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Economy shrinks as spending ebbs
The US economy contracted in the third quarter as the sharpest drop in consumer spending in nearly 30 years erased any remaining doubts that the nation is in a recession, analysts said.
The Commerce Department reported yesterday that the economy shrank at a modest 0.3 percent annual rate in the quarter ended Sept. 30, a better than expected performance that helped send stocks soaring yesterday.
Gift shop for the horsey set
IL — A Western-themed gift shop has opened at the Sundance Saloon at Fountain Square, where the music is Country and Western, and most of the patrons are cowboys and cowgirls at heart.
“We’re doing great, considering we just opened a week ago,” said Susan B. Behringer, an interior designer and a horse woman from Wadsworth, known as an equestrian community.
The store, called Susan B. Designs, is on a loft overlooking the huge bar and dance floor.
New owner changes look, merchandise at Linden Tree
Noblesville, IN — Rori Anderson will open the Linden Tree for business Monday, and she’s already wondering what she’s gotten herself into.
Anderson, 47, Westfield, is starting her first full-time job since she quit teaching to raise kids more than 20 years ago, though she’s worked part time for years, including as a Realtor for F.C. Tucker. The hours have been long, but she’s hoping the effort pays off when she opens the doors for customers.
It’s her first go as a business owner. Anderson bought the downtown home decor/gift shop at 856 Logan St.
Dallas offers cost-effective destination, growing resources
(DALLAS) –– Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, today announced that the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market taking place January 14-20, 2009 will maximize the number of new resources, information, and events to help retailers thrive over the coming months. New showroom openings and thousands of new product introductions will help prepare retailers for the selling season. In addition, buyers will experience dozens of educational seminars, walking tours, networking opportunities and special events created to educate and to celebrate.
Gift shop set to open downtown
Kathleen McFall was diving south on Pontiac Trail when she got to Whipple Street and noticed a ‘for lease’ sign on the corner building.
She had always wanted to open her own store, but never really gave it much thought until her sister, Elena Morrison, encouraged her to call the number listed.
McFall called, met with building owner Richard Phillips, and immediately fell in love. She signed the lease Aug. 30, and opened Kathleen’s jewelry and gift shop on Oct. 16.
This is McFall’s first storefront business, but she is no stranger to working with customers.
On Main Street, Shops Partner to Make Registers Ring
Oswego, NY — Gas prices may have come down but with the economy in a tailspin and consumer confidence at its lowest since 1967, small shop owners are taking preventive measures in order to survive what is expected to be the worst holiday season in years.
Pat Hansen, owner of the Hand of Man holiday gift shop in Owego, NY, is teaming up with other local shop owners to drive business this holiday season.
Pat Hansen says she hasn’t yet seen a slowdown in sales at the Hand of Man, a gift shop brimming with twinkling holiday vignettes in Owego, N.Y., but said she plans to skip a
Online retail to grow strong with Web 2.0, despite economic downturn
(LONDON) – WorkLight, the Web 2.0 for business specialist, says the e-tail industry is growing strong as Web 2.0 and social eCommerce initiatives are adopted to promote customer-focused, cost-effective business in a time of economic uncertainty, based on two industry reports recently published by Forrester / Shop.org and Retail Systems Research.
According to a Forrester Research / Shop.org report, entitled the “State of Retailing Online Profitability, Economy and Multichannel”, e-tailers are expecting an average annual growth rate of 25 per cent this year alone, and 35 per cent say they
Shaman Chocolates introduce Organic Flavors
(Soquel, CA) – Shaman Chocolates is pleased to announce it has expanded its collection of gourmet, organic chocolate bars to include two new flavors. All profits from the sale of the certified organic and Fair Trade Shaman Chocolates help support the Huichol Indians, a tribe living in central western Mexico in the Sierra Madre Mountains, who are said to be the last Indigenous Tribe in North America to have maintained their pre-Columbian traditions.
Shaman Chocolates blends only the purest certified organic and Fair Trade chocolate with the finest organic ingredients available.
AmericasMart: New home in January
(ATLANTA) — AmericasMart HOME is poised to undergo a dramatic evolution following the debut of Building 2 WestWing during the January Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and the Atlanta International Area Rug Market featuring the National Oriental Rug Show. The move of Living, Outdoor/Indoor, The Gardens to the new building has opened two entire floors in Building 1— soon to be solely dedicated to Home product.
Demdaco announces addition of world-renowned artist to portfolio
(LEAWOOD, KANSAS) – Demdaco is pleased to announce the new license of artist, world-renowned naturalist and painter Marjolein Bastin to our extensive collection of gifts and home accents. With five new and innovative collections of more than 150 items, Nature’s Journey is Demdaco’s largest launch ever.
Spend less on toys, have just as much fun with Think-ets
(Boulder, CO) – Let’s face it. We’ll all be looking for ways to save money this holiday season, but nobody really wants to sacrifice value in the process – making Think-ets your perfect solution. For only $9.99, kids from 8 to 108 can stimulate their imaginations, and have some serious fun, with a new game that’s portable AND affordable.
On top of that, it’s simple. Think-ets players start off with a bag of 15 tiny treasures from around the world (all the little treasures in a bag will be different).
Pinching pennies? Not these proud pet parents
Rosemont, Ill.—Emilie Wilson’s menagerie includes 15 ferrets, two dogs and four cats, including a hefty gray feline named Tonie Stewart who rides in style inside a pet stroller during family outings.
Wilson spent $300 on Christmas gifts for her brood last year and figures she’ll exceed that sum this year.
Wholesale Show Returns to 7W NY
(NEW YORK, NY) — This January 23-29, 7 W New York Gift & Home Textiles Market Week will become the ultimate shopping destination for thousands of retailers across the country with unmatched product resources and amenities.
In addition to an extensive directory of gift, home and textile showrooms, in-suite events and receptions, 7 W will be treating its visitors to its own assortment of themed parties, extended shopping hours, giveaways, and complimentary amenities and services throughout the week.
Retailers Get a Treat This Halloween As Spending Tricks Recession
LA — While the economy is facing its darkest days in decades, one small sector is defying the downward trend. With 17 percent of the population actively participating in Halloween activities, total retail spending this Halloween will be up 5 percent — to $5.77 billion — according to IBISWorld Inc, one of the nation’s most respected independent publishers of business research.
IBISWorld believes there are two main factors contributing to growth in Halloween sales: higher prices and pure escapism.
The Secret Garden calls Pace home
Fortunately, it’s no longer a secret. Pace is home to a unique new florist and gift shop named The Secret Garden.
If the catchy name and cute little frog sitting amidst purple flowers on the store’s sign haven’t caught your attention as you drive along U.S. 90, then the story behind the new business will.
Owner Sarah Cummins, 31, is finally realizing her life-long dream of owning her own flower shop.
Woman takes family chutney recipe to the public
North Carolina — Five years ago, Margot Walser took her annual chutney canning operation to Raleigh to teach her daughter and two friends how to make the 50-year-old family recipe.
The laborious, two-day process of purchasing and cutting up ingredients, washing jars, cooking and bottling the seven-fruit chutney was becoming too much for the 70-something Walser to continue. So daughter Carolyn W. Johnson was the last hope to keep the family tradition alive.
“At the end of the second day, I said this was my first and last time doing this,” Johnson said.
Magnet Works makes major move
(ST. LOUIS, MO.) — The continuous growth of outdoor décor manufacturer MAGNET WORKS, LTD. has necessitated a move to a new facility. The company, whose popular products include MailWraps magnetic mailbox covers, BreezeArt garden and standard size flags, Yard DeSigns metal address stakes and plaques, and MatMates, interchangeable door mats, has done remarkably well in what otherwise is seen as a struggling economy.
The move, scheduled to take place before the end of the year, will provide MAGNET WORKS with nearly three times the space as their current facility.
Tremendous selection, convenient location define March 2009 Virginia Gift Show
(ATLANTA) – Returning to the state-of-the-art Virginia Beach Convention Center from March 1-3, 2009, the third edition of the Virginia Gift Show promises to meet the specialized buying needs of retailers from Eastern North Carolina to Delaware by offering a cost-effective, convenient resource for their restocking and new merchandise needs.
“Finding the best in souvenir, resort and gift products has never been easier nor more cost-effective for area retailers since the Virginia Gift Show brings a tremendous selection together in an easily accessible location with a full roster of time an
Jumping Jack Press scores Silver Moonbeam award
(CHICAGO) – Jumping Jack Press, the pop-up book imprint from Up With Paper, was honored with the Silver Moonbeam Award for the Best Pop-Up or Cut-Out Book published in 2008 for its Splish Splash, Dog Bash title.
The company’s first everyday title, Splish Splash, Dog Bash, authored by Anne and George White, illustrated by Jason O’Malley, and engineered by Bruce Foster, features a neighborhood of mischievous dogs at their annual pool party on the first day of school.
Iota To Unveil 2009 Collection
(Basalt, Colo.) — Iota, a division of C.R. Gibson, is pleased to announce its colorful new collection for 2009, one marked by inventive paper stationery items and new product categories never before offered by this trend-setting design company.
Nine brand new patterns (dressed in a palette of nine brand new colors) debut on iota’s core stationery essentials and gift items including folded notecards, boxed notecard sets, gift wrap, journals, gift tags and notebooks.