Archives: News
From wary to merry
While fiscal storm clouds may be signalling a less-than-festive sales season for many businesses, it appears local merchants such as Jonathon Bancroft-Snell aren’t anticipating lumps of coal in their stockings when Christmas figures are tallied up.
In fact, the owner of Canada’s largest contemporary Canadian ceramic art gallery says November was the best month the business has enjoyed since opening eight years ago.
“Our business is generally good year-round and Christmas usually accounts for about 30 per cent of our annual retail sales,” he explains.
“While we haven’t made
OneCoast Expands Relationships with Three Leading Vendors
(PITTSBURGH, Penn.) — OneCoast, the largest and only national provider of sales and marketing services to vendors and retailers of gift, home and collegiate products, announced that several leading vendors will expand their representation with the sales agency’s home & lifestyle group.
Seasons of Cannon Falls, C.S. Post & co. Bring Christmas to Tonight Show
(Cannon Falls, MN) – Midwest, leading designer and manufacturer of the Seasons of Cannon Falls brand of holiday and seasonal home accents, premium Colonial Candle brand of candles and Delight brand of accents to brighten the home, is proud to announce their ornaments and wreaths were selected to be a visible part of the holiday decorations on the set of NBC’s top rated The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Set designers from The Tonight Show ordered holiday ball wreaths and wreath ornaments through Midwest customer C.S. Post & Co.
The Artful Alternative
Michigan City – For those whose minds go blank in big box stores, or find mall shopping to be a mind-numbing experience, there are holiday shopping alternatives.
A wide variety of one-of-a-kind gifts can be found in the more intimate atmosphere of the Gallery Shop at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, 101 W. Second St. It features original art created mostly by area artists, including jewelry, hand-blown glass, ceramics, hand-cut puzzles, metalwork items, unique pieces created from wood and hand-knit scarves and hats. Gift wrapping is free.
Guilt-free gifts not made in a sweatshop
Maybe last year was the year for gifts made in sweatshops in China and massive toy recalls. This year is the year for guilt-free gifts made from sustainable materials, if you listen to the folks at downtown L.A.’s Garment Worker Center, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve working conditions for the region’s garment workers.
The Garment Worker Center last week opened a Fair Trade Pop-Up Store at 1250 S.
National Stationery Show reveals pre-show report
(NEW YORK, NY) — As North America’s leading marketplace for discovery, education and networking for the social stationery industry, the 63rd annual National Stationery Show (NSS) will prove to be a business essential for more than 14,000 retailers and industry professionals and 1,100 key exhibitors, May 17-20, 2009, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
New Creative Partners with Genesis Marketing Group
(Milford, OH) — New Creative Enterprises (NCE), a leading designer and manufacturer of outdoor living décor and gift items, announces its partnership with Genesis Marketing Group, Inc., a leading inspirational representative group that will provide nationwide support for New Creative’s Christian markets.
The niche sales agency will focus on New Creative’s popular Seeds of Faith, Inspirational Flags and Love of Life collections.
Explore the riches of Americasmart’s children’s world
(ATLANTA) — This January, more than 1,000 children’s and juvenile apparel and home furnishings product lines unite under one roof only here … only in AmericasMart’s Children’s World, which opens its doors to gift and home furnishings market buyers on floor 13 of Building 3 in advance of its expansion to floor 14 in July 2009.
The AmericasMart’s Children’s World January 2009 showing features the complete permanent product collection on floor 13, enriched with the newly expanded temporary collection on floor 3.
PMC welcomes Meissenburg Designs to its collection of showrooms
(SEATTLE) – Pacific Market Center, the leading permanent wholesale market on the west coast, announces the latest addition to its collection of permanent showrooms, Meissenburg Designs. The new showroom opens in late November 2008 and will feature Meissenburg’s line of vintage inspired, personalized, wood and metal signs and frames, all of which are made in the USA.
“We are delighted to welcome Meissenburg Designs to Pacific Market Center,” said Lisa Goodman, marketing director of Pacific Market Center.
Unique shops at City Center
Like the New Town shopping center in Williamsburg, City Center in Newport News is primarily made up of large clothing retailers, such as Ann Taylor Loft, Coldwater Creek and Banana Republic.
But there are a handful of specialty shops and locally owned stores that make it worth fighting Jefferson Avenue traffic. Here’s a peek at them and some gift suggestions.
Sisters Unique and The Perfect Setting. Both locally-owned shops carry a large line of upscale home decor, with a focus on Christmas decorations right now.
PMC welcomes Meissenburg designs to showrooms
(SEATTLE) – Pacific Market Center, the leading permanent wholesale market on the west coast, announces the latest addition to its collection of permanent showrooms, Meissenburg Designs. The new showroom opens in late November 2008 and will feature Meissenburg’s line of vintage inspired, personalized, wood and metal signs and frames, all of which are made in the USA.
“We are delighted to welcome Meissenburg Designs to Pacific Market Center,” said Lisa Goodman, marketing director of Pacific Market Center.
Local retailers: Holiday shopping has been steady
Bowling Green, KY—The outlook was bleak, but local retail sales have been steady since the holiday shopping season officially began last week.
Even though national retail sales tumbled in November due to the slumping economy, several local retailers said their holiday sales have not dramatically dropped from last year.
“Sales have been pretty steady,” said Bob Irizarry, assistant manager at Target in Bowling Green.
When the Lavish Cut Back
Rome — With a world-weary sigh, Francesco Trapani slips off his $10,000 steel and white-gold Bulgari watch, revealing the band’s dull underside.
PMC welcomes “Banking safe, Banking smart” seminar
(SEATTLE) – Pacific Market Center, the leading permanent wholesale market on the west coast, is proud to announce William Wen, owner of The Papery in Edmonds, Wash. and banker for US Bank, to the exceptional line-up of speakers at the 2009 Seattle Market Week: Winter Gift & Home Accessories Show.
On Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 9 a.m. William Wen will discuss key banking strategies in his seminar “Banking Safe, Banking Smart.” Wen’s seminar will focus on current financial products and loans available to small businesses and retailers.
NYC Mayor proclaims “Home Textiles Market Weeks” for 2009
(WHITE PLAINS, NY) … New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has issued an official Mayoral Proclamation, declaring the two 2009 weeks – January 23-29 and August 14-20 – as “Home Textiles Market Week,” in New York City. This pronouncement recognizes these markets’ importance to the home textiles industry as well as their economic benefit to New York City.
“We’re proud to be recognized by City Hall as an important industry event in New York City,” said Penny Sikalis, GLM vice president and home textiles industry veteran.
World Market Center Las Vegas Expands Gift Resources
(LAS VEGAS) — World Market Center Las Vegas welcomed two new team members to focus on the growing gift and decorative accessory categories.
Michelle Ovalle joined World Market Center as Brand Manager, Gift and Specialty Categories and Margaret Powers is Leasing Manager, Gift and Decorative Accessories.
“Dedicated resources for these essential categories was vital due to growth and future development,” said Dana Andrew, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations.
Black Friday Not Black Enough
For most of the smaller retail merchants in Alexandria, Belle View Shopping Center and Hollin Hall Shopping Center “Black Friday” was not nearly as bleak as many had expected. However, it was nothing to cheer about either based on their Monday assessments.
But, the annually hyped sales day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, which many retailers depend on for a significant amount of their annual gross income does not have the same impact on smaller retailers as it does on the large retail chain stores.
Independent shops wonder what’s in store for the holidays
The holiday shopping season may be in full swing, but local independent retailers are feeling more cautious this year than joyful.
They don’t need to read the headlines to know we’re in a recession. All the evidence they need is in the increasing number of empty storefronts dotting the city’s busiest shopping districts.
For store owners, this holiday season is about survival. All the owners contacted by the Times said they have never faced a more nerve-wracking economic climate.
Some merchants get creative to boost sales
Pleasantly surprised, but still cautious, is how some owners of mom and pop stores in the South Hills are rating this holiday shopping season so far.
Some local business owners who traditionally have brisk sales breathed a sigh of relief Friday, Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, because foot traffic was higher than expected.
A 20-percent-off sale lured customers to Tutto Bella, a florist and gift shop in the Galleria in Mt.
C&F Enterprises to Open Las Vegas Showroom
(LAS VEGAS) — C&F Enterprises, Inc. leased a 10,540-square-foot showroom in Building C at World Market Center Las Vegas.
C&F Enterprises is one of the leading designers and producers of giftware, decorative accessories, quilted bedding and needlework, everyday linens and holiday merchandise.
The permanent showroom, C-599, will open in the fall of 2009 and will showcase the C & F line, Gallerie II, and licensed lines such as April Cornell and Colonial Williamsburg.