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Christmas in July; Retailers order stock, cross fingers for holidays
Shoppers might not think about Christmas in July, but you can bet their favorite stores do.
For some retailers, the weeks between Halloween and New Year’s generate half – or more – of their annual sales. Where they fall on the solvency scale on Dec. 31 can depend on whether they stocked the right merchandise mix for the holidays.
It can also depend on the weather.
Business keeps open doorway to the past
Most market analysts wouldn’t recommend opening a new business in the current economic climate.
But Suzanne Hines had both nostalgia and deeply rooted history on her side when she opened Mixed Bag on Memorial Day in Hamburg Township’s village area south of M-36.
The building at 10596 Hamburg Road was built in 1870 and was first a general store and then Hamburg Hardware.
So far, Mixed bag has drawn crowds of people interested in the store’s antiques, books, art pieces and gifts, as well as the snapshot of Hamburg’s history it provides.
Several customers in their 60s a
Monroe women band together to offer makeovers to those in need
Five Monroe women, who each know how to put their best foot forward, are helping other women who need a leg up.
They’ve organized Freshen Up Your Image With Monroe’s Main Makeover for Sept. 15.
Women may submit a 500-word (or shorter) essay about why they or someone they know deserves a makeover. Entries are due Aug. 20.
For more information, call Paula Fortier, 360-805-5136.
There will be first-, second- and third-place winners.
Aurora’s YooHoo “WannaBes” Highlight Mid-Year Plush Releases
Pico Rivera, CA – Aurora World Inc. has announced the newest additions to its best selling plush category YooHoos & Friends, including a line of four “WannaBes” which feature YooHoo & Friends dressed as other popular animals (eight inches, MSRP: $8.99). Children ages five to 12 will appreciate exploring the YooHoo & Friends virtual world and free interactive web site YooHooFriends.com, which successfully launched in June 2009.
Bucking the downturn: New Anniston store opens
Not only have items been flying off the shelves at Trish Land’s store of the same name, the shelves are going fast, too.
Although it calls itself a home and garden store, Land’s shop on East Moulton Street is filled with an eclectic blend of vintage furniture and gifts from all over the world.
“I love old things, things that tell a story,” Land said. “I work really hard to find unique pieces.
To brighten your day: Store offers, books, gifts, ice cream
“It’s my happy place,” said Tallie Gray about her new store location in Granby.
Gray finds bliss in retail, but mostly as the seller, not the shopper.
When she was 5, she would peddle donuts to people waiting in long lines for gasoline during the 1970s oil embargo.
“My dad gave me a little wagon and I would go up and down selling donuts and coffee,” she said. “I just wanted to make people happy. I know it’s conducive to inner happiness, too.”
But shopper, she is not.
“I’m not a shopper myself. I actually hate shopping.
Fun and flirty
What woman doesn’t like to indulge in a little retail therapy?
That is the question Celeste Saltzman has been banking on for the past year as owner of the Saginaw Township women’s boutique, Retail Therapy, 30 N.
Retailers hope for back-to-school boost
Like most retailers throughout America, Jody Tanner’s two Bulldog Sporting Goods stores in Athens rely heavily on back-to-school business, especially since it is the industry’s second biggest selling period after the Christmas holidays.
“We really depend on back to school, so we’re hoping for an upswing,” Tanner said recently.
New York International Carpet Show Moves to 7W New York
New York, NY — 7 W New York is proud to host the fifth annual New York International Carpet Show (September 20-22), the world’s leading trade show of high-end decorative and Oriental carpets. Trade professionals will discover the most current and innovative products by visionary artisan weavers, including new introductions, creative collections, and must-have one-of-a-kinds. 7 W’s popular Designer Day series will take place during NYICS with a panel discussion on the design value of the decorative and Oriental rug led by prominent designer and author Roderick N.
Aromatique Introduces New Fragrance at the Summer Markets for Fall/Holiday 2009
Aromatique, the creator of Decorative Fragrance, proudly shows the 2009 Fall and Holiday collection at the summer markets for buyers representing areas from around the world. This exciting collection includes decorative fragrances, candles, reed diffusers, fragrant oils, and room spray as well as a luxurious personal bath care products. Consumers are attracted to the variety of high quality fragrances Aromatique offers, which allows them to adopt their home decorating to the changing season.
Returning this fall are the ever-popular fragrances of Cinnamon Cider and Pumpkin Spice.
NYIGF Forges Partnership with Regional ASID Chapters
White Plains, NY — The New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) has forged a new partnership with the New Jersey and New York Metro chapters of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) through which ASID will exhibit at the summer 2009 market and NYIGF will offer regional chapter members a number of benefits in connection with the Fair.
ASID is a community of interior design professionals who must pass rigorous acceptance standards: a combination of accredited design education and/or full-time work experience.
NYC Restaurant Week Extended Through NYIGF
White Plains, NY — One of New York City’s most popular promotions, NYC Restaurant Week®, has been extended into August, coinciding with the summer 2009 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), August 15-20. NYC Restaurant Week offers New York Market participants three-course prix-fixe lunch ($24.07) and dinner ($35) menus at more than 250 of the City’s hottest new and established restaurants.
Participating restaurants, located throughout Manhattan and the boroughs, represent both casual and formal dining in a variety of cuisines.
Retailers Highlight Accessories; With New Wardrobes a Tough Sell, Chains Try Belts, Bangles and Bags
Clothing retailers are expanding their collections of belts, bangles and bags in hopes these high-margin accessories will boost slumping sales.
Casual wear retailer J.Crew Group Inc. opened its first accessories boutique last month in New York and soon will release its third accessories catalog. Accessories accounted for about $165 million, or 12% of its sales last year, almost double the amount in 2004.
Gap Inc. launched the first accessories-only branch of Banana Republic, called Edition, in May. And Henri Bendel, part of the Limited Brands Inc.
Shopping now is all about dollars and sense
More frugality, less splurging: Ten months after last fall’s financial upheaval, amid an ongoing recession, local shoppers are still reluctant to spend – especially on items that aren’t necessities.
The result is rippling across the region in the form of declining sales and tax revenues, dormant development and more empty shopping space.
Marketing 101: Direct Marketing vs. Personal Marketing
Effective marketing is leagues away from how it was thirty years ago.[i] This is primarily due to the increase of “mainstream knowledge”. While effective marketing still needs to be targeted, relevant, measurable and accountable, the literature suggest that for a business to get its message read, watched, listened to, etc., it must be targeted towards a segment of the market, whether that segment is based on demographics, usage, etc.
Ingberg unleashes ‘Love Dog’ and ‘The Lakes’ apparel
Cheryl Lynn Ingberg’s jewelry and apparel are making a splash around lakes country.
The Fargo native opened a shop seven miles outside of Vergas last year (located at the Crystal-Lida Resort on County Highway 4).
“I was driving through the area on my way to Fargo when I saw the place,” she recalled. “I peeked inside and noticed it was being used as a storage building.”
Seeing potential, she contacted the owners and quickly struck a deal to open a gift shop that would feature handcrafted jewelry and apparel.
“I love the freedom of owning my own business,” she said.
Krazy Daze to be ‘rock ‘n’ rollin’ back prices’
Edmond — Krazy shopping fanatics can take a step back into the 1950s during the 56th annual “Krazy Days” sidewalk sale in downtown Edmond from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The event’s rock ‘n’ roll theme correlates with the year of 1953, which was when Hoot Gibson, owner of McCalls, started the tradition. Karen Morton, president of the Downtown Edmond Business Association, said the way she understands it is that Gibson was on vacation in a town that was having a similar event.
Scentsy pumped out $100,000, and local business owners are breathing a little easier
For Amy Turner, who owns Olsen Gallery Gift & Framing in Meridian, the visits were a blessing.
Scandle Body Candle Announces Eco-Friendly Gifts for The Holidays
Dallas, TX – Scandle® LLC, the leading manufacturer and wholesaler of the finest quality massage candles and complimentary spa products, today announced their eco-friendly gift solutions for the 2009 Holiday Season featuring hand-made, sustainable gift packaging.
Scandle’s Holiday Gift line will feature Sinamay gift packaging hand made by artisans in remote villages around the world.
Low-Income Consumers Driving Demand for Green Products
Contrary to the idea that higher-income shoppers are most interested in “green” products, lower-income shoppers are actually driving demand for sustainable product purchases, per a study by Atlanta-based retail design and strategy firm Miller Zell.
The study revealed that while income doesn’t always indicate a bias toward green products, low-income shoppers are most willing to pay a premium for products marketed as green.