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Coastal and Artisan Objects at Beach House
Middletown, RI – Located in a Victorian-style house with an inviting front porch, the Beach House, at 42 West Main Road, Middletown, feels more like a seaside cottage than a retail establishment along a busy thoroughfare.
Indeed, from the wooden-oar Christmas tree currently on the front porch, to the handmade star and sailboat glass ornaments throughout the shop, the objects are very much about a coastal style of living. The guiding force behind the choice of objects: Sally Dwyer, the shop’s owner and buyer.
Small Business Saturday: For Many, it’s a Quiet, Quaint Shopping Escape from the Madness
Not everyone is looking for a 2 a.m. holiday blowout sale.
There are still plenty of people who appreciate all that a small gift shop offers, according to a survey of shoppers Saturday.
“When I’m looking for something unique, something special for someone, I come downtown,” said Carmel Buneo, of Owego.
Buneo was shopping in her hometown Saturday, along with scores of others, looking to escape crowded malls and big-box stores for a more quaint and quiet shopping experience.
Small Business Saturday: Small Retailers Fight Back With Deals After Black Friday
Big retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and Target may command the headlines on Black Friday, with their $300 laptops and $200 flatscreen TVs and crowds camping out overnight for the best deals. But don’t count out the mom-and-pops, who are fighting back with deals of their own on the second-annual Small Business Saturday.
Across the nation, small retailers are armed and ready for what they hope will be their biggest shopping day of the year: Small Business Saturday.
Small Businesses Await Their Piece of Holiday Pie
Charlotte, NC – Crowds today are lining up at malls and big-box stores for bargain prices on televisions, laptops and hand-held video games. On Saturday, small businesses hope it’s their turn.
In the Charlotte area and across the nation, locally owned stores are offering incentives as part of the second annual Small Business Saturday campaign.
Try Shopping at Museums
When you’re hunting for gifts, consider presents that give twice: to the recipient and to the Valley’s wide range of museums.
Museum shops are a welcome oasis. No long lines at the register. No endless loops of holiday mu-sic. No snarled traffic in parking lots.
And, in most cases, no sales tax. Your wallet gets a break at these non-profits, with their largely volunteer staffs. Every dollar you spend supports places that make the Valley richer through art, history, education, tourist appeal and fun.
Sanrio Announces Licensing Agreement with Up With Paper
Sanrio has announced a licensing agreement with Up With Paper, the world’s leading marketer of innovative three-dimensional greeting cards. Up With Paper will develop a new line of pop-up stationery products featuring pop icon Hello Kitty®. The collection will be launched at winter gift shows and at Toy Fair; the agreement is effective immediately.
This new licensing partnership will make Hello Kitty available in a variety of pop-up formats.
A Day for Buying Locally
San Antonio, TX – Whether or not Small Business Saturday produces a spike in sales, small-business owners in San Antonio are excited that the event has people thinking about the importance of locally owned, independent businesses.
“I’m thrilled that American Express has gotten that conversation started,” said Melissa Guerra, owner of Melissa Guerra kitchenwares at the Pearl complex, who is hoping for bigger sales this Saturday than last year.
Gift Shop Thriving
Queensland, Australia – THE Gift Tree Ipswich is simply fascinating.
Ruth O’Dowd is the owner of this North Ipswich business which deals with homemade products, educational resources and unique giftware.
One month old, it is already building a regular client base.
“People want to get back to basics, they are financially challenged and what I am doing is not a big cost and it offers some down to earth things,” Ms O’Dowd said.
Rose Displays Promotes Tom Burrous To Design Manager
Tom Burrous has been named Design Manager for Rose Displays, Ltd., a leading provider of signware solutions to retailers worldwide. A key member of Rose Displays Ltd.’s Product Design and Development team for the past several years, he is responsible for managing the company’s Product Design Department initiatives to expand its catalog of core products and enhance its focus on the development of custom solutions for customers.
Burrous has been awarded 18 patents for Rose Displays’ signware, with several more patents pending.
Rose Displays Names Lisa Morrill Customer Service Manager
Rose Displays Ltd., a leading provider of signware solutions to retailers worldwide, has named Lisa Morrill its Customer Service Manager. In her new position, Morrill will provide guidance to the company’s Customer Service Team in delivering exceptional customer service to all Rose Displays customers.
OneCoast Expands Showroom at Winter 2012 Gift+Home at Las Vegas Market
World Market Center Las Vegas announced today that major sales and marketing company OneCoast has expanded their showroom space to nearly 14,000 square feet for the upcoming Winter 2012 Gift+Home at Las Vegas Market, Jan. 30 – Feb. 3, 2012.
The Atlanta-based company is the largest and only national wholesale provider of gift, home, fashion accessories and collegiate products to retailers throughout the United States. Its expanded showroom is on the 8th floor of Building C.
A.R.E. Retail Design Collective Returns to 7W New York
Wrapping up a busy and successful fourth quarter, 7 W New York will soon become the central destination for retailers the world over, as it hosts one of the industry’s premier events, the A.R.E. Retail Design Collective. The annual December market week features the largest assortment of store design showrooms across the globe. While some participating showrooms are located throughout Manhattan, the A.R.E.
Dickens Descendent Celebrates Author’s 200th Birthday in Philadelphia
Gerald Charles Dickens, great-great grandson of famed writer Charles Dickens, is coming to the Free Library of Philadelphia on Dec. 9 to help celebrate his ancestor’s upcoming 200th birthday.
The author of classic novels such as A Christmas Carol, Oliver Twist and A Tale of Two Cities will turn 200 on Feb. 7, 2012. The Free Library of Philadelphia, home to one of the finest collections of Charles’ works in the world—as well as his stuffed pet raven, Grip—will mark this milestone by giving Gerald a private tour of the Dickens collection.
Bigger, Better, Newer and First – See it All at First AmericasMart in January
Buyers and sellers will definitely See it All as AmericasMart presents the first 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.
Dearborn Gift Store Thrives on its Unique Offerings
Dearborn, MI – In a market ruled by big box stores, Sophia’s Giftique isn’t afraid to be unique. In fact, that’s exactly why store owners Roslyn Reeves and Naomi Kennedy chose Dearborn as the location for their first-ever store when they opened in 2007.
“We were looking around at places and Dearborn had a nice downtown, but nothing like this,” Reeves explains. “We like it here because we can stand out.”
And they have, even amidst a less-than-desirable economy that has caused countless west downtown neighbors to shut their doors.
Small Stores Can Compete for Holiday Dollars
Houma, LA – Economic concerns linger, but mom-and-pop retailers say they finally have some cheer for this holiday shopping season.
Nearly half are more optimistic about holiday sales compared with last year, according to a new survey of 792 small retailers by online small-business community Manta. Four in 10 say they already have better sales compared with last fall.
” More than ever, the consumers in our community really seem to understand the value of shopping locally,” said Jodi Black, president and co-owner of Conover, N.C.-based Beautiful Brains Books and Games.
Small Business Saturday Hits Its Stride
New York – In six days, thousands of small businesses across the U.S. that take the American Express(AXP_) card will promote Small Business Saturday — an initiative meant to rival big-box retailers vying for consumer dollars on Black Friday and Cyber Monday as the holiday season kicks into full gear.
This is the second year American Express is running the promotion meant to encourage consumers to shop — hopefully by using their American Express cards — in locally owned, non-chain stores.
Lee Students Offer Unique Gifts from Developing Nations
Cleveland, OH – Lee University anthropology students are operating the Global Gift Shop at 440 North Ocoee St. as a means of offering unique gifts to Christmas shoppers in Cleveland while supporting community workshops in developing countries.
Maddie Taylor, a sophomore from Milan, said all merchandise in the store located in the former drive-in bank was made by people in developing countries trying to lift themselves from poverty.
All of the proceeds go toward paying the artisans and craftsmen a fair wage so they can support their families.