Archives: News
Rags to riches: Upcycling trend spawns an industry
The old adage about one person’s trash being another’s treasure is becoming increasingly true as a growing number of artists and merchants in the Boston area are using yesterday’s goods to craft the latest fashions.
The practice is called ‘upcycling.’ And as consumer demand grows for green products, making and selling upcycled items is turning into a cottage industry of artists, designers and boutique stores.
That’s good news for people like Anthony Ferrario, who started out with the hobby of making ties out of materials like old military garments.
Retailers helps tweens make their own clothes
Last year we wrote about Ridemakerz, a store that lets kids create their own toys in Build-A-Bear fashion, and now there’s a DIY equivalent for tweens focused on fashion.
Fashionology LA is a brand-new Beverly Hills store that lets young fashionistas design and make their own clothes. Girls begin the design process as soon as they step into the store, which features an array of dazzling designs on the walls for inspiration. Using touch-screen Design Pads, they begin by selecting what type of garment they’d like to create, choosing from an assortment of tops, bottoms and dresses.
Not enough customers, downtown store closing
A prominent gift-and-home-decor store in downtown St. Catharines is closing at the end of the month.
White On White, which has been in the core for seven years, is known for its white, silver and glass home decor items and accessories.
The 5 James St. boutique has been a popular spot for shoppers seeking stylish wedding presents and Christmas gifts.
The store was started by friends Kelly Exelby and Cheri O’Reilly in 2001. Four years later it was relocated to James Street from its small King Street site.
Nonprofit arts center to open retail store in Silver Plaza
A Silver Spring arts center will open a retail shop next month in Silver Plaza, filing a vacant storefront on Ellsworth Drive and bringing a fine arts presence to downtown Silver Spring.
Pyramid Atlantic has entered into an agreement with The Peterson Cos., which manages the retail area of downtown Silver Spring, to occupy a 4,500-square-foot storefront at 924 Ellsworth Drive, the former site of the Bombay Co. furniture and gift store, which went out of business earlier this year, according to officials from Pyramid Atlantic and Peterson Management.
Living Interiors brings life to office and home settings
Dianne Ruesch was bored. Her husband was working out of town. Her kids were growing older. She wanted something to do. She felt she needed something more.
“In 1990, I answered an ad,” Reusch said. The job filled her time as intended, but it wasn’t quite what she had in mind. “I was working minimum wage watering plants,” she said, “and I thought, ‘this isn’t for me.'”
“I tried to quit,” Ruecsh recalled, but the owner had other plans and said she was in need of someone to do office work. “I liked doing that better because I had done some bookkeeping in college.
Creativity takes shape at ceramic studio
Canton — A recent rainy afternoon could easily have dampened the mood of some local girl scouts if not for quick thinking by their troop leaders.
First, the leaders canceled their planned outdoor games. Then, they made a last-ditch call to a local ceramics studio.
The response at Ceramics a` la Carte was just what troop leaders were hoping. The paint-your-own-pottery and custom design studio at Cobb Corner was open and could accommodate the girls.
Kelsey Trerice was very happy.
The 11-year-old Canton girl got to spend the afternoon doing something she loves—painting.
China To Leapfrog Japan In Retail Sales By ’12
China, which is expected to register double-digit sales, will surpass Japan to become the second-largest retail market after the U.S., according to a new forecast from TNS Retail Forward.
The Columbus, Ohio-based consulting company says China’s retail spending is expected to reach $1.4 trillion by 2012.
‘Meet’ Artist Shawn Coffey at Artisan House Vegas
BURBANK, CALIF. — Imagine the thrill of being the “boy-from-New-Mexico-who-makes-good!”
Of maturing from a 13-year-old by the moniker of “SLik” who experimented with graffiti art in Albuquerque’s South Valley neighborhood, to the enviable position as one of the nation’s top metal artisans and head artist for Artisan House, Inc., California-based designers and crafters of unique, fine-quality metal sculptures for wall, floor, tabletop and table.
Consumer confidence skids more than expected
New York—U.S. consumer confidence fell unexpectedly sharply in June, sinking to its lowest level in more than 16 years, according to a private industry group.
The report Tuesday also said the group’s reading of consumers’ expectations hit an all-time low as home prices tumbled while gasoline and food prices rose. A separate index of home prices saw the largest drop since its inception in 2000. The news sent stocks lower in morning trading.
New owners for The Village Greenery
The Village Greenery is changing hands and customers will have a place to get their flowers and accessories for the garden and pets.
The garden store on Route 25 was owned and operated by Caroline Russell and has changed hands, as it was bought by Dave and Michelle Nichols after Russell looked to retire. The Nichols’ are the owners of Dockside Florist on Route 3.
“The previous owners looked to sell, (we) kind of caught wind of it,” said new co-owner Dave Nichols.
WMC Las Vegas to Showcase Prestigious Italian Furniture Exhibit
(LAS VEGAS) — World Market Center Las Vegas and Fiera Milano, Italy’s leading and most prestigious exhibition centre, will collaborate for the first time ever this summer to showcase a one-of-a-kind Italian Furniture exhibit at the 2008 July Summer Market. Presented as Design Italiano, the exhibit will feature the best in Italian design from 1956 through 2008.
Danielson Designs wins Stevie Award
TRINIDAD, COLO. – – Danielson Designs, a leading designer and manufacturer of home decor products nestled in the foothills of southern Colorado, has won a Stevie Award for Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program for companies with less than 100 employees in The 2008 American Business Awards (ABA).
The awards were presented during ceremonies at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City on June 12. The ceremonies were hosted by Cheryl Casone of Fox Business Network and broadcast nationwide on radio by the Business TalkRadio Network.
Fendi or fake? New site polices purses
New York – It was the peeling hologram sticker in her new Fendi bag that made Chrys Reyna suspicious.
She wasn’t able to afford the black leather bag’s $1,100 retail price, so when she bought it on eBay for $415, she considered it a triumph in bargain shopping. It was only through a Web site designed to spot counterfeits that she realized she’d bought “a really high-quality five-star fake.”
In an increasingly troubled economy, shoppers who used to be able to afford luxury goods are turning to third-party retailers that promise big discounts.
Don’t make it sad: Stuart card, gift shop Hey Jude closing after 21 years
Stuart — An iron worker by trade, Charlie Beers wasn’t considering buying a business when he met Judy Buhnshu 21 years ago.
At that time, Buhnshu owned a business called Hey Jude Cards and Gifts, which she ran at the B&A Flea Market in Stuart. Buhnshu, a fan of the Beatles, had named her business after the greetings she received from customers who walked past her shop.
Buhnshu was looking for a buyer, and when she told Beers she would sell him the business for $50 a week until he had paid off the $3,000 asking price, Beers felt it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
For Women, Cooperation Is The Answer
Auburndale – Downtown Auburndale was a blighted area when Terrie Howell opened her gift shop, Treasures on the Park, 12 years ago.
Today, the area is bustling with hair salons, retail shops and eateries. Interestingly, the overwhelming majority of the Downtown businesses are owned by women, said Joy Pruitt, director of Auburndale Chamber Main Street. Many of the women who have started businesses in downtown said they simply felt drawn to the area.
Salem’s changing retail market: higher-end stores paying higher rents
Salem — It wasn’t long ago that A Touch of the Past on Washington Street was a hub of retail activity in the city. A long-standing gift store with eye-catching window displays, it was overseen by a hustling, bustling owner, Kathie Driscoll-Gauthier, the former voluntary chairwoman of the Haunted Happenings celebration.
A Touch of the Past closed its doors a few days ago, almost 16 years after it opened. A new owner, Goldberg Properties of Beverly, had bought the building, started renovations and raised the rent
Call it tail-wagging retailing
In one of Greenville’s newest eateries, the gourmet goodies in the bakery case are reserved for those with four legs.
But dogs as well as their owners can sit down and enjoy a treat inside The Barkery Bistro at 118 N. Main St.
The offering of doggy treats is part of the unique flavor Diane Ludwig and her daughter Meghan Ludwig chose for their blend of an upscale dog boutique and gift shop.
However, the shop isn’t limited to owners of pets that bark. The Barkery Bistro also has items geared toward those that meow.
Queen for a day: Silverhill woman strikes gold at Silver Basket
Robertsdale, Ala. — Yvonne “D’Von” Henry says she hasn’t won anything for a while. No contests, drawings, nothing.
“I got a call saying I’d won, and I could not believe it,” said Henry.
What Henry won was the May drawing at the Silver Basket gift store in Robertsdale. GayNell Palmisano, the store’s owner says she instituted the promotion to get people in the area to “know and appreciate shopping in their home town.” The store ran a gasoline promotion in April.
“I am glad it was somebody local who won,” said Palmisano.
Gift shop expands to bridal and apparel boutique
Anissa Andazola and her mother, Molly, moved to the Gila Valley and opened a gift shop in February 2006. A year after opening, they saw a need for formal wear and expanded their shop into a bridal and apparel boutique.
Gowns Gifts-N-More now offers high-quality wedding gowns and bridal accessories, such as shoes, veils, hoop skirts, petticoats, gloves and jewelry. Also sold at the store is formal wear for women (including plus sizes), children and infants.
Pillowcasegram opens PA location
Pillowcasegram & Other Things announces the June 12 opening of its new store at 3 W. Main Street, North East, Pa.
The 1,800 square-foot retail store will carry fabrics, books, and notions that are especially focused on custom-made pillowcases, home decorating, and fashion. Pillowcasegram will carry fabrics for quilting; however, quilting will not be their main focus.
With two other quilting stores nearby, Lesley Rackowski thought that her store could be set apart by offering more fabrics for home decorating and fashion.