Archives: News
Alexa’s Angels Inspires Town to “Pass On the Positive”
Windsor, CO — Alexa’s Angels, a Windsor-based inspirational gift jewelry manufacturer known for its high quality, original designs, recently held a unique event designed to help fellow residents honor the anniversary of a devastating tornado that ripped through their town one year ago on May 22nd 2008. The company hosted a “Pass on the Positive” food drive and handed out newly designed bracelets featuring the word “positivity” in exchange for a non-perishable food donation.
New York Gift and Home Textiles Market Week at 7W New York
New York, NY – 7 W New York will heat things up this summer during the New York Gift & Home Textiles Market Week (August 14-20). 7 W’s all-star line up of showrooms will be ready for attendees with brand new offerings and events. In addition, 7 W plans on enhancing this year’s market by embracing all aspects of the gift and home textiles industry including fine arts – a category that greatly influences trends in the design industry.
Meet Your Merchant: Quite the novel shop
Kit Hattem gets a little nervous when she looks at her bedside table and doesn’t see a stack of books. Fortunately, the owner of The Book Seller in downtown Grass Valley doesn’t have to look far to keep that table stacked to the lamp-top and beyond.
Hattem purchased The Book Seller from Nancy Rains in 1985, after working for her almost nine years. “I’ve been around the store for a long time and have seen a lot of changes,” said Hattem. “I was actually with Nancy when she started it. I was busy having kids at the time and really didn’t want to jump in with both feet yet.
Scandle® Body Candle Announces Affiliate Program
Dallas, TX – Scandle® LLC, the leading manufacturer and wholesaler of the finest quality massage candles and complimentary spa products, today announced The Scandle® Body Candle Affiliate Program which allows retailers to make money selling Scandle’s unique line of spa candles and spa products utilizing their existing online traffic.
New members can sign up and obtain their unique URL for Scandle’s affiliate program at http://abodycandle.com/affiliate.php.
Economic downturn makes finding summer jobs tough for teens
It’s a tough time to find a job.
Now imagine trying to land one if your only “work experience” is household chores or baby-sitting.
“I applied to like 20 places, and the only thing I got was a job at Hollister for four hours a week,” said Vanessa Royle, 17, a senior at Presentation High School in San Jose. “I went into Jamba Juice and it was all adults.”
As of April, the national unemployment rate is 8.9 percent.
Economy suspected in shoplifting increases
A 31-year-old woman selected two pairs of shoes worth $100, hid them, and tried to walk out of a West Valley City J.C. Penney.
In a Taylorsville Harmon’s, a 24-year-old man stuffed strawberry milk, vanilla pudding and salmon rolls into his coat and ran before he was caught.
Female artists find financial strength in numbers, open shop
It is a match made nearly perfect by their creativity, experience and adventure.
Twelve area women have teamed up to open Inspirational Cup and Gift Gallery, an arts and crafts shop located at 2724 Brady St., Davenport.
Each woman has her own story of how she ended up as part of this unique business partnership. But for most, the love of their craft and the necessities of life played a role, said Diane Michele Wall, who serves as business manager and is owner of the house.
Accents makes the move from Freeborn to Alden
Alden — Jolene Bute recently moved her flower and gift shop Accents to Alden from Freeborn, and the new shop opened Dec. 13, 2008.
The biggest difference, Bute said, has been the traffic flow, which she said is much greater in Alden than in Freeborn and leads to more walk in- customers.
“We’re just so much more conveniently located.
Deborah Ann’s Rainbow SCORES a win in Dennisport
Dennisport – Debbie Hagen never set out to build a better mousetrap.
But on June 2, the owner of Deborah Ann’s Rainbow in Dennisport will be among 15 Cape business owners honored by SCORE for, “having survived the critical first five years of operation and appear to be headed for long-term success.”
Seven years ago the Boston-born nurse who grew up in Provincetown and now lives in Chatham made a life change.
SF Int’l Gift Fair Announces Seminars and Plans for Summer
San Francisco, CA: Generations of people have left their heart here. This summer, however, lucky attendees to the San Francisco International Gift Fair® (www.sfigf.com), August 8—11 at the Moscone Convention Center, will leave with an education and just possibly an online video to share with the blogosphere.
“Like other industries, the gift industry is increasingly competitive,” said Aubin Wilson, show director, San Francisco International Gift Fair.
Exciting NYIGF Promotion Offers Mets Tickets
White Plains, NY — Four lucky retailers will win tickets to see the New York Mets play in their inaugural baseball season at the all-new Citi Field during the summer 2009 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), which runs Saturday, August 15, through Thursday, August 20, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94.
Through NYIGF’s “Take Me Out to the Ball Game!” promotion, two retailers will be selected at random to win two free tickets each to the Mets’ Monday, August 17, game against the San Francisco Giants.
Elmore shop gets new look
Elmore — For years, the Red, White, and Blue gift shop has been a mainstay in Elmore.
Recently, owner Joanne Price decided to take the shop in a different direction, so she closed the store for a few months over the winter. She reopened this spring with a whole new look and a whole new purpose.
Price has scaled back on some of her own stock and is instead featuring the merchandise of local people who rent space in her store.
“We have eight consignment people,” she said. “We redid the shop and put in booth spaces that people rent from us.
Retail Details – New store satisfies cupcake cravings
Need to satisfy a sweet tooth this weekend? It’s a piece of cake.
A cupcake, that is.
Coastal Cupcakes, which has been selling its confections on Princess Street in downtown Wilmington since last July, has opened a second location just before the bridge to Wrightsville Beach at 7210 Wrightsville Ave. The new shop, up and running since May 21, has its official grand opening on Saturday.
Starting at noon, drop by for cooking demonstrations, giveaways, samples and a kids’ decorating table.
Mirror, Mirror: A store of his own
There is no way you can make the fashion rounds in this town and not know Jimmy Contreras.
The quick-to-call-you-babe self-made style arbiter built his reputation in contemporary fashion by attending the city’s chicest events. At the grand opening of the Union Trust steak house, he was there. The welcome party for Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels at Two Liberty Place? He was there, too. At the opening event for the Franklin Institute’s Galileo display?
GIFT SHOP Magazine announces successful completion of 2009 ‘Ultimate Makeover’
Hanover, Mass. – GIFT SHOP magazine is proud to announce that Mary Louise Van Der Wilden, owner of Le Papillon—Accessories, Clothing & Gifts in Rumson, NJ, is the recipient of its 2009 ‘Ultimate Makeover.’
Roberta King, territory manager for OneCoast, nominated Van Der Wilden for several reasons. “This store has been in business for many years, owned by Mary Louise and her husband. When he passed away a few years back she rose to the occasion and with her strength, kept it going.
Blossom Bucket, Inc. enhances online experience
North Lawrence, Ohio – Blossom Bucket, Inc. announces the addition several new features and enhancements at their website, BlossomBucket.com.
“Customer satisfaction is always our first priority at Blossom Bucket, Inc.,” says President Cindy Lowry, “and good communication is a key element for success.
Larue Barnes: Selling ‘cool stuff’
While Christi Schmidt runs her shops at Nolan River Mall, her husband, Steve, travels across the nation, selling their jewelry and fashion accessories at conventions, trade shows and fairs.
“Steve’s recognized many places we travel,” she said. “When our family visited Disney World, I heard somebody say, ‘There’s the purse guy!’
“He’s also a human map. He knows his way around any city.”
Her brown eyes flashed as she smiled. She is very much at home in her shop — the business world has been familiar to her since childhood.
No stranger to shoppers City has always been a retail draw
People have been traveling to the Rogers area to shop since the War Eagle Mill Arts and Crafts Fair began in the 1950s. Now, even when it’s not craft-fair weekend, there are diverse opportunities to shop.
Tom Galyon of the Convention and Visitors Bureau said his staff stresses shopping opportunities when they talk to people planning conventions.
Gourmet Housewares Show® Attracts Diversity of Exhibitors
White Plains, NY — The 2009 Gourmet Housewares Show’s® return to San Francisco in a new summer timeframe has generated a great deal of positive feedback from vendors geared up to do business at the August 8-10 Show. A diverse roster of well-known companies and brands is expected to create a valuable marketplace for retailers seeking new fourth quarter product, as well as a head start for planning 2010 assortments.
Every relevant product category in the gourmet kitchenware business will be represented at the 2009 Gourmet Housewares Show.
July Temporaries at 4,000 Booths and Growing at AmericasMart
Atlanta, GA—Exhibitor confidence in AmericasMart’s July 2009 Market continues to grow with more than 200* vendors expanding space in the burgeoning Temporaries “Market within the Market” featuring more than 4,000 booths in 25 specialty product categories—in addition to the more than 2,000 permanent showrooms within the four-building campus.
Fueled by growing demand and continuing momentum sparked by the spectacular January 2009 Building 2 WestWing debut, the Temporaries remain strong for the July 2009 showing. Case in point: The Memory Company, which shows in the Collegiate