Archives: News
Chocolate Shop Opens in the Lane
Petersfield, UK – CHOCOHOLICS are in for a treat this summer after a new shop selling top quality confectionery opened for business in Petersfield.
Cocoa Moon, near Chapel Street, is nestled among the boutiques and restaurants of Bakery Lane.
The shop sells a unique selection of fine chocolates in all shapes and sizes from both Europe and closer to home, which can be gathered together to make customised gift baskets, ideal for birthday presents, wedding anniversary gifts or even children’s parties.
ARTGARDEN Pottery Evolves with Economy
Moses Lake, WA – Laura Mayer is proud to be an artist who weathered and survived the recession.
Mayer, the owner of ARTGARDEN Pottery in Moses Lake, once owned an Ephrata pottery store for five years.
The recession started and sales decreased.
She adapted by selling her pottery at art shows. This summer, she attended shows in Everett and Bellevue.
Area Retail sales Remain Strong in July, Experts Say
Monroe, LA – National retail sales for July rose the largest amount in four months, and local officials believe the trend is also true in Monroe.
Randy Barnett, manager of Pecanland Mall in Monroe, said figures for July won’t be complete until later this month, but that all signs indicate sales have been doing well this year.
“After talking with tenants, we feel really good about July and going into August. We had strong sales in June, and if we continue that trend, we will be up,” he said.
Familiar Name, but New Store Offers New Line
Fostoria, OH – The name may be familiar, but Alan Kaminsky Jewelers L.L.C. is a new kind of store.
Business owner Alan Kaminsky said former patrons will hardly recognize the 111 S. Main St. jewelry store when they revisit post renovations.
The walls have been entirely re-done and new lighting and fixtures have given the store an entirely new feel and design.
A Slice of Downtown: Inside River City Art and Wine
Waynesboro, VA – Downtown Waynesboro has many cute little shops to offer tourists and locals alike. River City Art and Wine Emporium is in a class all of its own.
Opened in 2008, the shop was originally started to fulfill a longtime dream of proprietor Eileen O’Rourke.
Apricot Lane Boutique Opens at WDW’s Downtown Disney on Aug. 12
Orlando, FL – Apricot Lane Boutique has opened a new store at Downtown Disney on Aug. 12, 2011. The new shop, which appeals to mothers and daughters alike, is in the Pleasure Island district of the 120-acre retail, dining and entertainment complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
Apricot Lane, a “Hot Concept” award winner by the International Council of Shopping Centers, carries branded fashion apparel, jewelry, handbags, and accessories to create the most-current looks at an affordable price.
Biz Buzz- Merrifield Business Combines Docks and Gifts
Merrifield, MN – In a tough economy where the silver linings are often illusive, a Merrifield business owner is trying to carve out a living on rough retail ground.
Jim Bergquist’s shop, Crow Wing Docks, Lifts & Gifts, has a distinctive look on County Highway 3. The business name hangs on a shingle above the front door, moving with the breeze. On the rooftop, a figure — which appears to be a man relaxing in a chair fishing — is designed to attract eyes from the moving vehicles.
There are plenty of those it would seem as the traffic moves steadily by.
Melissa Zaki’s Beaded Inspirations
Phoenix, AZ – During a trip to Flagstaff in the late ’80s, Melissa Zaki wandered into a bead store carrying a diamond stone with a peculiar request.
She didn’t want the jeweler to create a piece for her, and she didn’t want to sell it. Instead, Zaki asked woman behind the desk to drill a hole in the middle of the diamond so she could make it into a necklace herself.
After finishing her piece, Zaki brought it back to the bead store to show the owner. She was offered a job on the spot.Years later, Zaki’s back in Phoenix, and now sells her creations at Bunky Boutique.
Bahamians, Come to Florida for Tax-Holiday Shopping
Fort Lauderdale, FL – It’s not just Florida residents who marketers are targeting for this weekend’s back-to-school, sales-tax holiday.
The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau is encouraging islanders from the neighboring Bahamas to come to South Florida to shop on goods exempt from sales tax through Sunday.
The tourism bureau placed ads on Bahamas radio and newspapers and also distributed flyers in Bahamas markets to encourage Bahamians to shop in Broward County, even sweetening the offer with hotel and shopping packages, said Bureau President Nicki Gross
Unique Yarns Among Many Treasures at New Store Within a Store in Chagrin Falls
Chagrin Falls, OH – The Village Herb Shop at 17 East Orange St. in Chagrin Falls was where I met up with Catherine Hougan last Thursday afternoon while racing around to find candles for my hubby’s birthday party.
On Friday Hougan had a “soft” opening for her new entrepreneurial endeavor entitled “The Artful Yarn.”
On Saturday I returned to the shop.
Hougan talked to me about “being in the right place at the right time” and how things just kept coming together for her as she envisioned opening a store.
NYIGF Appoints Two New Advisory Board Members
Two industry veterans – Thompson Lange of Homescapes Carmel and David Gooding of Juliska – will join the seven-member Advisory Board of the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), effective with the summer 2011 market.
Comprised of both attendees and exhibitors, the Board meets semi-annually with show management to offer strategic feedback related to the gift and home market in general and about the NYIGF in particular. The next scheduled Advisory Board meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 17, at New York City’s Jacob K.
Diane Carnevale Jones To Step Down As GHTA Executive Director
Effective September 15, 2011, Diane Carnevale Jones will step down as Executive Director of the GHTA to concentrate on building her new business, the Carnevale Jones Group. Her firm provides strategic products and services to clients, both within and outside of the Gift and Home industry.
Marc Rice, president of the GHTA says, “Heartfelt thanks to Diane for her many years of service to the GHTA. On behalf of the organization, I wish her much success in her new venture. Diane was a joy to work with. Under her watch, the GHTA accomplished many of its goals.
Go Anywhere Booster Seat is Sitting Even Higher With its 2011 Creative Child Awards
Whether it’s at the local diner or at the kitchen table, babies love eating with the family. That’s why portable booster seats have become so popular. Of course, until the invention of the Go Anywhere Booster Seat from Polar Gear Baby, most portable booster seats were uncomfortable, clunky plastic risers. This newest enhancement in the lives of American families not only keeps a baby safer, but it also lifts them higher. That’s a boost to babies’ self-esteem.
Gift Shop Opens
Orland, CA – Orland has another gift and craft shop to entice shoppers searching for unique local goods.
The Rusty Wagon opened Tuesday on Walker Street with a variety of wares on sale.
It is a project of the Glenn County Office of Education’s adult education program — employing people with developmental disabilities — while teaching them workplace skills.
Mandy Gets Inspiration for Business!
South Shields, UK – A GIFT shop which closed earlier this year has re-opened after one of its former workers started her own business.
Inspirations card and gift shop has moved into the former Best Wishes store at the Viking Centre in Jarrow’s Bede Precinct.
The shop has been brought back to life by Mandy Keighley, 43, who is offering everything from greeting cards to wedding gifts, balloon displays for parties, and collectable ornaments.
The Christine Clarke Collection is on Fashion Alert in the Best Way Possible!
Douglas’ latest line extension, the Christine Clarke collection, is stepping up every fashionista’s game this fall with their posh, edgy and elegantly fun fashion accessories for young women everywhere. A portion of all proceeds from the Christine Clarke collection will go to support women’s causes worldwide.
“What young woman wouldn’t want a trendy, hot accessory that perfectly finishes her look,” asks Christine Clarke, Creative Director, Douglas Company.
Magnet Works’ MatMates Go Global
Magnet Works Ltd, a leading provider of outdoor home décor accessories, has announced it is shipping its MatMates™ interchangeable doormat and comfort mat system to retailers and distributors in Europe and Asia beginning this summer.
Many international buyers took interest in the MatMates™ line after its debut at the International Housewares Show in March, but Magnet Works negotiated its first sale outside North America with a Russian retailer, Tvoy Dom, in late spring.
“Frankly, Russia might be the last place I expected to be our first exporting country,” said Curt Todd, C
Woodstock Music Collection Celebrates the Chimalong’s 25th Anniversary
The Woodstock Music Collection®, a division of Woodstock Percussion, Inc. and worldwide leader in the manufacture of premium musical gifts, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its top-selling Chimalong®, a metallophone (xylophone-like instrument), featuring nine tuned tubes, each labeled with a number, letter and color system for music notation education.
Brandwise Develops for iPad; Leads Industry Toward Hardware Independence
Two-time ICON Honoree for Technology Innovation, Brandwise, has announced the development of an iPad compatible product that will enable the use of its award-winning technology on the popular device.
New Store is Toy Heaven
Bedford, UK – A NEW toy shop has opened its doors to shoppers in the town centre.
Gift Fuzion, which opened last month in the Harpur Centre, offers a wide range of children’s toys and gift ideas.
With hundreds of products in store including soft toys, cars, puppets, dolls, action figures and water game toys – owners say youngsters will be spoilt for choice at Gift Fuzion.