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13 Publicity Ideas for Retailers
If you’re trying to promote your store, but you don’t have a big advertising budget, relax. There are lots of ways to get in front of the audience you want to reach by using free publicity. Here are tips that will boost your publicity efforts and help you finally get noticed.
1. Tie your story ideas to the holidays. Here are some examples: Gourmet gift baskets that make the best Christmas gifts. Bookstores that are doing special programs that tie into Mother’s Day. Health food stores that can explain how to create a vegetarian meal for Thanksgiving.
2.
Gaga for kitchen gadgets; Annual Housewares Show provides a sneak peak at what’s coming soon to a store shelf near you
Spending time in your home kitchen will be anything but boring if you look at what manufacturers have recently debuted in the marketplace.
At The International Home and Housewares Show at Chicago’s McCormick Place last week, a great number of culinary-inspired and kitchen items stood out for their unique and creative designs. They’ll not only help make tasks easier but allow people to have a little fun, too.
“People are spending a lot more time in the house.
National Stationery Show To Feature Acclaimed Invitation Designer Anna Griffin
Industry icon Anna Griffin will discuss her rise to success – from hand-crafting one-of-a-kind wedding and event invitations to establishing internationally-recognized Anna Griffin, Incorporated – during a keynote breakfast at the National Stationery Show, on Monday, May 21, 2007, at 8:30 am.
Retailers, Credit Card Companies Quibble Over Footing the Bill
Retailers and credit card companies normally love each other. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that they can’t live without each other. Except on Capitol Hill.
Here, retailers are lobbying intensively to try to persuade the federal government to force credit card companies to reduce the fees they charge merchants to use their cards.
Store Owners Could Face Criminal Charges For Fake Bags
Three stores police say sold fake designer bags are in trouble. Thousands of dollars in merchandise and profits were confiscated, and owners may face charges. State Police are sorting through fake Chanel and Prada bags, fake Tiffany necklaces and fake designer sunglasses. All the imitations are worth more than 14 thousand dollars, and police say the three stores selling them broke the law.
Candle Warmers Etc. announces the introduction of the new Signature Lamp
Layton, UT – Candle Warmers Etc., creator of the Original Candle Warmer and industry leader in scented candle technology, announces the introduction of the new Signature Lamp. Company President, Bart Kennington, stated: “the Lamp will compliment our growing line of products”. The Signature Lamp is available in six colors-Antique White, Antique Taupe, Black, Pewter, Brass and Bronze. The new lamps compliment the company’s recent acquisition of Jamie Clair Candles. The Jamie Clair candle line includes forty seven distinctive scents in three different sizes.
GLM Names Boyle As Divisional Manager For The San Francisco International Gift Fair
White Plains, NY – George Little Management LLC (GLM) has announced the appointment of Kippy Boyle as divisional manager for the San Francisco International Gift Fair. In this role, she will be responsible for the day-to-day sales, marketing and management of the Details division – presenting jewelry and personal accessories; the Just Kidstuff division – presenting upscale juvenile and educational products and toys; and the Museum Source division – presenting products appropriate for museum gift stores, specialty shops, zoos and galleries.
Consumers Eager for Spring as Easter Spending Increases; Spending expected to reach $14 billion
Washington, DC – After a long, cold winter for most of the country, consumers are eager to celebrate Easter with their family and friends, according to NRF’s 2007 Easter Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey. This year, shoppers who are planning to celebrate Easter (79.5%) are expected to spend an average of $135.07, up 11 percent from last year’s $121.72 per person. Total holiday spending is estimated to reach $14.37 billion*.
AmericasMart Becomes New Home For Luxury as Atlanta International Fine Linen & Home Textiles Market Debuts in March 2007
Atlanta – For March 2007, the Atlanta Spring Gift, Home Furnishings & Holiday Market took on a compelling new look and feel with five distinctive product collections which were presented in tandem with the Atlanta International Fine Linen & Home Textiles MarketSM launch.
Taking center stage as Market’s new feature collection was holiday and floral, presented in the Holiday, Floral & Home Decor Center (AmericasMart , floors 16—20) and the Market Temporaries’ Holiday, Floral & Baskets collection (AmericasMart , floor 7).
New Penny and Braid Combination Rugs; Another new and innovative rug design from Homespice Decor
March 2007 – Homespice Decor has introduced its second new and innovative rug design for 2007. The new Penny and Braid Combination rugs feature two of Homespice Decor’s most popular rug designs, the penny rug and round braided rug, incorporated into a single, very unique floor covering. This innovative design is certain to capture the attention of the rug industry and consumers alike.
The center of the new combination rug features a round penny rug design.
Airport boss wants more retail sales in terminal; Smith says vendor monopoly stifles purchases by fliers
People at Cleveland’s airport spend a lot less on food, drink and gifts than people at the nation’s other airports, and airport Director Ricky Smith blames contracts that give one company a monopoly.
Smith said Monday he plans to generate more retail sales – and airport revenue – through new vendor contracts when they expire this year and in 2009.
Out of the largest 50 airports across the nation, he said, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport ranks 45th in the amount of retail dollars passengers spend in terminals while waiting for flights.
At Hopkins, which is strapped with $1 bill
MOTIF-ated for Success
Steve Lora and John Perez opened MOTIF Modern Living just over a year ago, and though they’re not willing to disclose hard numbers, they’re also not too shy to brag that they’re raking it in.
“It makes my hair stand on end,” said Lora, who will go so far as to say that the 21,000-square-foot store just south of Austin made “millions,” and “double what we told the bank we would make.”
Lora, president of the company, expects to open a second Texas location this year, and four more Texas locations within the next five years.
Couple wears many hats
There’s a quaint and historic building at the corner of Somerset Avenue (a k.a. Route 138) and Center Street in Dighton – the town’s single busiest intersection – hat in the 1770s was known as Gooding Clockshop. It’s now home to four businesse , three of them owned by a married couple.
The rear portion is a satellite office of Farrell Backlund Insurance. The front, and more readily visible, portion contains a flower shop/custom hat company owned and operated by Beverly LePage.
Los Angeles Fashion Market Set to Debut in Just Four Days
LOS ANGELES – Thousands of buyers eager to view the latest trends for Fall 2007 will visit the California Market Center from March 23-27 for one of the most highly anticipated fashion events of the year, the March LA Fashion Market. For the first time in fashion history, all of the apparel buildings will ban together for a star-studded, grand opening market week party where special guest Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will make a major announcement regarding his economic goals for the LA Fashion District and receive a key to the LA Fashion District.
Textillery Weavers Partners With Non-profit Agency to Launch Stone Belt Mixed Media Mosaics Collection at High Point Spring
Bloomington, IN – Textillery Weavers has partnered with Stone Belt Arc, Inc., an Indiana-based non- profit organization providing education and support to persons with disabilities, to introduce Stone Belt Mixed Media Mosaics. Set to debut during the March 26-April 1, 2007 International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, NC, the delightful new designs, which will be featured in Textillery’s showroom – IHFC- D408, are created by Stone Belt Arc’s clients using recycled Textillery yarns.
These textile mosaics are a product of the Art & Craft division of Stone Belt Arc, Inc.
Annual specialty-food trade show: a smorgasbord from simple to sublime
SAN FRANCISCO – There were lavender honey truffles and cloudlike marshmallows with names like Caramel Swirl and Kona Coffee Crunch. There were extra-virgin olive oils from famed estates and bottled water from the lava rock of Iceland. There was elegant gelato and tacky Chocolate Passion Body Powder “For Discreet Dusting.”
For three days recently, San Francisco’s enormous Moscone Convention Center was turned into a food-lover’s paradise as the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade staged its 32nd annual Fancy Food Show.
It’s a small world after all; Bilingual toys big hit with nation’s littlest consumers
Toy makers and retailers say sales of bilingual toys, such as the LeapFrog toys at a KB Toys store in West Covina, Calif., have exceeded expectations.
Odra Heitmann hauled the heavy package labeled “Dora’s Talking Kitchen” off a Toys “R” Us shelf and set it on the floor for a better look.
Splashed on the box was a promo: “Says Phrases in English and Spanish!”
That sealed the deal for Heitmann, who scooped up the gift for her 1-year-old niece Ashley.
“I made a big mistake by not teaching my kids Spanish,” said Heitmann, 37, recently at the Burbank, Calif., store.
Realizing downtown’s potential takes the luxury of patience
NEW PORT RICHEY – The downtown screams potential. That’s what brought the owners of Turtle’s Nest, Pangea and Lynn Scents Candle Shop to Main Street.
They liked the river and the parks, the assortment of interesting buildings, the plans for pedestrian-generating projects.
But less than two years after opening, all three of the businesses are leaving.
Chic stores serves special needs patients
ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Debbie Heft is sold on Rehability, a surprisingly chic store for people with disabilities in a surprising location, a new outpatient rehabilitation center in Allentown.
Heft, who lives in an apartment nearby and has a host of medical problems, frequently drives her wheelchair to the new 3,300-square-foot store in the Good Shepherd Health & Technology Center.
She bought a crochet hoop there that clamps to the armrest of her wheelchair, and a cuff she uses to create a thicker handle for the tiny crochet hook she needs to make baby clothes.
Local business owners credit mentors with helping them succeed
Do you remember your first-grade teacher? How about an early boss who inspired you to do your best?