Archives: News
Small Businesses Grow by Offering Unique Goods
Davenport, IA – DeEtte and Jim Sexton know the importance of selling specialty items that do not directly duplicate what’s on the shelves of larger stores.
They are the owners of Blue Sky, a gifts and home decor specialty shop that opened almost five years ago in the Village of East Davenport.
Having those niche products helps set them apart from most big-box outlets and allows them to succeed, they say, particularly during the holiday shopping season.
Another factor of their success, DeEtte adds, is a new sense of commitment she hears from some of her loyal customers who are
Visit FabulousMe for a Fabulous You
Cumberland Gap, TN – If you want something unique for yourself or someone else and you don’t want to travel very far, just visit FabulousMe, located in Cumberland Gap.
Tasha Fortner is the owner of this new business, which specializes in making women feel special — without having to drive to a larger city.
Currently located behind the former location of Nothins Perfect, she plans to relocate after the first of 2012 into the street front space on Colwyn.
“The store will have a boutique atmosphere,” she said, “with looks from vintage to modern glam.”
Truffies’ Sue Ellen Clarfeld Extols Value of Local Shops to Community
Palm Beach, FL – Sue Ellen Clarfeld and her husband, Alan Kessler, moved to Palm Beach from Manhattan on Halloween of 1986. Once here, they opened Truffies, a gift shop named after their pet bunny who drew in customers as long as he lived. Twenty-five years later, their dog, Russia, now greets clients, and the couple has earned a reputation as stalwarts in the community.
“Once you find who your kind of people are in this town, it’s a wonderful place to live,” says Clarfeld.
New Gift Store Offers Gifts with Unique Scents
Show Low, AZ – Like the candles they make, Jeff and Sherry Harrison needed to mold their brand new gift store to what they needed it to be. It must have worked because, also like their candles, the end result is something that brightly shines to them.
The Harrisons own The Rustic Firefly, located at 308 N. White Mountain Road, Suite G, south of Chase Bank in Show Low.
Floral and Gift Shop in Wood River Recognized as Business of the Month
Wood River, IL – For its efforts to make the area festive, attractive and warm, Jeffrey’s Flowers by Design has been recognized as the River Bend Growth Association Business of the Month for December.
“I was surprised … shocked, actually,” owner Jeff McElroy said. “The (RBGA representatives) were standing outside and I had no idea what they were doing here.
Holiday Pet Spending Has More Bite
Saratoga Springs, NY – The family dog slept outside when Melanie Dallas was growing up, but she wouldn’t dream of the same treatment for her pets.
The owner of Sloppy Kisses Dog Boutique says her chocolate Lab of 14 years, who recently passed away, not only slept indoors on the bed, but would eat dinner when she did and accompany her on errands.
“It’s becoming more mainstream that dogs are part of the family,” Dallas said.
Darien Shop Pops Up Again for the Holidays
Darien, CT – Rosey Costello had so much fun running her “pop up” shop during the summer that she has opened up a new gift boutique for the holidays and is looking to be in business even longer.
“I hope we get to stay. I’m going to see if we can stay for the next few months,” the Darien resident said.
Her new Everything is Rosey shop is located in the pink house on the Post Road in downtown Darien, next to Grieb’s Pharmacy. Costello signed the lease the day before Thanksgiving and said customers were thrilled to see her return.
NYIGF’s Personal Accessories Division Showcases Design Resources at Winter NYIGF
Design will meet accessories, with a growing collection of fashion-forward and design-driven resources, such as textile jewelry and stainless steel wallets, showcased by some 300 exhibitors in Personal Accessories featuring Details at the winter 2012 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), January 29 – February 2, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center .
“Products in NYIGF’s Personal Accessories featuring Details division always have reflected current fashion trends,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president.
Th Madison Park Group Opens Showroom at AmericasMart to Showcase its Stationery and Gift Line at January Market
The Madison Park Group, a leading stationery and gift manufacturer, will unveil its new showroom as AmericasMart presents the nation’s only global wholesale trade event of 2012: The Atlanta International Gift and 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.
Entrada Collection Opens Dallas Showroom
Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, and Entrada Collection, a market leader in gift items and home décor, today announced that Entrada Collection will open a showroom space in Dallas. The new showroom will be located in the World Trade Center 6-6470 and will offer more than 3,600-square-feet. It will make its market-time debut during the upcoming Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, January 18-24, 2012.
“We are happy to welcome Entrada Collection to Dallas,” said Cindy Morris, COO, Dallas Market Center.
Mud Pie Announces National Toys For Tots Corporate Partnership
In the spirit of giving, Mud Pie, a leading gift company based in Atlanta, Ga., selected Toys for Tots as its 2011 holiday charitable partner. Mud Pie is donating the entire proceeds from its annual sample sale–$20,000–to the Toys for Tots’ holiday campaign at a special presentation on Saturday, Dec. 17. “Mud Pie sees the impact Toys for Tots has in our community and believes in the organization’s mission to make sure every child has a present to open during the holidays.
Birthdays, Anniversaries, Chanukah and Christmas: JCMI Gift Shop has Something for Everyone and Any Occasion
Marco Island, FL – Living on an Island the size of Marco Island, sometimes makes one feel as if they know every shop, every nook and everything the island has to offer. That is why it is such a pleasure to stumble upon something new. Over on Winterberry Drive there is a quaint little gift shop housed within the Jewish Congregation of Marco Island.
Cast Iron Pizza Pan/Griddle Gourmet du Village
New for 2012, Gourmet du Village introduces a versatile cast iron griddle designed as a pizza pan, but with so many other grilling uses. Cast iron is an ideal cooking utensil for its heat retention qualities, used on the BBQ or in the kitchen. Use it to cook everything from burgers to whole pork loins, chicken drumsticks, try using it to cook shrimp and fresh vegetables. No more messy falling through the grill or burnt pieces.
Travel The World With Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle’s “Passport to Success” Contest and Events
Pack your suitcase and prepare to travel the world! Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle invite retailers to enter its first “Passport to Success” sweepstakes and events during winter 2012 markets. Two winners will be chosen to receive their choice of a trip to romantic Paris, France, or a relaxing tropical getaway to Nassau, Bahamas. To enter, retailers simply visit any Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle showroom during winter markets, request a passport from a company representative, and visit designated destination themes throughout the showroom to have their passport stamped.
Fig & Ginger Baked Brie Topping – Gourmet du Village
Fig and Ginger Baked Brie Topping is the latest addition to Gourmet du Village’s extensive line of ready to serve Brie Toppings. Definitely one of their best, the sweet taste of figs tastes even better with the addition of ginger root.
Fancy FREE Holds Grand Re-Opening on Main Street
Farmingdale, NY – On Monday, Dec. 5 the Village of Farmingdale and other local and state officials gathered at Fancy FREE Gift Shop and Artisan Center at 248 Main Street in Farmingdale to help celebrate its grand re-opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a showcase of the local crafts and talent that will be available and the gift shop.
The Fancy FREE Gift Shop is organized and operated by Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc.
Twigs And Lace Offers Gifts, Home Decor And Great Prices
Alpharetta, GA – As much as I love shopping, I cannot believe I had never been inside Twigs And Lace before. This store has so much to offer, including the sweetest owner, Audrey Donna Hensley.
Audrey is a former teacher who then worked for Delta for 30 years. After retiring from the sky, she sold antiques and now is living her very own American Dream. She owns her own business in the heart of downtown Alpharetta and is doing what she loves, selling home decor items and gifts.
Roman Announces 2012 Spring Open House Dates for Chicago and Dallas
Roman, Inc., a leader in the giftware industry, has announced their Spring Open House dates from February 13th through March 16th, 2012 for Chicago and now adding the recently renovated Dallas as a second location from February 13th through February 17th, 2012. Roman has expanded their Dallas Showroom with 1,471 square feet of space for increased housing of new lines.
Open house is offered to all customers who prefer to take advantage of a personalized buying experience with hotel and airfare complementary depending on their open to buy.
It’s Ruffles & Frills from Douglas Company
Plush toy maker and lifestyle gift creator Douglas Company is debuting their latest in fashion forward purses, and they are adorable. When it comes to handbags with personality these new Ruffle Totes have got it going on.
It’s layer after layer of fun frilly ruffles filled with floral prints and loads of polka dots beneath a pretty embroidered yoke. Each 8″ wide bag is the perfect size for little divas to carry all those must-have items. The bag has two wide coordinating print handles embellished with grosgrain ribbon.