retailers and wholesalers the opportunity to meet with international artisan enterprises.
As sales manager, Rober will be responsible for developing and executing sales strategies for the new show, which will debut in August 2012 and run concurrently with the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®).
Anne Taintor Introduces a New Line of Floaty Pens
For more than 25 years, Anne Taintor has made smart women smile with her unique line of greeting cards, magnets, sticky notes and dozens of other stylish, affordable products. Now she is bringing her droll impertinence to a new line of Anne Taintor Floaty Pens. And really, is there anything more fun than a Floaty Pen?
Each pen features Anne’s signature designs paired with the wry text that has earned her the title “The Patron Saint of Female Frustration.” Perfect for gift giving—either to friends or, better yet, to yourself.
Macef, The Four-Day Event Dedicated to Houseware is Over
Macef, the international home show, has closed its 92nd edition.
Lilly’s Floral and Gifts to Open
Fort Dodge, IA – The boom in new businesses locating in the heart of Fort Dodge’s historic downtown commercial district that characterized 2011 is continuing as the new year unfolds. Lilly’s Floral and Gifts will open Wednesday at 11 N. 10th St. – just north of Little Joe’s Computers.
Owned by Alice and Don Schmidt, the new store will be overseen primarily by Alice Schmidt, who brings to the venture many years in the local floral world.
“I worked at Flowers by Vernon,” Alice Schmidt said.
Resident Starts Her Own Dream Boutique
Humble, TX – After being laid off and unemployed for around a year, Shawna Duplantis decided to follow her dream to open her own boutique.
She started with bottle cap jewelry and accessories and bows, which evolved into clothing for young girls with appliques and designs.
“It worked out well. I always wanted to open my own boutique, Lil’ Texas Charm, so I figured this was the perfect time to follow my heart,” Duplantis said.
She currently has space at Ellen’s Timeless Treasures in Humble and also sells her boutique items through her own website.
Chapel Hill’s Glee Kids Features Clothing, Gifts for Kids
Chapel Hill, NC – Usually when I feature moms here on Go Ask Mom, my interviews with them are planned weeks, sometimes months in advance.
Not so with Melissa Russell, owner of Glee Kids in downtown Chapel Hill. I walked into her store the other week after a trip to Kidzu Children’s Museum, started talking to her and introduced myself.
Then I mentioned that I featured local moms every Monday. Would she be interested? Would she want to do it right then?
Happily for me, Russell was game.
NY Metro Chapter of American Society of Interior Designers Selects NYIGF “Best of Best” Products at Winter Market
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) NY Metro Chapter recognized seven exhibitors in At Home at the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) as the “Best of the Best” in the winter 2012 market.
Roman Concludes Highly Successful Atlanta Gift Show
Roman began the 2012 selling season with their annual VIP day, held the day before the official start date for the Atlanta show. The day was well attended by customers, and provided them a first look at Roman’s, Cottage Garden’s and Alexa’s Angels’ newly renovated showroom. “The new showroom was definitely a key to our success in Atlanta” commented Dan Loughman, President/CEO of Roman.
Cobblestone Moon a Mix of Old and New Treasures
Kalispell, MT – The riddle begins like this: What do you call a business that’s part yarn shop, part art gallery, part collectibles and antiques, part floral shop, part children’s clothing nook and part design emporium?
If you’ve stepped inside Cobblestone Moon near downtown Kalispell, you know the answer.
Penelopé Bennett and Tammy Thompson started their unusual gift shop — they call it an upscale and eclectic galleria — last August after deciding to join creative forces.
California Gift Show Reports Increased Attendance, High Energy and Healthy Order Writing: Permanent Showrooms and Exhibitors Experienced Best Show in Many Years
The January 2012 California Gift Show (CGS) welcomed the local, regional, national and international buying community this January with a powerful line-up of new showrooms, new lines, new products, new exhibitors and new buyers during the West Coast’s largest Gift + Home Market. A new, mid-week Wednesday kicked-off the show that continued to emphasize the region’s distinction for both product innovation and its influence on consumer purchasing habits.
A robust product presentation from 1,200 temporary and permanent purveyors wowed buyers at CGS’s two show locations, L.A.
Esley Collection Showcased as Atlanta Apparel Mart’s Daily Struts Feature Innovative and Fresh Designers
The Atlanta Apparel Mart, which is re-energizing its signature runway shows, will feature innovative and emerging designers for its Daily Struts as AmericasMart presents the year’s first Atlanta Apparel Market, Feb. 2-6 (Temporaries: Feb. 2-5).
Sponsoring and presenting its statement-making Spring and Summer Collections on the Friday Feb. 3 Daily Strut will be the Esley Collection.
Gooseberry Patch Reaches 100,000 Fans on Facebook! Enjoy Free eCookbook Download — It’s Our Way of Saying Thanks!
Columbus-based cookbook publisher Gooseberry Patch recently hit a Facebook milestone as it reached 100,000 fans on its official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/gooseberrypatch.
“Social media has become an important part of our outreach efforts,” says Gooseberry Patch co-founder Jo Ann Martin. “Our active and passionate community of recipe contributors and cookbook collectors is what fuels our company, and we’re always looking for new ways to make sharing even easier.
Linon Home Décor Products Relocates to Newly Expanded Showroom at Las Vegas Market
Linon Home Décor Products, Inc. will open a newly expanded showroom for the upcoming Winter 2012 Las Vegas Market, Jan. 30 – Feb. 3, increasing their space by nearly 65 percent.
The importer of indoor and outdoor furniture, wall decor and area rugs will move into a new 9,700-square-foot showroom located in Building A, Suite A-726 on the World Market Center Las Vegas campus.
“Linon continues to see a strong multi-channel value in Las Vegas Market,” said Demetrios Ziozis, president of Linon Home Décor Products.