Archives: News
Oil prices, slow economy hurting entrepreneurs
Sharon Roberts spent several sleepless nights this past spring wondering whether or not to close Buffalo’s Southwest Cafe, the business she and her husband, Rick, have operated since 2004.
“We stayed up at night thinking about how do we close the doors,” Roberts said. “We were at the point of considering it.”
A family loan, some budget tightening and a new marketing plan helped them to remain in business, however.
Christian Retail Stores Shelve Old Ideas
At Skia, a new Christian bookstore in Bentonville, Ark., there are comfortable chairs, racks of apparel, a coffee and smoothie bar, and a full corner of the store dedicated to building, of all things, skateboards.
“It takes a little while to put together a skateboard, maybe 15 minutes or so,” said Skia’s co-owner, Bill Beyer.
Lodge Living Introduced at Summer Las Vegas Market
(LAS VEGAS) — From rustic cabin to luxe lodge to mountain modern, the Lodge Living area and complementary programming will be an exciting and inspirational new destination at the Summer 2008 Las Vegas Market, July 28 – Aug. 1.
According to Russell Blair, director of furniture leasing for World Market Center Las Vegas, Lodge Living area will take center stage in a 25,000-square-foot glass enclosed showroom on the thirteenth floor of the new Building C at World Market Center Las Vegas.
“Lodge Living is a natural for us in the West,” he said.
OneCoast.com Increases Sales by 600 percent
(Pittsburgh) – OneCoast, the largest and only national wholesale provider of gift, home, and collegiate products to retailers throughout the United States, announced its Web site, OneCoast.com, posted a sales increase of over 600% in the first six months of 2008 compared to the same period of 2007.
OneCoast.com is the largest wholesale online showroom for products in the gift and home area. More than 30 vendors sell products to independent retailers nationwide through the website. In 2008 alone, 15 vendors have chosen to add their product collections to OneCoast.com.
Ateliers d’Art de France to present at NYIGF
The finest home, gift and lifestyle resources from around the world converge twice a year in New York City at the New York International Gift Fair, to offer an incredible selection of exceptional merchandise in one convenient, well-organized marketplace.
For the August 2008 New York International Gift Fair, Ateliers d’Art de France will support and present a total of 20 French manufacturers, the largest in the federation’s history.
Checks still not in the mail for struggling shops
One year after the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation said it would help small businesses floundering on construction-choked streets, businesses have not yet received any money.
“I will not believe it until I see it,” said Aleks Misyuk, owner of My Optician at 88 Fulton St. He applied for a grant three months ago and heard recently that he would get $12,000, which he would put toward advertising and trying to increase foot traffic to his business. He said his sales are down 30 percent since much of Fulton St.
Woolrich Home Furnishings to Participate in WMC Las Vegas
(Las Vegas, NV)—Woolrich, Inc., the brand inspired by nature for people who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, will display the Woolrich “lifestyle” in the new “Lodge Living” area during the upcoming Las Vegas Market held July 28 to August 1.
“Lodge Living” is located in the World Market Center’s recently completed Building “C” on the 13th floor. Each of Woolrich’s 11 home furnishings Brand Partners will be well represented in a 1000 square-foot space within the highly visible, glass-fronted pavilion.
Spark new business growth at PMC’s summer show
SEATTLE – Pacific Market Center, the leading destination market on the west coast, will host the Summer Gift & Home Accessories Show, the Pacific Northwest’s premier seven-day market event, on Aug. 13-19.
Known as a leading and innovative resource for home, lifestyle and giftware, Pacific Market Center will offer buyers a multitude of business building opportunities including educational seminars designed to provide fresh ideas and social networking functions in a one-of-a-kind marketplace experience.
Kids Preferred says Bon Jour to Madeline
East Windsor, N.J. – American girls will be heard saying merci beaucoup this autumn as they wrap their arms around that precocious Parisian redhead, Madeline, the newest literary license awarded to Kids Preferred.
Kids Preferred, one of the leading U.S. plush manufacturers, will initially develop three plush models of Madeline and her dog, Genevieve. The spunky literary character, beloved for seven decades on both sides of the Atlantic, is the star of books, a television series and a feature film.
Eromax Little Princess Enchants Creative Child Awards Panel
Lake Barrington, IL – Dressing up as a princess, pirate and knight captured the imagination of this year’s Creative Child Magazine Awards earning Aeromax, maker of children’s and adult’s costumes, three top honors in the 2008 competition.
National Retail Federation: Sales remain soft despite stimulus checks
Despite the millions of tax rebate checks that were delivered in June, consumer spending remained soft last month, according to National Retail Federation statistics released Tuesday.
The trade group reported retail industry sales for June (which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) rose 1.3 percent unadjusted over last year and increased 0.2 percent seasonally adjusted month-to-month.
Gift cards: 5-year limit, expiration dates help consumers
Michigan – It’s almost become a holiday tradition: You receive a gift card, toss it in a drawer and forget about it for awhile – maybe a long while. Then when you finally go to redeem it, the retail clerk tells you the card has expired. There is nothing on the card indicating an expiration date, only the clerk’s explanation that it is “store policy.” Sorry.
Such scenarios should become a thing of the past for anyone purchasing a gift card or gift certificate in Michigan after Nov. 1.
Little shop of ‘this & that’ open
Illinois – Karen Luevano walked past a vacant shop in Cave Junction’s Western Plaza, and impulsively rented the space previously occupied by Daddy & Me Locksmith.
Karen; her husband, Fred; her son, Eric, from Luevano’s Painting; and her grandson, Joey, from California painted the inside of the store next to True Value Hardware.
Grandsons Nick Luevano and Mike Luevano also pitched in during the redecoration, and will continue to help with Lue-van-o’s, a “This & That” gift shop, which opened on July 4.
WMC Las Vegas Launches Focused ‘Designer Days’ Series
(LAS VEGAS) — Designers attending the Summer 2008 Las Vegas Market July 28 through August 1 are invited to experience a robust, high-end series of events planned especially for them.
From architecture and lighting to new shades of green—to talks by such trend-setters as Larry Laslo and Roger Thomas—the new Las Vegas Market “Designer Days” series is an educational, entertaining and focused series of events catering to the design community.
Not only can attending designers see what’s new in the latest products and trends during Las Vegas Market, but they can get educat
Friendship Bracelets Trend Continues into Fall
Remember friendship bracelets? We used to sit on the porch and make them for hours … and there is still no better way. We don’t all have that kind of DYI time, but we love the chic combination of retro and tribal, which is even better when you share it with a friend.
Dogeared has re-introducing friendship bracelets with charms, faceted gems and brass beads on brand new colors … and they are all still hand knotted right here in Southern California, just the way they should be.
Layer them on, mix and match and add the season’s all important vibrant color palette!
La Cienega brings collaboration to California Gift Show
Los Angeles, CA – Call it a gift show within a gift show: this year marks the first time that a local collaborative of Los Angeles neighborhood businesses will participate in the California Gift Show.
The recently formed La Cienega South Design and Art District (LSDAD) is a group of companies that complement one another in the design and art world that are based in and around La Cienega Boulevard South in Culver City.
LSDAD will set up shop along side over 1,000 other exhibitors that will attract over 2,500 product lines for an anticipated 20,000 attendees at this year’s show.
Zoobies wins PTPA Media Inc. Seal of Approval
Toronto – Zoobies has been awarded the influential PTPA Media Inc’s Seal of Approval for excellence in parenting products.
PTPA Media Inc. (Parent Tested Parent Approved) has announced the winners of the 2008 Summer Product Call for the best in parenting products. The products have been awarded the PTPA Media Inc.’s Seal of Approval in many categories ranging from baby monitors, baby slings, safety gear, bedding and the most recent addition of a Green category.
Taj the Tiger was among many entries competing to win the PTPA Media Seal of Approval for Summer 2008.
Stirrings Twists Up Summer Celebrations with a New, Super-Fruit Enhanced Lemonade
FALL RIVER, MASS. — Stirrings, the leading innovative cocktailing brand, is introducing the first super-premium, shelf stable, all-natural Lemonade Mixer.
Made with real lemon, Acai and white cranberry juices and sweetened with agave nectar, Stirrings’ newest mixer makes it easy to create farm-stand style lemonade cocktails all summer long. This mixer is also very versatile, lending itself to all-natural cocktails and refreshing non-alcoholic mocktails.
Stirrings Introduces First Blood Orange Martini Mixer and Rimmer Garnish
FALL RIVER, MASS. — Stirrings, the nation’s leading innovative cocktail brand, is revamping fall and holiday martinis with the introduction of their new Limited Edition Blood Orange Martini Mixer and Rimmer Garnish.
Packaged with festive metallic labels, these limited edition products are perfect for all fall and winter gift and entertaining occasions.
See Kai Run 2009 collection features new styles for boys, girls and babies
Seattle, WA – Jump for joy! It’s time to think spring. See Kai Run, popular manufacturer of the perfect first shoe for new walkers, is focusing on fresh silhouettes and colorways for the upcoming spring/summer 2009 collection.
“Parents want to be excited about what they see on the shelves, which means we have to take some risks in offering fresh styles in this time of a looming recession,” says founder Cause Haun. “We’re adding some metallics for boys this season with a gold, khaki, cream, and black trainer.”