Archives: News
Daycare Owner Rocks Two-Month-Old Tea Store
With his Steamboat Springs, Colo., daycare up and running and his daughter soon heading to kindergarten, Josh Bodden began thinking about what to do next. In deciding, he looked both back to his upbringing and forward to a business model that was new to him.
Bodden was raised in the south, so he grew up drinking iced tea.
Tweeting for profit
A year ago Kris Drey couldn’t care less about Twitter.
With 13 years of Web site experience, Drey is no technophobe. He serves as vice president of product marketing at Fliqz, an online video-hosting service with 20 employees in Emeryville, Calif. But when he first skimmed Twitter, the popular micromessaging service launched in 2007, Drey saw a lot of mindless chatter and very little that seemed useful to a video business.
Still, with the economy taking a dive, Drey persisted.
Sister Team Launches Clip-On Purse
Sandy Christiano’s idea for a hands-free, clip-on purse was conceived by accident.
Wichitan’s love of fashion, design serves her well at Mik’s
Wrapping packages at McClurkans at the age of 14 was one of the best experiences Kim Womble ever had.
“Beautifully wrapped packages are as important as anything in retail stores,” she said.
Years later, Womble is still involved with retail and making things beautiful. For the past 21 years, she has owned and operated the fashionable Mik’s in Brook Village.
Pop-up Shop Gallery Highlights Future of Retailing
New York – One of several exciting attractions during 7 W New York® Gift & Home Textiles Market Week® will be the Pop-Up Shop Gallery created in collaboration with the Fashion Institute of Technology. Officially debuting in July and located in Suite 743, the gallery will showcase the Pop-Up Shop projects conceived by FIT Home Products Development students from the class of 2010.
Pop-Up shops are a retailing phenomenon that has continued to grow in the past few years, with everyone from major retailers like Target to online and small shops taking part.
Local San Francisco businesses given economic boost with “Show Your Badge” Programs during San Francisco International Gift Fair
San Francisco, CA: Area businesses get a boost – and not just for those in banking, the auto industry or in real estate. Now America’s cities, both large and small, are getting in on the act. From August 8 – 11, The San Francisco International Gift Fair is partnering with the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau (SFCVB) and local businesses to encourage market attendees to support local SF retailers and restaurateurs.
Jellybean Expands into New Markets
The parent company of popular accent rug brand Jellybean™ reports a sharp increase in alternate markets outside of traditional “Gift” stores as a direct result of increasing categories, as well as the introduction of their award winning merchandiser on wheels.
“We have started thinking out of the box with reference to where the Jellybean™ rug can find placement” states Rusty Boone, Executive V.P. of Sales and Marketing for Home Comfort, Inc.
Two’s Company Founder Bobbie Gottlieb at 7 W New York
New York – 7 W New York® hosted Bobbie Gottlieb, founder of Two’s Company and entrepreneur extraordinaire, for their popular Designer Day on Tuesday, June 9th. The lively presentation was followed by a Q + A session and reception in celebration of the company’s fortieth anniversary.
Attendees learned about Two’s Company’s humble beginnings, their plans for the future, and Gottlieb’s outlook on trends for 2010 and beyond. This Designer Day proved to be especially timely and of value to the audience.
Kerusso Announces ‘Live for Him: Waiting Children’ Campaign
Berryville, Ark. – An estimated 300 million children worldwide are subjected to violence, hunger, exploitation and abuse. That’s why Kerusso, the leading producer of Christian-themed apparel in the United States has announced the launch of a new worldwide initiative called “Live for Him: Waiting Children” in partnership with Compassion International, the world’s largest Christian child development and sponsorship organization.
A portion of the sale of apparel items in the “Live for Him” line will be donated to Compassion International.
Top Design: Luxury Manufacturer David Francis Furniture Expands Presence at Las Vegas Design Center
Las Vegas – After a successful presence at World Market Center’s biannual Las Vegas Market, luxury furniture manufacturer David Francis Furniture will now have a strong division in the western United States by expanding their brand to a year-round showroom at Las Vegas Design Center.
Characterized by its handcrafted, high-end designs, David Francis Furniture (www.DavidFrancisFurniture.com) is known for its eclectic furnishings in rattan, abaca, lampacanay, bamboo, mahogany, traditional hardwoods, arorog and more.
Aurora Partners With eCommerce Solutions Specialists Shopatron
Pico Rivera, CA – Aurora World Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of affordable, high-quality plush toys and gifts has partnered with Shopatron, a leading provider of eCommerce solutions for consumer goods manufacturers.
Building has a cluster of wedding shops
Even as economic constraints force couples nationwide to trim budgets for their dream weddings, several Roanoke area bridal retailers have created a one-stop cluster for soon-to-be brides and grooms.
In the past few months, three retailers selling stationery, jewelry and flowers have opened inside a building on Peters Creek Road that also houses longtime wedding apparel businesses, Brides House & Formals and Mr. Tuxedo.
Father’s Day is big business regardless of downturn
Despite the recession, dads can still expect dinner and neckties for Father’s Day.
According to a National Retail Federation survey, Americans are expected to spend an average of $90.89 on gifts for dad this year, down slightly from $94.54 in 2008. Total spending for the occasion, which falls on June 21 this year, is expected to reach $9.4 billion.
The survey found the most ($1.9 billion) will be spent on special outings such as dinner or a sporting event, but clothing still ranks high among gift-givers, at $1.3 billion.
Friends open new arts and crafts consignment store on peninsula
Connie Poppy and Carol Vitella have so much faith in the future of the South Pier District, they named their new consignment store after it.
Poppy and Vitella opened South Pier Outpost at 534 South Pier Drive, among the few new businesses to set down roots recently in the 42-acre peninsula that the City of Sheboygan invested many millions of dollars in streets, sidewalks and utilities to attract retail shops, restaurants and the Blue Harbor Resort and Conference Center.
Owning several small businesses adds to Rancho Cordova success
How do you get through an economic downturn?
Meet quintessential capitalist Albert Garcia.
Garcia’s got what many financial experts will tell you is the perfect answer. He doesn’t have one business, he’s got at least five – more if you count the petting zoo he plans to open near his Mexican food takeout business.
“It just kind of happened,” said the 59-year-old Garcia. “I don’t like to watch TV, so I’ve got to have something to do.”
Garcia owns a custom door manufacturing company in Rancho Cordova and a powder-coat paint business in McClellan Business Park.
Getting down to basics: Small shops
Wenatchee, WA — Peggy Nichols’ customers send her flowers.
She got some just last month, after Pickle Papers, her specialty paper and gift shop, won this year’s Wenatchee Downtown Association award for Best Downtown Retail Business of the Year.
The senders live in Seattle, she said, but visit the shop when they’re in town. They wanted to say “congratulations.”
Nichols credits her loyal customers for the success of her business, which she and her daughter, Marnye Woodrum, launched 14 years ago.
Sweet sales: Comfort food indulgences going strong for candy retailers
Loveland resident Janie Ritchie wants chocolate to get a larger space in the food guide pyramid than the “use sparingly” top layer of fats, oils and sweets.
Ritchie told this to Ida Suppes, owner of Sunny Jim’s Candy Ranch in Loveland, as she and her husband Jim stopped in Thursday for malted milk balls and chocolate haystacks, a couple of her favorite chocolate treats.
Ritchie comes to Suppes’ store for a product she says is consistently good and not waxy like cheaper chocolate.
“It’s just a feel-good thing,” Ritchie said.
Malls court smaller, private retailers on temporary leases
Merchandise isn’t the only thing on sale at the malls these days. Good deals abound on all that space left vacant by bankrupt national retailers, and locals are seizing the opportunities.
Some are start-ups, like the short-lived fish pedicure shop at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa.
Living the Good Life, LLC has changed its name to Under Stella’s Umbrella, LLC.
Atlanta, GA – Fine Whines, Bellemonde, Noble Initials, Gerard Puvis Collection, Mi-Pops and Pewter-A-Peel, formerly shipped and billed as Living the Good Life, LLC will, in the future, be basking Under Stella’s Umbrella, LLC. These six wholesale gift lines, will now be marketed, shipped and billed as “Under Stella’s Umbrella, LLC” in an effort to put the name and face of owner and designer, Stella Martin, in the forefront of the rapidly growing business.
Riviera Village gift shop will stay open after all
In just about a month’s time, Michael and Royce Morales posted closing signs at their Riviera Village gift shop, marked down merchandise and said goodbye to customers as they prepared to shut their doors.
It was a sad several weeks, Royce said, but at least there’s a happy ending.
Buoyed by closeout sales, new business ideas and a deal with their landlord, the Lomita couple now say they are able to continue running Harmony Works, the eco-conscious gift store they opened 15 years ago on Catalina Avenue.
They shut down for a few days this week to remodel and rearrange the sh