Archives: News
Retailers Counting on Cyber Monday as Bright Spot of Challenging Holiday Season
(Washington) — People who don’t want to fight Black Friday crowds will have a less chaotic shopping option just three days later. Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving, is expected to be more promotional than ever this year as retailers offer one-day sales and special offers to bring holiday shoppers online.
On Cyber Monday, the ceremonial kickoff to the online holiday shopping season, online retailers will debut thousands of promotions to show what websites have to offer this holiday season.
Discover best practices for business success: Americasmart University
(ATLANTA) — AmericasMart University (AMU) – the home/gift/area rug industry’s most complete retail business education program – gives January 2009 Market buyers unmatched learning opportunities with a slate of facilitators drawn from the highest echelon of designers, consultants, tastemakers and business practitioners.
Global Product Resources Announces New Company Headquarters
(San Diego, Calif.) — Global Product Resources, Inc. (GPR), manufacturer of the popular brand of decorative floor and table top fans known as Deco Breeze, has moved its company headquarters into a larger facility in San Diego, California.
Now located at 10801 Thornmint Road, Suite 170, the new space will accommodate the company’s rapidly growing product line and allow for the expansion of DecoGlow, the company’s new brand of decorative candles to be launched at its January 2009 showrooms nationwide.
Puppy love
Mini chocolate cupcakes. Cinnamon rolls. Peanut butter cups.
But the baked goods sitting on the counter of the Pooch Barkery in downtown Ayer aren’t meant for the human palate.
If you bite into those yogurt-covered, sprinkled pretzels, you’ll taste garlic and chicken. The donuts – cheddar and bacon. And those tortes? They’re turkey-flavored.
Yuck. To you, maybe.
The bakery with the playful name is just one recent addition in a flourishing market catering to doting pet owners.
A not-so-simple gift
They don’t offend. They’re easy to pick out. And people love to get them.
Gift cards have mushroomed into the most requested holiday gift by consumers. Nearly 55 percent of people want to receive a gift card this year, according to the National Retail Federation.
But the troubled economy is likely going to affect the way you and other consumers spend on gift cards. And there are more precautions you should take when buying one this year.
If you do get a gift card, it might not be for as much as it was in the past.
Gift shop prepares for its first Christmas in Maumee
A newly relocated stationery and gift boutique is preparing for its first Christmas in Uptown Maumee.
The Birds & the Bees moved from Perry’s Landing to 103 E. Wayne St. in June.
“We were on Louisiana Avenue, but we weren’t in the downtown area.
Holiday season has small businesses owners ‘nervous’
Wallingford, CT – Running Simply Special has been a dream come true for Geri Wasilewski. She opened the gift shop in Madison in 2001, but moved it to Wallingford about a year later. In Madison, her shop was one of several. In her home town, she’s special.
“To tell you the truth, I did much better here,” said Wasilewski, who grew up in town and went to Lyman Hall High School.
Wasilewski says her business, on North Colony Road, has done well even in the face of increasing competition from big box stores.
Retailers expect a merry – but frugal – Christmas this year
Holiday shopping is predicted to increase in the Tucson area with more dollars spent than last year despite the free-falling economy.
National holiday shopping forecasts call for increases in the 1 percent to 2 percent range, the lowest since 2002, but they are increases nonetheless.
The International Council of Shopping Centers on Oct. 24 predicted a 1.7 percent increase in holiday shopping, but revised that down to 1.0 percent.
The National Retail Federation predicted a 2.2 percent increase in holiday shopping Sept.
Fido first: Pet boutiques bucking trend
The economy hasn’t gone to the dogs yet — or at least not to Fido’s kibble.
Despite a sagging stock market and signs of belt-tightening throughout the retail sector, Boston’s four-legged friends are still getting their preppy collars, organic treats and spa treatments. The news is good for area pet boutiques, which have thrived in recent years.
“My business is four years old and is still continuing to grow month to month over last year,” said Jeff McKee, owner of The Barking Cat in Salem. “I think what it comes down to is a cutback in terms of quantity?
Candyrific launches expanded Airheads, M&M’s products
(Louisville, KY)- CandyRific, a leading novelty candy manufacturer, is debuting out-of-the ordinary candy lines for 2009. New lines of Airheads and M&M’S products range from Slinky candy pops to embossed collectible tins.
New Airheads Products:
Airheads Seasonal Finger Pops: Kids will delight with these fun pops! These fingers fit over your finger to create a crazy new look. But the fun’s not done when the .42 ounce Strawberry Airheads pop is gone, just remove it and keep playing.
A Tasteful Solution to a ‘Fruity’ Problem
(MINNEAPOLIS) – Pitting cherries. It’s every baker’s tedious chore and every parent’s nightmare. Not only is it time consuming and messy, it can be unsafe for adults and children alike.
New Creative Introduces Garden Jewels, Garden Decor
(Milford, OH) — New Creative Enterprises (NCE), a leading designer and manufacturer of outdoor living decor and gift items, is wowing customers with its top-selling Garden Jewels Collection. The new collection of garden decor and accessories features items adorned with jewels to reflect the sun’s light and add sparkle and charm to any spring garden.
Gift for Life to host January Casino Party
(NEW YORK, NY) — Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, today announced the exciting details of its 17th anniversary party. Gift for Life’s STAKES ARE HIGH Casino, Benefiting DIFFA, will be held on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009 from 6-10 p.m. at La.venue New York, located at 608 W. 28th St. in New York City. The popular event will take place during the New York International Gift Fair.
The new party format will feature gambling, food, drink, music and dancing.
Carlton Varney to Share Storied Career at Las Vegas Design Center’s First Friday Series
(LAS VEGAS) –— One of the best-known interior and restoration designers will be featured Friday, December 5 during First Friday at the Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center Las Vegas.
Carlton Varney of Dorothy Draper & Company will speak from 10-11:30 a.m. during the monthly First Friday event. His presentation will take place in the Las Vegas Design Center (C-184) of World Market Center’s Building C, 475 South Grand Central Parkway in Las Vegas. Varney is president of New York-based Dorothy Draper & Co.
Gift shop has many surprises
The new gift shop in the Women’s Center at Graham Regional Medical Center is no ordinary store.
This GRMC Auxiliary Gift Shop is manned entirely by volunteers from buyers to salespeople. And many of the caring volunteers have a vested interest in the needs of new mothers or cancer patients, the two main focuses of the gift shop.
Kandy Maberry, the gift shop chairman, has seen what patients and their families go through. Her sister fought breast cancer at the age of 25, and her father died of colon cancer.
Shoppers Say Word of Mouth is Biggest Influence on Purchase of Electronics, Apparel Items
Washington, November 21, 2008 – When it comes to buying apparel and electronics, shoppers are most interested in hearing from their peers about products, retailers and past shopping experiences.
New exhibitors sign on; others expand space at CHA winter show
(ELMWOOD PARK, NJ) – Illustrating the resilience and importance of select trade shows in a down economy, the Craft & Hobby Association 2009 Winter Convention & Trade Show, to be held January 25-28 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California, will feature more than 50 new exhibitors and an additional 75 that have expanded their booth space from last year’s event.
Fashion, Facebook, and ‘Flaunt’ at California Gift Show
(Los Angeles, Calif.) — Who says education has to be mind numbing and dull? At the upcoming California Gift Show (www.californiagiftshow.com), Jan. 16–19 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, retailing is fundamental and the course load is easy on the eyes and pocketbook. All events and seminars are free for show attendees.
Gym class was never as fun (or sexy) as Flaunt, choreographed by Danny Teeson of Queer Eye for the Straight Girl fame, returning to the California Gift Show for two shows daily.
Gift Card Spending Drops as Budget-Focused Holiday Shoppers Look for Bargains
(Washington) — Shoppers’ price-conscious mentality is taking a toll on the season’s most-requested present: gift cards. NRF’s sixth annual Gift Card Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, found that gift card sales will fall nearly six percent this holiday season to $24.9 billion, down from $26.3 billion last year. Fewer people plan to purchase gift cards this year (53.5% vs. 56.6% last year) and gift card shoppers will be spending less overall on the cards ($147.33 vs.
Fiesta Debuts New Product at Toy Fair
(Vernon, Calif.) — February promises to be big fun at the New York International Toy Fair with the 2009 introductions from California-based lifestyle gift and plush toy maker Fiesta. These latest arrivals not only provide loads of cuddly soft interactive fun, but also promise hours of creative play and educational value.
Lazy Beans – were first introduced by Fiesta in the spring of 2004. Leopards panthers and monkeys, oh my! The line has grown in numbers, as well as popularity. There are 15 new jungle themed animals in this lazy zoo for 2009.