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Where did you get that?
FERNDALE, Wash. — It’s what women around the world love to ask when they see something they must have. A new fashion trend for 2009, the Bra Barrette is turning style around and showing that jewelry is not just for the front anymore. Combining the FUNCTION of holding straps together with a FASHIONABLE looking design, the Bra Barrette is a new accessory for any woman.
The Bra Barrette comes in three basic styles: Unadorned, Charmed and Crystal. Unadorned Bra Barrettes are perfect for wearing on bra straps underneath clothing to keep straps in place comfortably all day long.
NYIGF accepting applications for Young Designers’ Platform
(WHITE PLAINS, NY)– Young designers – including students, recent graduates, or new companies in business for one year or less – are invited to participate in “A+: The Young Designer’s Platform”, an “incubator” exhibit area within Accent on Design at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF). Applications to participate in the winter market are available online and will be accepted through Saturday, November 15, 2008.
A+ showcases emerging talents alongside some 200 established contemporary design resources exhibiting in Accent on Design.
Whereoware Launches Bungalow Website
Herndon, VA — Whereoware, a web-based technology provider with a strong reputation for its work with some of the top names in the gift and home décor industries, announces the launch of a new business-to-business website and integrated web marketing campaign for Bungalow, a fashion forward lifestyle designer, importer and manufacturer of decorative bags, tabletop, flooring accents and home accessories.
The website, www.bungalowco.com, features Active Merchandiser, Whereoware’s dynamic catalog viewer, which provides retailers with a variety of display options, easy navigation through B
Springs creative products group introduces Throw-to-Go
Rock Hill, S.C. – Representatives from Springs Creative Products Group, LLC announced today that the company has released the Throw-to-Go backpack in a variety of popular licensed designs including Disney, John Deere, NASCAR, Coca-Cola and Hershey.
The Throw-to-Go features a stylish backpack that unfolds to create a comfortable fleece throw blanket. When the blanket is not in use, consumers can simply fold it back into the shape of the backpack which can then be used to carry books and various other items.
Montreal collection spotlights Canadian designers
ATLANTA — AmericasMart retailers will discover more than 20 leading Canadian women’s and children’s labels as “Montreal Collections” headlines the Style Runway fashion show Saturday evening of the October 11-14, 2008, Atlanta Apparel Market.
The debut showcases more than 100 spring ready-to-wear pieces and is supported by the Quebec Government to promote Montreal’s most successful exhibitors and manufactures at AmericasMart.
Allegiance Health’s new retail outlet offers feel-good items
Michigan — There are several ways products sold at the new Allegiance Wellness Marketplace are designed to make customers feel good.
The aromatherapy pillow cushions, bath salts and soy candles add comfort to life.
Many are organic and earth-friendly.
Gift shop owner enjoys being her own boss
Debbie Wentzell had been selling insurance for years when it occurred to her that there was something missing from her professional life.
She wanted to own her own business.
It was a big step but in 2006, she opened Images Home Decor & Gifts in West Bradenton. On Wednesday, she will celebrate her second anniversary as a small-business owner.
“I’m very creative, I wanted to create from the bottom up,” she explained. “I love owning my own store and everything that goes along with it. It’s very satisfying, a real sense of pride.
Credit Crunch means Christmas tills are jingling
North Wales — It’s just under four months to go until Christmas but the credit means that cash register bells are already jingling.
Sales of festive cards and decorations have rocketed 70% compared to the same period last year.
Businesses say families are stretching the cost of Christmas because the economic crisis is forcing shoppers to tighten their purse strings.
Cost conscious customers are already stockpiling for Yuletide, causing an unseasonably early surge in gift card and tree decoration sales.
Christmas trees have creeped into shop windows and festive goodies are
Framing expert makes it perfect
Kittery, Maine — Trendy, friendly and delicious are just some of the words to describe what is still one of the Seacoast’s best kept secrets — Wallingford Square. Just over the bridge in Kittery, it is full of eateries, fashion, art and fine papers.
One must-see stop in the Square is D. Pratt Framer, a custom picture framing shop run by David Pratt, who has a passion for framing, nautical maps and keeping things local.
In 2006, D. Pratt Framer opened for business across the street from Papers Ink, a unique paper, card, invitation and gift shop owned by Pratt’s wife, Lori.
New Fairhaven retail store focusing on local, handmade products
Bellingham, WA — Lauren Burger and Justin Feezell discovered they could work well together through challenging situations in the Peace Corps, so they’ve decided to continue that partnership in a new business.
Last week they opened The Handmade Life at 910 Harris Ave., in the Harris Square courtyard near Chispa. The gift shop features a variety of items from about 25 local and regional artists, including jewelry, photos, paintings, wood-carved housewares, clothing, pillows and stuffed animals.
ARTS Awards to Honor Murray Feiss with Academy of Achievement Award
DALLAS –– Dallas Market Center (DMC), the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, today announced that Murray Feiss will receive the Academy of Achievement Award at the 20th annual ARTS Awards.
The Academy of Achievement Award is awarded to an individual who has made significant contributions to the decorative accessories industry.
Oktoberfest gives buyers head start on spring buying
SEATTLE – Pacific Market Center hosts a two-day buying event together with its showrooms celebrating Oktoberfest. In addition to an opportunity for buyers to finish up any last-minute holiday ordering, the showrooms will be offering special promotions and giveaways on a wide selection of new spring merchandise including Bulkley Associates introducing its new Cosmoda line of stylish line of lunch bags and SeaMart Associates showing their 2009 spring line from Raz Imports. Additional showrooms offering specials include:
— Bang-Knudsen
— Alayne Grothen & Company
Christmas shop opens at Empsall Plaza
NY — Christmas always has been a special time for Vernon L. Phillips. His father and brother were born on Christmas. When money was tight one year, a turkey dinner and presents appeared in a box on their porch, an episode Mr. Phillips remembers fondly as a holiday miracle.
Mr. Phillips was so taken by the holiday that he grew a beard, bought a red suit and assumed the role he felt born to play: Santa Claus.
On Wednesday, a red-and-white-clad Mr. Phillips was at Empsall Plaza, 122 Court St., where he and partner Bonnie S.
Lionsgate Grants Urban Smalls North American License for Dirty Dancing Quote “Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner”
Santa Fe, NM — The Urban Smalls Corporation, a leading provider of humorous infant gift apparel, announced today that it has signed a North American license agreement with Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading next generation filmed entertainment studio, for the quote “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” from the studio’s motion picture Dirty Dancing to be used on infant and children’s clothing.
The American Film Institute voted “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” as one of the top 100 most popular quotes from a motion picture.
Urban Smalls will market, sell and distribute infan
This quilt-covered life started with a dream that wouldn’t die
The population of Tunkhannock will double next Saturday as more than 2,000 people flock to an unusual and beautiful once-a-year sight. Quilts — hundreds of them — will blanket the streets. The handmade quilts will hang from windows and porches of picturesque Victorian homes and in store displays, flutter from lines strung along the curb and drape over vehicles, fences and bushes.
CIB Releases Video Announcing 2007 Award Winners
GRUNDY CENTER, IA — The Collectors’ Information Bureau (CIB), a trade association comprised of the top manufacturers in the field of limited edition collectibles, has just released a YouTube video featuring the winners of the 2007 CIB Collectors’ Choice Awards. Held annually, this awards program recognizes the best and most coveted collectibles and related products in 12 nomination categories.
“Each winner exemplifies a wide array of quality designs and styles from a variety of companies,” said Linda Kruger, the executive director of the Collectors’ Information Bureau.
Store appeals to cuties of all ages
South Caroline — At the Anderson business Carolina Cuties, it’s all about the bling.
Described as a “children’s boutique and more,” Carolina Cuties opened last week in the Brittany Square Shopping Center at 192 Civic Center Blvd.
New business in town, with helpful salespeople, good gift ideas
There’s a new business in town. Well, actually, it opened about a year ago.
The sales people are great, and they’re very willing to help you find just the right gift for your student.
The special education department at the Hastings High School has opened the School Store. Maybe re-opened is a better description. The store was first opened by a business class when the school opened, back in 2002. It closed three years ago because the business classes weren’t able to keep it open more than an about an hour a day.
St.
bombay duck makes splash in the US
(Atlanta, Ga.) — Fun, flirty, and fabulous, bombay duck, a wholesale distributor of on-trend giftware, including items for adults, kids and pets, is now offered exclusively within the United States by the Santa Barbara Design Studio and their partnership with Fox Premier Sales.
The product line, which launched in the States at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, includes a Boutique Collection, Boudoir Collection, Wedding Collection, Travel Collection and much more.
GHTA Offers Free Trial Membership to Conference Attendees
(Grand Rapids, Mich.) – The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry’s non-profit professional trade association, is pleased to offer a free trial membership, good through the end of 2008, to vendors, sales agencies, and industry affiliates who plan to attend its 6th Annual Conference on November 20-22, 2008, in Sanibel Island, Florida.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for non-members in our industry to get to know our association, our initiatives and our goals,” said George Kacic, president of the Gift and Home Trade Association.