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Old courthouse shops bring owners, customers together
Crown Point — Walking through the doors of the old courthouse in downtown Crown Point is like walking back in time. Located on the building’s lower level are shops of every variety, from a candy store to a clock store.
Barb Bonick, owner of Geppetto’s Children’s Apparel & Toys, has been located at the courthouse for 23 years.
“It’s a great location,” she said. “I love the building and that it is the center of town. From the very beginning, the town’s people wanted the shops to succeed in the courthouse. They are so loyal and dedicated to supporting the businesses down here.
Share Life’s Moments In Unique Ways
TOLEDO, Ohio — Are you tired of the inconvenience of pulling out and going through those heavy and bulky Photo Albums when people come over for a visit or a party?
Chicago promotes stylish, eco-friendly “Green” home
CHICAGO — The Merchandise Mart will feature a unique, green-themed display home in its North Lobby during one of its largest Gift and Home trade shows, The Chicago Market: Living and Giving, running July 17-23. This concept home offers design ideas and inspiration for lake homes, cottage retreats or second homes — enticing retailers and designers to incorporate green product into their stores and clients’ homes.
With increasing popularity, the Lake House display is now on its fourth edition and will feature trends and products with the popular Eco-friendly or Green-focused theme.
Artisan studio to Host Champagne, Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Las Vegas Launch
Burbank, CA — As a special champagne and ribbon-cutting ceremony honors the Las Vegas grand opening of artisan studio Collection Monday, July 28, at 2 p.m., the company will prove the adage that “Good things come to those who wait.” And to those who pick the optimal moment to respond to marketplace demand for contemporary, trendy and transitional metal art sculptures with consumer-friendly price tags.
‘Charles’ collection captures 20th century
Greensboro, NC — Excellent furniture design requires both skill and a commitment to quality, which FORMS+Fixtures offers with their innovative designs and manufacturing techniques. FORMS+Fixtures’ commitment to quality is reflected in the design and refined execution of their products produced solely in the United States.
The “Charles” collection features a beautifully scaled, classically proportioned 41-inch vanity.
Kubit2me Presents the Gift of Communication
Kubit2me’s inaugural appearance at the July 2008 Gift & Home Furnishings Market at the L.A. Mart will showcase its innovative line of “toss it to me” self expression games.
Gaining national grass roots support from parents, child development specialists and educators alike, Kubit2me games will be displayed by rep group Toyology in their L.A. Mart showroom, Suite 446, July 15-21.
LVM Seminars to Highlight Color, Lighting & Trends
LAS VEGAS – – Seminars on the season’s hottest colors, home furnishing and design trends plus home lighting looks will educate and enlighten attendees at the Summer 2008 Las Vegas Market July 28 through August 1.
World Market Center Las Vegas is sponsoring seminars focusing on the most current home furnishings trends; color as an influencer for product purchases and the many uses of home lighting. All seminars are free to Las Vegas Market attendees and will take place July 28, July 29 and July 30 on the 16th floor of World Market Center’s Building B.
Sensational Color
SFIGF to ‘give back’ through Under One Roof partnership
WHITE PLAINS, NY — Reaffirming its commitment to the San Francisco community, the San Francisco International Gift Fair has again partnered with Bay Area non-profit Under One Roof to actively ‘give back’ during the upcoming summer market.
Skyrocketing Costs of Steel and Other Materials Affect Retail Environments
Hollywood, Fla. – A.R.E.’s member companies are being hit with skyrocketing costs for a variety of materials and services that go into the manufacture of store fixtures, visual presentation products, and other materials for retail environments. Companies that work with steel are being particularly hard hit. Following several years of increasing steel prices, costs for a variety of types of steel have skyrocketed in 2008, with increases of 40 to 75 percent.
Small businesses in a fight for survival
Kenny Wynn has spent 26 years in the gas station business, and has surely seen his share of ups and downs.
Tammi Jones-Seward opened her Middletown gift shop just a year ago, and is still learning to cope with the travails of ownership.
For the moment, both are struggling along with an increasing number of small businesses around the state to weather economic turbulence that can be a test of survival for small operators.
Mason City’s retail sales up 5 percent
Des Moines — Mason City’s taxable retail sales jumped by nearly 5 percent from 2006 to 2007, according to a study released this month from Iowa State University.
The study also reported that Mason City ranks 21st in the state in attracting out-of-town shoppers.
Robin Anderson, executive director of the Mason City Are Chamber of Commerce, said Mason City’s retail strength lies in its ability to provide shoppers the opportunity to kill several birds with one stone.
How Long Island firms are coping
With the average gasoline price on Long Island at more than $4 a gallon, small businesses adapt to rising operating costs and the economic crunch. Here’s how some are coping:
A former New York City correction officer, Virginia Russell now runs the VIP Basket Store in Bellmore, where she sells and delivers gift baskets and flowers with business partner Minya Li, of the flower shop Possibilities Unlimited.
She loves running her own business but is more and more concerned about the rising cost of gas.
Harrisonburg Gift & Thrift Plans Facility Expansion
Harrisonburg – Harrisonburg Gift & Thrift Shop is getting a chance to spread its mission of “good stewardship” a little bit further.
The company plans to build a 14,700-square-foot building to house one of Gift & Thrift’s three divisions, in addition to a healthy eating cafe and a financial services company, said Allon Lefever, president of the store.
Construction will start in August and be completed in a year. The new facility will be right next to the store’s existing property on Mount Clinton Pike.
Fadden’s General Store: The real thing
Into a world where shops come and go, the faces and names of their clerks are forgotten and customer loyalty often gives way to convenience, comes a moment when a man and an errand span five generations of a family business.
It happened just after 8 o’clock Friday morning, when a North Woodstock fixture quietly reopened after a couple of years’ rest and restoration.
Through the door of Fadden’s General Store walked Murray Clark, 81, of Lincoln, who wanted to be sure he was the first customer to usher in a new era in the family business opened by James Fadden in 1896.
Shop in a quaint setting
Very near the southern border of Michigan lies the historic town of Blissfield.
This quaint village is full of great Victorian homes and buildings, many of which now house downtown businesses. It was founded in the 1820s by Harvey Bliss, who was also the town’s first postmaster.
The First Presbyterian Church on Franklin Street once held services in the Blisses’ log-cabin home, and the church was the site for the founding of one of the first anti-slavery organizations in Michigan.
Tip Toes shop brings kids’ stuff to Holland retail
Holland — Business owners Jennifer and Matthew Holmes have opened the one store they believed downtown Holland was lacking.
“The one thing that seemed to be missing from downtown was a store for babies and young children, and we decided to fill the niche,” said Jennifer Holmes, who has opened Tip Toes with her husband, Matthew.
The Holmeses also own Home & Company, a gift and home decor store at 190 S. River Ave.
The idea for the children’s store grew out of a section at Home & Company of gift items for babies and toddlers.
Small businesses battle big problems
Pittsburgh — Small business is risky business these days.
Costs are rising, profits are shrinking and the ability of the big guys to keep prices relatively lower is drawing away customers.
Things are so bad that many small enterprises, which account for about 99 percent of the country’s businesses, say they are hanging by a thread that might soon snap.
“We are basically losing money every month, about $1,000 a month. It’s been about two, three months now,” said Tom Weisbecker.
Stimulus checks effective, government says
Washington – The stimulus checks are working. A big increase in retail sales signaled that people are spending their rebate payments, helping to ward off a serious economic slump, at least for now.
The Commerce Department reported yesterday that retail sales soared 1 percent last month, double what had been expected. It was the largest increase since November and represented strong sales at a variety of retailers including the biggest increase at department stores and other general merchandise stores in a year.
Shanksville shop owner likes being close to family
Shanksville — September 2005 was a special month for Shanksville resident Robin Duppstadt.
After years as an independent consultant for the Longaberger Basket Factory in Ohio, the Gaithersburg, Md., native took a leap of faith and went into business for herself, opening Creekside Country Store.
The gift shop on John Street in Shanksville was the fulfillment of a dream.
“I’ve always wanted my own gift shop,” said Duppstadt, who has an accounting degree from the University of Maryland.
Gen Y Fears Wrinkles: Cosmeceutical Sales To Hit $21 Billion
Americans are hooked on multitasking lotions: A new report from Packaged Facts reports that sales of cosmeceuticals—cosmetic products that offer some additional benefits—are expected to reach $16 billion in 2007, and $21 billion by 2012. And while crows-feet-phobic Baby Boomers are certainly a large part of the market, Gen X and Gen Y shoppers are also fueling the trend. Even babies are on board: $35 infant moisturizers are among the hot sellers, the report notes.