Archives: News
Baskets for babies
The owners of an online shop for new parents have just opened up distribution centre in Portishead.
Tim and Sophie Berry have been selling baby gifts and gift baskets online for five years, but customers can now pick up their items and browse the products on offer at their new store in Kestrel Court.
Tim and Sophie, both aged 31, have five children and have lived in Portishead for 10 years.
Sophie designs and makes all the baskets which are sold across the UK and have even been snapped up by celebrities including GMTV presenter Ben Shepherd, Sarah Beeny from Property Ladde
Sugar is as Sweet as it Sounds
Sometimes the owners of Sugar, Duxbury’s newest boutique, don’t even know what the store will look like when they arrive in the morning.
John and Pamela Coviello are always changing the store, rearranging things and adding new inventory, to keep it exciting, they said.
John and Pamela Coviello, owners of Sugar, opened their business earlier this summer. John is a writer for DrumHead Magazine and Pamela is a former pharmacist.
Patch Products Inc. to acquire Smethport Specialty Co., Lauri product lines
BELOIT, Wis.—Patch Products today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Smethport Specialty Co., a leading manufacturer of toys and specialty line products.
The assets include product lines under the Lauri brand name, which is a division of Smethport Specialty Co. Smethport and Lauri will become an integral part of the growing specialty line being offered by Patch Products. Smethport Specialty Co., located in Smethport, Pa., has been in business since 1923, and its primary products include educational games and activity sets.
Colonial Candle recognized as Green Facility
(Cannon Falls, MN) – Midwest, manufacturer of Colonial Candle premium brand of home fragrance products, announced today that Colonial Candle’s Elkin, North Carolina, production facility is officially recognized as an Environmental Partner in the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (NCDENR) Environmental Stewardship Initiative. Colonial Candle has voluntarily established an Energy Management System recognized and audited by the NCDENR, which goes above and beyond regulatory requirements.
Derbe Unveils BIODERBE Organic Skin Care Line
Florence, Italy – Derbe, a leading manufacturer of natural skin and hair care products since 1966, announces the launch of its newest organic skin care collection BIODERBE.
Homespice Decor Joins Cambridge Sales Inc.
(Tucker, Ga.) — Award-winning designer and manufacturer of braided rugs and accessories, Homespice Decor, announces its new partnership with Cambridge Sales Inc., a west coast sales representative agency specializing in home furnishings and decorative accessories. The new partnership will provide Homespice Decor with representation in Colorado, Wyoming and Utah.
Cambridge Sales Inc.
Travelocity.com Founder to Present Keynote at GHTA Conference
Grand Rapids, Mich.: The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry’s non-profit professional trade association, announced that Travelocity.com founder, Terry Jones, will present the keynote address at its 6th Annual Conference to be held in Sanibel Island, Florida Nov. 20-22. Jones will speak on how a company can prosper in the age of globalization and the internet, encompassing this year’s theme.
Terry Jones led Travelocity.com as President and Chief Executive Officer from its founding until May 2002. Previously, Jones served as Chief Information Officer at Sabre Inc.
Melissa Borrell Design introduces Pop-Up Jewelry
(Houston) — Melissa Borrell introduces the newest concept in the globally recognized “Pop-Out Jewelry” collection at the New York International Gift Fair from August 17-22 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Her booth will be located in the Accent on Design section of the fair.
The new Pop-UP pendant and earrings come still attached to the surrounding metal from which they are cut. Like the other designs in the Pop-Out series, Pop-UP jewelry comes with a silver chain or earring hooks needed to make the shapes into a pendant or earrings.
Olive Sandwiches adds six Christmas Designs to “Sassy Bite” Family
Gig Harbor, WA: Olive Sandwiches is pleased to announce the addition of six new Christmas-themed organic chocolate bar designs to our Sassy Bite product line.
The Sassy Bite family was first introduced in July 2008 at the Atlanta, Los Angeles and Chicago gift shows, with a very positive response to the initial ten designs.
Chocolatier gets a sweet surprise
A chocolatier and owner of her own chocolate store by trade, Barrita Durward is used to dealing with melting treats.
Durward melted the heart of one bride-to-be by replacing 400 chocolate foiled hearts the night before the wedding, after the original hearts melted in the trunk of a car.
For her efforts, Durward, of Vernon, has been named the June winner of the Grand Go Getter award, handed out monthly for customer service recognition by the North Okanagan Employment Enhancement Society.
“Barrita’s kindness and generosity is something I will not soon forget,” said the
Iota Stationery Essentials To Debut at the NYIGF
(Basalt, Colo.) — Iota, a division of C.R. Gibson, LLC, is pleased to announce its debut at the New York International Gift Fair, August 16-21, 2008. For the first time, sales partner OneCoast will include iota at their booth located in the Crystal Palace. Adding a splash of excitement to iota’s big debut is a journal signing by the iota founder and designer, Kelly Alford, scheduled for Monday, August 18 from 4-5 p.m. in the OneCoast booth. The signing offers a chance for retailers to get to know the person behind all of iota’s inventive patterns and colors!
PMC welcomes International Pavillion to Showroom Collection
SEATTLE – Pacific Market Center, the leading permanent wholesale market on the west coast, announces the latest addition to its collection of permanent showrooms, the International Pavilion, a shared showroom representing high quality home décor and gifts from a diverse group of international and fair trade sources.
Deco Breeze Wins Coveted Award
(San Diego, Ca.) — As a result of impressive growth and innovation of Deco Breeze, Phil Weil, co-owner and vice president of the firm, will be seen by millions when he appears in an Alibaba.com commercial on CNBC during the month of August. Weil will be shown holding Deco Breeze fans, sharing the company’s success story, while the commercial promotes the online global trade sourcing Web site. The commercial first aired on August 4, 2008, and will continue throughout the duration of the month during the network’s business programming and Olympic 2008 coverage.
Artful Shopper: Treat yourself like a goddess, store owner urges women
Talking shop with Beth Brown-Rinella, owner of Goddess I Am Botanicals and Adornments.
Brown-Rinella started selling homemade organic sea salt scrubs and lotions at the Naples Farmers Market four years ago. She whipped up the all-natural creations in exotic lavender-sweet orange and patchouli-jasmine scents. She also sells handmade jewelry and baskets imported from Ghana.
“Every woman should take care of herself and treat herself like a goddess. If you honor yourself like a goddess, then your shoulders go back and your chin goes up.
Drop in gas prices could boost back to school sales
Today, summer travel is getting a little easier with gas prices falling nearly 15-cents a gallon in two weeks to $3.85. But consumers are still showing a reluctance to spend. We’re seeing the effects of those Spring rebate checks from the government starting to wear off.
For retailers who count on spending now these are turning out to be the dog days of summer. This August back-to-school shopping is about getting the best buy. Ask Teresa Daniella who’s shopping for four.
Holiday Gifts for Greatest American Dogs on Display
Long Island City, NY –– These days, it doesn’t take a national TV appearance to win the title of “Greatest American Dog.” Canine owners across the country have already bestowed their beloved pets with the honor. They’re also pampering and spoiling their furry friends with an ardor worthy of the distinction. This year, the New York International Gift Fair will cater to these dog-owning indulgers by showcasing ArfDog’s entire creative collection of dog-themed gift boxes.
Chatterchix Collectible Cards promote girl talk coast to coast
Dunedin, FL – Move over Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokémon and baseball trading cards, there’s a new girl in town called Chatterchix. Collectible cards will never be the same once girls get their hands on these glossy cards that showcase the diversity and personalities of American girl power across each of the 50 states.
Who’s a Chatterchix girl? The answer is, happily, any and every girl aged 5 to 12 that embodies the timeless values of respect, responsibility and friendship.
Lily Organics Dew Receive Organic Certification Seed to Shelf Skin Care
(Henderson, Colorado) – Lily Organics Dew Fresh, a Colorado-based facial care company, just received Certification as Organic Growers by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Retailers amp up promotions for back-to-school season
New York — Retailers preparing for a difficult back-to-school season are getting creative in their attempts to entice shoppers into the stores — aggressively introducing new products, slashing prices and amping up marketing in the battle for parents’ bucks.
But analysts say their efforts will likely make little difference to consumers pressured by rising costs, who will likely stick to shopping at discounters — particularly as tax-rebate checks dry up and they aren’t finding “must-have” fashion items in the stores.
“It will probably be one of the two or three most disappointin
Save taxes on most clothing, shoes
Austin — Edna Antillon plans to do some back-to-school shopping for her two daughters this weekend to take advantage of the state’s tax-free holiday, but with her small income and increasing gas expenses, she said doesn’t plan to spend much.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to buy a lot of things for them,” she said.
Next weekend, Friday through Sunday, is Texas’ 10th annual tax-free weekend.