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Granville business celebrates anniversary with mothers tribute
Granville — Linda Smette, owner of Cozy Cottage in Granville, is wrapping an anniversary, birthday and Mother’s Day celebration into one weekend.
Five years ago, Smette opened her antique shop as a tribute to her deceased mother on her mother’s birthday, May 3.
“I kind of wanted it to be a tribute to all mothers,” Smette said of the shop, which features items that would have been familiar to grandmothers and mothers of years gone by.
Cozy Cottage normally is open only Tuesday through Friday, but this week, Smette is inviting the public to coffee, tea and scones at the sh
CatArt Cards Introduces Purrfect Occasions Notes
CatArt Cards has extended its line of artist-illustrated cards with Purrfect Occasions Notes. The smaller sized cards are designed for all those occasions when a special note says it all: Happy Birthday, Thinking of You, Congratulations and Thank You.
Packaged as a set of six cards with premium envelopes, Purrfect Occasions Notes feature artist Johnnie Scoutten’s beautifully rendered cat portraits, faithfully reproduced from her original colored pencil illustrations.
VHC Launches New Website, Adds Advertising for VHC Retailers
Our new website is now up, featuring many exciting enhancements and additions. We encourage you to click around and become familiar with the new look and expanded options.
Blissliving Home Collections to Become Available at Gracious Home
Rockville, MD — Blissliving Home announces that Gracious Home, a specialty home retailer located in the heart of Manhattan, will carry our full line of stylish bedding, linens, decorative pillows, candles, home fragrance and other home accessories starting May 15, 2009.
“We are excited to be included in the presentation of one of New York’s premier destinations for home lifestyle product” said Arthur Viente, Blissliving Home Business Manager.
Sales tax increase supporters see budget salve
To some Cape Cod business owners, a proposal to increase the state sales tax is a simple matter of dollars and sense.
The 1.25-percent sales tax hike, proposed this week on Beacon Hill, isn’t likely to cost local businesses either in customers or income should it become law, several business owners said this week.
Buffalo’s Mom and Pop Shops Skirt Sour Economy
Buffalo, NY — The Elmwood Village Association is tackling the economic downturn with a promotion to boost sales during two peak shopping times – Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day weeks. But promoters say business for Buffalo’s Mom and Pop shops actually is doing pretty good already.
“Love Your Mom and Pop.” The promotion name has a nice friendly, home town ring to it. Justin Azzarella is executive director of the Association. He said they hatched the marketing scheme, which is a partnership with Buffalo First, during one of their regular meetings.
NC children’s clothing shop owners adjust strategy
Wilmington, NC — Despite the downturn, the lost jobs and the general doldrums about the economy nationally, Heily Hakan’s Castle Hayne business in boutique children’s clothing is growing.
Illia Designs nearly doubled its orders for handmade swing tops, capri pants and ruffle bloomers between January and February this year.
Zamsoe Promotes Female Empowerment and Opportunities through Greeting Cards, Art and Jewelry business
Yarm, Cleveland – Zamsoe has embraced the concept of female empowerment by employing more home workers to meet the demands of its successful greeting cards, art and jewellery business.
“We are offering home workers (the majority who are women) the opportunity to work with us producing high quality hand made products. Many women are often feeling ‘trapped’ at home due to many circumstances such as child care or family commitment and are missing the opportunity and freedom to ‘contribute’ to something other than what they are currently doing.
Kathy Davis Studios Adds New Licensing Expert
Ambler, PA – Kathy Davis Studios, Inc., one of the nation’s leading design companies of greeting card, gift and lifestyle products, announced today the appointment of Vice President Melissa Schulz.
Consumer confidence soars in April
New York—Hopeful signs that the worst may be over for the economy boosted Americans’ moods in April, sending a closely watched barometer of sentiment to the highest level since November.
The New York-based Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index rose more than 12 points to 39.2, up from a revised 26.9 in March.
Gift shop opening in Ransomville this weekend
Ransomville — A unique gift shop is coming to Ransomville this weekend.
Local Faire will hold a grand opening at 2568 Youngstown Lockport Road, Ransomville, this Friday. The shop will feature works by local craftspeople for sale, as well as a limited amount of scrapbooking and paper supplies.
Local Faire also will have a project room open to the public for scrapbooking for a small fee during shop hours. The $5 fee to use the room will include the use of various tools, rubber stamps and materials.
The shop hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; noon to 7 p.m.
Minneapolis MART Summer Season
As buyers walk into the Minneapolis Mart, they are greeted with a newly remodeled lobby and showroom halls. With a major renovation completed, this Mart continues to be a dynamic destination for Midwest buyers. The first half of 2009 was actually stronger than expected as our regional buyers chose to visit the Minneapolis Mart instead of the national markets. Buyers are rediscovering that local reps and showrooms offer the greatest value and service before and after the show.
Local to open art studio
Verna Bates is just days away from opening her working art studio in Locust Grove. As the day gets closer, Bates admits she’s very nervous about her big opening.
“Introducing it (art) in your own place … it’s like the first day of school all over again,” Bates said. “It’s like wearing your feelings on your sleeve.”
Her studio, Gourds Etc., Native American Fine Art Studio and Gift Shop, will open May 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and May 3 from noon to 5 p.m. The studio is located at 9002 S. 439.2, in Locust Grove, on a 60 acre farm owned by Bates and husband Fred.
Small Gustine shop selling olive oil from its orchard
Gustine — When Anne and Paul Piccirillo moved to Gustine from the Bay Area, it wasn’t for jobs or the country life — it was for olives.
Hobby growers for years, the couple wanted some land of their own so they could grow olives and make olive oil. So they bought six acres just out of Gustine and put in four varieties of olive trees.
Now, almost 10 years later, their backyard orchard is thick with green olive trees that stand 10 feet above the ground.
Last year they produced more than 13 tons of olives.
Morris County program helping disabled keep jobs
Susan Clavadetscher got a few jobs after high school in Chester Township, but when employers started cutting her hours, her concerns about having Down syndrome grew.
Refusing to face rejection, she joined a nonprofit organization based in Princeton called Community Options Inc., which offers people with developmental disabilities opportunities to learn job skills, gain work experience and, eventually, earn a living.
In June, Clavadetscher, now 24, was hired as a cashier at Presents of Mind gift shop in Mount Olive.
”They make me happy,” she said of the staff of the natio
Selling Ohio State stuff turned out to be one great business idea for Conrads
Life is full of ironies, but this may be one of the biggest: Jack Cohen, the founder of Conrads College Gifts, has never sat through an entire Ohio State football game.
“I’d go over while people were waiting to get in, but I’ve never stayed for a game,” Cohen said recently. “I have to rush back to the store.
Minn. girl recycles glass into birdfeeders
“Helping nature one glass at a time” is the motto of a fifth grader in southern Minnesota. She seems to have stumbled on a great way to help protect the environment and make money.
It all began when 11-year-old Kennedi Kokesch and her mother Nancy were browsing through a thrift shop and learned unsold glassware was routinely thrown out.
Smithfield’s downtown is target of county study
Smithfield – The welcoming aroma of fresh-baked cookies no longer wafts across Main Street every day.
Miss Bessie’s Best Cookies & Candies made her sweet departure from downtown Smithfield’s historic district early this year. Several “For Rent” signs have popped up in vacant storefront windows along parts of Main Street, all evidence that tiny downtown Smithfield is not immune to the recession that is sweeping the country.
“We’re doing better than a lot of downtowns,” said Judy Winslow, tourism director for Isle of Wight County.
Happiness is Hip: A Movement to Scatter Joy
Ambler, Pa. – Kathy Davis, a celebrated artist, greeting card designer, entrepreneur and chief executive and visionary officer of the lifestyle brand that bears her name, has made two simple words – Scatter Joy – her personal philosophy and brand promise.
Local artists featured in open house meet-and-greet
Carver, MA – After a long period of political campaigns coupled with crazy New England weather, it’s time to put politics aside, shed your tendencies towards hibernation and get out and about in the neighborhood. And what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than to celebrate the local flavor? Join the staff of Gifts at Crane Brook for an artists’ open house, where you can meet several of the area’s finest artists, photographers and authors. Gift Shop Manager Denise Cunningham said she works hard to find unique treasures that are made locally to sell in her shop.