Archives: News
New owners, expanded gift shop
For many years, the Millbrook Card and Gift Shop has proved to be in integral part of business at its location, just feet away from the Millbrook Post Office. With high traffic outside the doors you’d expect any owner to hold onto the business.
But that isn’t what happened.
Instead, the business was sold to and re-opened on Aug. 1 by 25-year Town of Washington residents Diane and Rich Moretti.
This isn’t their first business though.
Tourism mecca Orlando sweats sour economy, high gas prices
Orlando, Fla. — Rene Blanco reaches for his back pocket where the tips go and shakes his head, his hand coming up empty.
“I’ve been here an hour this morning and haven’t made a penny,” said the skycap at Orlando International Airport. “The summer’s been slow. Delta had a whole terminal of those small regional jets, and now they’ve cut back a lot of those flights. And it’s not just Delta.
Dutch Neck shop will perk you up
Hopewell — Some area coffee lovers were beginning to think that quaint little Dutch Neck Village might not be the place to quench their thirst anymore.
The Perk and Pantry’s doors were set to close, and manager Emily Heckman had begun liquidating the supplies. Sale of the gourmet food shop had fallen through, and with only weeks left before the lease ended in May, she was selling things off.
But her kids knew someone who knew someone — Stephanie Bogart, a mother whose children also attend Bridgeton Christian School.
Retailers Use Social Media To Spur Back-To-School Sales
More retailers are turning to social media to drum up business among back-to-school shoppers, according to recent research.
Social networking sites, virtual worlds, social shopping sites, visual search engines, interactive video, and widgets have emerged as key marketing platforms for the 2008 back-to-school shopping season, JupiterResearch reported.
Canine cards fetch laughs, sales
Need to express a special sentiment to someone? Consider allowing Denali the dog to communicate on your behalf.
Madalyn Ruggiero, an Ohio-based freelance photographer whose work appears frequently in Metro Detroit publications, has launched a line of greeting cards featuring her golden retriever, Denali, in assorted outlandish costumes.
Twenty stores in five states now sell the cards emblazoned with images of the unflappable-looking dog in such guises as a nun, a Christmas present and an elderly woman.
“I’m flying by the seat of my pants,” Ruggiero said of her business.
Trendsetting begins at WMC Las Vegas with a Preview of Next Season’s Home Furnishings
(LAS VEGAS) –– When it comes to trends, consumers want choices, and the home furnishings industry is prepared to give it to them. The July 2008 Las Vegas Market proved to be the place where the latest trends were discovered and newest products unveiled.
Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market together with the Atlanta Gourmet Market
ATLANTA — The latest gift, home furnishings and gourmet products come together in one spectacular double buying experience during the September 13-15, Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market and the Atlanta Gourmet Market. The September Market—leading up to the January 2009 debut of Americaart Building Two West Wing—delivers an unprecedented combination of quality and variety in:
Permanent Showrooms: Housed in 13 complete product centers within a three—soon to be four—building campus. Temporary Booths: Conveniently located in a central location in Building 1, Floor 7.
Rhinestone Ruby introduces personalized boot straps
(New York, NY) – Finally, your boots don’t have to look like every other UGG boot!
Rhinestone Ruby- Personalized Accessories with Rhinestones- has introduced personalized boot straps to their expanding line of accessories you can personalize with rhinestones…now your boots can stand out from the rest!
Now your Ugg, Emu, BarePaw boots can have a look all of their own! Rhinestone Ruby boot straps fit around any type of boot and can be personalized with over 200 rhinestone letters and charms! The straps are genuine suede with a sheepskin backing.
Back to Cool
The inspirations come from Mongolia to Lake Massawippi to Montana, as in Hannah. The clothes are made around the globe.
But home base is Montreal for a fair number of companies supplying cool kids’ wear for back to school.
The industry is surviving, if not robust, said Patrick Thomas, who ran the Children’s Apparel Manufacturing Association until it was disbanded recently.
New candy shop opens on Waseca Avenue
Root beer barrels. Laffy Taffy. Candy Sticks. Fun dip. Bit-O-Honeys. Mary Janes. Lemon Heads. Sweet Lorraine’s.
Sweet Lorraine’s Candy Shoppe, a new store on Waseca Avenue, features locally-made gourmet chocolate products as well as classic penny candy.
Residents of Barrington for the past 17 years, store owners Muffi and Bob Sullivan have seen businesses come and go. Nuts N’ Such was one of their favorites and after it closed the Sullivans wished for something to replace it.
Dallas Market Center Launches Global New Product Search
DALLAS –– Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, today announced “The Next Big Thing,” a search for the best new products in the world.
The contest is for anyone who has “The Next Big Thing” – an artist, product designer, entrepreneur, or your next door neighbor. The finished product should be unique and innovative with an outstanding design and concept.
The contest allows up-and-comers, whether companies or individuals, to show their product(s) in front of domestic and international retail buyers at Dallas Market Center.
Planet Pixies eco-conscious organic dolls
New York, NY – The newest concept from Toyland to living a greener life are the Planet Pixies– three clever little creatures who offer simple steps to children (as young as 3) to make their own eco-friendly decisions, thus saving the planet for future pixies and people.
That’s the goal of one new toy company, I Love My Planet Toys, with serious aspirations — offering planet-friendly toys that educate children, encourage them to use their imaginations and provide knowledge to help make eco-conscious decisions.
Alexa’s Angels Signs Distributor Agreement with Canadian Gift Concepts
(Windsor, CO) — Alexa’s Angels, a leading inspirational and gift jewelry manufacturer known for its high-quality original designs, has signed a distribution agreement with Canadian Gift Concepts Corporation for sales of its product throughout Canada.
Eatonton merchant sees green in red and black
Marlene Gordon is eagerly awaiting the start of the University of Georgia’s football season Saturday.
But she won’t be watching the game. She’ll be selling Bulldog novelties to some of those making the pilgrimage up U.S. 129/441 to Athens.
Gordon owns Gordys Gifts in downtown Eatonton, a small shop at 101 Jefferson Ave. just north of the courthouse square.
Taliesin Bookstore to debut new apparel, home accessories at Milwaukee Craft Show
TALIESIN, SPRING GREEN, Wis.– Taliesin Bookstore at Taliesin, the Wisconsin home of Frank Lloyd Wright for nearly 50 years, will showcase new scarves, ties, decorative tiles, throws and other home accessories from the Frank Lloyd Wright Collection at the third annual Fine Furnishings and Fine Craft Show in the Milwaukee Midwest Airlines Center September 27–28.
“Taliesin Bookstore, which is making its second appearance at this prestigious show, is unique among the 150 national artisans scheduled to participate,” said Carol Johnson, president of Taliesin Preservation, Inc.
Art born in Montana, made in China
Lincoln, Montana — Rick Rowley has gone a long way in his varied artistic and business career — half way around the world to China.
The 49-year-old Lincoln man splits his time in two-month stints between Montana and Xiamen, China, a bustling port and factory city of 2.6 million in southern China.
Rowley owns a factory making gift shop items, contracts with a foundry casting his bronze sculptures and even helps other companies find Chinese manufacturers.
Six years ago he was operating a successful Missoula studio and gallery making custom wood and bronze sculptures when
Cashells: Trying to break out
Everyone likes getting cash, and Donna Fanning believes people will like it even more if the money comes tucked inside a Cashell.
The Cashell is Fanning’s patent-pending, homespun alternative to gift cards and greeting cards.
Each Cashell is an eggshell that Fanning, a stay-at-home Woodbury mom, has emptied, sterilized and then hand painted and decorated in one of 40 designs.
The gift-giver slips some bills in through a piggy bank-style slot cut into the eggshell, seals the opening with a sticker Fanning includes and fills out the coordinating note card.
Funk Times 2: In a pair of old homes, antique shop owners’ quirky dreams come true
Choosing a business location ought to involve lots of market research. But don’t tell Lynne Holland and Linda Nath that.
“Linda kept driving past it, and we’d always talked about having a shop,” says Ms. Holland. “So we never looked at anything else.
Finalists for 20th Annual ARTS Awards Announced
DALLAS –– Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART), the trade association representing the decorative accessory industry, announced the 20th annual ARTS Awards finalists.
The ARTS Awards is the premier awards program for the home decorative accessories industry and is held each January during the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market (January 14-20, 2009). This year’s gala will take place on Saturday, January 17, 2009 in The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart.
Tourist, Resort & Imprinted Products show goes west
WHITE PLAINS, NY … Beginning spring 2009, the Tourist, Resort & Imprinted Products Show (TRIPS) will shift to a new time frame and location, to run in conjunction with the Vancouver Gift Show and By Hand Vancouver, Canada’s Artisan Gift Show. The next edition of the annual Show will take place March 1-3, at the BC Place Stadium, Vancouver, BC.
Launched in Toronto in 2004, TRIPS showcases some 50 exhibitors of apparel, Canadian handcrafted items, First Nations art, imprinted merchandise, Inuit art, jewelry, museum products, resort wear, tourist sundries, souvenirs and specialty foods.