Archives: News
WMC Las Vegas Delivers Record Attendance, Optimism, and Excitement
LAS VEGAS – Records were broken, premieres were held and milestones were marked at the Summer 2008 Las Vegas Market, July 28-August 1, the first show to be held entirely on World Market Center Las Vegas’ ultra-modern 57-acre campus since the Market’s July 2005 launch.
From the moment July Las Vegas Market kicked off with its record-setting opening day attendance, its energized pace and portfolio of unique offerings demonstrated why World Market Center Las Vegas is the world’s fastest-growing integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex.
Art of the olive: Q.C. mill presses for glory
Most of us observe a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy when it comes to our food these days. We open our vacuum-packed containers — knowing countless preservatives and middlemen have already come and gone — and we dig in, preferring not to know the specifics.
The Queen Creek Olive Mill is a pleasant departure from that. A stone’s throw from Schnepf Farms, the pistachio-colored structure looks factory-esque from afar.
Retailer Poggi Bonsi sees its wholesale efforts fall, but sales on the website are picking up
To hear the stories, you would think Keli DeRitis and Michelle Codd were running a travel company, not a Burien gift store with a quirky name.
The business partners and longtime friends are owners of Poggi Bonsi and they know your first question is: What the heck does that mean?
The store, pronounced “poe-jee bone-see” is named for an Italian town in Tuscany, and the origin of the name is one of many stories the owners have about their travels through Italy looking for unusual products.
All of those stories — including their unexpected dinner with an Italian count an
High IntenCity launches PINKitude!
High IntenCity, leader in the girls’ accessory industry, proudly announces a partnership with MGM’s Pink Panther and Susan G. Komen for the Cure to create the exclusive PiNKiTUDE brand. Leading designers and manufactures will design a wide range of fashion products targeted to young women and teens at the specialty boutique level to promote breast cancer awareness and a healthy lifestyle using imagery of MGM’s iconic Pink Panther. High IntenCity is the exclusive PiNKiTUDE jewelry designer.
NaturesCast Introduces Boss Collection
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA — NaturesCast, Inc. of Las Vegas, Nevada has added The Bloss Collection to its line of chic and modern furniture, home décor furnishings and accessories for the home, office or commercial environment.
Like the over 100 other products in the line, NaturesCast uses an innovative process to create functional and artistic furniture and décor from agro-forest waste such as dry leaves, dead twigs and barks from the forests around Compostela, Province of Cebu, Philippines.
Owner new, but store’s focus remains
Staten Island, NY — It’s been about a year and a half since Patty Curry became the new owner of the popular West Brighton store now known as Curry’s Claddagh Gift Shop. Her path to proprietorship, however, began years earlier.
“I grew up in West Brighton, and I always wanted the store,” said Mrs. Curry, who purchased the consummate Irish emporium from its founders, former New York City Police Detective Ray Taylor and his wife, Joan.
Dogeared Jewels & Gifts Presents Great Green Gifts
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. — Dogeared, a trendsetting brand that creates handcrafted jewels and gifts in Los Angeles, features an extensive line of green gifts — an important trend this holiday season and year-round. All the components are made in the USA and are handcrafted in the company’s LA studio.
The new, perfect for any occasion, Wish Big Candles are a response to requests from retailers and customers who wanted a Mother Earth friendly candle with Dogeared style.
New Creative’s Storybook Collection Comes to Life
Milford, OH — New Creative Enterprises (NCE), a leading designer and manufacturer of outdoor living décor and gift items, tells a story of “once upon a time” with its new Storybook Collection of whimsical creatures and mythical characters.
The new light-hearted collection of indoor and outdoor accessories showcase the imaginations and dreams of the company’s four talented in-house artists, Lori Siebert, Mark Haas, Kristina Frye and Layhou Lam — a well-respected, four-star team!
NYIGF’s Newest Division Moves to Pier 90
WHITE PLAINS, NY … George Little Management, LLC (GLM) has announced the winter 2009 edition of the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) will run Sunday, January 25, through Thursday, January 29, 2009, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 90, 92 and 94. This one-time shift, from NYIGF’s traditional Saturday-Thursday staggered opening/closing date pattern, will occur due to venue availability. These opening and closing dates apply to all nine of the Fair’s divisions.
Local stores offer special shopping experience
Massachusetts—With no department stores or malls in town, it could be easy to develop an automatic route down the highway when you have shopping to be done. That would mean missing out on great shopping experiences closer to home, though — and according to the voters in the Favorites poll, there are some very special stores tucked away in Middleboro and Lakeville.
One such place is Spillane’s Nursery and Landscape Company at 230 Bedford Street in Middleboro, where the stock is always fresh and the staff knowledgeable and willing to help.
Big plans for empty drug store
Ted and Laura Behren have been busy in the last couple of weeks, undertaking the task of converting the former Florence United Drug Co. site at 231 Main Street into a combination gift shop/flower store and drive-through convenience store.
The Bottle Shop drive-through liquor store is currently operating and will retain its name, while Laura pointed out that a name for the gift store has yet to be determined. A grand opening is tentatively set for mid-October.
The Heavens are Smiling Down on ee Publishing’s Series
Fairfax, VA — Everyone knows about the North Star and the Wishing Star but it’s only a matter of time until we all know about “Nana Star.”
Teaching children to feel loved and wanted, ee publishing’s first two book/plush/CD sets have each received an iParenting Media 2008 Outstanding Product Award.
Whereoware Debuts Three New Customized Web sites
Herndon, VA — Whereoware, a web-based technology provider with a strong reputation for its work with some of the top names in the gift, home décor and furniture industries, announces the launch of three new clients’ Web sites including: Stein World LLC, a leading designer, importer and distributor of residential accent furniture and portable lighting; Howard Elliott, a designer, manufacturer and importer of decorative hand-finished mirrors, tabletop, floor accessories and table linens; and Magnet Works, Ltd., a manufacturer of innovative outdoor home décor products.
Urban Expositions to launch Fort Lauderdale Gift Show
ATLANTA, GA – Responding to growing industry demand for a comprehensive, cost-effective and convenient South Florida gift event from regional and island retailers, as well as manufacturers and sales representatives, Urban Expositions will launch the Fort Lauderdale Gift Show. Set to debut August 8-11, 2009, the new all-category gift trade show will be held annually at the Greater Ft.
Stirrings Launches First Digital Advertising Campaign
(Fall River, MA) – Stirrings, the leading innovative cocktailing brand, is launching their first ever digital advertising campaign, which plans to generate over 11 million national impressions between August and December 2008.
Gourmet Peddler offers gift basket, cooking supplies, unique ingredients
Deborah Sockwell, owner of Gourmet Peddler, is wrapping up more than gift baskets these days.
The year-old business also will cater weddings and other events.
Sisters Boutique offers unique shopping experience
Floresville — “We have people who come here from Alaska to shop at Christmastime!” said Stacy Cameron, in a tone of absolute awe and amazement.
Of course, there are many who will travel miles to visit and shop at Sisters Boutique in Floresville, but to make a regular habit of coming from Alaska, it must be a unique destination.
It’s not just the clothing, home décor, fashion accessories, or other products that make Sisters such a welcoming place to shop.
BizTips: Customer satisfaction ideas
Halifax, Nova Scotia – In retail, shoppers can usually choose from several stores for the same items. But you spend hard earned resources on advertising to convince them to visit your store. Once you have the shopper in your store, they must leave satisfied if you want them to visit you again. And repeat business is the name of the game, actually the only game. Making it difficult and unpleasant to buy from you won’t go very far in generating that repeat business and referrals. Make your customers love your store by being the place where they want to shop.
Price-Fixing Makes Comeback After Supreme Court Ruling
Manufacturers are embracing broad new legal powers that amount to a type of price-fixing — enabling them to set minimum prices on their products and force retailers to refrain from discounting.
For the better part of a century, punishing retailers for selling at cut-rate prices was an automatic violation of antitrust law. However, a Supreme Court ruling last year involving handbag sales at a Dallas mom-and-pop store, Kay’s Kloset, upended that original 1911 precedent, potentially altering the face of U.S.
Trendy to be Showcased at this Pet Fashion Week
Long Island City, NY –– When the pet elite gather at the Metropolitan Pavilion and Altman Building in New York later this month, they’ll find ArfDog’s creative collection of themed kits on display in booth P178. Slated for August 23-24, this year’s Pet Fashion Week is a national pet industry trade show and design platform whose objective is to nurture the development of new ideas and innovation in the pet industry while featuring special events and runway shows.
This year’s participants will want to be sure to check out the ArfDog booth.