Archives: News
Success is sweet for fudge shop in Apalachin
Candy Kelly of Owego owns a fudge factory. And, if that’s not appropriate enough, Kelly’s daughter, Collette Duddy, who started the business, named the shop Fuddy Duddy’s Fudge Factory.
Duddy, 43, of Spencer, launched her fudge-making venture in 1998 at the old Apalachin train station on Route 434. She took over and expanded a small fudge store from another owner.
Within two years, Duddy and her husband, Tom, bought a farm in Spencer, and Collette Duddy began a new full-time career of boarding horses and giving riding lessons.
Aprons make a fashion comeback
Tahira Darling doesn’t need to cook to wear aprons. It’s her fashion accessory.
“It’s a conversation piece,” Darling said, wearing a ruffled blue and red apple-themed full-length vintage apron. “People see them and get nostalgic.”
During the past 10 years, Darling has amassed a collection of 400 to 500 vintage aprons — too many to count, she said.
Canadian Retail Sales Rise More Than Expected In November
Statistics Canada released its report on Canadian retail sales in the month of November on Tuesday, showing that sales rose more than economists had been expecting due in large part to a sharp rise in gas station sales.
The report showed that retail sales rose 0.7 percent in November following a revised 0.3 percent increase in October. Economists had been expecting a more modest increase of about 0.3 percent compared to the 0.1 percent increase originally reported for the previous month.
Boutique wine shop now at Stony Point mall
Wine stores in shopping malls aren’t all that common.
But Tony Vadella wants to change that.
He opened Bella Vino wine shop at Stony Point Fashion Park in South Richmond two months ago.
“Wine shops generally are destination-type businesses,” Vadella said.
“What we are finding at Stony Point there is more impulse buying,” he said. “Customers walk in, and it strikes them that they would like to have a bottle of wine with dinner.
Fast tech leaves mark at retail show
It wasn’t the speed of sound that made noise at last week’s National Retail Federation’s trade show, but the fact that rapidity is driving retail technology.
“Speed is impacting greatly what is going on in retail stores,” said Dan Butler, NRF’s vice president of retail operations.
New shop opens in Erie
After a Financial Times of London reporter described us as “the unfashionable town of Erie,” in an otherwise flattering story on GE Transportation, I didn’t know whether to be offended or proud.
I’m glad my hometown doesn’t exude snob appeal, but I consider our working-class heritage sort of trendy.
Accents on the Bay, a new gift shop in the old Dispatch Printing building, shows how to coax beauty from our roots.
A former job shop for the Dispatch Herald newspaper, the circa-1865 brick building at 29 W. Fifth St. boasts 14-foot ceilings and arched windows.
Exercise your buys
Shopping has become a recreational activity for so many people that even resort towns devoted to physical recreation are creating quaint shopping villages for the apres-ski set.
In the interest of retail, I recently went on a reconnaissance field trip to Blue Mountain in Collingwood, where I stayed at the Westin Trillium House in the heart of the Village at Blue.
Gift shop goes above and beyond
Treasures Unlimited, a gift shop that offers many other services, is owned by Carol Jean Myers of Columbia.
Myers started her first business in Hattiesburg in 1985 and stayed at that location until 1989. In August 1989, Myers opened Treasures Unlimited in Columbia and has helped customers in numerous ways during the past 19 years.
“It had always been a dream of mine,” Myers said. “And when I hit 35, I realized it had to be done either now or never. “
This well-known gift shop offers many things to make shopping convenient for customers.
New Gift Show at Old Location in Heart of New Delhi; Indian Houseware & Gift Fair-Spring ’08
New Delhi – Society of Small and Medium Enterprises announces a new Gift Show, Indian Houseware & Gift Fair-Spring 08, is being held in old exhibition venue in New Delhi popularly known as “PRAGATI MAIDAN” from 1st to 4th March, 2008 coinciding with Tex Style India,08, India Carpet Expo,08 & INTEX on great demand from Manufacturers & Exporters exporting to overseas buyers.
The mega show comprising Indian Houseware & Gift Fair-Spring,08 Hall Nos. 14 & 18, Tex Style India,08, Hall Nos.8 to 11, India Carpet Expo,08 Hall No. 12A & INTEX,08 Hall No.
Bibi & Mimi Appoints Anne McGilvray & Company
New York – Bibi & Mimi, creator of baby shoes, onesies and socks that are gift packaged, has joined forces with Anne McGilvray & Co to be its new sales group.
F!nds Dallas Temp Show to be Biggest Ever; KidsWorld to Attempt Grand Opening World Record
Dallas, TX – Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale merchandise resource, today announced that its January market beginning this week will feature the largest temporary exhibits in its history as well as a world record attempt.
The F!NDS Dallas Temp Show, offering thousands of the latest products, has expanded by more than 25 percent to record-setting levels.
GHTA’s Retailer Advisory Board to Present In New York
The Gift and Home Trade Association (GHTA), the industry’s non-profit professional trade association, will sponsor seminar at the New York International Gift Fair on Sunday, February 3 at 2 p.m. in the Javits Center, Room 1A02-03. Two of GHTA’s Retailer Advisory Board Members – Carol Schroeder of Orange Tree Imports and Cinda Baxter of Details, Ink. – will present the hour-long seminar in the organization’s popular “Retailer to Retailer” discussion format.
During the seminar, Schroeder and Baxter will explore issues and opportunities facing retailers in today’s marketplace.
Annaleece Gives Back
Annaleece has always felt strongly about giving back to those in need. In 2006 the company donated over $10,000.00 in Swarovski crystal jewelry, figurines, and cash contributions. This past 2007, Annaleece more than tripled that figure, donating over 30,000 in charitable contributions!
The company has been offering Breast Cancer Awareness and Support Our Troops pins since January 1, 2006, in which $1.00 of every item sold is donated to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation or the USO (United Service Organization).
Yankee Candle Opens in Florida, Offers Free Shipping
Yankee Candle is probably one of the most popular brands for home decorating scent candles. The people who run the Boone Docks Gift Shop in Sebastian, Florida have opened a new store that promises honesty and quality.
When I first walked into their store, I was amazed how different it was. The people are very helpful. The store is decorated in wood furnishings and scents. To give you a personal idea, even the baseboards around the store are made in solid wood, antiques are used for displays, and I couldn’t help but to notice a few original candle hutches that they made.
Boston Gift Show to Deliver Fresh Resources Through First-Time Exhibitors
White Plains, NY – The Boston Gift Show returns to the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC), April 5-8, 2008, with a strong lineup of companies never before seen at this market. Demonstrating the continued strength of this Show and its position in the Northeast gift market as a discovery zone for new products, the Boston Gift Show will present nearly 40 new companies among its 500 total exhibitors.”The Boston Gift Show continues to present a marketplace full of fresh new products that will inspire retailers,” said Tony Orlando, show manager.
Q&A at The Country Store
Beverly – Linda Kraus spent 25 years managing a taxi company in Beverly. Diane Soper spent the last couple of years as one of her drivers.
Now they’re co-owners of The Country Store, a gift shop that opened recently at 166 Cabot St. in downtown Beverly.
The shop includes Beverly-themed souvenirs made mostly by Beverly people, such as photographs of Lynch Park, a drawing of the Hale House, and necklaces made from seashells culled from Beverly beaches.
Japanese Group XCIDIA Plans US Debut at San Francisco International Gift Fair
White Plains, NY – XCIDIA, a Japanese group featuring contemporary innovative product, will make its US tradeshow debut at the San Francisco International Gift Fair, January 26-29, 2008. The group’s participation will expand the Fair’s international resources to include a total of 100 companies from 14 countries.
Located within Accent on Design, XCIDIA will present apparel, bed and bath accessories, home decor, housewares, stationery and museum gifts, designed and produced in Japan. From the 60 participants, notable introductions will include Mizutori’s ‘reinvented’ geta sandals.
NRF Forecast 3.5% Growth in Retail Sales for 2008
New York City – The National Retail Federation released its 2008 economic forecast today, predicting that retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations, and restaurants) will increase 3.5 percent from last year. According to its quarterly Retail Sales Outlook report, released this morning at NRF’s 97th Annual Convention & EXPO, NRF expects the slow pace in sales growth to continue before picking up in the second half of the year.
Department 56 Abuzz with Changes
Every one is talking about the changes at Department 56.
Department 56 has ten showroom locations conveniently located at each of the major gift shows and has recently announced 2008 programs and product introductions that differentiate them from other seasonal gift and specialty wholesalers.
U.S. Retail Sales Growth May Slow to 3.5% in 2008
(Bloomberg) — Sales at U.S. retailers may increase at the slowest pace in six years in 2008, an industry retail group predicted, as cash-strapped consumers reduce spending on jewelry and electronics.
Sales might increase 3.5 percent this year, slowing the first six months, and then accelerating later on as the economy improves, the Washington-based National Retail Federation said today in a statement.
Consumers grappling with $3-a-gallon gasoline, the worst housing slump in 27 years and higher unemployment are shopping at Wal-Mart Stores Inc.