Archives: News
CIB Publishes 20th Anniversary Edition
(Grundy Center, IA) — The Collectors’ Information Bureau, a trade association comprised of top manufacturers in the field of limited edition collectibles, is pleased to announce the publication of its 20th anniversary edition CIB Collectibles Market Guide & Price Index, a book with feature stories tracing the exciting past, present, and future of the collectibles industry.
PMC hosts two day event tailored to independent retailers
SEATTLE – As part of a new initiative to support independent retailers and buyers, Pacific Market Center, together with its showrooms and local downtown associations, is hosting a VIP: Vibrant Independent Proprietor event for independent businesses. This interactive two-day event, taking place on Monday, Sept. 22 and Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., will host independent retailers and businesses in the region.
Web now retail necessity
Rick Martis’ Physical Addictions supplement store in Indialantic does a brisk walk-in retail business, but his customer base has grown well beyond the municipal borders.
“I would say my business is one-third walk-in, one-third by phone, and one-third Internet-driven,” Martis said. “You have to have an Internet presence today, if not to sell your goods, to promote your business.”
Like most retailers today, Martis believes online selling is a necessity and not an option.
Family trees … and plants, flowers, decorations, gifts
The Wilbanks women are the epitome of Southern hospitality, with their welcoming smiles, sweet drawls and warm hugs.
This legacy started with matriarch Willie Pearl Carter, who was murdered during a bank robbery in Lakeland in September 2000.
“One of my mother’s main goals in life was to make sure all of her family was together and happy,” said Eleanor Wilbanks.
Carter would be proud to know that all of her family are together and in business at Country Gardens Nursery and Eden’s Gift Shop, which opened in March of 2003, but soon weathered a natural disaster.
Small Business Advocate: Excellent customer service is golden
Before 1975, consumers enjoyed what I call The Golden Age of Customer Service. Sadly, based on recent research, we now appear to be in the Plastic Age of Customer Service.
An American Customer Satisfaction Index found that the average customer satisfaction rating was less than 60 percent.
Going 6-for-10 is pretty good — if you’re playing baseball. But during The Golden Age of Customer Service, any business with that batting average was headed for the shower.
So how has such a level of service become a 21st-century norm?
Fall in love with Virginia again
It’s time to fall in love with Virginia all over again.
Ruth DiGeorge, owner of A Tisket, A Tasket in the Shoppes on the Village Green in Governor’s Pointe, is bringing back the store’s popular “Fall in love with Virginia” market on Saturday, Oct.
Lab-grown diamonds sparkle blood-free
San Francisco — Inside a small hotel room at the downtown Marriott recently, a businessman named Stephen Lux gently opened a jeweler’s box and placed a shoestring-thin diamond necklace on the table.
The 64-carat, canary yellow diamonds looked like they were worth millions – “Virtually priceless,” Lux said. “But we could sell it to you for, say, $500,000.”
Why the discount?
Lux’s Gemesis Corp.
eco Breeze Turns up the Heat with Deco Heat collection
(San Diego, Ca.) — San Diego-based Global Product Resources, Inc. (GPR), a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of home decorative products, heats things up this fall with the anticipated debut of Deco Heat. The new collection of decorative portable heaters is the newest addition to the firm’s popular Deco Breeze collection of designer fans.
Planet Dog gets tastier with new Orbee-Tuff Raspberry
PORTLAND, ME – Due to the popularity of its Orbee-Tuff PRODUCE toy collection, Planet Dog has expanded the line to include the new Orbee-Tuff Raspberry. Designed just for wee dogs, the Orbee-Tuff Raspberry is a yummy edition to Planet Dog’s innovative toys for dogs of all sizes.
Made in the USA from Planet Dog’s award-winning Orbee-Tuff material, the whimsical Raspberry, Strawberry, Artichoke and Eggplant shaped toys that make up the PRODUCE collection all feature a Treat Spot for stuffing healthy treats and spreads.
Four new products exhibited during ABC Kids Expo
Las Vegas, USA – Bloom, the award-winning, global innovator of European-inspired baby gear and furniture, announced their foray into the US market during ABC 2007 in Las Vegas. Since launching in major European markets in early 2007 (North America mid 2007), along the way winning the prestigious Kind + Jugend global innovation award for its now signature fresco contemporary baby chair, the company has set its sights on the US market.
Enesco announces strategic licensing agreement
Itasca, Ill. –– Enesco, LLC, a leader in the gift, and home and garden décor industries, today announced the signing of a licensing agreement with artist Michael Macone. Based in Shell Lake, Wisconsin, Macone has created a line called The Potter’s Shed, a brilliant collection of contemporary ceramic art work. The brand is known for classically unique handmade home and garden décor and accessories. Enesco expects to launch The Potter’s Shed line in January, 2009.
“We are thrilled to partner with Enesco,” said Macone.
Zutano to Support Global Action for Children Organization
CABOT, VT — Announcing the arrival of its most charming as well as most impactful line to date; Zutano, the preeminent designer of children’s clothing, is ecstatic to have embarked upon its largest aid effort to date with the donation of 5% of revenue from the entire Fall/Winter 2008 Collectibles clothing line to Global Action for Children, a nonpartisan coalition dedicated to advocating for orphans and highly vulnerable children in the developing world.
Engage Environments announces new era in bedding
(Las Vegas, NV) – A new wave in interior design that bridges the gap of trendy and austere has been realized. Engage Environments, the first player in the industry to identify a market need – developmental interiors – for the infant and child markets, announced today, the introduction of their first product line for families with young children – Backdrops Bedding, in the colors of childhood.
Palm Harbor Gift Boutique Benefits Local Nonprofit Agency
Palm Harbor – Whatever you do don’t call the gift shop in the former Senior Center building in downtown Palm Harbor a thrift store.
That’s because visitors to the Shoppe Around the Corner are surprised by the large number of stylish gifts and home decor items that decorate the store on Omaha Circle, south of Florida Avenue.
If they know the shop is operated by Neighborly Care Network they are surprised that it is nothing like the thrift store they imagined.
Germophobe develops hanger for purses
Peek inside Oprah’s purse and you’ll find her BlackBerry, a makeup bag given to her by interior designer Nate Berkus, contact lens cleaning fluid, sunglasses (in black and brown), reading glasses, $14 cash in her Louis Vuitton wallet, toys for Sophie (her dog), a copy of Maya Angelou’s poem “Amazing Peace,” and a few crumbs from a nutrition bar.
The talk show queen opened her purse once on her show, at the request of a viewer.
Shoppers are changing their buying habits
If they need it, they will come – but they’re spending less.
That’s the shopper cadence major retail chains have seen this back-to-school season.
Gift shop goes global — on the Web
Staten Island, NY — During a recent visit to Checkerbells in West Brighton, I happened upon the gift shop’s owner planning to re-decorate the storefront display window for autumn.
Home Textiles Market Week defies challenging economy
WHITE PLAINS, NY … Solid and consistent order-writing by retailers unified the Summer 2008 Home Textiles Market Week across New York with an unexpected level of energy, despite current economic realities. The semi-annual market for mid-to-high-end home textiles ran August 15-21, at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) (at the Jacob K.
New Creative Enterprises Earns Honorable Award for Showroom Display
Milford, OH — New Creative Enterprises (NCE), a leading designer and manufacturer of outdoor living décor and gift items, was recently awarded an AmericasMart Atlanta’s Best of Show Award for its outstanding display of the firm’s top-selling products. The Best of Show Award is an annual Visual Display Award that recognizes outstanding visual merchandising during the Atlanta Gift & Home Furnishings Market.
Artist Windsor Debuted by Art in Motion
VANCOUVER, B.C. – Art In Motion is thrilled to introduce a new collection by Windsor.
“This collection by Windsor is remarkable,” says Anita Petersen, Manager Marketing and Communications for Art In Motion. “His gift is capturing the vibrancy, warmth, and tranquility of his subject matter.”
Art In Motion recently released two images by this talented artist. Early Harvest and First Frost capture the serene landscape of the rural countryside, a constant in Windsor’s paintings.
“Growing up in the city I dreamt of the serenity of the countryside.