Archives: News
Custom Gifts from MaeLynn’s Boutique
Stone Mountain, GA – Hattie Lewis has been in the retail business for a long time. Before opening MaeLynn’s Designer Fragrance Boutique in Stone Mountain Village last December, she’s had shops in Michigan, the Village Market in Stone Mountain and the Atrium in Norcross.
This week, the entrepreneur talks about customizing gifts and fragrances with her latest venture.
Patch: So you opened shop late last year, but it’s not your only job. What else do you do?
Hattie Lewis: I work for Christian Dior as a fragrance manager at Macy’s Gwinnett.
Island Hopping: Tybee Island Shop to Host Assistance Dogs for Veterans
Tybee Island, GA – The Seaside Sisters gift shop on Tybee Island will be “Going to the Dogs” on Saturday.
Literally.
The shop on U.S. 80 will host a fundraiser to aid paws4vets, an organization that provides psychiatric service dogs to military veterans and active-duty service members with chronic/complex post-traumatic stress disorder and/or traumatic brain injuries.
50th Anniversary Celebrated by Peterson Associates Inc
The Merchandise Mart, home to the world-class Chicago Market which opened on January 19, celebrated a benchmark anniversary with one of its premier tenants, Peterson Associates, Inc. This second generation manufacturer’s representative organization who services over 4,500 retailers in the Midwest celebrated its 50th year in business on Saturday, January 21st with hundreds of industry buyers in attendance.
Founded by Robert Peterson, Peterson Associates successfully covered the state of Michigan since 1962.
That Was Fast: Goffins Open Morristown Gift Shop in Scotti’s Old Digs
Morristown. NJ – Barry and Marilyn Goffin like to work fast.
This week they opened the doors to 23 South, a gift boutique that occupies the busy Morristown corner that Scotti’s Record Shop called home until last month. Scotti’s consolidated in Summit after a quarter-century at South and DeHart streets.
“It all happened so fast,” said Marilyn, who began the shop’s “soft launch” on Tuesday at Barry’s urging. A formal grand opening is a couple of weeks away. Curious shoppers have been trickling into the coral-colored space, and the early reviews are positive.
The Nest Egg Gift Shoppe
Penn Yan, NY – When people think of Main Street stores in this Yates County village, names like Longs’ Cards & Books, Cole’s Furniture and Pinckney Hardware come to mind.
However, there are many hidden gems on Penn Yan’s main drag. The Nest Egg is one of them.
Owned by Joan Hansen for nearly 25 years, the gift shop at 125 Main St. has gained a reputation as a place that has it all — and that reputation extends far beyond Penn Yan and Yates County.
“We had a couple [from out of town] come in last summer.
Wooing Customers With ‘Scent Branding’
Baltimore, MD – Lately, it seems you don’t have to be anywhere near a garden to stop and smell the roses.
Smell is the latest way that businesses are attempting to woo customers, whether it be the scented candles at Baltimore shop In Watermelon Sugar, the vanilla and cloves wafting through the air at Williams-Sonoma, or the pungent smell of colognes at trendy clothing chains.
Technology to spread the scents has become more elaborate and includes a device that pumps fragrances through ventilation systems.
New in Town
Lansing, MI – Antlers and armoires, feathers and flowerpots, burlap totes and bark wastebaskets: Could one store have them all?
Bradly’s Home and Garden, which has its grand opening Saturday and Sunday, stocks such varied d’cor, in addition to furniture, garden supplies, lighting, other home accessories and reclaimed and salvaged items.
“I’m trying to offer unique but quality items to Lansing, things that no one else has in our area,” says Bradly Rakowski, the store’s owner.
AmericasMart Revamps Style Runway Fashion Show
A newly revamped Style Runway Fashion Show, juried and styled by internationally famous stylists, is just one of the exciting events occurring as AmericasMart presents its first Atlanta Apparel Market of 2012, Feb. 2 -6 (Temporaries: Feb. 2-5).
The Friday night Style Runway Fashion Show is always one of the most anticipated events of the Atlanta Apparel Market.
Safari Ltd. Leads the Industry in Authentic, Hand-Painted Replicas for Nearly Three Decades
Safari Ltd.®, one of the leaders in authentic toy replica collectables, is excited to be celebrating 30 years of bringing educational toys and one-of-a-kind models to children and educators all over the world.
What began as an educational toy company run out of founders’ Bernard and Rosemarie Rubel’s apartment, is now one of the leading manufactures and worldwide distributors of replica collectables, with the largest variety of model themes and sizes in the industry.
Cerno’s Modern LED Light Fixtures Return to NYIGF
LED lighting manufacturer, Cerno, continues to gain momentum and heads back to the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) to exhibit their current line of modern LED light fixtures. Located at booth 3865 in the Accent on Design section of NYIGF from January 29 – February 2 at the Javits Convention Center.
Cerno recently introduced their first two large linear pendants. Bret Englander, Co-Founder and Director of Sales and Marketing, exuded excitement when discussing Cerno’s redirected focus.
JPMA to Help Promote PB&J: The Preview for Baby & Juvenile
Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale resource, today announced that the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) has agreed to help promote PB&J: The Preview for Baby & Juvenile to its members. PB&J is a new Dallas trade event for mass market retailers created as a joint venture with the Toy Industry Association (TIA). The show will debut and run concurrently with TIA’s annual Fall Toy Preview, October 2-4, 2012, on the Dallas Market Center campus.
Sunday’s Party for Life To Offer More Than $60,000 in Auction Prizes
Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, announced the highlights of its live and silent auction taking place at the 20th Annual Party for Life benefiting DIFFA, taking place Sunday, January 29, 2012 at The Boathouse at Central Park.
Valentine’s Day Card Sales Hold Steady for 2012
The Greeting Card Association (GCA) estimates that approximately 150 million greeting cards will be purchased for Valentine’s Day this year in the U.S. This figure is based on member company sales and does not include children’s packaged valentines for classroom exchanges.
KitchenHappy’s Snapi Serves up a Fruit Salad of Color
Now more than ever, Snapi® is “The fun way to serve food” as KitchenHappyTM nearly doubled kitchen fun by adding three new colors to its family of single-hand servers. Designed to serve big-bowl fare such as salads and pasta with one hand, Snapi now comes in seven (7) colors: Grape (purple), Tangerine (orange), Mango (yellow), along with the original Ice (white), Kiwi (green), Watermelon (red), and Berry (blue).
Ye Olde Towne Shoppe Now Open for Business in Vilonia
Vilonia, AK – Opening the doors to Ye Olde Towne Shoppe in Vilonia, Sue Gallahar hopes to provide shoppers an outlet for unique finds.
Located at 1063 Main Street, the gift shop operates out a portion of an older house she shares with Valerie’s Beauty Shop. It’s a place Gallahar knows well. Owned now by Valerie Waggoner, the house was once owned by Gallahar’s parents. As well, she and her husband, Doug, lived in the house for about 9 years raising their children.
Bling’n up Daiziez Now Open in Vilonia
Vilonia, AK – Tara Gunter is all about bling and so is her florist business, Bling’n up daiziez which opened recently at 1447 Highway 64 East—on the outskirts of Vilonia.
“We like shiny things,” Gunter said. “We like lots of rhinestones and we even put one rhinestone on one flower of every bouquet that goes out of here.”
A combination gift shop/florist, the business is located at the back of Gunter’s house, she describes as, “at the end of the bypass.” While it may appear to be a small operation, there’s a lot going on inside.
Former Staffer’s Business Blooms
Stillwater, OK – From a red dirt road to the red carpet, the Crimson Poppy has a story Stillwater can be proud of.
Not many local businesses can say they were involved in the 69th Annual Golden Globes, but the Crimson Poppy can.
Jenny Jafek-Jones, owner of the Crimson Poppy, 3020 E. Richmond Road, said it started two and a half years ago, when she remarried and noticed how expensive flowers were, so she began making flowers entirely out of paper.
“I just found origami flowers online, and eventually fell in love with it,” Jafek-Jones said.
Just 4 You Boutique Opens on Canal St. in Lyons
Lyons, NY – Kelly Congdon saw an opportunity and decided to take advantage of it.
The entrepreneur recently opened Just 4 You boutique, located at 15 Canal St.
“I always wanted to open up a little clothing store,” she said. “I decided now was a better time than any just simply because there seems to be a lot of business starting coming to this street. I thought it was time to jump aboard.”
Congdon was born in Seneca Falls, but raised her family in Lyons.
“We’ve been in and out of the area for the last 25 years,” she said.
Boutique Opens Doors on North Broad
Philadelphia, PA – On Saturday, Jan. 21, Greek and Life Boutique, located at 2152 N. Broad St., opened its doors for lettered ladies and Greek guys.
Before the grand opening of the Greek and Life Boutique, senior psychology major Courtney Mick said she had to drive more than an hour to Delaware to pick up any clothing representing her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta.
Located on the corner of North Broad and West Susquehanna streets, the Greek and Life Boutique opened its doors on Saturday, Jan. 21, with a launch party hosted by Hot 107.9’s Emez and music from alumnus DJ Omega.