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Retailers face dire holidays forecast
It’s beginning to look a lot like a terrible Christmas season.
Retail sales in October through December are expected to grow a meager 1.5 percent over last year, the weakest in 17 years, as shoppers pressured by a troubled economy curb spending, according to a forecast by Columbus, Ohio-based TNS Retail Forward consultants.
Panache offers eclectic gift mix
Whitesboro, NY – For about five years, friends Gretchen LaManque and Karlene Cimo knew they wanted to go into business together.
Front Porch Books, back door prices
A new student at the University of Maine decides to check out the university’s bestselling alumnus, Stephen King. They take the plunge into the storytelling master’s back catalogue with a nice hardcover edition. The UMaine bookstore charges somewhere in the neighborhood of $20.
O. Libby Lumpkin to Cover Collecting Contemporary Art
(LAS VEGAS) –– Las Vegas Design Center at World Market Center Las Vegas will welcome the Consulting Executive Director of the Las Vegas Art Museum, O. Libby Lumpkin, Ph.D., on Friday, October 3, 2008.
Dr. Lumpkin’s talk, “Collecting Contemporary Art,” will take place from 10-11:30 a.m.
Independent pharmacies use different techniques to compete
Athens, GA — When Bill Horton graduated from the University of Georgia’s College of Pharmacy in 1959, there were no less than eight independent pharmacies on Clayton Street in downtown Athens.
“There’s Horton’s, which my father started in 1947, and there was Crowe’s, which my father started in 1937,” recalled Horton, who began working for his father at the age of 11 and “has never had another job” that wasn’t pharmacy-related.
“Hammet’s and Patrick’s were right across the street from each other, and Edward’s Prescription Lab was across from what we now know as the Fred Building.
Middletown store owners want variety of businesses downtown
Middletown, MD — Downtown business owners hope the town can attract a greater variety of new businesses — the more the merrier.
Bob Brenengen, who owns The Main Cup restaurant at 14 W. Main St. with wife, Kimberly, said the town has enough business opportunities to create multiple destinations for visitors.
“I’m a believer that more choices is better for everyone,” Brenengen said.
Tom and Donna Croft recently opened the West Side Deli at 405 W.
Katonah’s merchants go to the dogs
Katonah, NY — The early morning commuters pause on their way to the Metro-North each weekday at Steger’s Paper Mill in Katonah to read the paper, shoot the breeze with owner Troy Steger – and to give a biscuit and a quick pat to his chocolate Lab.
Gabby is so used to the attention from her “cronies,” as Steger calls them, that she has to be roused for her treats. “They’ll say, ‘Gabby, wake up.
Stay awhile at La De Da — Gift shop aims for local goods
Detroit Lakes, MN — Those who dropped by La De Da Gifts and Décor late last year got a bit of a surprise.
Instead of going inside to find a completely new business, they would see Ladies Unique owner Deb Strozyk or manager Kim Samuelson were behind the counter.
“We did a business model change, and made it a gift and décor store,” Strozyk said.
It wasn’t a difficult change to go from a clothing store to a gift shop.
“In 1999, I put gifts downstairs and started out at Shady Hollow Flea Market,” Strozyk said. “So it was a real easy transition.
A family business from orchard to store
Pateros, WA — Kari Dykes, of Riverside, and her mother Nancy Walters, of Omak, dropped into The Homestead last Monday on their way to Wenatchee and browsed through the gift section.
They bought a baby gift and commented about the nice new store.
They were the kind of customers the Stennes family, third- and fourth-generation tree fruit growers, have been catering to since opening the store in June.
Breaking up can lead to a business
San Francisco, CA — Smashing Katie is a startup born from a breakup.
An online store geared to women who have recently gone through a divorce or breakup, Smashing Katie sells items ranging from a wedding ring coffin to the Ex, a kitchen knife block shaped like a person.
Owner Angie Schmidt got the idea from her own divorce – and named the store after the neighbor she believed was the other woman behind the collapse of her marriage.
“I was this blubbering mess of goo and tears,” said Schmidt, 33, of South San Francisco. “By day five, I needed something to laugh at.
When the tourists leave town …
The winter rains don’t just come on the Oregon Coast — they pour and don’t stop for tourists, construction workers, house painters or road crews.
For many shop owners waiting for the next customer to walk in the door, time seems to stand still in the rainy season.
It can be downright scary for small business owners, particularly watching the crash of the national economy. Those businesses that survive typically figure out tricks to adapt and change quickly when sales are skinny.
AmericasMart, American Cancer Society team up to ‘Order The Cure’
ATLANTA – AmericasMart Atlanta has partnered with the American Cancer Society (ACS) for a major promotion called “Order The Cure” to raise money and awareness for the fight against cancer. During the October 11-14, Atlanta Apparel Market, participating manufacturers will donate $1 to ACS for each order written during the show.
Edmond finds its ‘Scruples’
Edmond, OK — A new downtown business has “scruples” for all. Scruples of Edmond, 115 S. Broadway, a novelty gift and collectible store, opened Sept. 12 to the delight of downtown shoppers.
“You want that little gift for someone and it’s hard to find,” said Susan Hines, owner.
Consumers Want More Fair Trade Products Available
San Francisco, CA – U.S. consumers are no longer strangers to Fair Trade, but cite lack of product availability as the main reason preventing them from buying fairly traded goods, a new study released by ALTER ECO FAIR TRADE today shows.
The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from six major universities across the nation, shows that more than 70% of the consumers interviewed are familiar with Fair Trade.
Interior Lifestyle China show attracts international and domestic heavyweights
Interior Lifestyle China – the region’s only international trade fair for household products and accessories – will present the latest items, trends and concepts in the high-end interior and lifestyle products industry. The event is scheduled to run Nov. 19–22, 2008 at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre.
Organized by Messe Frankfurt, in co-operation with United Asia International Exhibition Co., the fair continues to attract international exhibitors who are eager to promote their products in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.
Friends Forever Girls Wins Dr. Toy’s Educational Product award
Temecula, CA – Inspire U, Inc. announced today its Friends Forever Girls’ Reina multicultural doll is the recipient of a prestigious “10 Best Educational Products for 2008 Award” from Dr. Toy’s Institute for Child Resources. Part of “Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products,” the awards program was developed by noted child development authority, Stevanne Auerbach, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Dr. Toy) as a service to consumers who desire to purchase safe, affordable, educationally oriented, stimulating toys and products for children.
“As a childhood specialist for over 35 years,” says Dr.
AmericasMart logistics program unveiled
ATLANTA — AmericasMart Atlanta has launched its latest trade show industry first with AmericasMart Logistics, an all-new Transportation and Warehousing service offering exhibitors door-to-dock product shipping, storage and delivery at guaranteed lowest prices.
AmericasMart Logistics made its debut at the July 2008 Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market and Atlanta International Area Rug Market, with full transportation and warehousing services offered to permanent exhibitors commencing July 11, 2008.
Log Gift Shoppe owners call it quits
Warwick, RI — Interested in buying a small business? The Log Gift and Curtain Shoppe is up for sale, according to owner Anthony J. Ursillo, who has decided to retire after 35 years in the business.
“Doing business the old fashioned way” is the motto of the store that is located in the historic “Shang Bailey Homestead.”
Built in the 18th century and located at 2737 Hartford Ave., the home was formerly a tavern and a stagecoach stop on the old Hartford toll road between Boston and New York. It had also been used as a private residence.
Frederick A.
Family Talk leaves Dr. Toy speechless
Eureka, MO – Walk up and down the toy aisle and it’s easy to find one that talks. But did you know there’s a game that gets reluctant tweens and teens to speak, in the car while running errands or waiting for a table at a restaurant, with adults? Dr. Toy, who has a Ph.D. in all things toys, was left speechless when she uncovered a clever new diversion called Family Talk and awarded it this year’s Top 10 Puzzles & Logical Thinking Games, part of the 2008 Dr.
Superior Product Honored at Atlanta Market
ATLANTA — AmericasMart Atlanta — home to the nation’s largest gift, home furnishings, area rug and apparel collections—celebrated the best of the gift and gourmet industry during the September 13-15, Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market and the Atlanta Gourmet Market.