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7W Home Fashions Market Week
Energized by a successful Gift and Home Textiles Market week, 7 W New York is primed for a productive Home Fashions Market, September 19th-23rd. In addition to some brand-new and expanded showrooms offering distinctive fashion-forward items, the entire roster of top-notch home fashions suites in the building will be impressively well stocked as they await the arrival of buyers. The return of the ever-popular Affordable Art Fair will overlap with the market, September 21st-25th on 7 W’s 11th floor event space, creating additional buzz and activity across the building.
Brie Baker and Baked Brie Toppings
Gourmet du Village always includes toppings with their easy to use tableware items. They present their Brie Baker in an open top flap box, the inside of the flap is designed to act as a ‘POS’ Poster to illustrate the final use of the product with an appetizing photograph. For fall 2011 they have added a new display component, previously they struggled with how best to present the included pouch of Brie toppings, in itself not a very attractive element. They have added a round cover/insert designed to look like the finished Baked Brie.
A German Gem: Goodies at Gourmet Haus Staudt
Redwood City, CA – Head on over to Gourmet Haus Staudt at 2615 Broadway St., and it’s like stepping into a mini Germany, smack dab in the middle of Redwood City.
This booming business has been owned and operated by the Staudt family for more than 30 years.
Dubai Eid Shopping in Full Swing as People Strive to Look Their Best
Dubai, UAE – A festive air is beginning to grip city markets as shopping for Eid Al Fitr gets into full swing — with traders saying the economic situation is picking up.
From clothing, accessories and jewellery to shoes and gift items — a heavy rush of customers can be seen in shops in Bur Dubai and Satwa, especially after iftar.
“I have just started buying, there is lots of shopping to do — clothes, footwear. I think I am already late as I wanted to get new clothes stitched but the waiting time is long as there is [a] heavy rush with the tailors.
Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market Helping New Businesses Take Root in West Park Area of Cleveland
Cleveland, OH – Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market is becoming just like the farms where many of its goods originate. The market has provided fertile soil for entrepreneurs to plant “idea seeds” and, when nourished by hard work over time, a stable business has emerged. Some are growing independently of the farmers market.
That’s been the case with at least one business and may be near to happening with several others at the Kamm’s Corners Farmers Market, said Steve Lorenz, executive director of the Kamm’s Corners Development Corp.
Gift Card Monkey Turns Unwanted Cards into Cash
Des Moines, IA – After carrying around a restaurant gift card for a West Des Moines restaurant for a couple of years, Chuck Irlmeier of Norwalk found a way to convert it to cash. He sold it to Gift Card Monkey, a new franchise with an outlet in Jordan Creek mall.
Irlmeier got $37.50 for the card, which had a face value of $50.
“That card just sat there in my wallet unused,” said Irlmeier.
Art from the Very Heart of the Home
Heage, UK – Nestling in a house in Heage, a passionate artist is busy bucking the trend of manufactured gift shop goods.
For a year now, Helen Wilde has run her online company from her cottage on Ripley Road, selling quirky handmade craft, fashion and fine art.
Since starting up her website, www.fromthewilde.com Helen’s company now sells the work of a whole bundle of contemporary designers, artists and illustrators from all over the world.
And every product is a handmade labour of love.
Fresh Picks: Highlights From the International Gift Fair in New York
New York, NY – The Invention
Season’s Over? Ditch the Garden
Bacsac is a small Paris-based company producing bags you can plant in. The series includes pots, window boxes and a variety of sizes of gridded squares that can be planted as “raised bed” flower and vegetable gardens. Decks, terraces, balconies, roofs: Bacsac’s modularity and portability make them ideal for urban gardeners, or summer renters. The recyclable synthetic sack material is a double-walled “geotextile” fabric that is permeable and allows dirt to drain and breathe.
NYIGF Returns to Pre-Recession Size & Delivers Record Results
New York, NY – Marked growth in attendance and exhibitor participation resulted in the largest New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) since summer 2008.
Reflecting a pre-Recession level of business activity, the summer 2011 NYIGF presented more than 2,800 companies – 110 more than in winter 2011 – and attracted some 35,000 attendees. The summer 2011 NYIGF ran August 13-18, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 & 94.
Some Exhibitors at MAGIC Apparel Show Report Sales Jumps
Las Vegas, NV – The careening mood swings that have characterized the stock market in the past couple of weeks have intruded into the day-to-day economy as well.
As the giant MAGIC apparel show concluded on Wednesday, exhibitors reported widely differing results as retail store buyers tried to calibrate orders to expected customer demand.
Supporters Flock to Arts on Main Opening
Gastonia, NC – Watercolor artist Lorene Lovell of Belmont has a creative place to display her art, create new wonders and tell of how she began making world-class creations out of nothing at all.
She and 22 other resident artists now call Arts on Main home, at least during business hours.
The gallery and gift shop at 212 W. Main Ave., Gastonia, opened for the public at 11 a.m.
New Store has Lots of Cool ‘Junk’
Conway, AR – Sharon Kincade, formerly of Just T’s N fame, has opened Funky Junk at 1012 Van Ronkle St. in downtown Conway.
Kincade closed Just T’s N some time ago because she was struggling with health problems. She is feeling much better these days and ready to start something more fun and much smaller than her former business. She said she missed her customers terribly and she is happy to be doing something new.
Funky Junk is mostly about re-purposed furniture and décor.
Bauble Maker Charms Way into College Jewelry Market
Royal Oak, MI – Two years ago while recovering from brain surgery, Royal Oak jeweler Dave Schowalter had a gem of an idea: Create beads representing colleges and sororities from around the U.S. that can be added to the popular Pandora and Troll bracelets.
Now, the son of an ex-Alaskan gold miner’s Collegiate Bead makes the small sterling-silver baubles for 114 schools and 25 sororities from Wayne State and Alpha Omicron Pi to the University of Michigan and Theta Phi Alpha.
Enjoying the Move to Country Moodz
Brunswick Junction, AU – COUNTRY Moodz is a work in progress. Since owner Amanda Lovitt bought the Brunswick Junction gift shop late last year, she is slowly transforming it into a gathering place for like-minded craft enthusiasts.
The existing stock is gradually being turned over into Amanda’s more back-to-basics country style along with a selection of hand-made natural items made by Amanda and local craftspeople.
“If they’re into country decorating and the country feel, everything will be in here,” Amanda said.
“Made-in-America” Makes Snapi a Popular KitchenHappy Product
Snapi®, the single-hand server by KitchenHappy™, is grabbing Americans’ attention. Retailers across the United States are reporting that as customers experiment with Snapi in their playful counter displays patrons notice the American flag shown on packaging with the reassuring words, “Made in America.”
“Nine out of 10 times they’ll buy Snapi when they know they’re made in the USA,” Harrisville, Michigan’s Maggie’s On Main owner Deidre Gray said.
People want to buy American-made products to celebrate our nation’s workers.
Where Creativity is Cultivated
Pasadena, CA – Courtney Collins dreamed of planting a garden. Not in her yard, or even at her house, but in a store. Here, she wouldn’t grow flowers or vegetables; she would cultivate creativity.
Enter Little Junebugs, Pasadena’s newest crafting space and gift store for children and adults. Collins, a former art teacher and nanny, created the recently opened shop with co-owners Brian Flanagan and Andrea Jensen Wader.
Little Junebugs, (named for the June birthdays shared by Collins and Jensen Wader), is a whimsical venue for children and adults to make art.
Nautical Shop Taps Irene for Unique Sales Pitch
Sayville, NY – Seafarer is offering email fans a special hurricane event discount and even more if they don’t mind singing a quick tune.
One Sayville retailer is embracing Hurricane Irene’s impending arrival this weekend with a unique sale and marketing strategy.
The Seafarer Gift Shop issued an email this week alerting customers to its “Hurricane Sale” and offering 15 percent off when customers say: “Rock Me Like a Hurricane” at checkout.
NYIGF Returns To Pre-Recessionsize & Delivers Record Results
White Plains, NY — Marked growth in attendance and exhibitor participation resulted in the largest New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) since summer 2008. Reflecting a pre-Recession level of business activity, the summer 2011 NYIGF presented more than 2,800 companies – 110 more than in winter 2011 – and attracted some 35,000 attendees. The summer 2011 NYIGF ran August 13-18, at New York City’s Jacob K.
From the Aisles of the NYIGF, Part 3
The attention given to the visual merchandising of trade show booths can be inspirational for displaying merchandise and decorating retail areas. Buyers likely left the show with display ideas for use back at their stores.
Say It With Book Covers
Say It With Book Covers began as a retail display idea and now has a product booth of its own at the show. Not surprisingly, the booth was cleverly designed.
New Director for Ambiente and Tendence
Punctually for Tendence 2011, Messe Frankfurt has announced a new Director for the Tendence and Ambiente Team. From 1 September 2011, Yvonne Engelmann will take over the Giving section and assume responsibility for organising that part of the fair revolving around individual gift ideas, trendy lifestyle products and high-grade jewellery. “I am very much looking forward to the new challenge and the great responsibility involved in taking over this exciting, innovative and creative section”, says Yvonne Engelmann.