Archives: News
‘Secret’ survey finds shops lacking
A secret survey of three major Sydney shopping centres has uncovered a number of key areas for improvement in current retailing practices.
Store signage, layout and cleanliness together with shop attendants’ presentation, product knowledge and initial approach to customers were all highlighted the survey, conducted on behalf of Reed Gift Fairs into today’s shopping experience.
‘Mystery’ shoppers visited selected stores, and ranked their experiences against set criteria, in centres in Paddington/Darlinghurst; Westfield Chatswood and Westfield Parramatta.
Inflatable innovation
Vicky Thompson can take a cluster of balloons and turn it into a life-sized bride and groom, enormous palm trees or three-dimensional champagne glasses bubbling over and spilling across a room.
As the owner of Balloons, Etc. in south Fargo, Thompson has made a career out of decorating with balloons and using the colorful orbs to turn mundane gifts into unique presents.
Balloons, Etc.
When it comes to this game, firm’s executives know the drill
When a close friend gave Gary Fewell a board game called Wildcatter, based on the oil and gas industry, he was more than mildly intrigued.
By the time he played the game with his teenage son, in perhaps a mismatch, the chief executive of DFW Genesis Energy Group began thinking of it more as a potential investment than as a fun gift.
“It’s become one of the things that the two of us do together a couple of times a week where we actually interact,” Fewell said. “When we play the game, we spend two to three hours together.
Old Town Merchants Worry Cruisers Will Pass Them By
Some Old Town Bay St. Louis shop owners are unhappy with the decision to host this year’s Cruisin the Coast venue in the city’s Depot District.
Last year, the devastation that remained from Katrina forced the Bay’s Cruisin event to move. But this year, Old Town merchants say the area has recovered enough to bring the event back to the waterfront.
“We look 100 percent better down here than we did a year ago,” Old Town merchant Pam Collins said.
Collins co-owns a gift shop on Main Street.
Women’s Co-op Launches Another Stylish and Eco-Friendly Collection
Toronto, Ontario – Bazura Biz is pleased to announce the launch of another new collection of stylish and eco-friendly bags made by a women’s cooperative in the Philippines. The new Woven Bag collection adds glamour to recycled goods while helping to clean the environment and supporting the livelihood of less fortunate, but empowered women and their families.
With only the help of the local village council, six Filipino women set up the Co-Op which has grown to include over 800 members today.
ENESCO Acquires Our Name is Mud
Itasca, Ill. – Enesco LLC, a global leader in the giftware and home/ garden decor market, today announced the Company’s second acquisition with the purchase of the assets of Mud Productions, Inc. DBA Our Name Is Mud, a leader in the ceramic giftware industry.
The acquisition of Our Name Is Mud builds on Enesco’s strategy of developing a balanced portfolio of unique and differentiated global brands. Our Name Is Mud brings contemporary designs and occasion-driven product themes to Enesco’s current stable of brands.
Pacific Market Center Announces 2008 Shows
WHO: Pacific Market Center
WHAT:
Seattle Market Week
Winter Gift & Home Accessories Show: January 30-February 5, 2008
Spring Home Decor & Gift Show: April 26-29, 2008
Summer Gift & Home Accessories Show: August 13-19, 2008
WHERE:
Pacific Market Center
6100 4th Avenue S.
Seattle, Wash. 98108
Leading Gift Vendors Host First-of-its-Kind Event at Atlanta Gift Show; April Cornell Block Party Offers Fun and Savings
Atlanta, Ga. – April Cornell licensees Now Designs, Certified International Corp. and Evergreen Enterprises, Inc. have partnered together to host a first-of-its kind Block Party event for buyers at the January 2008 Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market. On Friday, January 11, from 5 to 8 p.m., buyers will celebrate new April Cornell spring 2008 introductions with fun entertainment, great food and one-of-a-kind savings. The excitement will take place on the 1700 block of building 2 at the showrooms of Evergreen Enterprises, Suite 1700, and Dugan-Bliss & Associates, Inc.
Getting the jump on Santa Claus: For some shoppers, it’s never too early to start
Amid rows of candy corn, ghouls and costumes, Santa is lurking around the corner as the holiday shopping season gets started.
Lauren Davis, manager at The Inside Story gift shop in Madison, said the store doesn’t have its holiday displays up yet, but employees are already wrapping purchases in holiday paper for customers who have started shopping.
Consumers are purchasing jewelry, handbags and home accessories as gifts, he said.
Collage artist opens The Beat of My Art gift shop in Naperville
When artist Debbie Egizio opened an art gallery and gift shop in Naperville, her goal was to make it comfortable and inviting.
“People sometimes feel intimidated by galleries. I created a place that’s warm and friendly,” Egizio said.
The Beat of My Art opened at 329 N. Center St. earlier this summer. The bright shop is filled with artwork created by 15 new and emerging artists, including Egizio’s own work. The shop features an array of unique gift ideas that range in price from $1.25 to $950.
Offinger’s Marketplaces Announces 2008 Dates
Offinger’s Marketplaces have announced the dates for their 2008 Immediate Delivery (cash & carry) Wholesale Trade Shows to be held in Columbus Ohio.
- January 18-19, 2008, Veterans Memorial Building
- March 14-15, 2008, Veterans Memorial Building
- August 15-16, 2008, Veterans Memorial Building
- October 31-November 1, Ohio Expo Center
New this year, all four Shows will open on Fridays from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm featuring a Marketplace Preview. Show hours will continue on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Teddy Bear Depot offers mix of goods
Ware – The Teddy Bear Depot and Coffee Bar on Main Street is a new business that is almost too good to be true.
Conceived by Dale E. Ramsey, the large, pristine store at 47 Main St. offers baked goods and non-alcoholic beverages, indoor and outdoor seating, antiques, collectibles, gifts and, of course, a large population of teddy bears.
Ramsey, 55, a Stafford Springs, Conn., native who lives in Monson, opened the store in May. But the idea spent a long time percolating.
“I’ve always had an interest in having a gift shop,” he said.
GLM and dmg World Media Finalize Acquisition Agreement
White Plains, NY – dmg world media and George Little Management, LLC (GLM) have finalized an acquisition agreement – seven years after their initial partnership and three years ahead of dmg world media’s option to purchase a majority interest – to make GLM a wholly-owned subsidiary of the global exhibition and publishing company, as of October 1, 2007.
“I am so pleased to announce this acquisition today as GLM is a very important part of the big picture of dmg world media,” said Mike Cooke, CEO, dmg world media.
Landmark Industry Study Confirms Las Vegas Markets Future as the Dominant Home Furnishings Market
Las Vegas – World Market Center Las Vegas, the industry’s fastest-growing home furnishings event and soon to be the largest trade complex in the world, today announced the results of an in-depth, landmark study conducted with home furnishings industry’s retailers and manufacturers, designed to document industry beliefs about the present and future of markets – particularly the Las Vegas Market, which takes place semi-annually at World Market Center’s burgeoning complex.
The independent study concluded that World Market Center Las Vegas will become the dominant U.S.
AmericasMart Welcomes Its Newest Children’s Showroom–Mama Mia
Atlanta, GA – What comes to mind when you hear the words Mama Mia? Do you picture lovable Uncle Tony exclaiming his delight? Or is it the song from the fun and full of life musical?
Enesco to Begin Selling Country Artists Limited Products
Itasca, Ill. – Enesco LLC, a global leader in the giftware, and home/garden decor industries, today announced that it will begin distribution of the Country Artists Limited brands in the U.S., commencing with its upcoming show at Enesco Headquarters in Itasca, Ill.
Family believes its Gribbits earbud accessory sounds like a winner
A Batavia father of four young children is hoping a product he designed with his brother-in-law grabs on.
Dan Donohue and his family created gadgets designed to attach to the earbuds of iPods. The decorative accessories that come in the shape of soccer balls or flowers can also be attached to pencils or sunglasses.
The idea for the product, which the family started selling last week, developed when Donohue’s family gave him an iPod for Father’s Day. Donohue, a self-employed landscape architect, thought, “this is an expensive gift.
Maine Made & More has new owner
Maine Made & More, a retail fixture in central Maine for 30 years, has been sold — but don’t look for many changes.
New owners Emilios and Paige Zirtidis said they are more than content to stay with the formula that George and Paula Gordon used for three decades to make their business a success.
Maine Made & More features clothes, souvenirs, gift items and other home decoration merchandise.
“We are basically going to keep it exactly the way it is,” Emilios Zirtidis said.
The Zirtidises bought three Maine Made & More outlets from the Gordons: the original flagship shop in Waterville
Penny Auntie’s new owner continues tradition
The parents and children of Chappaqua know Penny Auntie 5&10 as a place where they can find fun and quirky toys and gifts.
For the women who have owned the store during its nearly 30-year history, it’s a place where they could find a life that balances family and work.
Cross River resident Karen Lustig, who bought the King Street shop in May, is following in the footsteps of two previous sets of owners who were moms and businesswomen.
Lustig, a mother of four children, was fed up with her corporate job at a market research firm when her baby sitter’s mom mentioned in passing in March
Spooky Sales
Pumpkin patches may not materialize for another few weeks along the Gulf Coast, but that hasn’t kept local shoppers from stocking up on all things orange and black since mid-summer.
Larry A. Heard, manager of Robert Moore & Co. in Mobile, said nearly 40 percent of their Halloween merchandise has been purchased by customers looking to deck out their homes and yards before the air turns cooler.
Halloween has expanded its reach in recent years, stretching from a one-day give-me-candy-or-else feast to a monthlong celebration of everything creepy and cute.