Archives: News
New Licensing Partnership between Joan Baker Designs and The Trail of Painted Ponies
A new licensing partnership has been announced between The Trail of the Painted Ponies and Joan Baker Designs, the original hand-painted art glass company. Both parties are excited about the synergy of working together, since both are known for innovative products and beautiful, original art.
According to Rod Barker, President of The Trail of Painted Ponies, his company and Joan Baker Designs are a great fit for these times.
National Stationery Show Partners with Get Married for Vibrant Wedding-Themed Event
White Plains, NY — The National Stationery Show® (NSS) and Get Married – the only multi-channeled wedding resource connecting wedding professionals, experts and brides with entertainment and news both online and on Lifetime Television – have partnered to produce a series of bridal-themed table displays, emphasizing the breadth of wedding products set to debut at the May 2009 NSS.
Through an eye-catching and eclectic collection of themed table vignettes, Get Married will collaborate with inspired exhibitors to showcase clever, innovative ways for retailers to create visual excitemen
Independent stores pump up the perks to lure shoppers
In these tough economic times, what’s a store to do to make sure it’s still in business a year from now?
“Get a tarot card reader,” said Emese Boone, owner of Box Turtle in Little Rock, Ark.
And she’s not kidding — Boone hired a local tarot card reader to give free readings during a recent jewelry trunk show in her clothing, jewelry and housewares shop.
Retailers like Boone are hoping special events, classes, blood pressure screenings and even career counseling will inspire shoppers to keep on shopping during the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression.
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Style Runway Fashion Show Exclusively Sponsored by CMC and Click
Atlanta, GA — Buyers get a first look at next season’s fashions…only at Atlanta Apparel…during the March 28-30 Market. Headlining the Market, the Style Runway fashion show, exclusively sponsored by CMC & CLICK, takes place Saturday, March 28.
Retailers will discover the nation’s newest trends and best lines in men’s, women’s, accessories and children’s attire. Debuting Fall ’09 and highlighting Summer ’09, the fashion show will showcase contemporary, children’s, accessories and other featured categories of Atlanta Apparel.
See Kai Run Announces Showroom Opening at Dallas Market Center
Seattle, WA — See Kai Run, popular manufacturer of the perfect first shoe for new walkers has opened a permanent showroom in Dallas, taking part in the Apparel and Accessories Market held March 12-15, 2009 at the Dallas Market Center. The showroom is in partnership with sister shoe company, Eleven Collection, as well as PicaflorKids clothing.
“We’ve always had a strong following in Texas and felt the timing was right to provide the best customer service available by having a permanent showroom in Dallas,” says Founder Cause Haun.
Briarpatch Honored with Nine Oppenheim Gold!
Millburn, NJ — Was it March Madness? Spring Fever? No, it was the excellence of the games and puzzles that lead to the unprecedented nine awards presented by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio to Briarpatch last week. The expert and kid testers gave the Briarpatch products the highest marks for being engaging and entertaining.
Marc Shinderman, Briarpatch General Manager said he was absolutely taken aback, as well as being very honored, by the nine Gold Seal Awards.
Wrapsody Celebrates Opening of Second Store
Auburn, Alabama — Wrapsody, a “hometown” gift and home accessory boutique that is trendy, urban and oh-so chic, will be opening its second location at 112 North College Street in Auburn, Alabama (334-887-7447). Wrapsody of Auburn is located in the former Heartstrings location, just doors down from the famous Toomers Corner in downtownAuburn. The brain child of owners Sarah Brown and Terry Shea, Wrapsody Inc. was created and founded in 2004 with a “celebration of giving” being at the very core of its evolution.
Gift shop owners get by in the slow economy
Scituate — They are carefully budgeting advertising dollars by e-mailing loyal customers. They are also supporting themselves with side activities, like selling wholesale products and doing alterations.
Business is hardly booming at local gift and boutique shops, but owners say it could be worse. Even in the worst economy, there are holidays and special occasions to celebrate, and that means there are gifts to buy.
“People are always going to buy gifts for the children.
Ala Moana’s “Shop a Le’a” Happening Now
Ala Moana Center’s “Shop a Le’a” event will feature local shopping enthusiasts with dozens of events in fashion, health and beauty, active lifestyle, home décor, travel, and cuisine.
Included as part of the event’s lineup are retailer presented fashion shows, trunk shows, Hawai’i exclusive products, lifestyle seminars and events at Centerstage, cuisine demonstrations, a center-wide gift-with-purchase incentive, mall-wide shopping and dining offers from the Center’s 290 merchants, a grand prize shopping vacation for two to Las Vegas, and much more!
One highlight in this year
A shop with a mission
Belmont, MA – On a typical weekday afternoon, the staff members at Peppermint Place are learning how to operate a cash register, how to stock inventory and how to help customers — all important tasks in the operation of a gift shop.
But these staffers are little different.
Austerity Hasn’t Squelched Everyone’s Will to Purchase
Alexa Choi did something recently that most Americans are avoiding. She spent money. Lots of it.
On Christmas Eve, Choi went to a BMW dealer in Fairfax County and bought a black 2009 sedan. Her mother’s objections did not deter her. Nor did the fact that the value of her investments had shrunk by 40 percent. And that $48,000 price tag? No sweat.
“At the end of the day, I knew exactly what I wanted,” said Choi, 31, manager of an Arlington County-based technology company. “I needed the car, I had the money.
Up With Paper Unveils Pop-up Notepads
Mason, OH – Up With Paper, the world’s leading marketer of innovative three dimensional greeting cards, announced that it will launch a new line of Pop-Up Notepads at the 2009 National Stationery Show in May. The new line, which will launch with a 9-notepad everyday offering, shipping in July, features entertaining, fanciful designs and unique pop-ups that add a dash of fun to what has been a largely utilitarian category.
The Organic Cotton Joobles Collection Wins a 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award
Madison, WI — The Joobles have it all. They’re cuddly, cute, affordable, eco-friendly and now they’re Gold Seal Award winners. The Organic Cotton Joobles Collection recently won the 2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award, and they’ve been nominated for the organization’s highest honor, the Platinum Seal Award, which will be announced later this year.
The Joobles are charming hand knit animals, made under fair trade conditions at small factories and co-ops in Peru. Each Jooble is made with organic cotton, grown without the use of pesticides or chemicals.
Blossom Bucket, Inc. signs Robin Davis
North Lawrence, Ohio — Blossom Bucket, Inc. licensing agreement with artist Robin Davis is a ‘heavenly’ collaboration, resulting in multiple collections, including Nature’s Blessings® Angels.
President Cindy Lowry finds the new partnership, “inspiring and refreshing. The Blossom Bucket brand has gained even wider appeal with the addition of Robin’s special touches of whimsy and imagination.
7 W New York Enjoys Successful Home Fashions Market With 7 New Textile Showrooms
New York, NY – 7 W New York, the city’s “finishing touch” resource for gift, tabletop, home textiles and decorative accessories, welcomed the addition of seven new permanent showrooms to its growing roster of tenants. The building celebrated with official ribbon cutting ceremonies during the spring Home Fashions Market, March 9-13th.
Clinton Embroidery Shop Celebrates Opening
Clinton, NJ — Expressive Stitches will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday on East Main Street.
It sells gifts embroidered on the premises and covering occasions from the birth of a baby to a 50th anniversary.
Group of artists steps in, remotely, to help Omro Gallery
Omro, Wisconsin – Some days Jill Hennes doesn’t even make it into her shop with the art pieces that have begun arriving by mail from artists around the country. She sells them before she can make it to Omro Gallery, a picture framing shop, art gallery and gift shop she and husband Pete run at 115 E.
Bravery in the face of recession
With consumers watching their spending, credit tougher to obtain and unemployment rising, this might seem an inopportune time to launch a small business.
Some local entrepreneurs are thinking differently.
A gift to the community, the patients
When the weather is too cold and windy in the winter or hot and muggy in the summer to go outside for a break, there’s a place in both local hospitals visitors can go for relief.
“It smells good, it looks good,” said DeLauna Jobe, volunteer manager at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. “It’s a break from the tensions that go on here.”
Both St. Mary’s and Integris Bass Baptist Health Center gift shops are staffed mostly by volunteers.
Tastemakers: Cleveland woman folds works of origami art for jewelry, more
Her fingers fly over a square of paper no bigger than an inch and a half. In about 30 seconds at her dining room table, Ginger Wankewycz has folded a delicate crane the size of a quarter.
She folds while watching television in her home in Cleveland’s Old Brooklyn neighborhood or while sitting in a doctor’s waiting room — anywhere her hands are idle. The Japanese art of origami has captivated Wankewycz (pronounced Vonk-e-vich) since she was 8.
That’s when her aunt gave her a book about the art of folding colorful paper into animals and other shapes.