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Gas prices hurt sales; Major retailers report drop in April as consumers decide to stay home
Big retailers Thursday reported a drop in nationwide sales during April, and some Brevard County retailers said they are not faring much better.
Analysts blame retail sluggishness on rising consumer costs, such as gasoline prices, which in Florida are near record highs; and on weakened housing markets.
Will you spend $140 on Mom?
For Jeff Raines and the staff at Montarra Grill in Algonquin, this Sunday is expected to bear a striking resemblance to Saturday night.
Mother’s Day typically is one of the busiest days of the year for restaurants, said Raines, general manager at Montarra.
“And so far, what we have [in reservations] isn’t quite a Saturday night, but it’s shaping up to be pretty close,” he said.
This Mother’s Day, though, the steakhouse will be just one among hundreds of restaurants and retailers throughout the region celebrating heavy business from patrons seeking to show mom a good time.
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Local entrepreneurs who specialize in international merchandise have special day
Walking through Cocoplum gift shop in Everglades City is like taking a tour of handicraft markets around the world.
Batiked children’s clothes from Ghana hang on one rack, toy wooden fish and snakes from Chile sit on a table and totes made from recycled Cambodian rice bags hang on a nearby chair.
Each of the handmade items is fair-trade certified by an organization that ensures that the companies selling the merchandise pay producers a fair price.
Saturday has been named World Fair Trade Day by the International Fair Trade Association, a global group of 300 organizations from 70 count
Longer store hours on Friday nights paying off
If residents of and visitors to Portsmouth have noticed in the last month a different look and energy in the downtown area on Friday nights, it’s because a retail experiment is taking hold.
In early April, the Downtown Business Association launched a program, Portsmouth Lights on Friday Nights, to encourage downtown stores to stay open until 9 p.m.
Crestmark to Launch “Wrap-N-Go” at the 2007 National Stationery Show
Crestmark Ltd, a Syracuse, New York-based stationery company specializing in fun and functional bow pads, note cards and invitations catered to boutiques and specialty stores, has developed an innovative wrapping system called “Wrap-N-Go”. Wrap-N-Go will be launched at the National Stationery Show being held May 20-23 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, NY.
Wrap-N-Go is a quick wrapping solution for small gift items that contains all the components needed to make packages attractive in a hurry and hassle free.
GLM’S Global Home Business Expands to Include Global Home Decor
Orlando, FL, – Building on the success of Global Home Textiles , George Little Management, LLC (GLM) will expand it’s global home business to include a new sourcing show, Global Home Decor . The annual show will present some 300 overseas suppliers of accent furniture, home accessories, lighting, tabletop and giftware, to North American home decor buyers, including importers, wholesalers, distributors and mid- to large size volume retailers. Global Home Decor will debut May 6-8, 2008, and will be collocated with Global Home Textiles, in the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas NV.
Berkley’s offbeat stores offer antiques, vintage comics and the world’s coolest flip-flops
Handmade soaps?
Fabulous toys?
Hip and happening shoes and sandals?
Surprise!
Family operated gift shop and art gallery celebrates 35 years
Jamestown Designs turns 35 this week, and all are invited to an open house on Saturday, May 12, to celebrate the event. The shop is famous to locals for its custom framing, art and gifts offered with warm, island hospitality.Helen Anderson and her two daughters, Carol Anderson and Deborah Swistak, are the founders of the store. They spoke candidly about their odyssey as a stream of customers passed through, some buying presents and others looking for jewelry. One visitor, back from a winter trip, was so happy to see Helen that he swept her into his arms for a dance.
Techno Source Products Awarded The National Parenting Center’s 2007 Seal of Approval
New York, NY – Techno Source, a leader in electronic toys and games, announced today that both its Circular Sudoku handheld and its highly anticipated Rubik’s RevolutionTM electronic games have received The National Parenting Center’s 2007 Seal of Approval.
“Since its introduction at the American International Toy Fair in New York City earlier this year, the Rubik’s Revolution has created quite a stir in the industry. The National Parenting Center Seal affirms that the product appeals to the people that matter most – parents and children,” said Eric Levin, EVP of Techno Source.
About Face Designs’ Faithful Guardians
About Face Designs introduced Faithful Guardians Angels in January of this year and began shipping the collection to retailers’ stores in March. The consumer reaction has been absolutely outstanding and many stores have already reordered the line 2 and 3 times in just a matter of weeks. Faithful Guardians were inspired from the drawings of Marcia Anne, a mother of three who has devoted her life to her children and family.
During the serious illness of her youngest daughter Marcia Anne put her faith to test.
New Brighton gift shop breaks from the ordinary; Sales brisk as Utica-based business opens third site
A Utica-based gift shop has opened its first store in the Rochester market.
After looking at sites in Pittsford and Brighton, Joette’s Gifts opened at 1464 Monroe Ave. in Brighton last week, filling the site of a former interior design shop.
The 1,500-square-foot shop is filled with owner Joette Mancuso’s favorite things — such as rhinestone jewelry, purses and bridal accessories.
“It’s a sensory boutique,” said Mancuso, 52, of Utica.
Pressman Toy Announces Two Exciting Games Based on NBC’s Top-Rated Game Show “Identity”
New York City – This summer, fans of the hit game show “Identity” on NBC will be able to test whether or not they have a knack for guessing the identities of complete strangers, just like the television contestants.
Cotton Candy Pink and BubbleGum Blue-A New Way to Cover Up Dull Disposable Diapers
St. Louis – St. Louis moms Meredith Goette and Bonnie Mann were having a difficult time finding colorful diaper covers for their baby girls to wear under jumpers. After searching numerous boutiques, department stores, national chains and online retailers, they found the choices to be seriously limited, so they decided to start their own line.
New Artists Add Flair To Leanin’ Tree’s Boxed Christmas Card Line
Boulder, Colo. – Leanin’ Tree’s 2007 line of boxed Christmas cards is loaded with new artists and new designs to generate repeat business for their retailers. Of 324 designs, 166 are new for the year.
New artists Stephanie Stouffer and Laurie Cook add a particular splash of color and style. Stouffer’s wry designs include an impassive cat in Santa attire and a rather pedantic snowman accompanied by his spouse and pitchfork.
Study Finds That Problems Related to Salespeople are the Most Detrimental to Retailers
Philadelphia — A new study released today finds that Americans clearly deem front-line sales staff the single biggest detriment to their shopping experience, resulting in more lost business and negative word of mouth than any other shopping problem.
Antique store gets new digs
Hedgesville — With its new, historic location, North Mountain Arts has gained a roomful of antique wares ripe for purchasing.
Patina Antiques, the side business of Wendy Wigtil, now shares space with one of Hedgesville’s unique gift shops as part of a growing business community that local merchants hope will turn the small town into a destination on W.Va. 9.
At 201 N. Mary St., a home built sometime in the mid-1800s, owner Kristin Nelson and her husband and friends have worked to ready the space for the business, which moved from across the street.
Wisconsin’s independent retailers work hard to survive
WATERTOWN – The zipper was just 2 years old when Eli Fischer and a partner opened a clothing store on the west bank of the Rock River.
Now, after 112 years in this city’s downtown, Fischer’s Department Store is closing.
The store, believed to be the last family-owned department store in Wisconsin, is where confirmation students bought their first suits, high school students picked up gym uniforms and grooms rented tuxedos.
Over the last five years, it also has been a hub of creativity in an effort to fight off the end of a retail era.
Retailers look beyond Bellingham; As retail expands in the county, merchants offer a word to the wise: Give it time and have the
Karla and Santos Garza are learning how tough the retail industry can be.
The Garzas own Rocks & Things Gift Shop and Mail Drop in two buildings on Portal Way in Ferndale. They’ve operated the gift store for about six months and the mail services business for about two months. Sales at the gift store were strong during the holiday season but have slowed down in the first few months of this year.
“This is our first time owning a business, and we’re adjusting to what is happening,” said Karla Garza. “One of the biggest challenges is getting people to know we’re here.
Retail zones envisioned downtown
When RedPeak Properties began renovating the downtown high-rise now known as 1600 Glenarm Place, attracting the right ground-floor retailers was a critical part of the planning.
“We were trying to provide support for our residents and the lifestyle we were trying to create here, ‘the building never sleeps’ type of thing,” said Michael Zoellner, the group’s president.