Archives: News
Gift-giving made even more fun
Muscatine, Iowa — There’s a different kind of gift shop in downtown Muscatine and the owner hopes to make make buying presents a fun, local experience.
Muscatine’s Tricia Brockert recently opened Second Thoughts Gifts and More at 128 E. Second St., as a way to venture out on her own and hopefully give people a reason to grin while they shop.
“Sometimes gift giving can be a drag; but here, people crack up as they walk through the store reading the different items,” said Brockert, 36.
Use of NYIGF online catalog skyrockets
WHITE PLAINS, NY – Taking advantage of a sophisticated new Internet planning tool, more than 2,500 qualified leads have been generated from the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) Online Catalog Gallery in advance of the Summer 2008 market. Since going live in April 2008, this newest feature which is available through the NYIGF Web site at www.nyigf.com/catalog, has received more than 1.5 million catalog page views.
Designed to save considerable product sourcing time, the Online Catalog Gallery enables buyers to view product assortments prior to attending the market.
Minimal impact
On Thursday, the federal minimum wage will be bumped up by 70 cents, but that won’t have much impact on many area businesses that already are paying well above the lowest rate, according to some local observers.
This week’s minimum wage hike to $6.55 an hour comes one year after was raised to $5.85 an hour.
“Our economy is really doing quite well. It is still growing. It is positive growth, and it’s doing relatively better than other parts of the country. Our wages are pretty firm,” said Bob Ball, economic research manager for the Tulsa Metro Chamber.
Historic downtown center seeking new business
Huntington — It’s been about three weeks since Boston Beanery closed at Heritage Village in downtown Huntington. So far, there’s been interest expressed in the facility but no takers.
“Most people think it needs some updating and some improvement. Updating would be helpful, but it’s very charming and a unique facility.
Call It Puppy Love
Seffner – Finding a good dog groomer who can also photograph your pup and bake him nutritious treats is like finding a good doctor you can trust, says Sandra Simpson, who has found such a spot a few miles from her home.
“If I ever moved, I’d traveled to get there with my dogs,” Simpson said, referring to Whiskers & Wags Pet Bakery at 11713 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Rochfort Bridge: Around the World
If you’re looking for something fun to do with your family that is affordable and not far from home, you might consider a trip to Rochfort Bridge.
Just left off Highway 43 about 40 minutes from Whitecourt, the Rochfort Bridge Trading Post is a great place to learn about the history of the area, have a bite to eat and relax in the sun.
The new owners of Rochfort Bridge trading post, Andy and Michelle Sierens from Whitecourt bought the trading post in November.
Closing ‘bittersweet’ for downtown business owner
As customers mill about the Twigs gift shop to say goodbye and check out the sales, owner Christi Bounds said she is both happy and sad to know her popular downtown business will be closing soon.
“It’s bittersweet. I’m so looking forward to retirement, but I’m going to miss my store and my customers and this creative outlet,” she said.
For about seven years, Twigs has filled a void in the Vicksburg market, selling “garden gifts” from its 1409 Washington St. location formerly occupied by Sage’s Bootery.
Ivystone Launches Eco-Friendly Division
Exton, Penn. — Ivystone Group, the leading professional sales agency covering the Upper Midwest, the Ohio Valley and the New York/Mid-Atlantic region, has launched a new division of the company focusing on green, eco-friendly products, a move that will strengthen the company’s endeavor to support lines made with the ecology and environment in mind.
Family pewter shop perfects its craft
Judy Sams knew exactly whom to call when she needed 150 paperweights for a conference sponsored by the Virginia Business Education Association.
“When I have the opportunity to buy presenter or participant gifts, I go to Virginia Pewtersmith,” Sams said. “I never have to check each individual piece. I know they will be perfect. They take such pride in their product, and they want you to take pride in your ownership.”
Dorothy Mauro and her husband, John, purchased Virginia Pewtersmith in April 1994.
Gloomy Days Ahead for Retailers
Congress probably wasn’t thinking about food last winter when it voted to send stimulus checks to 130 million U.S. households. President George W. Bush and other leaders hoped the package, amounting to more than $100 billion, would grease the wheels for broad consumer spending, thus lessening the severity of housing’s collapse.
Industrial materials taken out of context
In Colin Schleeh’s world, a good day is finding time to see what comes of a failed experiment.
His materials of choice are wood, aluminium, paper, cement, resins and even 35-millimetre film.
“I make a lot of mistakes and I’m not afraid to blow things up,” Schleeh said.
Travertine Spa owner looks to make bigger mark in body-care market
During these ugly economic times, selling beauty products takes a little extra sweat, maybe a little more road time.
For Terry Carter, owner of La Palma-based Travertine Spa Inc., the quest for the next big sale took him to Dubai last November.
Travertine Spa peddles body-care products and unisex yoga and Pilates apparel to first-class hotels, spas and all “who believe in treating themselves well,” Carter said.
Small Business 101: Recycling tips for you business
Did you know that every ton of recycled office paper saves approximately 17 trees?
Businesses sometimes purchase supplies and materials that are not always used efficiently, creating unnecessary waste.
To get that small-business loan, be prepared — and be honest
Money can’t buy everything, but it can buy new equipment, finance an expansion of your existing business or provide the means to bring an entrepreneur’s dream to life.
With the lending market tightening, it’s more important than ever for small-business owners in search of financing to make a compelling case to lenders, and experts agree that means one thing: Be prepared.
“They need to understand the commercial loan process — what do lenders look at, what do they want to see,” said Al Cook, chief of the lender relations division at the U.S.
Many Beloved Shops Don’t Have to Disappear
In a Manhattan neighborhood where utilitarian stores have transformed into trendy eateries, meatpacking businesses were made over as designer dress showplaces, and every other storefront becomes an expensive hair salon, a string of old-school, regular-Joe shops is taking a contrarian stand against rising rents and business displacement.
Along Ninth Avenue where Chelsea meets the Meatpacking District, owners of such businesses as Sweet Banana Candy Store, 9th Ave Gift Shop and Chelsea Liquors, along with their patrons, activist allies and local officials, are pushing back against seeming
Gift shop sells unique merchandise
Covington, Ind. — A new gift shop in Covington, Ind., seeks its niche in the downtown area amidst the antique stores and specialty shops.
Lisa Warner opened Around the Corner at 414 Washington St. last week. Appropriately titled, the shop is around the corner from the courthouse square and across the street from Kuppa Koffee. The slogan is “Gifts to Remember.”
“I am trying to have a place where people can find a gift for a wedding, birthday or a get well gift,” she said.
Woodstock Chimes Enhances Popular Environments Collection
(Shokan, N.Y.) — Woodstock Chimes, a leading manufacturer of precision-tuned windchimes, introduces two new bells to its popular Environments Collection as part of the company’s 2008 summer product introduction.
Hartville gift shop offers flowers, wreaths and more
Hartville, Ohio – The Lavender Butterfly is a unique gift shop that opened in Hartville on June 2. The store owner is Carla Holland from North Canton. The Lavender Butterfly is located at 141 S. Prospect Building B in Historic Downtown Hartville.
Holland is very excited about this opportunity to have a business in Hartville. She has been doing crafts and floral arrangements for years and felt that this would be a prime location for her shop. Holland enjoys that her shop is so close to home.
Belmont still thriving in tough economic climate
It isn’t the best of economic times, but Teresa McCarter has decided to open a new business anyway.
Within the next few days, she’ll launch Happy Dog Café & Boutique at 26 N. Main St. Suite 1 in downtown Belmont.
McCarter, 48, gave up her job as operations manager of Charlotte-based Emco Inc., a power transmission distributor, to start a specialty shop for dogs in her hometown.
She’ll stock everything from gourmet health food and supplements to dress-up clothing and life jackets.
Can downtown Brunswick stay in business?
Brunswick — A tough economy, not enough draw to downtown, no major highways nearby and a lack of parking are just some reasons Brunswick store owners are feeling a pinch in their sales.
Julia Saulnier recently moved her gift shop, Treasures to Warm the Heart, to Leesburg, Va., after one year in downtown. Her sales didn’t cover the cost to run the business and for her to commute from her Leesburg home, she said.
But there’s not enough foot traffic to sustain all of the city’s antique shops, said Bill Simms, who, with wife, Edith, own Antiques N’ Ole Stuff at 25 E.