Archives: News
Antioch business workshops try to keep small employers afloat
Parwin Fazli is determined to keep her company afloat even as every week seems to bring word of another business caving to the weak economy.
“We have to make it,” said Fazli, co-owner of the Antioch limousine service All Vital Transportation.
K. PEER Designs to Introduce Magazine Clutch Purse at New York International Gift Fair
St. Louis, MO – In today’s world, women are looking for a way to have an attainable style that is all their own, following the trend that recently, icons such as Michelle Obama have set forth. In response, K.
Houma natives launching barbecue-sauce
Houma, LA — For years, his friends told Kenneth Fakier to do something with the sauces and seasonings that drew rave reviews from his family, friends and guests, even other locals in the food business.
At last, Fakier and his wife, Libby, who now live near Atlanta, are starting a company, Bayou Barq, to take the seasonings to a much wider audience.
And they’re using the Houma area as the springboard.
“We wanted to launch it in our backyard, our hometown,” said Libby Fakier, 41, in a telephone interview this week.
Main St. bucks the recession
Madison, WI – Can it be that Main Street, Madison, bucked the national recession that saw steep declines in retail sales for December’s holiday shopping season?
With a little help from its friends in the community, that seems to be the case.
Collaboration was the key to success in December’s “If You Love Madison, Shop Madison” campaign, according to Main Street Executive Director James Burnet.
Merchants, borough government, residents and schools all played their part in the campaign to attract shoppers downtown, which ran from “Black Friday,” the day after Th
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Announces Licensing Agreement with Meixia USA/Truth in Glass
The Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation announced today that Meixia USA/Truth in Glass is now the licensed manufacturer of Frank Lloyd Wright Collection ® Decorative Art Glass.
Neva’s provides Lake Dallas retail shopping
In a city with little to buy except a pack of gum or a bottle of gin, Neva’s Affordables is quite the change of pace. By stocking items custom tailored to the Lake Cities and working a niche market, Neva’s attracts a lot more than typical last minute shoppers.
“At this time I am really the only gift shop in town,” says owner and shopkeeper Neva Sudderth.
She looks around at trinkets scattered throughout the store, from candles to Harley-Davidson items.
World Market Center Las Vegas Welcomes More Than 100 New Exhibitors for February Las Vegas Market
Las Vegas, NV— Home furnishings buyers and designers have 100 more reasons to attend Las Vegas Market next month. More than 100 new manufacturers and suppliers will debut for the very first time during the Winter 2009 Las Vegas Market, held February 9 – 13 at World Market Center Las Vegas.
New to market exhibitors include leading manufacturers both domestically and internationally covering all product sectors including furniture, accessory, gift, lighting, rugs, textile and more.
Lafayette strip mall has friends in town
Lafayette, CO — Bob Beard, an out-of-work engineer, shows up every afternoon like clockwork at Barlow’s Premium Cigars in Lafayette. Even though Beard was laid off from Sun Microsystems, he hasn’t given up his noontime cigar-and-soda ritual at Barlow’s.
“It’s like a second home,” he said. “It’s a place to relax.”
It’s customers like Beard who are helping the dozen or so small owner-operated shops in Lafayette’s Atlas Valley shopping center survive.
Diversity is the way to success for Country Barn
A Northumberland business has won a regional award for diversifying.
The Country Barn, a farm shop, coffee and gift shop at Widdrington, near Morpeth, has won the Countryside Alliance Award best diversification prize for the North East and now goes on to compete at national level.
This is the second year in a row the business has won such an award. Last year’s was in the category of best North East rural retailer.
Businesses are put forward for the awards by members of the public.
A shortlist of three is drawn up and judges visit each premises and pick a winner.
After St. Helens antique shop closes suddenly, nine vendors start anew
The loss of Antiques St. Helens, the 3-year-old antique shop in the heart of St. Helens’ waterfront district, has shaken vendors and customers, but several sellers have started a new venture, Elegant Clutter, which will open across from the St. Helens Post Office in early February.
After less than three years in business, a well-loved antique shop in Olde Towne St. Helens closed its doors this month, leaving two-dozen vendors in need of a new home and hundreds of disheartened customers.
For many vendors inside Antique St. Helens, located at 215 S.
New cigar shop counts on diverse offerings to create niche
Franklin, TN — As laughter and smoke filled the room, the sweet aroma of cigars hung in the air.
Strangers became friends as conversation topics drifted from the economy to the love of cigars.
The occasion was a cigar tasting hosted by Old Havana Smoke Shop, which opened recently at the corner of Carothers Parkway and Shingle Way.
Eddie Benham, who opened the shop so he could have a business close to his Brentwood home, carries popular and “boutique” cigars, 150 different kinds of pipes and imported cigarettes — but the store goes far beyond just smokes to encompass pr
Fashions and Accessories for Women Are Focus at Princeton’s Ma Chérie Boutique
Shopping has become more fun with the addition of Ma Chérie Boutique, the women’s clothing and accessories shop which opened last October at 20 Nassau Street.
Owned by Gayle DeAndrea and her sister Cheryl Goldsmith, who have a similar shop in Pennington, the store highlights eclectic lines catering to a sophisticated clientele.
A sweet piece of Comfort
If home is where the heart is, these ladies’ hearts are made of chocolate.
But not just any chocolate: Peggy Cloar and Alison Turner, a mother and daughter from Comfort, are the creators of High Street Chocolate, an all-natural, 70 percent cocoa—and surprisingly healthy—treat.
Why chocolate? “We just love it,” Cloar said.
And who doesn’t? Arguably, this mother and daughter are living every woman’s fantasy.
“We eat chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Turner said.
Duly so, as Cloar and Turner create chocolate right in their own backyard.
888 Brannan Welcomes February 2009 Prefair and SFIGF
888 BRANNAN’s (formerly Giftcenter & Jewelrymart) annual winter PreFair Days arrive this year on February 4-6, and will be followed by 2009’s winter San Francisco International Gift Fair at the Moscone Center on February 7-10.
Wholesale gift buyers are invited to attend PreFair, which is three days of buying specials and rewards such as bottles of wine, hotel stays and also a grand prize. Buyers can also enjoy Buyer Lounges stocked with refreshments, continental breakfast upon entry and complimentary lunch coupons.
Gift cards pitched as way to entice shoppers to Palm Springs
With more than 500 businesses in downtown and uptown Palm Springs, shoppers have plenty of choices.
But unlike the Desert Hills Premium Outlets in Cabazon (130 stores) or Westfield Palm Desert (150 stores), downtown Palm Springs isn’t a mall.
Even so, downtown officials want to use some of the marketing techniques employed by malls as a way to attract more consumer dollars to the area.
Officials are considering offering patrons a gift card redeemable at any of Palm Springs’ many restaurants, boutiques and galleries.
This isn’t an original marketing plan.
Necessities Pavilion Debuts at Atlanta Apparel; Accessories Hot This January
Atlanta, GA — Retailers will discover a wider collection of accessories this January as Atlanta Apparel unveils several new showrooms and the Necessities Pavilion featuring 18 companies, located in the Southwest Quadrant on the 8th floor. The Necessities Pavilion is an all-inclusive accessories showcase featuring everything from skin care to handbags, scarves and jewelry—all captured in a state-of-the-art showroom with an open-air, loft-like gallery environment.
ASD/AMD – Nation’s Largest Merchandise Expo Returns to Las Vegas March 15-18, 2009
Los Angeles, CA—Nielsen Business Media’s Merchandise Group today announced the return of ASD/AMD Las Vegas – the nation’s largest, most comprehensive merchandise trade show. This year’s show will feature thousands of exhibitors, carrying products in more than 100 categories – from jewelry and home décor to fashion accessories and general discount merchandise items –land will stage in Las Vegas from March 15-18, 2009.
Antioch company creating Obama china
Whether it’s campaign buttons, posters, historic front pages of newspapers or bobblehead dolls, it seems anything with an image of President-elect Barack Obama is a hot collectible.
E-bay power-sellers are saying “Yes we can,” when it comes to making some dough off our new president.
But maybe you’re looking for something with a little more class, more presidential, if you will.
Mall locale works for wandering gift shop
After hop scotching locations in Lewiston-Auburn for five years, Laurie St. Pierre in April moved her gift shop, Percy’s Burrow, into the Auburn Mall.
It’s the gift store’s fourth location in five years, but one that finally has her turning the corner toward profitability. St. Pierre projects revenue will hit $200,000 this year for the first time, allowing her to start drawing a paycheck.
“I’m persistent, I’m determined to win this game,” said St.
Shopowner proud to sell art from homeland
Merrill — Esther Schulz of Merrill always knew she wanted to open her own business someday. She just never dreamed it would be so far from home.
Schulz, a native of Peru, opened Star Folk Art, a Peruvian gift shop, in August 2008, two months after arriving in the United States.
She grew up in the small community of Huantan at the base of the Andes Mountains and moved to the capitol city of Lima at the age of 15. After completing high school, she took a job in a local restaurant, and later sold apartments for a construction company.