Archives: News
Declarations of Independents
From great to slow to very, very bad, independent retailers provide varying reports of their environments. Regardless of whether they are “giddy” or painting a picture of “gloom and doom,” local retailers all finding that a bottomless well of creativity and continuous niche readjustments are imperative to survival.
Kristin Mastromarino, co-owner of the Organized Lifestyle Store in Guilford, has seen more and more retail businesses in Guilford going out of business. Her store is still in the growth stage. Still, she says, foot traffic has its slow days.
Wynne Home to introduce third area artist
Fred Hulser is not prone to painting images he has not personally seen and experienced for himself.
As an artist who receives inspiration from all aspects of life, Hulser finds his greatest subjects in the unique moments of a constantly changing world.
Hulser, a resident of The Woodlands, is the third area artist to be featured in the Wynne Home Arts Center gift shop.
A reception will take place on Friday from 4-6 p.m.
Linda Taylor store caters to all tastes
Portsmouth — If you like fine clothing and jewelry, personal shopper assistance, parties and patronizing a business that gives back to the community, then check out Linda Taylor on Deer Street, owned and operated by Linda Schuler.
Linda Taylor carries the same designers that Bergdorf’s, Neiman Marcus and Sax Fifth Avenue have, but Schuler says her prices are probably less expensive — and there’s no sales tax.
Schuler also carries lines from European collections that only sell to high-end, specialty stores across the country.
This is not a store for one fashion type, howeve
Credit card scam requires no credit card
Before heading out for a weekend trip to Seattle with his wife, Aaron Reed checked his bank account online.
Puzzled by a credit card authorization from the Lloyd Center shop Things Remembered, Reed walked to the bedroom to ask his wife whether she had bought any jewelry or gifts lately. By the time he returned to his computer, more unusual transactions had popped up: a $15 Broadway cab fare and $270 for five nights in an Econo Lodge Motel.
“It weirded me out because I had my card,” said Reed, 35.
The Cost of Shoplifting
Sarasota, Fla.— Retail theft used to get little attention — and retailers were just fine with that.
Little press meant that potential thieves could not figure out how to steal from them and that the public would not learn that most of the theft was done internally, or that theft is widespread throughout the industry.
But Dan Doyle has spent the past few years talking about it with everyone who would listen: other retailers, law enforcement and even the public.
Carving a place in this world
When Gary Pettus hears young people make excuses for their delinquent behavior, he shakes his head in disgust.
“Many say they grew up in public housing, and they use that as an excuse for getting involved in criminal activity,” he said.
But Pettus, 46, who grew up in Clarksville’s Summit Heights neighborhood, said that’s no excuse. In fact, Pettus has never let the fact that he grew up in public housing stop him from pursuing his dreams.
Pettus is owner of Reddie’s Crafts, a family-inspired business.
SevenArts Local Artisan Gallery opens in Ellsworth
Seven colors in the rainbow. Seven wonders of the ancient world. Seven samurai, seven dwarfs, and seven days of the week. Good things come in sevens. So when the SevenArts Local Artisan Gallery opened last weekend in the old Masonic Hall on Main Street in downtown Ellsworth, it made sense, numerologically and business-wise.
SevenArts is run by seven Down East artists and artisans who banded together to both sell their works and help build the creative community in Ellsworth, with its burgeoning art scene.
New ownership for Log Cabin
The Log Cabin, a 25-year-old landmark business at the top of Highway 20 in Fonthill, has been sold.
Scott and Ursula Penner, owners of Fonthill Pharmasave, will take over the building on April 1, said Lois and Harry Schonewille, owners of the gift shop, in a news release.
“We will continue to own and run the Log Cabin Art Gallery at the back of the building to ensure that the transition of the new ownership is smooth and transparent to you,” said the Schonewilles.
Treasures celebrates 15 years
Since May 1993, one of Hanover’s best-known independent retailers has offered distinctive gifts and special service to its customers. Treasures, best known for Crabtree & Evelyn products, its signature white gift wrapping and friendly customer service, will celebrate its 15th anniversary this spring.
Ever since its opening, the gift store has adapted to customers’ changing interests and tastes.
Chandler Shop owner retires after 25 years
Main Street is losing one of its veterans this weekend. After 25 years of keeping The Chandler Shop stocked with the latest in candles, stuffed animals and collectibles, owner Monique Owen is retiring.
But not before taking care of every last thing.
Unwilling to leave downtown with a vacant storefront, Owen recruited the owners of the popular Blooming Iris gift shop in downtown Tilton to buy her store. That pair, Steve Russell and Michael Gagne, visited Concord this week and introduced themselves to their Main Street neighbors.
Florists take on various tasks, come back with stories to tell
Craig — A light snow falls, turning the sky gray Thursday morning.
Drivers switch on their headlights and wipers as they meander down Victory Way.
But, step inside Shirley Balleck’s business and the scene changes completely.
A light fragrance wafts through the air as Balleck moves about The Flower Mine & Gift Shop, a florists shop she bought three years ago.
The smell’s source: flowers, of various varieties and from various locations in and out of the country, including California, Holland, Ecuador and Grand Junction, Balleck said.
Eventually, she said, the blooms will find
Developers adjust to shifting retail landscape
The fundamentals of the public’s retail needs aren’t changing: People want fast service and convenient shopping options, and they want them close to home.
But retailers still face a changing landscape. In Michigan, that includes a shrinking economy – by more than 75,000 jobs since 2006, according to a University of Michigan study released late last year.
Up With Paper Introduces New Gift Embellishment Line
Mason, OH – Up With Paper announced that it would be introducing The Finishing Touch, a new line of three-dimensional, pop-up gift embellishments, in 2008. Everyday designs will be available to retail in July, and Christmas designs will be available in August.
Interactive Daily Demos to Highlight National Stationery Show Lineup
White Plains, NY – In line with its commitment to eco-friendly initiatives, the California Gift Show has joined the Sustainable Furniture Council (SFC). The Sustainable Furniture Council is a non-profit coalition of some 160 industry players, created to promote sustainable practices among manufacturers, retailers and consumers. In addition, the California Gift Show and the Sustainable Furniture Council are planning a pavilion within the At Home division of the Show to present exhibiting members of the Council.
Beagles, Pugs, Dachshunds and other loveable creatures join donovandesigns
New York, NY – donovandesigns (Columbus, OH) plans to have a “tail wagging good time” when they premiere their “canine collection” at the National Stationery Show, May 18 to 21 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY (booth 3525). The “canine collection,” available in 26 different “breeds,” features note cards, notepads and vinyl labels each with a whimsical depiction of a special dog.
donovandesigns created the playful collection based on the love for their own pets.
New Online Site Launched To Help Gift Basket Makers
Paterson, New Jersey – Gift, gourmet, and floral retailers searching for products and supplies to make gift baskets will find hundreds of sources at GiftBasketWholesaleSupplies.com. This new site features food, gift, basket, and wrapping resources throughout the U.S. arranged in state order as well as a link for Canadian wholesale supplies.
“One frequent question at my gift basket seminars is where to find supplies,” says Shirley George Frazier, the site’s creator and long-time gift basket business expert.
Group aims to create ‘mini-mall’ for artists in small village
Several oil paintings and frames of stained glass lay against the brick inside a squat building off American Avenue, what counts as tiny Oracle’s Main Street.
The place used to be a machine shop.
Shop draws rockhounds, artisan
Sun City — For area rockhounds, the lapidary shop at the Sun City Civic Association offers a place to turn ordinary rocks into jewelry.
The shop features 10 diamond grinders, three trim saws, three big slab saws, six sanders, a silver polisher, a flat lapper and more.
“This is the most elaborate lapidary shop I’ve seen anywhere, and I’ve seen a lot of them over the years,” said Bert Zwonechek, a former ceramics teacher and Nevada rock and gift shop owner who was in the studio on a recent morning making a bolo tie.
He used stones such as the swirling-blue denim lapis from Africa, the
The past is present
For Jason and Donna Brown, tradition always has been a part of their lives. Members of the Penobscot Indian Nation, they grew up together, learning traditional crafts from tribal elders on Indian Island.
Canadian retail sales rise 1.5 percent in January
Ottawa – Sales by Canadian retail stores rose by 1.5 per cent in January -_the third consecutive month of strong gains – led by purchases of vehicles, as well as building and outdoor home supplies, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.
“The exceptional weather fluctuations in December and January, the one percentage point reduction in the goods and services tax, and practices regarding the use of gift cards seem to have launched 2008 off to a good start for many retailers,” the federal agency said.
The January increase was above analysts’ forecasts of around 1.2 per cent.