Archives: News
New York’s Mayor Bloomberg to Kick Off Second Annual Small Business Saturday
Black Friday is one of the biggest retail days for big box stores and Cyber Monday sets record numbers for online shopping, but stuck in between them is Small Business Saturday, a day to support small businesses. Oct. 27 marks the start of the countdown to the second annual Small Business Saturday, which will take place on Nov. 26, as Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Kenneth Chenault, chief executive officer and chairman of American Express, will hold a 10 a.m.
Rose Displays Introduces FloorWindo 5 and DeskWindo 5
Rose Displays, a leading provider of signware solutions to retailers worldwide, introduces the newest generation of its popular Windo® products with FloorWindo 5 and DeskWindo 5. Both products in the new 5 Series have been redesigned to offer a sleek new look and even greater ease of use, thus saving time and money at store level.
GeoArt by Cynthia Gale Introduces ArtKnots: A Sophisticated and Versatile Way to Mix and Match Pearls, Gemstones and Your Strands From Home
GeoArt by Cynthia Gale has just launched a new collection featuring an assortment of colored freshwater pearls, beaded accent gemstone strands, and S-Hooks with the ArtKnots Collection. ArtKnots is a sophisticated, yet fun way to mix and match pearls creating dozens of different looks for any occasion, and also allowing for the versatility of adding strands from one’s own collection.
The pearls are available in white, chocolate and olive colors, fully knotted with the knots dyed to match the color of the freshwater pearls, creating an elegant look.
Manual celebrates 80 Years of American Design in 2012
For four generations the company has proudly produced successful Made in America products. Since 1932, we have specialized in creating and manufacturing gift and home décor accessories specifically for the “Mom & Pop” shops…the heart of America.
The family-owned business, which began as a small souvenir store in Bat Cave North Carolina, today occupies over 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution space in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Chicago Market Announces 2012 Calendar
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) and The Chicago Market announce their 2012 Market schedule offering retail buyers in the Midwest and beyond access to an extraordinary line- up of new and established resources. A world-class market with Midwest hospitality will welcome buyers, manufacturers, reps and designers four times this year with its expansive array of categories and collections.
Gift Shop is Planning Return to Downtown
Seguin, TX – A business that originally was established in downtown Seguin soon will return to a location about a block away from where it was founded.
David and Mary Reiley, owners of Gift & Gourmet, have purchased the building on the northwest corner of Austin and Nolte streets formerly occupied by Starcke Furniture’s Budget House.
“We’ve always wanted to be downtown. There’s always something that’s happening downtown,” Mary said.
Longtime Norman Store Owner Plans Fresh Start in New Location
Norman, OK – By the time Norman resident Nancy Russell was 13 years old, she had jewelry in 13 stores across the country. When she was about 15 and a half, she had finally raised enough money to buy a used Volkswagen bus.
She had one problem though — she was not old enough to drive her bus.
Her older brother began driving the bus, but everything that could go wrong with it did. Russell called it the “bus from hell.”
That bus gave out and she developed a new dream of owning her own store by the time she was 21.
‘The’ Gift of Affordable, Good, Art
Hamilton, ON – A lot of art is expensive. The fact is a shame. It keeps us from a lot of the really great, enjoyable stuff that’s out there. Rare is the family that can afford to have a live rock band play at dinner.
But there is such a thing as affordable good art. We get it when we watch good TV (I won’t start controversy by saying which shows are good), or when we read from the Bible. Until December this year, we also get it at The Boutique.
Dexter Duo Opens Home Decor Store on Main Street
Dexter, MI – Dexter residents looking to accent their homes with rustic and vintage accessories have a new place to shop. Nichols and Stafford opened its doors this week on Main Street in the location formally occupied by the Dexter Card Shop.
The store, which is owned by Dexter residents Catherine Swan and Laura Telesco, stocks everything from lamps and wall decor to clocks and table accessories.
“We’ve been talking about opening the business for the last six months,” Swan said.
Fear For Your Wallet
Boston, MA – When Maureen Reen was growing up, her family celebrated Halloween by putting a pumpkin on the front stoop of their Canton home. “That was as festive as it got,” she said.
But by mid-October, the Brighton mom had already made three trips – and counting – to Target in Watertown. She had tombstones and spider webs to buy, Halloween cupcakes to decorate, ghost goodie bags to assemble, Halloween candles to light, a Halloween gingerbread house to make.
“It’s overwhelming,” said Reen, 34.
Douglas Company Runs with the Big Dogs
Black Labs and Golden Retrievers are arguably two of the most popular breeds of dogs today, and plush toy maker Douglas Company believes the bigger the better.
Douglas now carries both breeds in BIG, BIG sizes. Sherman the Golden Retriever and Dickens the Black Lab both measure in at 32″ while Honey the Golden Retriever and James the Black Lab measure in at 23″. Their breed specific look, uber soft fur and irresistibly endearing eyes beckoning for a hug make it hard to believe these soft toy pups are not real live dogs.
HABA Rocks the Boat & Wins Fall 2011 Parents’ Choice Foundation Top Honors
Do words of wisdom passed down from parent to child like measure twice, cut once or don’t rock the boat sound familiar in your house? Parents can’t help giving advice; they learned it from those who were wiser who came before them. One of the wisest and the nation’s oldest nonprofit program to recommend positive playthings for children is the Parents’ Choice Foundation.
7 W Highlights the Season’s Most Stylish Collections
For the upcoming Fall Tabletop Market Week, 7 W New York will focus on the way different elements can enhance table décor including the use of floral arrangements and incorporating the latest fashion trends. Considering home entertainment an art form, 7 W New York showrooms will display a wide selection of all that is in vogue in the tabletop sector, from elegant classics to current, on-trend looks. Complimentary lunch vouchers will be offered each day of market as well as mimosas each afternoon.
The Chocolate Shop Moves to New Location in Marion
Marion, IA – While finalizing her chocolate shop’s move to its new location, co-owner Gae Sharp-Richardson wanted to come up with a clever, efficient way to transfer the candy between the two buildings.
So, she sent out invitations for a “chocolate brigade” to line up and pass boxes of chocolate from the former Temptations Fine Candies location at 1026 Seventh Ave. to The Chocolate Shop location two blocks away at 1244 Seventh Ave.
“This was the best way to get the chocolate here,” she said this afternoon during The Chocolate Shop’s grand opening.
Entire Anamalz Line Wins a Silver in Parents’ Choice Fall 2011 Competition
When toymakers launch their business or roll out a few new products, they are thrilled when industry experts acknowledge their contribution to childhood with an honor or a glowing review.
GHTA Conference Golf Tournament to Support Gift For Life
Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, announced today it will be a beneficiary of the charity golf tournament to be held at Red Rock Casino and Resort in Las Vegas on Thursday, November 17, during the 9th annual Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA) conference.
This year’s GHTA conference, Playing to Win: Strategies for Success, will be held from November 17-19 at the Red Rock Casino and Resort in Las Vegas and will feature several keynote presentations, breakout sessions, workshops, and a special presentation by Robert R
Fairfield Gallery Shop adds Hamilton Outpost
Hamilton, OH – Art On Symmes, an art/gift shop in Fairfield, now has a sister store in Hamilton.
Art Off Symmes recently opened at 228 High St., in the historic mercantile building. Like its Fairfield counterpart, the store specializes in handcrafted, American-made items from artisans from across the country.
Sherry Armstead, who owns both shops, said the Hamilton store is smaller and offers mostly “gifty” items, with less of the home decor merchandise that’s featured at the larger Fairfield outpost, 1000 Symmes Road.
Holiday Shop in 10th Year
Godfrey, IL – More than 36 handpicked vendors line the walls of Resurrection Lutheran Church each year when Holiday One Stop Shop takes place.
Glass artist Michelle Strader, of Shoozles Fused Glass, began bringing her wearable glass art to the Holiday One Stop Shop when it started 10 years ago, because she knew craft and Christmas show organizer and coordinator Stacey Loveland, who also is a church member.
The 10th annual Holiday One Stop Shop will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 1211 Homer Adams Parkway in Godfrey.
Fleurir: Not Your Average Chocolate
Washington, DC – Take a quick left turn onto P Street and you’ll want to keep walking. Why, you ask? There’s a new chocolate shop in town, thanks to Team Fleurir. Ashley Hubbard and Robert Ludlow are chocolate connoisseurs. They’re a young married couple with an extensive background in food, specifically chocolate. They’ve just launched Fleurir Chocolates, a cool new artisanal local chocolate shop, in the heart of Georgetown.