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Retailers crack down on serial returns
Jimmy Deignan’s first time was with a $500 portable DVD player.
He bought it a few years ago at Best Buy for a Boston-to-Los Angeles flight, knowing he would return it for a full refund when he got back. More recently, in November, rather than spending $600 to rent a LCD projector for a business presentation, the Holden resident purchased one at Staples, then returned it a few days later and got his money back.
The way Deignan sees it, he is just a smart shopper: He gets the things he needs, uses them for as long as he wants, and saves money.
Bringing Tradition Back
When Robert Fernandez walks through Olvera Street, he doesn’t see the same corridor where his family opened a gift shop in the 1930s.
“It’s been such a traditional place,” Fernandez said last week. “Growing up as a child and going to Olvera Street to visit my uncle, I remember the shop that sold nothing but handmade toys from Mexico, the dressmaker, the leather worker.
Mompreneurs Redefining Stay-At-Home Mom Role
Nia Umoja wanted African-inspired clothes for her young daughter. Nicole Burfield needed something that would keep socks on her infant daughter’s feet.
The answer, each of these moms found, was to do it themselves. Like many other women, they’ve drawn inspiration from their jobs as mothers to create their own businesses, becoming “mompreneurs.”
The mompreneur movement isn’t new – Sheryl Leach became one 20 years ago, when she developed Barney. Now, the purple dinosaur is a multimillion-dollar entertainment dynasty.
Mother, daughter watch their decor business blossom
Vista – If Colleen and Cynthia Neilson had a dollar for every time they’ve heard, “Why didn’t I think of that?” they would be millionaires.
Instead, they have created a niche market for home decor, called Magnificent Trimmings, Inc., using magnets, a little creativity and a lot of hard work.
The Vista-based endeavor started out simply as a solution to a problem. Colleen had just moved into a new home and ordered a chandelier for her dining room.
Hot pepper passion becomes a business
East Stroudsburg, PA — Lars Chigi likes it hot, hot, hot.
The freezer of his home kitchen in Blue Mountain Lakes is packed with such fiery chili varieties as bhut jolokia, naga morich, fatalii, Cayenne Super II Hybrid and rocoto.
“I eat chili peppers in some form every day in at least two of my meals,” Chigi said. “It’s like a drug addiction. Once you get a hankering for flavor and heat, you want more. It’s a healthy addiction.”
Chigi has turned his passionate quest for the ultimate burn into a gourmet food business.
Dogeared Jewels & Gifts Announces Success of 2007 Gifts that Give Program
Los Angeles, CA – Dogeared, a trendsetting brand that creates handcrafted jewels and gifts in Los Angeles, was founded by designer Marcia Maizel-Clarke 16 years ago. She was inspired by her desire to put good energy into the world, as well as by the California lifestyle, and her love of beautiful design and craftsmanship. As she began to build her company, she also saw the opportunity to create a different kind of business that reflected her original inspirations.
Sandgoh, LLC, To Introduce New Sand Sculpture Toy At The 2008 International Toy Fair
Jersey City, NJ. – Jersey City, New Jersey-based SANDGOH, LLC., has announced plans to debut its namesake product – Sand-Goh! – at the 2008 American International Toy Fair, booth #6422, scheduled for February 17th – 20th at the Jacob Javits Center in New York, NY.
Sand-Goh!
Home Textiles Market Week Builds Momentum
White Plains, NY – The convenience of a cohesive luxury home textiles market drew raves from buyers coming to New York City for Home Textiles Market Week, January 31-February 7, 2008, at the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Metropolitan Pavilion and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94, 230 Fifth Avenue, and 7 West 34th Street.
With the continued expansion and refinement of better home fashion resources at the Javits Center, some 400 leading vendors of high-end bed, bath and linen products out performed expectations for the Market.
Extracts Thrives In New Javits Location
White Plains, NY – The relocation and integration of EX*TRACTS: New discoveries in beauty and wellness into the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center resulted in a successful market which received overwhelmingly positive response from both exhibitors and attendees. The 23rd semi-annual edition of EX*TRACTS ran February 2-6, 2008.
“EX*TRACTS continues to be a targeted resource for spa, salon and specialty retailers seeking innovative personal care products and suppliers,” said Melissa Engongoro, divisional manager.
California Gift Show Is Hot Venue For Trends And Fashion
White Plains, NY – Buyers at the winter 2008 New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) were treated to a greatly enhanced and refreshed market, resulting from the addition of new divisions and showcase areas and the refinement of existing categories. Some 2,836 exhibitors participated in nine strategically categorized divisions, with more than 1,000 exhibitors repositioned into new, more product-appropriate locations for the winter market, February 1-6, 2008, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Metropolitan Pavilion and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94.
Company C Adds Home Furnishing Fabrics To Its Product Offering
Concord, NH – Walter Chapin, President of Company C, a Concord, NH-based designer and manufacturer of hand-crafted area rugs and home textiles, announced today the company will be expanding its product line to include Home Furnishing Fabrics. This new collection includes 8 designs in a variety of colorways (24 SKUS in total) and will launch in April at the High Point International Home Furnishing Market as part of the Fall 2008 Collection.
C.S. Wo & Sons Honored with Place in the ARTS Hall of Fame
Dallas, TX – Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, and the Accessories Resource Team (ART) today announced the induction of C.S. Wo & Sons, a home furnishings company, into the ARTS Hall of Fame. Honored for being a premier furniture store, C.S. Wo & Sons received its fifth award during the ARTS gala held on Saturday, January 19, 2008 in The Grand Pavilion at the Trade Mart.
The Hall of Fame, conceived by ART and the Dallas Market Center in 2003, includes companies that have won five or more awards within a specific category at the ARTS Awards. C.S.
Woodstock Chimes debuts Chimalong XR at Toy Fair
At Toy Fair 2008, Woodstock Chimes will debut an exciting new addition to the Woodstock Music Collection, a unique assortment of instruments from around the world that can be played and enjoyed without extensive training or practice. The Chimalong XR takes the company’s best-selling Chimalong to a new level of musical fun. Just like the original, kids can play the new Chimalong XR by number, color or notes, but now they can play standing up – just like the professionals!
“It’s always fun to give a new twist to our best-selling products,” says Woodstock Chimes founder Garry Kvistad.
Airport gift shop saved in tradeoff
Kalamazoo — Faced with losing its gift shop, Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport has waived the tenant’s $6,000 annual rent and will instead accept payment in the form of tickets and event space at the Air Zoo, which runs the store.
The Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, known to most as the Air Zoo, began an eight-year contract to operate the Fly Buy gift shop in 2002.
“It’s no secret that air travel is down,” said Bob Ellis, executive director of the Air Zoo.
What’s new: Floral, gift shop opens in Caldwell
Michael and Donna McKinney may be relatively new to Caldwell, but they are eager to become part of the community and look forward to sponsoring local events through their new business, Bayberries Flowers and Gifts.
The McKinneys looked for a location for the business and settled on a 105-year-old house located near the center of town. They plan to expand the side yard with garden ornaments such as trellises, bird baths, benches and potted plants.
“I would like Bayberries to become part of Caldwell’s downtown community.
New York International Gift Fair Offers New Opportunities
White Plains, NY – A successful market was reported by exhibitors across all divisions of the San Francisco International Gift Fair (SFIGF), January 26-29, 2008, at the Moscone Center. Fresh new designers invigorated resources at the Fair, where strong product introductions inspired buying and created an upbeat business mood.
OneCoast Supports Efforts to Bring Clean Water to Kenya
The lives of thousands of African citizens, especially children, will improve with the creation of clean water wells, and OneCoast is offering employees, vendors and retailers a chance to be a part of this major humanitarian effort.
OneCoast, the largest and only national provider of sales and marketing services to vendors and retailers of home decor, gift and collegiate products, began a plan this year to focus its efforts on one charity per year.
Tax Rebate Checks to Immediately Pump $43 Billion into Economy, According to NRF Survey
“To spend or save?” may be a question many analysts are asking about tax rebate checks, though a new survey finds that many families are planning to do both when the checks are distributed.
According to a new National Retail Federation survey, conducted by BIGresearch, consumers plan to spend 40.6 percent of tax rebate checks when they are distributed later this year, which will provide an immediate $42.9 billion boost to the economy.
Layton Police raid mall gift shop due to racy merchandise
Layton, Utah – It was a full blown raid as police searched a popular store in the Layton Hills Mall on Tuesday and left with evidence.
They took hundreds of items they say are sexually explicit and against the law because they were sold in the plain view of minors.
The store is Spencer’s Gift, a popular, national novelty gift shop.
Retail sales surprisingly strong in Jan.
Washington – Retail sales posted a surprising rebound in January following a dismal December, although much of the strength reflected rising gasoline prices. Economists saw the increase as a temporary blip rather than a sustained recovery.
The Commerce Department reported Wednesday that retail sales rose by 0.3 percent last month after having fallen by 0.4 percent in December as retailers suffered through their worst Christmas shopping season in five years.