Archives: News
PMC launches market day event for independent retailers
SEATTLE – As part of a new initiative to support independent retailers and buyers, Pacific Market Center, together with its showrooms, is launching a VIP: Vibrant Independent Proprietor event for independent businesses.
The inaugural event on Monday, July 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m will host independent retailers and businesses located in Seattle communities Ballard, Fremont and Snohomish.
Heartbeat of Separation wins Creative Child’s Awards
Sunnyvale, CA – Being a heartbeat away is significant to Vice Presidents and to babies. The judges at this year’s Creative Child Magazine Awards competition kept their political views to themselves but wholeheartedly agreed that Scootababy, a new type of babywearing carrier, was the Top Choice of the Year for baby carriers where just a heartbeat separates them from Mom (or Dad).
Creative Child Magazine hosts a 2-day annual event in Henderson, Nevada where guest reviewers are invited to participate. All products are divided into categories and displayed at various review stations.
Creative Child Magazines votes ‘Cahootie’ four-time Winner
Chicago, IL – A modern twist on a piece of paper folded for little fingers and thumbs won the hearts of over 50 judges at the annual Creative Child Magazine Awards competition.
Cahootie, the high-quality game with removable and interchangeable fortune stickers hidden under triangle flaps, earned not one but four prizes in the 2008 Classic Games Category from child experts and moms who probably played a homemade version of the game themselves, decades ago!
Creative Child Judges Preferred Kids’ Soft Turtle, Plush Peter Rabbit
East Windsor, N.J. – Kids Preferred’s oh-so-soft dolls won over the judges at the annual Creative Child Awards not once, but twice. Over 50 child experts and moms judged Amazing Baby Development Turtle as the 2008 Preferred Choice Award in the Baby Soft Toys Category.
Naturally Better Peter Rabbit was awarded a 2008 Seal of Excellence Award in the Plush Toys category. The huggable products will be showcased in the December issue of Creative Child Magazine along with its annual Toy Guide.
Minnie Beasley’s Cookie Company wins Gold at New York Fancy Food Show
Denver, CO. — Minnie Beasley’s Almond Lace won 1st place at the SOFI awards for “Outstanding Cookie” this past week. The awards are held annually in conjunction with the NASFT New York Fancy Food Show. NASFT is the worlds premier gourmet food association.
Minnie Beasleys’s Cookie Company is based in Denver, CO and distributes its products nationally through the internet, small specialty shops, gourmet grocery stores, coffee shops, basket companies, etc. 2008 marks the 5th year of operations.
Harmon Beasley Canon founded Minnie Beasley’s Cookie Company in 2004.
Downtown Plano finds new life
The cash register at the Candy Bouquet and Gift Store rings steadily as customers stroll into the downtown Plano storefront.
Owner Barb Cole said this has been the best summer for business since she opened her store on 15th Street eight years ago.
She credits a change in lifestyle fueled by a tighter economy and soaring gas prices. More people are working and shopping closer to home and using mass transit.
“Summers are usually slow, but we’ve seen a lot more people taking an interest recently,” she said.
A gift for confectionery
What began as a casual conversation a few months ago between Sonia Rose store owner Sonia Holbrook and one of her wholesalers crystallized last month into a new confectionery shop in downtown Lancaster.
Mary Ellen Kauffman, owner of Bonbonnière, is now a neighboring shopkeeper at 50 N. Queen St., as well as a supplier of the fabric flowers Holbrook incorporates into the purses she makes and sells.
Sonia Rose once occupied the space across the hall where Bonbonnière just opened, but moved last September to the larger space formerly occupied by Bella Boo.
Souvenir store a focus of Cats’ marketing
New Britain – Evan Levy calls it “shopper-tainment.”
Since Levy’s father Coleman and Bill Dowling purchased the New Britain Rock Cats in 2000, the team’s souvenir store has been a focal point of their marketing scheme, but the team’s vice president and his well-trained staff have taken ballpark fun a step further.
And as their slogan says, you’ve got to stop at the Third Base Shop before heading home.
“With the expansion of the store for those who haven’t seen it, it allows for more product and people spend more time browsing,” Evan Levy said.
Slowing economy and small businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration handed Nibbles & Bits specialty gift shop owner Mechele Corry the organization’s “Celebrate Success” award on June 27. Ms. Corry was the first Lackawanna County-based recipient of the award since the Celebrate Success initiative began three years ago. The Small Business Administration is giving the award to a business in each Pennsylvania county with proven longevity, growth, profitability and innovation.
Ms.
Business-Building on WMC Las Vegas Campus
LAS VEGAS — For the first time in the history of Las Vegas Market, all exhibits, showrooms, social events and seminars will be on one central campus located in the heart of Las Vegas at World Market Center Las Vegas, soon to be the world’s largest trade complex serving the home furnishings industry. Summer Las Vegas Market runs July 28 – August 1.
“The grand opening of our third Building this Summer is a watershed event.
Burnes’ New Eco-Design Strategy is a Grass-Roots Initiative
ROUND ROCK, Texas – At the Atlanta Gift Show, Burnes Home Accents, the leading maker of photo frames and related photo storage products, will debut a collection of reclaimed wood and recycled plastic photo frames, marking the first year of an eco design strategy that has impacted every aspect of the frame manufacturer’s business.
The goal of the enterprise-wide sustainability initiative is not merely to bring sustainable products to market, but to reduce overall corporate waste by 25 percent within a three-year period.
Kids Fly Safe Clicks with Judges of Creative Child Awards
Burlington, VT – Over 50 moms, child psychologists and educators gathered on behalf of the Creative Child Awards to judge the best product in this year’s Kid’s Travel Safety category. Among all the worthy nominees, one product clicked with everyone – the innovative Child Aviation Restraint System (CARES) and winner of this year’s 2008 Creative Child Magazine Top Choice Award.
Ray Hooper Design launches “Greeting Card” website
New York, NY – Ray Hooper Design is pleased to announce the launch of its new and improved Web site. This Web site offers many of the same great features as the previous site; however, Ray Hooper Design has made a more user-friendly layout as well an updated look and expanded product descriptions. Additionally, new sections have been added to the web, a new “Product” page, “Retailer” page, “Artist” page, & “Press” page.
Finally ‘Out of the Woods’
When Barbara Connell and her mother, Judy Lee, cast their eyes on the little house next to the Mooresville-Decatur Times, they decided it was worth saving. “We loved the character of it,” Connell said.
The foundation and the roof needed remodeling, the inside needed painting and new woodwork and the outside was crying out for vinyl siding.
Connell had owned “Out of the Woods,” an antiques and collectibles shop in Morgantown, for almost four years. But her history is in Mooresville. She is a 1984 graduate of Mooresville High School and grew up in the area.
Gowrie provides a hometown atmosphere
Gowrie – Gowrie has a lot more going for it than its annual Fourth of July celebration.
That said, it’s not a bad reason to make the trip.
Festivities kicked off Wednesday evening, and residents are hoping that once people visit, they’ll want to come back.
”Gowrie is the perfect small town,” said City Clerk Shelley Segebart. ”I’ve lived in bigger towns, and it’s just too busy.
Out-of-way spots like Colo. hit as travelers stick closer to home
Judy Curtis and her husband hoped to travel to Venice, Italy, this summer as a reward for paying off the mortgage on their Boulder home.
But after further investigation, the couple figured their money would go farther in their own country – even after flying to Alaska and taking a driving tour of the state.
That was before airfares and fees kept marching upward and gasoline prices climbed to $4 a gallon.
In the end, they settled on a far more modest option: a day in nearby Estes Park for the annual Scottish Festival.
“It feels like a good summer to have a . . .
Business may be picking up in Virginia City
Today is the Fourth of July in Virginia City, one of the biggest events of the year in the historic mining town, and business owners are counting on a good day.
Thousands of people come up the hill to watch the parade, the Comstock Cowboys and the fireworks, ride the train, visit the local shops, have some ice cream or a couple of beers. Or both.
One of several new businesses on C Street is The Comstock Creamery, an old-fashioned ice cream parlor that also offers sandwiches, pastries, espresso and beer and wine.
Norfolk card shops go head to head
Two Norfolk shop owners will be heading to London next week where they will battle it out for the title of the region’s best card retailer after being nominated for the prestigious award.
Cards ‘n’ Things in Hellesdon and Brambles on Exchange Street in Norwich have both been shortlisted for Best Independent Card Retailer in East Anglia in the Reta awards, after they were nominated by their suppliers.
Both will now go head to head at the awards being held at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Tuesday .
Willow Creek Salon and Gift now open
Some people can see an old house, the potential it has if given some tender loving care and then remodel it to become exactly the type of place they envisioned.
That’s exactly what Veronica Anderson did with the little house at 302 East Main in Cut Bank. She took what was once old and in need of repairs and turned it into something new, cozy and inviting. Welcome to Willow Creek Salon and Gift.
Dallas Market Center Announces June 2008 Best of Show Awards
DALLAS — Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, announced the winners of the 2008 June Total Home & Gift Market Best Show Awards. Recipients were recognized during the recent market and were judged by industry and visual/design experts. Best of Show judging takes place twice a year during January and June Dallas Total Home & Gift Markets. Winners feature booth or displays that are creative, fresh and innovative.
The June 2008 Best of Show winners are:
World Trade Center
2nd floor – Donald McEvoy