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5 Questions: Setting up shop in Pettigrew Heights
Ted and Bonnie Lambertus opened their gift shop, The Willow Tree, with little fanfare at the beginning of March.
But the store already is drawing upon the history of the Pettigrew Heights area where it’s located.
The house that their store occupies was built in 1922. The couple has a home only a few blocks away.
“The kitchen was in bad shape,” Bonnie Lambertus says, but they didn’t have to do a lot of refurbishing otherwise.
History played a role in the shop’s name, too.
“My grandma and Ted’s grandma both used to have willow trees in their front yards.
Cooks’ favorite apple
Chelan, WA — It’s not a Granny or a Honeycrisp or a Gala, but it’s an apple well known to area cooks.
It’s Mary and David Weldy’s Culinary Apple — a kitchen store that’s easy to walk into, but very hard to leave.
Kitchen gadgets of every notion hang from hooks, inviting close scrutiny.
A careful shopper will notice amazing things, like “Apples ‘n Spice Vacuum Cleaner Fragrance” or barbecue branding irons that burn the husky or coug insignia onto something as un-rivalry-provoking as a ground-beef patty.
What’s that by the checkout counter?
Unique toy store opens in downtown Pleasanton
A new toy store that promises to be as unique in its merchandising as its owners, Dee and Rob Nitzsche, are in their concepts about what a successful toy store should be opened in downtown Pleasanton Saturday to several hundred children and their parents after a 10 a.m. ribbon cutting.
Mayor Jennifer Hosterman and City Councilman Jerry Thorne helped cut the ribbon to open Your Stage Toys at 63 E. Angela St. during a crowded Farmers Market. The new store is in the building that Berry Patch occupied before moving across the street last month.
Russ Berrie’s widow finds joy as owner of Kate’s Paperie specialty paper chain
Angelica Berrie — philanthropist, former Russ Berrie chief executive and widow of that company’s founder — says she’s found new joy with a business venture that returned her to an old passion: paper.
Berrie, 54, bought the Kate’s Paperie company, a five-store chain of specialty paper, gift wrap and gift stores in Manhattan and Greenwich, Conn., last fall and recently acquired a majority stake in Boston International, an upscale paper products and party ware distributor.
Local art gallery turns 10
Hourglass Art and Gift Gallery turns 10 this month, and owner Lorrie DiCesare will show all 14 of her contracted artists to mark the milestone.
The artists – all of whom have shown at Hourglass for at least eight years – hail from Massachusetts and Rhode Island, but they get around.
Painter Nedret Andre has one piece hanging behind DiCesare’s cash register, and several more in a gallery in Turkey.
“She’s my first international artist,” DiCesare said.
DiCesare moved to her current space on Main Street in 2000, after a year in a smaller spot on West Emerson Street.
Handcrafted Products Abound at Summer 2009 Edition of San Francisco International Gift Fair
San Francisco, CA — It’s the difference between receiving an e-mail or a hand-written note on fine stationery. It’s the distinction of a hand-painted objet d’art vs. a mass-produced poster. The personal, artisan-made touch will be vividly on display at the summer edition of the San Francisco International Gift Fair. From August 8—11, 2009 at the City’s Moscone Convention Center , more than 100 exhibitors featuring handcrafted products will showcase their work, all with that ineffable personal touch that transforms any gift into the perfect gift.
Old Mill Inspires New Products
Burlington, Vermont – Rich Frog Industries, a toy manufacturer in Burlington, Vermont, reflects its appreciation for history both in the location it chooses to occupy and the toys it chooses to create. Rich Frog is housed in the Chace Mill, a beautiful, converted 19th century cotton mill on the banks of the Winooski River.
This building is only one of many Mills that were built along the river to harness the water power and help to propel America’s Industrial Revolution.
Summer NYIGF to Showcase 300+ International Companies
White Plains, NY — More than 300 companies from 39 countries and five continents worldwide will participate in the summer edition of the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), creating the most extensive offering of global gift and home resources in the United States. NYIGF runs Saturday, August 15, through Thursday, August 20, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Pier 94 in New York City.
“With some 39 counties represented at NYIGF, there’s no more efficient way to shop the world,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director.
Suburban toys stores say buyers focusing on low cost
Suburban toy stores are finding top selling products have one thing in common.
Businesses weathering the storm
Two downtown Milford business owners have buddied up to save their stores.
Aubergine Gallery has moved to the other side of Main Street and a few storefronts south to share at Adrianne’s Gifts.
Janine Rudzki, who owns the gallery, and Adrianne Walker, who recently marked her gift shop’s first anniversary in Milford, said they are hoping the new arrangement will help their businesses survive while the economy continues to sputter.
“It’s good we can get creative in this way,” Rudzki said. “It’s so hard on most shops in town, and we didn’t want to close.
AmericasMart Redefines Casual Lifestyles this July
Atlanta, GA — Following its successful debut in January, Living. Outdoor / Indoor.® The Gardens.®—the one product center that has redefined and re-established the meaning of casual, elegant at-home living—is once again poised to be the center of attention in Building 2 WestWing this July. The two-floor product center is 100% leased, fully occupied with the industry’s finest and highest quality lifestyle merchandise.
2009 National Stationery Show Proves to be Critical Market for Serious Buying
White Plains, NY — Quality buyers, diversity of product and dynamic Show floor features led to a successful market experience for exhibitors and attendees of the 2009 National Stationery Show® (NSS), held May 17-20, 2009, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Two’s Company Supports it’s Retailers with Consumer Online Shopping
Elmsford, NY — Two’s Company is pleased to announce a new affiliation that will expand the sales opportunities for our retail partners. By partnering with Shopatron, the Leader in Retailer-Integrated e-Commerce, Two’s customers can now access a nationwide network that matches consumers with participating retailers. With the help of Shopatron, all consumer orders can now be fulfilled by Two’s Company retailers around the country.
Natural flair at Bee & Hollyhock
Berlin — Shelley Jones of New Britain said she just came in to Bee & Hollyhock LLC to buy a hibiscus flower. Then she spied natural and organic chocolate and a metal water bottle with a sports cap for $15.95.
“Dark chocolate in moderation is healthy for you,” Jones said while paying for her purchase.
President’s Cookbook Gift Shop has something for everyone
Wooster — The Wooster Community Hospital Gift Shop isn’t just for patrons of the facility.
Open to the public, the business is a place that flourishes with unique items that are just right for special occasions or everyday life.
“Everyday is a special day at the hospital with beautiful new items arriving, like a new line of candles that have some wonderful scents like buttered maple syrup, banana nut bread and fresh linen, to mention a few,” said Gift Shop Manager Nettie Miller. “One of our specialties is the incorporation of local artisans in our gift shop.
New Furniture Talent Debuts
Englewood, New Jersey — Designer-artisan Richard Nardone announces the launch of his new furniture studio, offering eco-friendly wooden beds, tables and decorative accessories. The dramatic pieces are all made to order, by hand, and feature large-scale slabs of sustainable hardwoods, whose sinuously organic edges are left in their natural states.
Sunbeam Shop sheds light on quality kids clothing
When my youngest daughter was a few days old, a package arrived at our house from The Sunbeam Shop. This was in 1981. When I opened the gift box, inside there was a dainty white dress with powder blue smocking across the bodice. It was the epitome of little girl femininity.
To this day, The Sunbeam Shop still sells this style of clothing for infants and it is still how I enjoy seeing little girls dressed.
Sunbeam is in many ways a Cleveland institution of fine clothing for children from infants to grade school.
Kookie Krazy tries to put marketing in the mix
At Kookie Krazy Inc. in Thousand Oaks, where customers make their own oversized cookies, co-owner Mark Boos Benhard aims to re-create the magic of the original “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” movie that captivated him as a child.
The colorful store and party spot offers hands-on immersion in all things sweet, with six flavors of cookie dough, dozens of tasty bits to mix in and a post-baking trip to the toppings bar featuring chocolate syrup, sprinkles and other goodies.
Kids consignment store slated to open
The former location of Wiggles and Giggles will soon become Gumballs and Overalls, a new children’s consignment shop – the second to occupy the storefront at 122 Courtland St.
The upscale consignment boutique boasts name brands such as Gymboree, Gap, Tommy Hillfiger, Polo, Talbots and more at prices 50 to 70 percent below retail.
Owner Teresa Patteuw said shoppers in her store will not have to compromise their style and fashion preferences to get a great deal because all items are guaranteed to be in “like new” condition.
Patteuw added the atmosphere is not like other seco
Frugality turns fashionable as recession hits the wealthy
Months before financial markets collapsed in fall 2008, boutique proprietor Lee-Lee Sprenger noticed that her usually free-spending customers were flinching at $900 price tags on sweaters fresh from Italy. Sales at Mélange on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica have been sinking ever since.
“We’re barely making it here on Montana,” she said.