Archives: News
Boutique Owner Aims to be Downtown Elgin Favorite
Elgin, IL – Ever since Simple — a gift and home decor boutique in downtown Elgin — closed several years ago, Elda Sirridge has heard her friends say how they wanted it back.
Sirridge and a few friends are trying to bring back a gift store to downtown by starting Our Favorite Things as a Christmas store and hoping to keep the traffic coming in all year long.
For the past eight years, Sirridge has operated some sort of Christmas-themed store/gift boutique — always called Our Favorite Things — in Elgin.
Margate Woman Finds Gifts For Every Shopper at Paper Chase
Margate, NJ – Holiday shoppers looking for gifts that can’t be found in big-box stores or the mall might want to check out Paper Chase Gifts.
The store on Ventnor Avenue carries jewelry, artwork, candles, educational toys and other items sure to please the discriminating person on a shopping list. For the holidays, there are artsy menorahs and plates for Hanukkah and decorative items for Christmas.
Paper Chase is an all-around gift shop, with books, calendars and greeting cards from smaller publishers. Free gift wrapping is offered for all purchases except clearance items.
Woman, Daughter Open Local Boutique
Fremont, NE – Jamie Yeager is bringing a taste of “urban cowgirl” to Fremont.
She and her 13-year-old daughter, Cynthia, opened the Back Room Designs boutique at 410 E. First St. recently.
“I try to keep everything with a western flare so it’s a little different from the other businesses in town that get into gift stuff and jewelry,” Yeager said. “We kind of have moved more towards gift items. I get a lot of people in here who are looking for things for other people.
“We have a lot of jewelry and leather products, and I do custom shirts and hats,” she said.
Boutique Offers Items With a Vintage Look
Blissfield, MI – A chance trip to Blissfield to shop for antiques led to a whole new business opportunity for Amber Sears.
Sears, whose new boutique, Modern Vintage, opened in early November at 106 S. Lane St., Blissfield, first established a Modern Vintage shop in Dexter eight years ago. When she wanted to expand, she moved the store to Brighton. But she was only there for three weeks before a construction accident next door to her shop forced her to shut down until the situation could be straightened out.
That was 14 months ago.
Five Artists Featured as Gift Shop Opens at Rural Sugar Loaf Lodge
Anaconda, MT – When Keith Rankin comes up with an idea for his Sugar Loaf Lodge & Cabins, located south of Anaconda, he often shoots from the hip.
Last winter, Rankin sat with friend and artist Eric Van Tatenhove mulling what to do with space upstairs at the lodge. It had been used for extra seating at events, but nothing more.
Their conversation focused on an art and gift gallery featuring crafts from the around the area. Rankin brought up the possibility before with his wife, Jean, but only in passing.
This time, they all decided to put it together and see what happens.
Religious Stores, Volunteers Give Back to the Community
Charlotte, NC – Church and Temple gift shops aren’t just for religious items anymore.
Many local churches and temples are carrying more popular household products and gifts.
Majority of the gift shops are run by volunteers and proceeds are donated to various causes.
The Temple Israel Judaica Shop, 4901 Providence Road, has been operating for more than 40 years. It is solely run by volunteers.
Consumers Urged to Buy at Locally Owned Stores
Richmond, VA – As the number of remaining days in the holiday shopping season dwindles, the local Retail Merchants Association urged consumers Saturday to buy at independently owned businesses.
The retail trade group held its own version of Small Business Saturday with about 100 merchants from around the region signing up to participate.
The event was aimed at encouraging consumers to visit small businesses, which are often overlooked during the holiday shopping season.
“I know we were very busy at both our locations today,” said Amy Talley, owner of All Fired Up, which ha
Fudge, as Edible Inspiration
Casper, WY – Some people use paints to express their creative impulses.
For Brenda Hurless, it’s fudge.
Hurless draws inspiration for her fudge from many sources. An observation about a Wyoming flavor resulted in a Cowboy Joe fudge. Or a new fudge might result from a taste of something else.
“You can take just about any kind of dessert and turn it into fudge,” she said. “Or even a candy bar.”
Support Local Commerce by ‘Shopping Small’
President Obama did it. Republicans did it. I did it. So did 103 million other Americans. We shopped at independent stores on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26. We bought gifts in small stores, ate meals at small restaurants. Now how do we keep customers coming back to small businesses throughout the holiday season?
Small Business Saturday was the most successful “shop local” campaign I’ve seen in my 20 years of advocating for small companies. Yes, I know it’s a promotional campaign started and sponsored by American Express, but let’s give credit where credit is due.
Holiday Shopping Looks Brighter
Petaluma, CA – It has been two weeks since Black Friday, the day deemed the official start of the holiday shopping season, and many Petaluma retailers express the same cautious optimism as Sharon McAuley, owner of Tuscan Gardens in downtown Petaluma.
“It’s still early but we’re keeping our fingers crossed and thinking positively that we will have a good holiday season,” said McAuley.
But if retailers are going to be successful in attracting shoppers during the ongoing economic uncertainty, they have to adapt to what consumers are looking for.
It’s a Brand’s New Day at C.R. Gibson
C.R. Gibson, a leading manufacturer of fine gifts commemorating life’s celebrations, announces the launch of its Brand’s New Day campaign for January 2012. The campaign sets the stage for the company’s largest-ever product introduction, marking a significant expansion of product into new and existing categories that preserve, create and celebrate memories. Building on a long history of licensing success, the company is teaming up with a slate of today’s freshest artists to enhance its “house of brands” portfolio across major lifestyle categories. C.R.
Palliser Furniture to Showcase at January 2012 Las Vegas Market
Palliser Furniture announced today that it will participate in the Las Vegas Market for the first time in the January 2012 market. Palliser will show its products in Showroom 770 of Building B in the Modern Trends area.
This market venue will allow Palliser to reach the large number of retailers in the western U.S. and western Canada who find Las Vegas a convenient market. This will also be an important market for Palliser customers from Latin America.
Scandle Body Candle Announces Refill Candles for Their Shimmering Lotion Candle
Scandle® LLC, innovators of the first ever Shimmering Lotion Candle, announces the release of Shimmering Lotion Refill Candles for their one-of-a-kind, eco-friendly product line.
Since the launch of their revolutionary product in the Fall of 2010, The Scandle® Shimmering Lotion Candle has become a coveted retail and cosmetic product in spas and boutiques across the United States and abroad.
Buck County Icons Make Special Appearance on NBC’s “The Office”
Byers’ Choice kicked-off what will be an exciting weekend at the Chalfont, Pa., workshop last night when the Carolers made an appearance at Dunder Mifflin on NBC’s award-winning series, “The Office.”
The Byers’ Choice Carolers were prominently displayed in the opening scene of Thursday’s holiday episode—airing at 9 p.m.—as Ed Helms’ character, Andy, sang along with the figurines.
New Companies & Exhibit Floor Changes Among Highlights of Winter 2012 Accent on Design
From nearly 150 applicants, 13 companies – each exemplifying a superlative contemporary design aesthetic – have been selected to join some 200 exhibitors in the juried Accent on Design® at the winter 2012 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®).
Terra Cotta Collection
Gourmet du Village introduces their new terra cotta tableware collection including their Brie Baker, Dip Baker, Dip Chiller and new Storage Pot. The natural colours and textures in their Terra Cotta collection are as natural as the ingredients and tastes in their Salsa or Guacamole dip mixes made with market fresh ingredients. The natural ‘earthy’ colour of Terra Cotta makes any dish look even more appetizing. In the Mediterranean countryside, rustic Terra Cotta pieces add natural visual interest to table settings.
2011 CHA Industry Award Winners Announced
The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Awards Committee announces recipients of the craft and hobby industry’s most prestigious service awards. All CHA Industry Awards recognize exceptional contributions to not only crafting, but also the world, on behalf of the craft and hobby industry, the Association and its members. The awards will be presented to recipients at CHA’s 2012 Winter Conference & Trade Show in Anaheim, Calif., proceeding a State of the Industry Special Event on Jan.
Over 100 Million Shoppers Help Jumpstart the Holiday Season for Independent Merchants on Small Business Saturday
New York – The second-annual Small Business Saturday gave a boost to Main Street merchants and spurred an estimated 103 million Americans to shop at independently-owned small businesses. That is up from a pre-Thanksgiving forecast of 89 million. Increased awareness of the day and dozens of locally organized initiatives helped merchants leverage the wave of consumer support.
Promenade Shops at Centerra Leases Space to Smaller Operations for Holidays
Loveland, CO – At the height of the gift-buying season, a temporary shop at The Promenade Shops at Centerra is showcasing the products of 23 Colorado small businesses and crafters.
Cottage Nest Holiday Gift Market, launched Nov. 16 by two Johnstown-area women, brings to the upscale shopping center a selection of gift items not usually available in such a setting.
“Normally, none of these people would be in a mall,” said Carrie Heaton, co-owner of the store.