Archives: News
Annie Modica Opens Showroom at AmericasMart to Introduce Her Line of Decoupage Gifts to Expand Retail Reach
Annie Modica, whose hand-crafted decoupage gifts are found in retail boutiques and major stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, is opening a showroom at AmericasMart just in time for AmericasMart to present the nation’s only global wholesale trade event of 2012: the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market Jan. 11-18 (Temporaries: Jan. 13-17), with the Atlanta International Area Rug Market featuring the National Oriental Rug Show taking place Jan. 12-15 (Temporaries: Jan.
Creative Co-op Celebrates 10th Anniversary
Creative Co-Op is celebrating its 10th anniversary throughout 2012 and starts the celebration at the 2012 winter markets in Atlanta, Dallas and Las Vegas.
To celebrate its 10th anniversary, Creative Co-Op invites you to visit their showrooms to view our 2012 product launch and register to win the following:
• Atlanta (Gift Building, Suite 1003)
o Grand Prize: $1000 Visa® Gift Card
o Runner-up: 1 of ten $100 Visa® Gift Cards
• Dallas (Trade Mart, Suite 2802)
o Grand Prize: $1000 Visa® Gift Card
o Runner-up: 1 of ten $100 Visa® Gift Cards
o In addi
Jamie Drake Named as 2012 Design Icon at Winter Las Vegas Market
World Market Center Las Vegas is pleased to name one of the world’s most foremost tastemakers, Jamie Drake, as its 2012 Design Icon. The award, which recognizes an interior or furniture designer who has made a significant contribution to the industry, will be presented at the upcoming Winter 2012 Las Vegas Market, Jan. 30 – Feb. 3.
“Each year, as a Market, we strive to deliver what’s new on every front,” said Robert Maricich, chief executive officer of International Market Centers, parent company of World Market Center Las Vegas.
YooHoo & Friends EBook, App Launch on Apple Devices
Aurora World Inc., today announced two new iPhone and iPad releases based on its best-selling plush animal line called YooHoo & Friends (www.yoohoofriends.com). A YooHoo & Friends Adventure is an ebook for iPad adapted from the YooHoo & Friends animated series while Action Sticker HD is an educational app for iPhone and iPad that helps children build learning skills via the theory of multiple intelligences.
“The new apps are great additions to the entire YooHoo & Friends family,” says Michael Kessler, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Aurora.
Everybody’s Ayurveda LLC Introduces Soyveda: First Ayurvedic Candle and Home Décor Collection Available Exclusively to Independent Retailers
Americans are already familiar with yoga, meditation and massage, all part of what’s known as Ayurveda, a system of holistic medicine that dates back more than 5,000 years. More than 30 million Americans practice yoga, the most common introduction to Ayurveda, which literally means “wisdom for a healthy life.” What if a line of candles, gifts and décor could promote wellness and balance in any environment? That’s exactly the driving mission behind Soyveda, the first collection available from Everybody’s Ayurveda.
Melissa and Doug Graduates from Americasmart Temporaries to Permanent Showroom
Atlanta, GA – Melissa & Doug, known for its classically styled, durably built wooden toys and its commitment to creative play, is opening a new AmericasMart showroom housing expanded displays, giving buyers the opportunity to interact with more than 1,000 Melissa & Doug products, and greatly enhancing the shopping experience.
The new permanent showroom, located in Building 2, Showroom 1736, will debut at the nation’s only global wholesale trade event of 2012: The Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market Jan.
Two’s Company & Dena Designs Partner on Happi By Dena
Dena, the award-winning creative force and lifestyle designer behind Dena Designs, and Two’s Company, a leading wholesaler in gifts and home décor industry, are collaborating on an expansive line of gifts, accessories, and items for the toddler. The new collection, happi by Dena™ is a modern mix of bright colors, stylish patterns and uplifting prints. Endearing characters also drive the collection and embody Dena’s desire to spread warmth and joy during these uncertain times.
Fundex Games is Major Partner for Super Baskets of Hope
Riley Children’s Foundation, Basket of Hope and former Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy have kicked off the first-ever Super Bowl host city service project that reaches across the nation. The Super Baskets of Hope project is made possible thanks to the generosity of Indiana companies, including Fundex Games.
Super Baskets of Hope will deliver 7,000 gift-filled baskets to critically ill children in each of America’s 32 NFL cities – including Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health – and cities throughout Indiana.
WithIt, World Market Center Las Vegas To Offer Leadership-Focused Events During Las Vegas Market, Jan. 30-Feb 3
WithIt and World Market Center Las Vegas have partnered to provide exclusive leadership development programming during Las Vegas Market, Jan. 30-Feb.
Local Retailers See Hope in Holiday Sales
Newburyport, MA – Shoppers gave local retailers the best gift of all this season — a strong boost in sales to help soften the effects of what had otherwise been a lackluster year for business.
Several shop owners in Greater Newburyport said that a rebound in business through the holidays allowed them to end the year solidly and provided them with some sense of hope for 2012.
The retailers pointed to a slight uptick in the economy, a conscious decision by consumers to shop local and unseasonably warm days without snow and ice to contend with as contributing to higher sales.
Libertyville Olive Oil Shop Helps Make Retirement Transition Smooth
Libertyville, IL – A passion for cooking has blossomed into a new business venture for a retired Fox Lake educator.
Sandra Schuenemann of Richmond and her niece, Mary Koval of Fox Lake, have opened Oh, Olive! in downtown Libertyville, and also a second location in Glenview.
The Libertyville store at 606 N. Milwaukee Ave., carries more than 40 kinds of premium olive oils, many flavored, and also balsamic vinegars.
Catonsville Business Owners Optimistic Despite Lagging Economy
Cantonsville, MD – Sally Griffin says the energy flowing through Catonsville helps keep store fronts full and small businesses relatively successful during a rough economic period.
Griffin, the president of the Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce, said the energy comes from the residents’ support of their community.
“The community is behind all the businesses. They come and utilize whatever the business is,” Griffin said. “Catonsville has been doing so well. I think we’re different than a lot of areas. We keep doing better.”
Gift Shop Promotes Chinese Culture
Waterloo, ONT – When Amy Diao goes to work in her gift shop in Uptown Waterloo, she dons a traditional Chinese costume.
“I wear it everyday because I want to show our culture and traditions,” Diao says of her white silk robe, made in a style that dates back to the Han dynasty in China.
Her shop, Blessed Town, is filled with crafts that are handmade by artists and artisans who live in villages in eastern Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan and Thailand
Downtown Asheville Merchants Pleased with Strong Holiday Sales
Asheville, NC – Sometimes in retail, running out of merchandise is a good sign.
“Our season was excellent — good traffic throughout and substantial increases over last year and over 2009,” said Dean Peterson, general manager of Tops for Shoes. “We were extremely pleased. At one point, we were running out of merchandise.”
With an extremely mild December , plenty of other downtown merchants also enjoyed excellent holiday sales totals for 2011. In 2010, by contrast, heavy snows left many downtown sellers struggling to make goal.
Real Deals in Springville — But Only Two Days a Week
Springville, UT – In a beautiful old Victorian home on the corner of 100 East and 200 South in Springville, there is a successful family business that is only open two days a week. The slogan above the door reads, “Two Days a week, too good to be true.” With the weak economy and economic woes of most small stores, how are they able to survive being open two days a week?
“A lot of people ask us how we do it,” said Real Deals co-owner Aliesha Walker.
Fabulous Beach Girls Boutique Sells to Customers Who Want to Have Fun, Wear Something New
Fort Myers Beach, FL – Talking shop with Ivy Levinson, owner of The Fabulous Beach Girls Boutique on Fort Myers Beach.
“I call it a mom store. It’s not a mom and pop store,” said Levinson. “I sell clothes that are beautiful and sophisticated.”
The Fabulous Beach Girls Boutique is at 1660 Estero Blvd. in a pink and aqua cottage on Fort Myers Beach. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Call 765-1665 or visit the store’s Facebook page to see photos and place an order. The Fabulous Beach Girls Boutique ships all over the country.
Owner of The Rebecca Collection in Bernardsville Goes the ‘Extra Step’
Bernardsville, NJ – Sharon Markowitz always calls out a greeting to people after they enter her boutique, The Rebecca Collection, which offers assorted merchandise on four levels.
The welcome, she said, lets potential customers know that she is in charge and ready to assist them with floor directions or gift recommendations.
Some customers return the greeting. Some smile and quietly browse. And some are like the older woman who came inside on a recent Saturday morning. Wearing purplish eye shadow and a heavy winter coat, she looked away after she was greeted.
Small Retailers Say They’re Feeling Optimistic Again
Charlotte, NC – Many small retailers in Charlotte are looking back at 2011 with satisfaction, as the worst of the recession seemed to fade and sales rebounded or held steady.
They’re also cautiously optimistic about what’s in store for 2012, but concerned about how the local economy will fare as Charlotte pillars such as Bank of America continue to sway.
The Observer interviewed a variety of small local retailers to see how they fared in a year when economic unease lingered like a bad hangover.
Blackwood Woman Caters to ‘Friendlier’ People with Candy Shop
Goucester Township, NJ – It was at a funeral, of all places, when Pat Mahoney McLeod decided to get into the candy business.
“I was sitting there thinking when I die, I don’t want people to think, ‘She didn’t do anything. It’s a shame she never opened her store,'” recalls McLeod, who lives in Gloucester Township’s Blackwood section.
So McLeod decided to take action. After 19 years checking credit reports for mortgage applicants—and just as long bringing in treats for her coworkers—McLeod quit her job to open her own candy store.
Social Media Spurred Sales for Independent Retailers in 2011
Detroit, MI – Cheryl and Karen Daskas, owners of the upscale Tender boutique in Birmingham, Mich., were trying to find a way to draw their social-media friends into the store this year.
So they created an offer. They would sell their private-label Tender tights for $15 a pair — a bargain at a store that sells $1,500 messenger bags and $300 designer dresses.
“We sold out thousands of pairs in a few days,” Cheryl Daskas said. “Blasting it on Twitter really drove it home.