Archives: News
Chatterchix Collectible Cards promote girl talk coast to coast
Dunedin, FL – Move over Yu-Gi-Oh, Pokémon and baseball trading cards, there’s a new girl in town called Chatterchix. Collectible cards will never be the same once girls get their hands on these glossy cards that showcase the diversity and personalities of American girl power across each of the 50 states.
Who’s a Chatterchix girl? The answer is, happily, any and every girl aged 5 to 12 that embodies the timeless values of respect, responsibility and friendship.
Lily Organics Dew Receive Organic Certification Seed to Shelf Skin Care
(Henderson, Colorado) – Lily Organics Dew Fresh, a Colorado-based facial care company, just received Certification as Organic Growers by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Retailers amp up promotions for back-to-school season
New York — Retailers preparing for a difficult back-to-school season are getting creative in their attempts to entice shoppers into the stores — aggressively introducing new products, slashing prices and amping up marketing in the battle for parents’ bucks.
But analysts say their efforts will likely make little difference to consumers pressured by rising costs, who will likely stick to shopping at discounters — particularly as tax-rebate checks dry up and they aren’t finding “must-have” fashion items in the stores.
“It will probably be one of the two or three most disappointin
Save taxes on most clothing, shoes
Austin — Edna Antillon plans to do some back-to-school shopping for her two daughters this weekend to take advantage of the state’s tax-free holiday, but with her small income and increasing gas expenses, she said doesn’t plan to spend much.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to buy a lot of things for them,” she said.
Next weekend, Friday through Sunday, is Texas’ 10th annual tax-free weekend.
Seattle’s small shops fear losing identity, independence
Angela Nichols’ last landlord admitted during lease negotiations that Funky Janes Consignment store didn’t present the right image for the West Seattle shopping center.
The vintage flowered skirts, sailor dresses, used designer jeans and corset-shaped purses apparently didn’t jibe with offices and franchise stores, she said.
Now, with the West Seattle Junction preparing for a wave of new development, the store may be displaced a second time.
Aid to Artisans Brings Global Handmade Design to NYIGF
Hartford, CT — At the 2008 New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) August 16-20, Aid to Artisans (ATA) will display a fresh collection of hundreds of handmade products, many showing in the U.S. market for the first time.
ATA is a recognized leader in economic development for the craft sector working around the world and has exhibited at the NYIGF for over 15 years.
Signature’ signs
In keeping up with the times, Wade Lambrigtsen isn’t about to leave “vintage” arts behind.
The custom sign-maker and owner of Vintage Sign Shop takes pride in the creation of signage that speaks of by-gone days. He also enjoys fashioning trendier signs and can do either by means of traditional or modern methodology.
“A willingness to be diverse is the key to obtaining enough business,” Lambrigtsen said. “My passion is to be very hands-on in creating signs, especially as they were done a long time ago. I enjoy the designing and the artwork.
Foraging through Dutch Country Lane
Berlin – A soft tap, tap, tap greets visitors as they step into the workshop of the Wendell August Gift Shop & Forge at 7007 Dutch Country Lane.
Skilled craftsmen gently tap aluminum into shape using hand forging methods that have been passed down through the generations.
The Forge Workshop is open for complementary tours Tuesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wal-Mart To Suppliers: Go Green
Bentonville, Ark. — Wal-Mart is telling its suppliers that it’s not enough to simply provide eco-friendly products.
The world’s largest retailer wants to be able to tell its customers the stories behind the products, of how they came to be and how sustainable they are.
Wal-Mart sustainability director Rand Waddoups said the company is emphasizing four points in its sustainability marketing.
Antique shops moving online
Sharon Lynn Bear can’t be dissuaded by the price of gas, the time it takes to unearth the perfect piece or the disappointment of ending a shopping excursion empty-handed. Whether the Irvine resident is browsing for a 19th century vase or a vintage Italian footed bowl, her venue of choice isn’t EBay or Craigslist but the old-fashioned storefront overflowing with antiques.
“I love to see the items, touch them,” says Bear, whose home is filled with antique store finds from Ventura to San Clemente to Palm Springs.
HomeBody owner branches out into a paper store
It is part eclectic gift shop, part dress and shoe store, part amazing-find store and ultimate paper store. When Shelley Dominguez decided to open HomeBody in Kern Place, she wanted people to experience a little bit of everything.
“I decided that I wanted to create a store where customers could find things they could not live without, things that I would want in my home or to give as a gift,” Dominguez said. ” I figured a little expression of what I enjoy could be enjoyed by everyone.”
Now, the little shop where her two young sons grew up has a new little niche, a paper store.
MacLaren unveils Mina Pherhonen limited edition at Soho Store
(New York, NY) — Maclaren, one of the leading consumer lifestyle companies that creates and develops premium mobile transport products, announced a new line of limited edition designer products by fashion house, Mina Perhonen. Akira Minagawa, the creator and chief designer behind the clothing label, is known in the fashion business for not following trends and leans more towards experimentation.
A New American Product Line Debuts
Fragrant Passage Candle Company announces their seasonal product collections for The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market July 11-15th at AmericasMart in Atlanta. Fragrant Passage is a David Oreck Company located in Greensboro, North Carolina that manufacturers top quality home fragrance products.
The new collections are a creative assortment of candles and home fragrance products that represent the ambiance of each new season.
7W NY announces online market planning tool
NEW YORK – 7 W New York is proud to announce its innovative online market planning tool – Plan 7 W – to help buyers organize their buying schedules and build a custom walking map of the Market from the comfort of their homes or stores.
Through Plan 7 W, built by industry technology leader Whereoware, buyers can:
Search hundreds of showrooms, exhibitors and lines throughout the building
Browse and organize their favorite resources by category, location or company name
High IntenCITY makes MAJOR announcement
High IntenCity, leader in the Girls Accessory industry, ventures into the Boys Jewelry arena with a new brand inspired by tween boys ages 8 to 12. At long last, some cool stuff for boys hits the specialty market!
Legions of boys will find cool and savvy styles within the new line entitled, MAJOR. Rugged, wearable and inspired by what boys are all about… cause boys like stuff, too!
MAJOR debuts with an eight-piece collection of casual, rugged necklaces and bracelets that can be seamlessly mixed and matched or worn alone.
ImagiPLAY lands 2008 iParenting Award
Boulder, CO – Face it, when it comes to eating fish a lot of kids will give you a huge frown. But when it comes to looking at, reading about or even playing with those same sea creatures, it is all smiles. That’s why Seaworld, “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel and ImagiPLAY’s PuzzlePlay Sealife puzzle are so popular with children. It may also be why ImagiPLAY’s new aquatic adventure just netted the iParenting Media 2008 Outstanding Product Award.
PuzzlePlay Sealife – Playset and puzzle in one!
Autumn Leaf Gifts
Neccica Hayes is the owner of Autumn Leaf Gifts, a new shop in the West Glen shopping center in West Des Moines. She orders unique, hand-crafted products from small artisans and she says they are as one-of-a-kind as the autumn leaves. Hayes said she modeled her gift shop after a favorite shop in Massachusetts, where she lived for 15 years.
PRODUCTS: Mostly hand-crafted items from small artisans.
Midwest introduces flameless LED tealights
(Cannon Falls, MN –) – Midwest, leading designer and manufacturer of the Delight brand of accents to brighten the home, introduces an innovative new line of flameless tealight candles, and two new fashion-forward candle accessory collections featuring decorative metal sleeves and toppers to transform container candles into a fashionable home décor statement. The new Delight collections will be available for shipping in September 2008.
New Delight collections include:
Grand Prix Cigars; New Store a Welcoming Place
Southbury – Taking pieces from family trips all over the U.S. and Europe, mixed with a passion for cigars and for friends and family to spend time together, Tony and Anne Armeno opened Grand Prix Cigars at 1455 Southford Road on April 17.
“Our mission for the store has many parts,” Tony told Voices.
New knitting shop brings craft to community
Understanding the need to celebrate a craft that has been around for many years, Nancy Gauthier, of Shreveport, feels like her time to share her love of knitting with the city is now.
Knitting Under the Influence of Nancy will open this month in hopes of providing this community a new shop offering knitting, yarn, and crocheting items and lessons.
“There is a need for this type of business. There isn’t a place around that you can purchase quality materials and learn the craft at the same time,” Gauthier said.
“It’s an absolute passion of mine.