Archives: News
Gourmet Golds Competition Yields Over 100 Entries
White Plains, NY – With the August 8-10 Gourmet Housewares Show® just around the corner, momentum continues to grow as innovative companies from around the world launch new lines and enter unique products into the acclaimed Gourmet Golds competition. Selecting judges from top industry publications – trade and consumer – ensures that the winners in each category are truly the best of the best!
Gourmet Housewares Show exhibitors have been submitting new products introduced to the trade market between March and August of 2009.
Taggies Further Expands Distribution: Netherlands, Europe, Israel and South America
Spencer, Mass. – Taggies, Inc., the award-winning line of children’s products, announced today that it will be expanding its presence internationally; adding a new logistics center in the Netherlands, distributors in Europe and Israel and a new sales team in South and Central America.
Freightways, a third-party logistics organization providing customized distribution services in the Netherlands, was selected as Taggies’ brand fulfillment center.
Bella Ink Designs’ Debut Album Now Available
Lombard, IL—At the National Stationery Show this past May, Bella Ink Designs gave retailers a sneak peek at their first, all-inclusive album. Bella Ink is now accepting orders and the album, containing Baby, General Party, Holiday and Wedding stationery, is available to ship.
Bella Ink’s album designs maintain the elegant and whimsical artistry that people have come to know and love through the company’s line of imprintables.
Sayville shops band together to weather recession
Angela and Vincent D’Aguanno, owners of Rumpelstiltskin Yarns in Sayville, noticed that some of their customers cut back on knitting classes and saw impulse purchases drop as the recession went into full swing in 2008.
The economic downturn has meant that Barbara Whitbread, proprietor of the Seafarer Gift Shop also in Sayville, staffs her store on her own while also watching her 4-year-old twins.
And Ross Ranaudo, owner of American Pie on Sayville’s Main Street, said he’s seen foot traffic decrease by 50 percent, a result of both bad weather and the economic slowdown.
Yet,
A Country Florist headed for home
New Lenox, IL — For 23 years, Bonnie Norton has driven down U.S. 30 each morning to open the doors of her New Lenox flower and gift shop, A Country Florist. Now, Norton will still open her doors, but she won’t have to drive to do it.
The longtime New Lenox resident is moving her business, currently at 354 W. Maple St., into her home, and Norton is looking forward to the change in scenery.
“I’m very excited to be moving it home,” she said.
Amy’s boutique, ‘a cute vintage shop,’ finds success on Sanibel
Talking Shop with Amy Horton, owner of Amy’s Something Special Boutique on Sanibel. Something Special is an eclectic gift and clothing boutique.
“I’ve been here five years, so you get an idea of what the customers like,” said Horton. “I just set out to open a cute vintage shop and it seems to be retaining its quality.”
Amy’s Something Special Boutique is located at 630 Tarpon Bay Road at Periwinkle Way, in the Olde Sanibel Shoppes on Sanibel Island. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Big pitch by stores before tax rises
Struggling retailers in Massachusetts are rolling out huge discounts and blasting e-mails and letters to consumers, urging them to make big purchases before the 5 percent sales tax increases to 6.25 percent on Aug. 1.
“Those people on Beacon Hill are doing it to us again!
Selling downtown: Recruiter focuses on sparking area development
Armed with enthusiasm and the belief that the recession won’t last forever, Deanna Inniss is aiming to restart retail development downtown, a difficult task even in a good economy.
“I see it can come back again,” said Inniss, in a lunchtime chat at the Milwaukee Public Market. “You need visionaries and you need pioneers to start it.”
Inniss, a New York native, is a retail veteran recently hired by the downtown Business Improvement District No. 21. The district is a public entity that has authority to tax businesses within its boundaries.
Back-to-school sales start early
Everett, WA — School’s out for summer, but school supplies are in.
And retailers are rolling out deep discounts early as consumers are expected to scale back their back-to-school spending.
“The economy has clearly changed the spending habits of American families, which will likely create a difficult back-to-school season for retailers,” said Tracy Mullin, president of the National Retail Federation.
The group recently released the results of its back-to-school shopping survey, which predicts about $47.5 billion in retail revenue from school and college spending natio
Christian fragrance, skincare company gets national attention
Athens, TN — A “soft” launch of His Witness Scents, the largest collection of Christian fragrances and luxury skincare, was subtle when operations were tucked away in a downtown boutique in Athens.
Although a formal grand opening of the faith-based fragrance company was bypassed, national attention was still granted as rave reviews from customers and retailers alike poured in, earning them a spot on “Specialty Retail Report’s 13th Annual Guide to Top Cart & Kiosk Start-Up Packages.”
“Specialty Retail Report,” with a readership of more than 75,000, is a national magazine which
CL entices shoppers to spend locally
Crystal Lake, IL – City officials want to lure back-to-school shoppers to Crystal Lake with a new incentive program.
The City Council approved the $50,000 shopping program earlier this month as part of a $600,000 stimulus package.
Shoppers who spend a combined total of $300 in the city between Aug. 1 and Aug. 8 will be eligible for a $30 gift certificate good at local stores.
Fair Trade and Green Products Still Doing Well Even in Hard Economic Times
A recent study conducted by the Ethical Corporation Institute (ECI) has found that consumers are continuing to buy ethical products despite the state of the economy. Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance certified items are especially in demand. An increase in consumer awareness, a continuing shift towards sustainability, and the desire to improve a company image can all be linked to the increase in popularity of ethical products.
Manomet gift shop now open
Plymouth, MA — Shoppers can find “a little bit of everything” at SuJo’s, the new gift shop at 629 State Road, because it’s the kind of place its owner likes to shop.
When Susan Presti shops, she knows what she likes, and she wants their customers to know they can find what they’re looking for at SuJo’s. She and her husband, Joe, opened their Manomet shop Friday. Susan said she wants shoppers to have a reason to return.
“My goal is to have repeat customers,” she said.
Stores Take Christmas In July More Seriously
A small display of snow-topped villages and ornaments sits nestled between the mattress and hardware departments at the Sears store in Manassas.
Hammerhead’s Ace Hardware in Largo operates a gift shop, too
There’s no sign outside that says so, but Hammerhead’s Ace Hardware has a double identity.
It’s a spacious hardware and garden store, but it’s also home to a glamorous gift shop with everything from whimsical wall clocks and baby clothes to high-end handcrafted serveware and crystal oil lamps.
Women often find it by accident when they begrudgingly tag along with their husbands looking for drill bits and electrical tape.
When the store opened in fall 2005, Rick Kinney of Seminole wanted to stop in and look around.
Expanding in a recession: Periwinkles plans 3rd store
Bill and Linda Kirshenbaum, owners of Periwinkles for Her gift shops at Westroads Mall and Village Pointe, plan to paint the new store at Bel-Air Plaza pink and call it “Pinky”Winkles.
“It’s scary opening a new store in this economy, but I think we found a great little spot,” said Linda Kirshenbaum.
Locally owned businesses adapt to downturn; some move, others close
Santa Cruz — Local retailers are doing their best to generate sales in a down economy. Some are moving or changing their format while others are packing it in.
Central Coast Running moved from 600 River St. to 1101F Pacific Ave. after Citibank closed. Owner Adam Boothe said the location in the River Street shopping center was “too hidden” for his two-year-old store specializing in athletic apparel and footwear.
“When the economy went south, I was faced with a drop in sales and was planning on closing the business,” Boothe said.
Store mixes relaxation, retail
LeAnn Ebersviller spent years in the corporate world, suffering much of that time from tension headaches.
Massage offered her some relief, but the cost and time involved prevented her from having massages as often as she needed them.
Then she found quick, cost-effective healing in aqua massage and decided to open a business to share the remedy with others.
“This is just a great alternative,” Ebersviller said. “My muscles stay loose with the more consistent massages, and I don’t get the headaches anymore.”
Ebersviller opened Aquablue at 4955 17th Ave. S.
Shop keepers told to change paint colour
Liz Massey and Sheila Beech, who own Past To Present, could be forced to redecorate their shop front in Church Street after completing the makeover without planning permission.
The business partners had called on Derbyshire Dales District Council to advise on installing a hand rail for elderly and disabled customers but later found themselves slapped with a letter over breaking the conservation area rules.
Planning chiefs have now informed them the light blue colour, which has been visible for the past year, is not ‘in keeping’ with the Victorian-style colour scheme and retr
Pride Family Brands’ Traditional Looks Grow with the Addition of the New Vienna Collection
Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Pride Family Brands, manufacturers of high quality cast aluminum outdoor furniture, introduces for the spring of 2010 the Vienna Collection. To be marketed under the Castelle brand, the entire Vienna offering has been designed to emphasize traditional styling with added elegance and strength.
“Vienna was inspired by the quality craftsmanship that is found in fine wood furnishings and was transferred to weather resistant cast aluminum by our team of artisans,” said Jamie Lowsky, CEO of Pride Family Brands.