Archives: News
Seattle’s small shops fear losing identity, independence
Angela Nichols’ last landlord admitted during lease negotiations that Funky Janes Consignment store didn’t present the right image for the West Seattle shopping center.
The vintage flowered skirts, sailor dresses, used designer jeans and corset-shaped purses apparently didn’t jibe with offices and franchise stores, she said.
Now, with the West Seattle Junction preparing for a wave of new development, the store may be displaced a second time.
Aid to Artisans Brings Global Handmade Design to NYIGF
Hartford, CT — At the 2008 New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) August 16-20, Aid to Artisans (ATA) will display a fresh collection of hundreds of handmade products, many showing in the U.S. market for the first time.
ATA is a recognized leader in economic development for the craft sector working around the world and has exhibited at the NYIGF for over 15 years.
Signature’ signs
In keeping up with the times, Wade Lambrigtsen isn’t about to leave “vintage” arts behind.
The custom sign-maker and owner of Vintage Sign Shop takes pride in the creation of signage that speaks of by-gone days. He also enjoys fashioning trendier signs and can do either by means of traditional or modern methodology.
“A willingness to be diverse is the key to obtaining enough business,” Lambrigtsen said. “My passion is to be very hands-on in creating signs, especially as they were done a long time ago. I enjoy the designing and the artwork.
Foraging through Dutch Country Lane
Berlin – A soft tap, tap, tap greets visitors as they step into the workshop of the Wendell August Gift Shop & Forge at 7007 Dutch Country Lane.
Skilled craftsmen gently tap aluminum into shape using hand forging methods that have been passed down through the generations.
The Forge Workshop is open for complementary tours Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wal-Mart To Suppliers: Go Green
Bentonville, Ark. — Wal-Mart is telling its suppliers that it’s not enough to simply provide eco-friendly products.
The world’s largest retailer wants to be able to tell its customers the stories behind the products, of how they came to be and how sustainable they are.
Wal-Mart sustainability director Rand Waddoups said the company is emphasizing four points in its sustainability marketing.
Antique shops moving online
Sharon Lynn Bear can’t be dissuaded by the price of gas, the time it takes to unearth the perfect piece or the disappointment of ending a shopping excursion empty-handed. Whether the Irvine resident is browsing for a 19th century vase or a vintage Italian footed bowl, her venue of choice isn’t EBay or Craigslist but the old-fashioned storefront overflowing with antiques.
“I love to see the items, touch them,” says Bear, whose home is filled with antique store finds from Ventura to San Clemente to Palm Springs.
HomeBody owner branches out into a paper store
It is part eclectic gift shop, part dress and shoe store, part amazing-find store and ultimate paper store. When Shelley Dominguez decided to open HomeBody in Kern Place, she wanted people to experience a little bit of everything.
“I decided that I wanted to create a store where customers could find things they could not live without, things that I would want in my home or to give as a gift,” Dominguez said. ” I figured a little expression of what I enjoy could be enjoyed by everyone.”
Now, the little shop where her two young sons grew up has a new little niche, a paper store.
MacLaren unveils Mina Pherhonen limited edition at Soho Store
(New York, NY) — Maclaren, one of the leading consumer lifestyle companies that creates and develops premium mobile transport products, announced a new line of limited edition designer products by fashion house, Mina Perhonen. Akira Minagawa, the creator and chief designer behind the clothing label, is known in the fashion business for not following trends and leans more towards experimentation.
A New American Product Line Debuts
Fragrant Passage Candle Company announces their seasonal product collections for The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market July 11-15th at AmericasMart in Atlanta. Fragrant Passage is a David Oreck Company located in Greensboro, North Carolina that manufacturers top quality home fragrance products.
The new collections are a creative assortment of candles and home fragrance products that represent the ambiance of each new season.
7W NY announces online market planning tool
NEW YORK – 7 W New York is proud to announce its innovative online market planning tool – Plan 7 W – to help buyers organize their buying schedules and build a custom walking map of the Market from the comfort of their homes or stores.
Through Plan 7 W, built by industry technology leader Whereoware, buyers can:
Search hundreds of showrooms, exhibitors and lines throughout the building
Browse and organize their favorite resources by category, location or company name
High IntenCITY makes MAJOR announcement
High IntenCity, leader in the Girls Accessory industry, ventures into the Boys Jewelry arena with a new brand inspired by tween boys ages 8 to 12. At long last, some cool stuff for boys hits the specialty market!
Legions of boys will find cool and savvy styles within the new line entitled, MAJOR. Rugged, wearable and inspired by what boys are all about… cause boys like stuff, too!
MAJOR debuts with an eight-piece collection of casual, rugged necklaces and bracelets that can be seamlessly mixed and matched or worn alone.
ImagiPLAY lands 2008 iParenting Award
Boulder, CO – Face it, when it comes to eating fish a lot of kids will give you a huge frown. But when it comes to looking at, reading about or even playing with those same sea creatures, it is all smiles. That’s why Seaworld, “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel and ImagiPLAY’s PuzzlePlay Sealife puzzle are so popular with children. It may also be why ImagiPLAY’s new aquatic adventure just netted the iParenting Media 2008 Outstanding Product Award.
PuzzlePlay Sealife – Playset and puzzle in one!
Autumn Leaf Gifts
Neccica Hayes is the owner of Autumn Leaf Gifts, a new shop in the West Glen shopping center in West Des Moines. She orders unique, hand-crafted products from small artisans and she says they are as one-of-a-kind as the autumn leaves. Hayes said she modeled her gift shop after a favorite shop in Massachusetts, where she lived for 15 years.
PRODUCTS: Mostly hand-crafted items from small artisans.
Midwest introduces flameless LED tealights
(Cannon Falls, MN –) – Midwest, leading designer and manufacturer of the Delight brand of accents to brighten the home, introduces an innovative new line of flameless tealight candles, and two new fashion-forward candle accessory collections featuring decorative metal sleeves and toppers to transform container candles into a fashionable home décor statement. The new Delight collections will be available for shipping in September 2008.
New Delight collections include:
Grand Prix Cigars; New Store a Welcoming Place
Southbury – Taking pieces from family trips all over the U.S. and Europe, mixed with a passion for cigars and for friends and family to spend time together, Tony and Anne Armeno opened Grand Prix Cigars at 1455 Southford Road on April 17.
“Our mission for the store has many parts,” Tony told Voices.
New knitting shop brings craft to community
Understanding the need to celebrate a craft that has been around for many years, Nancy Gauthier, of Shreveport, feels like her time to share her love of knitting with the city is now.
Knitting Under the Influence of Nancy will open this month in hopes of providing this community a new shop offering knitting, yarn, and crocheting items and lessons.
“There is a need for this type of business. There isn’t a place around that you can purchase quality materials and learn the craft at the same time,” Gauthier said.
“It’s an absolute passion of mine.
Neighborhood store welcomes everyone
For 54 years, King Hardware has been a neighborhood hardware store located in the Uptown Shopping Center at 4834 Line Ave.
Expanding its store about three years ago, owner Kathy Carruth and family felt like the area needed a gift store that offers personalized items available for everyone.
With that in mind, the store opened in an old Eckerd’s just next door, changing the name to King Hardware and Fancy.
“The ‘Fancy’ was added to show off our home décor and gift items,” Carruth said.
Originally, the store sold only hardware items, but now “we are able to combine mer
A lot of spice: Savory opens shop in Boulder
“Honey, could you pick up some Moroccan pink rosebuds and some smoked chardonnay sea salt on your way home?”
Such a request became a lot more plausible when Savory Spice opened a shop in Boulder last week on Broadway just north of Pearl Street. For lovers of exotic tastes, as well as a fresher versions of the staples in every household, the shop is a welcome addition to the local scene.
Gourmet Housewares Show Returns to San Francisco
White Plains, NY — The Gourmet Housewares Show, the premier marketplace for upscale housewares and culinary products, today announced both location and date changes, beginning with the 2009 edition.
After a four-year stint in Las Vegas and Orlando, The Gourmet Housewares Show will return to San Francisco, the heart of the culinary industry, where it first launched in 1977. The annual Show will move into a summer time slot to better serve independent retailers fourth quarter buying needs, while also allowing vendors to preview 2010 collections.
Inaugural Balloniversity Draws New Customers to Summer Markets
Bogart, GA – For more than 20 years, florists, balloon retailers and members of the gift industry have flocked to Bogart, GA each summer for an intensive four-day training session. This year, burton + BURTON decided to make the award winning training available to more people by taking the event “On the Road.”
Condensed, one-day training events were held recently during the Summer Gift Markets at AmericasMart in Atlanta and the Chicago Merchandise Mart.