Archives: News
New Luxe Living’ Section to Enhance GLM’s Global Home Sourcing Shows
White Plains NY – “Luxe Living” – a new area for high-end resources and distinctive, customized booths – will launch at Global Home Textiles and Global Home Decor, May 6-8, 2008, at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas NV.
April Cornell Launches New Giving World Website
Burlington, Vt. – April Cornell provides an opportunity for charitable giving with the launch of its new website, givingworldfoundation.org. April Cornell has long been recognized for her philanthropic endeavors through The Giving World Foundation. Her website now offers opportunities for others to learn of the foundation’s philanthropic endeavors and to support this worthwhile charity.
The vision of the Giving World Foundation, based in Burlington, Vermont, is to provide a hand hold, not a hand out, to those in need throughout India.
Mud Pie Offers New Additions to its Quotables Collection
Tucker, Ga. – Perfect for every occasion and adorned with a themed charm, Mud Pie’s Quotable Frames have proven to be one of the firm’s most popular gift items. Retailing at only $10, the Quotable Frames are an ideal way to share life’s special moments with friends and family.
In response to the collection’s popularity, the firm has introduced 25 new selections, including new sentiments for Christmas and breed specific pet frames.
GHTA RAB Member Solves Keystone Challenge
Earlier this year, the Gift and Home Trade Association, the industry’s non-profit professional trade association, issued a challenge to its members: find the origin of the word “keystone” as it’s used in our industry. After the topic came up during a GHTA-sponsored education session, the organization surveyed the Board of Directors, none of whom knew where the word “keystone” originated.
Years of record growth for handbag sales could be over
New York: The $7 billion market in the United States for handbags, the fastest-growing product in the fashion industry, might be slowing from the record growth seen in recent years.
Some analysts and retailers say that the increases in U.S.
Local retailers stock up for Halloween
The bloodied, bandaged, gruesome-looking mask on display at Feeney’s Halloween Warehouse is the last thing anyone would want to face in real life.
But when it comes to the spooky season, scary is definitely in — and local retailers have nothing to fear when it comes to Halloween sales.
According to the National Retail Federation, consumers are expected to spend more than $5 billion on Halloween this year, up from 2006.
GIFT SHOP Magazine announces successful completion of first annual Ultimate Makeover Contest
Hanover, Mass. – GIFT SHOP magazine is proud to announce the successful completion of its annual Ultimate Makeover Contest. This year’s winner was Donna Trottier, owner of Blue Hydrangea in Wickford, RI.
Donna Kent, a visual merchandiser who has years of experience in the business, including a few at Laura Ashley stores, executed the makeover on a budget of $500. “Donna is just the kind of roll-your-sleeves-up person who is so great to work with,” said Kent of winner, Donna Trottier.
After 100 years, Albuquerque’s oldest trading post is still thriving
An aura of age enfolds Wright’s Indian Art like a fine Navajo blanket. It rests light but unmistakably on the shoulders of those who enter.
It’s an odd sensation because, on the surface, the store in the Courtyard at 1100 San Mateo Blvd. N.E.
Downtown merchants try to sell through gift cards
For the first time, downtown merchants will have a gift card designed specifically for them, which they hope will draw more shoppers to downtown businesses.
The new gift card program began last week, and it can be used at participating downtown restaurants or retailers.
Spiceberry Lane moves up the street
Bucyrus — Sarah Garrett and her mother, Patty, like shopping at the new location of Spiceberry Lane.
“It’s a very nice, hometown store. We don’t have very many locally owned businesses in Bucyrus,” Sarah said as she picked out her free gift with purchase.
Patty knows the importance of supporting locally owned businesses in the community.
“We own the Woodstove Shed on Stetzer Road where we sell items like woodburners, gas stoves and furnaces, so I try to shop locally as much as possible,” Patty said.
The new location of the store at 111 S. Sandusky Ave.
Christmas in October? No thanks, shoppers say
New York — Retailers are slashing prices to try to jumpstart holiday sales, but many Americans plan to wait until after Thanksgiving to buy gifts, according to a new survey by market research firm NPD Group.
“I spotted the first holiday set-up in a store on August 18th this year – that’s nearly a month earlier than last year,” wrote NPD’s chief retail analysts Marshal Cohen.
Holiday retail: Bah, Humbug!
New York — As shoppers get ready to start the annual frenzy over holiday shopping, retailers are strapping in for what is likely to be a bumpy ride.
A field of retail experts surveyed by CNNMoney.com said they expect sales to increase between 2 and 5 percent – with most predicting numbers in the low end of that range.
Last year, national retail sales in November and December rose 4.6 percent over the same period a year earlier.
“This holiday season is going to be terrible,” said Howard Davidowitz, chairman of retail consulting and investment banking firm Davidowitz & Associates.
Holiday sales to grow by 4 percent to $447.5 billion: NRF
Holiday sales are expected to grow by 4 percent this year to $447.5 billion, which is the slowest holiday growth since 2002, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).
In a holiday preview call, titled “Hot or Not: A 2007 Holiday Preview,” the NRF’s Scott Silverman said that, while this year’s holiday growth is expected to grow more slowly than in years past, it will still be up significantly from 2002, when sales grew by only 1 percent.
“While this may not be the rosiest of predictions, this is certainly not a ‘sky is falling’ mentality,” he cautioned.
Wilton women open beading studio and jewelry store in Ridgefield
Two women from Wilton, Martha Buttenheim and Pam Minish, have opened Sugarbeads at 113 Danbury Road, a beading studio and jewelry boutique in Ridgefield, for people to come and create custom jewelry by choosing from thousands of beads.
“We designed this space to be conducive to creativity, ” said Ms. Minish. “We wanted it to be bright and light and soothing, a place where people would feel welcome and relaxed while they worked on their projects. We have a long table for designing and comfortable chairs.
Squared’s Roots
Melisa Christie, 38, took her love for glitter-covered citrus public when she opened gift boutique Davis Squared.
You were the manager and buyer at a Davis Square institution, the gift shop Pluto, until it closed two years ago. Did you ever think you would open your own store?
I always wanted to open a store and nothing else came in after Pluto closed. We had such a great following at Pluto, so I just had to go for it, had to do it. [My husband and I] live in Davis Square; he’s the bar manager at Gargoyles on the Square.
New store for Durham e-trader
A Durham entrepreneur is branching out to open her first ‘bricks and mortar’ store – just months after she was named as a finalist in an online trading competition.
Kate Dawson from Dipton, was one of 10 budding entrepreneurs from across the region who each won £2,000 to start their own business via eBay, in a challenge run by regional development agency One NorthEast and e-business champions the North East Regional Portal.
The idea of the ‘YouTrade’ competition was to encourage online entrepreneurship across the North East and now, only six months after launching her business Spirit U
Pacific Market Center Announces Park Avenue Agents Showroom Expansion
Seattle – Pacific Market Center announces the showroom expansion of Park Avenue Agents to its collection of elite showrooms at the industry destination for buyers in the Pacific Northwest. Park Avenue Agents is a leading representative of books, children’s products, toys, puzzles, games for all ages, party goods, infant apparel, fashion accessories, and more.
Woodstock Chimes Reinvents Top Selling Products for 2008
While “knocking-off” today’s top trends would normally be considered taboo in any industry, Woodstock Chimes proudly introduces its 2008 collection, which copies many of the design elements in its own best-selling products. The worldwide leader in the manufacture of precision-tuned wind chimes and premium musical gifts has reinvented and redesigned many of its top products that shoppers have already fallen in love with.
“We have quite a few products that have remained top sellers for many years at Woodstock Chimes,” says Garry Kvistad, founder of Woodstock Chimes.
Toy Retailers Encouraged About Holidays
Toy sellers’ fears of a widespread boycott of Chinese-made toys have not taken hold so far, despite the recall of more than 20 million playthings made there. Merchants are reporting an improvement in business, including strong early sales of certain key holiday items.
Still, shoppers’ concerns over safety are still high. And mounting financial concerns could force shoppers to pull back.
“Consumers are still confused,” said Ron Boire, president of Toys “R” Us Inc.’s North American division, noting that there are some parents still concerned about where products are made.
New business using soft touch on patrons
Deerfield – Heather Langdon pressed her cheek to the sleeve of a bathrobe whose fibers come from bamboo and soy.
“It’s extremely soft,” she said.
Langdon is the owner of Esscentuals, one of Deerfield’s newest businesses. The mother of two knows that sometimes one needs to pamper oneself — without driving to Manchester or Concord to do it.
Langdon has worked in retail all her life, and her last “major job” before having children was in customer service. But she didn’t think to put the skills together until she began searching for products for her own troubled skin.