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Economic worries, early Easter to hurt March sales
New York (MarketWatch) — A spate of economic worries, coupled with an early Easter, cold weather and lack of new fashions are expected to deliver a disappointing March for retailers, analysts said.
Retailers’ March sales at stores open at least a year are expected to be flat to down slightly, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers.
Bean Sprout Babies
Carrie Bishop, owner of Bean Sprout Babies, is answering the questions for today’s Small Business Snapshot.
What is the primary purpose of your business?
Gen Y Demands It: Green Fashion That’s Chic
Green is getting gorgeous. Whether it’s from high-end designers like Linda Loudermilk and Stella McCartney, large marketers like Nike and Levi Straus, or smart retailers like H&M and the trend-setting new Nau, the selection of environmentally friendly clothing gets bigger every day. Heck, even Wal-Mart just launched a line of T-shirts made from old soda-pop bottles.
Former mall store manager adds human touch to career
Tanya Mckiver, who cut her teeth in the gift business with nine years at Trevors in Killeen Mall, has set out to build a business of her own with a resolute dedication to the personal touch.
She started A Fynd in The Shops at Modoc in Harker Heights at the end of February after the Trevors store closed with a dream of improving on the bulk-order, assembly-line way of doing business essential to chain stores, although she managed the mall store for several years.
Jumping Jack Press Introduces Pop-Up Baby Book
Mason, OH – Jumping Jack Press, the pop-up book imprint from Up With Paper, announced that it will release its first memory book, My Baby Book, in July.
Owner Closes Berlin Gift Shop, Blames Economy
Christine Sparmer left a job heading an insurance company’s marketing department to open a retail gift store called Wrap It Up!
The Muslim Market: How can you reach out to this fast-growing group of consumers?
With buying power that’s roughly equal to the state of Indiana, the growing U.S. Muslim population–estimated at between 6 million and 8 million people–is an attractive segment for marketers.
Reaching them requires an understanding of their culture, beliefs and preferences, says Ann Mack, director of trendspotting for advertising agency JWT, which released “Marketing to Muslims,” a study of Muslim-American consumer habits, last year.
“Muslims are more interested than most Americans in seeing advertising that acknowledges them,” says Mack.
Unique artisan store opens downtown
Kathy Huiskamp opened her downtown Belleville business on April Fool’s Day – and it’s no joke.
Rather, it’s a unique collective of five artisans working together in conjunction with Huiskamp as owner of a retail gift store to provide consumers with an array of products.
Fusion Creative Collections opened April 1 at 282 Front St.
Claypool’s Gift & Home Co. offers enormous selection in emporium-like store
On Thursday, April 17, Claypool’s Gift & Home Co. in the Martell complex will hold its official grand opening. For customers streaming into the venue since its soft opening in late March, the experience can only be described as flabbergasting.
Fred Claypool, one of the owners, says most people who enter the store, say, “Wow. This is huge.” Claypool is the idea man behind the store, but he credits his daughters Melissa Giuffra and Kim McHenry with execution of the concept.
“After 55 years in the food business, it was time for me to change occupations,” he said.
Fresh Ideas Abundant at Pacific Market Center Spring Home Decor and Gift Show
Seattle – Pacific Market Center, the leading destination market on the west coast, will host the Spring Home Decor & Gift Show April 26-29, 2008, 9 am to 5 pm. New showrooms will be opening including Taku Graphics, Tuura & Friedlander (suite 532) who represents lines such as Artefact USA, Arts of Earth and Lavender Hill Arts.
Iota Announces New Licensing Agreement and Product Line With Paperproducts Design
Basalt, Colo. – Popular stationery and surface designer, iota, announces a new licensing agreement with Paperproducts Design (PPD) and introduction of its new PPD product line. Named the iota Designer Series, signature iota patterns Be Square, Bullseye and Pebbles adorn paper napkins and plates, Sniff tissues, gift boxes, porcelain serving sets and more. The iota Designer Series by PPD is available now at retailers across the US such as Henri Bendel and Zabar’s NYC.
For Retailers, ‘Kakadu’ Translates to Profits
From Alaska to Maine, and nearly every state in between, more than 300 retailers in the U.S. have discovered the profitability of the Kakadu product line from Israel. Hundreds more throughout the world have experienced the unmatched quality and craftsmanship of Kakadu’s hand-painted on wood accessories and furnishings for home and office.
(A “kakadu” is actually a large Australian bird similar to the cockatoo. It also is a region in the Northern Territory of Australia).
Founded in 1990 by husband and wife Reut and Aharon Shahar, Kakadu Design in Wood, Ltd.
New Resource Site Online for Gift Basket Makers
Paterson, New Jersey – Gift, gourmet, and floral retailers searching for products and supplies to make gift baskets will find hundreds of sources at GiftBasketWholesaleSupplies.com. This new site features food, gift, basket, and wrapping resources throughout the U.S. arranged in state order as well as a link for Canadian wholesale supplies.
“One frequent question at my gift basket seminars is where to find supplies,” says Shirley George Frazier, the site’s creator and long-time gift basket business expert.
Luggage store packs its bags downtown
Scratch another legacy retailer from battered Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland.
This time it is Traveler’s Shoppes and Cleveland Trunk, a luggage and gift store in the city’s Theater District since 1936 that traces its history here to 1894.
Only the retailer’s main location at 1309 Euclid in the Cowell & Hubbard building is closing, said Douglas Frankel, president of the family-owned concern he runs with his brother, Tom Frankel. The company’s four other locations remain open.
Local Store Offers Unique Custom Items
The business is inspired. Inspired by creativity, originality and a desire to give people in Dade County a local place to purchase these unique items.
Polkadots is located on Highway 11, near the square in Trenton. The store is a joint venture for Careyee Bell and Beth Chilton.
Bell said she had been thinking about having a store that carried gift items for a while when she came across a place called “Laughing Moon” in Madison that she said inspired her. According to Bell, Laughing Moon was the type of store she wanted to have.
Area businesses try to cope with the dreaded ‘R’ word
Longtime restaurauteur Jack McFadden now offers half-portion entrees at his upscale Gables Restaurant in Pennsbury. He uses a scale to measure all meat and fish delivered to his door to make sure he is not being charged for more than he actually receives.
Recently, he started a new bar menu that offers lower-priced hamburgers, sandwiches and salads. And he’s allowing patrons to tote their own wine and beer with no additional corkage fee.
McFadden’s is feeling the pinch of the sagging economy coupled with higher operating costs. And he has plenty of company in Chester County.
Mr.
P.G. shops look for support
A “sustainable” Pacific Grove isn’t just about the environment; it’s economics too, City Councilwoman Vicki Stilwell told her colleagues at Wednesday’s council meeting.
In her case, the economics of the city didn’t sustain her and her husband’s business, the Woodenickel gift shop at 529 Central Ave., which is holding its final closeout sale today.
“We’ve had a wonderful five years,” Stilwell said, “but I don’t know if it’s the recession, the price of gas, the mortgage crisis.”
Business just hasn’t been good enough.
Her voice nearly breaking, she said that “sustainable” means more th
World of Rocks not your typical gift shop
After 22 years in business, Gail Kornbluth says she has developed a loyal following.
The owner and operator of downtown Ypsilanti’s World of Rocks, 43 N. Huron St., says after moving her business from Ann Arbor, to Canton, to Belleville and finally settling in their current location eight years ago – she is amazed to see the same people visiting her store as when they first set up shop.
“We stayed in touch with people,” Kornbluth says.
Friendly Neighbors
Ed Iadarola, owner of Drew Edward’s Jewelers, has a lot to celebrate.
This past October, his jewelry store celebrated its 10-year anniversary. This past February, he opened The Flower Shop.
Mr. Iadarola started working part time in the jewelry business, when he was 15, sweeping and cleaning glass at a store in Waterbury. He became interesting in watching watchmakers work and repair watches, so he learned the trade and became a watchmaker for five years.
Mr. Iadarola would go to New York with his boss and watch jewelers repair jewelry.
Tough Times Mean Higher Use of Coupons: Survey
An economic downturn and technology advancements will lead to increased coupon usage among U.S. shoppers, according to survey results released today by Toronto-based ICOM Information Communications (ICOM).
Of the 1,529 U.S. consumers who responded to a recent ICOM survey conducted in mid-February, 67 percent said they are much more likely, or somewhat more likely, to use coupons during a recession.