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Speaker Seeks Hiatus on Sales Tax for a Week
The City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn, striking a campaign-style tone, proposed a mix of modest cost-saving initiatives, spending plans and tax-cutting proposals on Tuesday, saying the measures would help to ignite economic activity in the city.
Among her proposals was one to suspend city sales taxes for one week. The plans were outlined in Ms. Quinn’s State of the City address, in which she detailed her Council priorities for the next fiscal year. It followed the mayor’s annual address of the same name, which he gave in Queens last month.
While some of Ms.
NYIGF Summer 2008 To Resume Traditional Date Pattern
White Plains, NY – George Little Management, LLC (GLM) has announced that the Summer 2008 edition of the New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) will run Saturday, August 16, through Thursday, August 21, 2008, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, Metropolitan Pavilion and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. This reflects a return to NYIGF’s traditional Saturday-Thursday date pattern after a one-time shift during the winter 2008 market.
New York International Gift Fair
August 16-21, 2008
Jacob K.
National Stationery Show Seminars, Daily Demos and Events Combine to Create Comprehensive Market Experience
White Plains, NY – Dynamic seminars and interactive demonstrations – including a pre-Show webinar series, paper crafting seminar track, round table discussions, product trend forecasting and a two-part internet strategy program – will set the stage for a comprehensive professional development opportunity at the National Stationery Show, running May 18-21, 2008.
Mud Pie Sprouts New Collection for Little Ones
Tucker, Ga. – The award-winning international gift company, Mud Pie, introduces Little Sprout, a new collection of fun, brightly colored pink and green products for little girls – featuring flower and polka-dot designs. The new collection includes adorable items for dressing the “little sprout” before she blossoms, such as flower barrettes, a ruffle sundress, ribbon booties and ballet panties.
Adora Inc. Earns Five “Doll Of The Year” Industry’s Choice Awards
Edison, NJ – Adora, one of the leading designers and crafters of fine limited edition and collectible dolls, introduces 43 new dolls to its popular Name Your Own Baby collection. The new lineup includes two new face sculpts and a beautiful array of costumes in surprising combinations of color, pattern and texture. A number of dolls, in particular, have whimsical styles to delight both young collectors and the young at heart.
091J20675 – This heavenly little angel is a vision of loveliness with her silver lame’ wings and pink organza dress with a petal-shaped skirt.
The Perfect Gift For the Perfect Man; Original and Memorable Gifts From the Oval Office
Looking for a special gift for the man who has everything?
Zoobies Announce New Product Line
ZoobiesTM have only been around for a year, but they are already releasing a new product line for 2008 called the “Zoo Collection.” ZoobiesTM arepatented plush animals that transform into pillows and blankets. Since the company launch at the 2007 New York Toy Fair, they have grown to 825 specialty retailers in the U.S. and won multiple awards including Creative Child Magazine’s Toy of the Year, TD Monthly’s Top Toy Award, Oppenheim Gold Award, and others.
Manual Woodworkers & Weavers Inc. Gift Show Stoppers
Hendersonville, NC – Manual Woodworkers & Weavers, Inc. showered the spring gift shows with an enticing array of products. Show attendees did a double take for items ranging from attractive home fashions to stunning fashion accessories.
Participants were stocking up for spring with the Isabella’s Journey adult and child parasol starter kits. Adult parasols are quintessentially feminine and flirty with a darling ruffle trim.
Giving the gift of time
Candy? Flowers?
Don’t drop hints, drop cash
Feminism pretty much skewered the knight in shining armor notion. Today, knights are for fairy tales.
As a result, more and more women are buying their own bling. But it isn’t just an I-don’t-need-a-man motivation. Women are buying jewelry for themselves for many reasons. And those reasons are as varied as the women themselves.
Leigh Graham, a married chartered accountant, attended a formal event in the fall and realized she was all dressed up, but lacked the finishing touch of good jewelry. “So I decided to purchase a Brazilian necklace with stones.
Trends in Valentine’s Day Shopping
Syracuse, N.Y. — Valentine’s Day is just a few days away and that means love is in the air. So what are couples buying this year?
“We’ve seen a lot of the traditional things in terms of diamond jewelry, candy and then we’re seeing some more intimate things, intimate apparel, little teddies, some real sexy underwear,” said Nicki Macallair, a Valentine’s Day gift wrapper.
A lot of shoppers were following suit, coming out of chocolate stores and Victoria’s Secret.
How bad will U.S. retail sales data be?
If recent data from the International Council of Shopping Centers are any indicator, the retail sales report by the U.S. Commerce Department Wednesday is not going to be good news. The question is how bad will it be.
What economists already know is that the Christmas season was the poorest in the past five years for U.S. retailers, suggesting that the mighty U.S. consumer was no longer spending up a storm.
Students’ shop opens in style
Students have been combining their craft skills and business talents to open their first gift shop in Harrogate.
Springboard students at Harrogate College, who have a range of learning difficulties and disabilities, invited Lady Emma Ingilby to officially open the shop on Monday.
Cookery students working in the catering side of the course also served a range of homemade soups to guests at the event.
Lady Ingilby said: “I love shopping but it’s the first time I have been asked to open a shop.
Old Town hosts ‘Taste of Chocolate’ fundraiser
It was like trick or treating for adults Sunday afternoon in Old Town Auburn for the sweet event “A Taste of Chocolate.”
Scott Gray of Sacramento roamed the streets with his sister, Karen Ramm of Foresthill, sampling sinfully sweet creations concocted by local merchants.
“We had to have the first one ourselves, but feel guilty so we are taking some home to share,” Gray said.
Their to-go boxes were filled with cupcakes, Grand Marnier truffles and cookies.
El Paso ponders recession
Is the United States headed for a recession, or is it already in one?
Valentine’s big for gift shop
Lois Lantau, owner of Cindy’s Hallmark in Titusville, said Valentine’s Day is a big day for her business.
“I would say it’s the second-biggest holiday for me, after Christmas,” Lantau said.
“It’s about 20 percent of my annual revenue. People love cards, all kinds of cards. And, besides cards, we have candy and plush animals. It’s getting better every year. People buy Valentines for friends, Mom, Dad and all the family members.
The Arcade’s hidden gem
Sometimes, Don Beohner feels like he has to wave his hands over his head to get out the message, “I’m still here!” Beohner owns Copacetic, a lively jewelry and gift store on the second floor of The Arcade, a downtown Providence building, circa 1828, that is said to be America’s oldest enclosed shopping mall.
As The Arcade goes through a drawn-out change, Beohner is the last remaining store on the second floor. The first floor has restaurants.
Nonprofit wants to revive downtown as shopping hub
Chester Blair, 57, remembers when Nashville’s downtown was a place to be seen. Brightly lit stores selling men’s suits and other merchandise lined Fourth and Fifth avenues.
“Downtown used to be a hub. It was a place to come before there were malls. I kind of miss it,” Blair said, as he watched over customers inside the post office at the Arcade, one of the few remaining downtown shopping outposts, at least during daylight hours.
Now, a nonprofit group that represents downtown landowners and shopkeepers wants to make the city’s center a retail destination again.
Sad, self-absorbed shoppers spend more
Boston – If you’re sad and shopping, watch your wallet: A new study shows people’s spending judgment goes out the window when they’re down, especially if they’re a bit self-absorbed.
Study participants who watched a sadness-inducing video clip offered to pay nearly four times as much money to buy a water bottle than a group that watched an emotionally neutral clip.
The so-called “misery is not miserly” phenomenon is well-known to psychologists, advertisers and personal shoppers alike, and has been documented in a similar study in 2004.
The new study released Friday by researchers from
Leslie Nathan-Street, Giftware and Home Accents Industry Veteran Joins Gift and Home Channel.com as New President to Lead Growth
NEW YORK, NY – Leslie Nathan-Street has been named President of the recently launched Gift & Home Channel, Leslie brings to the Gift & Home Channel over 21 years of experience in the giftware and home accents industry. Her deep experience includes general management, trade show management, sales development, marketing, and relationship management with all stakeholders across the giftware andhome accents industry.