Archives: News
What’s Up: Layoff opens door to antique, gift store
Bonnie Osswald is a believer in the saying that when one door closes another one opens.
So when she was laid off from her job as a secretary for Catholic Charities, she saw it as an opportunity.
Osswald and her husband, Steve, on June 16 opened Honeycomb Gifts & Antiques in a small outbuilding next to their house at 2802 E. Wausau Ave. in Wausau.
Making ‘Made in USA’ mean more
“Buy American” and “shop local” are more than just concepts for Julie Deemie. They’re the base of her new business.
She opened American Made Toys & Gifts this spring in the existing storefront of Art Allure Custom Framing on Avenue B in Johnson City.
Papel Giftware License and Trademark Becomes Available to the Industry
Los Angeles, CA – The licensing agreement between Stanley Papel, owner of the Papel Giftware trademark, and The Encore Group will expire on December 31, 2009. Accordingly, the trademark and numerous Papel Giftware designs will be available for sale or licensing, effective January 1, 2010. The announcement was made this week by owner Stanley Papel.
“Papel Giftware has been a leader in social expression giftware since 1955,” stated Stanley Papel. “The line is currently being sold in the USA, Canada, the UK and Australia.
Mall patrons returning buzz to Arizona Center
Throngs of tourists and a neighborhood building spree have helped turn things around at Arizona Center, a 19-year-old outdoor mall that was a pioneering downtown Phoenix redevelopment project.
There are questions about the mall’s future.
In April, Arizona Center’s parent company, General Growth Properties Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
But for now, “it’s absolutely business as usual” for mall customers and shop owners, said mall General Manager Chris Bilotto.
Veggie Art Girl Boutique now open
The Veggie Art Girl Boutique is now open in Holderness, offering creative designs, unique finds and earth-friendly art and gifts.
From the Smoky Mountains to Squam Lake, freelance artist Stacey Lucas has done some traveling and has returned to her hometown to open her own consignment art shop, which will hold an open house on Saturday, July 11, from noon to 6 p.m. Featuring free live music, face painting, door prizes, demos and refreshments, she wants to welcome the community to her unique shop.
“I want to offer people something completely different,” said Lucas.
A dot-com chant; Cash-strapped monasteries use Web to make ends meet
Georgia – More than half a century into a life at one monastery, Father Anthony Delisi is busy experimenting with fudge.
After chocolate, maple walnut and peach brandy, he’s unveiled the new eggnog flavor —- perfect for the season.
“We are looking to expand our industry, ” said the 78-year-old Trappist monk at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers.
Gone are those days when monks only needed hogs, sickles and rye seeds to survive.
Jellybean Goes to the Dogs
Jellybean™ brand accent rugs offers 16 dog themed designs for the gift and specialty retailer.
Among the designs offered in 2009 are both general dog themes, like Doggie Treats by designer ©Caroline Forbis, as well as breed specific designs like Yorkie with Drogonflies by well known dog breed artist, ©Paper Russells. The Jellybean™ dog themed accent rug is colorful, whimsical, and great for dogs and dog lovers of all shapes and sizes.
All of the dog themed Jellybean™ rugs are available in size 22″ x 34″ with a wholesale price of $14.75 per piece.
Hinsdale shopping plan would boost local economy
Amid a challenging economic climate, a Hinsdale business organization has a challenge for shoppers: spend $50 a month at small businesses in the village.
The concept, being adopted by other municipal and business leaders across the country as well, seeks to buoy the local economy and prevent more mom-and-pop-style shops from closing. Customers are asked to pick three independently owned businesses that they cannot live without and shop there regularly.
Store owners create a custom lifestyle
Walking through Lauren Smith and Derek Fagerstrom’s Mission District apartment, it’s hard not to get inspired to make something.
With ingenuity to spare, the couple have filled their 500-square-foot rental with one-of-a-kind furnishings and accessories. Their do-it-yourself projects, many of which have been published online or in print, can be found in every room.
This is not a home modeled after a slick showroom or stylized catalog. And these craft and design enthusiasts wouldn’t have it any other way.
For retailer buyers, a tall order for the holidays
Bradley Hilton is looking for bargains.
As buyer for San Francisco-based Gump’s, Hilton is in Dallas looking for lower-priced versions of pillows and throws than ones traditionally featured in the Christmas catalog.
He is among the thousands of retailer buyers putting the final wrap on holiday 2009 at Dallas Market Center’s home and gift market ending today.
Preoccupied with the uncertainties of this year’s holiday retail season, Hilton is packing 65 vendor visits into a four-day trip.
He keeps asking himself: “Would I pay this much for that?”
Buyers are the re
Local woman on mission to “offer Tennessee products” at all state parks
Shirley Knight is on a mission – and she has already been partially successful.
The Dover woman, who has already mounted a successful initiative to have the Kentucky State parks sell locally-produced products rather than things made in China, is on a campaign to get the Tennessee State Parks to sell locally produced arts, crafts, photos, etc.
Knight’s efforts began in early 2008 when she was a regular visitor to bingo games at Barkley Lodge.
Going into the gift shop, she noticed that all of the “Kentucky” items were made in China.
Knight wrote to the governor but
County museum’s gift shop great for unique souvenirs
The Becker County Museum Gift Shop is featuring items made right here in Becker County. In addition to its Detroit Lakes, Becker County and Minnesota-themed gifts, the gift shop has locally made items from Candles by Jess, Wood You Tell Me, Nature’s Embrace and Lake Hailey Embroidery; all companies from Becker County.
Visitors can find an abundance of reading materials including fiction and non-fiction books about this area. Local authors like Don Westrum, Nancy Brekke, Mary Michaelson and Vernette Leslie are showcased.
Shop Glendale campaign kicks off
The Glendale Office of Tourism is launching Shop Glendale 2009-2010. The marketing program is aimed at engaging businesses within the community and encouraging residents and visitors to patronize local shops, so tax dollars remain in the community.
Shop Glendale offers businesses a chance for exposure with a discounts to shoppers through discount cards, said Jennifer Stein, city spokeswoman.
Businesses of all sorts, from restaurants to retailers and service providers can participate in the program.
Creative Child Magazine honors Simple ABC Blocks and My First Train Set from Maple Landmark
Middlebury, VT – Creative Child Magazine has named two new Schoolhouse Naturals brand products to their 2009 Honor Roll. My First Train Set was selected to receive the 2009 Preferred Choice Award in the Classic Wooden Toys category while the Simple ABC Blocks were named 2009 Toy of the Year also in the Classic Wooden Toys category.
Newcomers Bring International and Green Resources to Three Home Textiles Market Week Venues
White Plains, NY – The summer 2009 Home Textiles Market Week® in New York will feature a fresh mix of international and domestic resources, as well as an influx of “green” and sustainable products, with more than 40 companies joining the market’s nearly 500 mid-to-high-end home fashions suppliers this summer.
The semi-annual market, which is produced and promoted cooperatively by the New York International Gift Fair®(NYIGF®) at New York City’s Jacob K.
Hickory Stick named among top 10 quilt shops
Hannibal, MO — Pat Waelder, owner of Hickory Stick Quilt & Gift Shop in Hannibal, said she was “shocked and surprised” when she learned her shop had been named one of the top 10 quilt shops in North America. She learned of this honor from Better Homes and Gardens, which told Waelder her shop was chosen from among 3,000 quilt shops.
“This is one of the highest honors you can receive in the quilting industry, as far as a shop goes,” Waelder said.
Tribe uses native plants in spa products
Creosote bush, the fragrant, yellow-blossoming bush that covers Valley mountainsides, is a key ingredient in a new line of spa products developed by the Gila River Indian Community.
Known to members of community by its Pima name, shegoi, creosote has traditionally been used in herbal teas, healing balms and even to cure ailments in animals, said Belen Stoneman, spiritual healer at Gila River’s Aji Spa at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort.
“My mother would keep shegoi in an old pickle jar,” said Stoneman, who grew up in the community and worked as a massage therapist and a cultural
LittleMissMatched to open children’s retail store
New York — LittleMissMatched, the children’s gift, apparel and home accessories company that grew from the idea of selling socks in odd numbers that don’t match, is opening a store in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The company partnered with IT’SUGAR, a candy store, to create a destination where “fashion fuses with fun.”
“We have always seen a synergy between LittleMissMatched and candy as our colors and patterns are responsive to the sweet treat.
Americasmart University—Strengthening Business Across the Industry—Exclusively Here
Atlanta, GA—AmericasMart University (AMU) takes center stage this July as the industry’s premier educational program, offering buyers at the 2009 International Gift & Home Furnishings and Area Rug Markets a comprehensive schedule of renowned business classes.
Gourmet Housewares Show® Expects Innovative Companies From Around the World
White Plains, NY — The 2009 Gourmet Housewares Show® expects unique international first timers and varied sorts of US based exhibitors to take part in the August 8-10 Show in San Francisco. With new, smaller companies joining the ranks of large corporations, the show is sure to please retailers with great price points for every pocket. As the Show approaches, the mounting energy reflects attitudes of retailers and exhibitors alike.