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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.
Old Treasures Add New Luster
Every bit and bauble has a story behind it. And even if Carol Orr can’t track it down exactly, she likes to imagine what it might be.
“I just love picturing someone using these. You know, the little girls in that era, brushing their hair?
She Was Stunning, and successful
Sometimes a commercial endeavour takes off before it is even formally a business. That’s what happened to Sarah Khallad, a Calgary photography student whose pictorial magnets are sold as novelty items at nearly 100 retail outlets across Canada.
“I had no idea I was going to own a business,” Ms. Khallad says.
Her concept started out as a multimedia project during her second year of photography studies at the Alberta College of Art and Design. Ms.
Longtime Citrus Man Just Keeps ‘Trucking’
Avon Park — During a cool, windy and overcast afternoon in January, most of Steve Maxwell’s life lay in front of him as he casually sat back in his rocking chair on the porch of his gift shop.
Before him, spanning 20 acres, was his grove. A larger part of his old grove, which he sold off, was further ahead of his sight. The house to his left was his.
“I was born and raised in this house right here,” said Maxwell, 63. Save a three-year stint in the U.S.
South Florida businesses feel the recession blues
For a peek inside an economic slowdown, step into downtown Miami’s Burrito Express and look for sandwich bags and tinfoil.
“They’re bringing their own lunch,” cook John Sierra said as he stood by an idle grill. “They’re not spending the money.
Athens gift shop honored in national magazine
Athens, Tenn. — A local gift shop has been honored as one of the 25 best retailers in the nation by a leading industry magazine.
The listing in Gifts & Decorative Accessories magazine was a surprise to Greeks Bearing Gifts owners Jim and Patti Greek, since magazine representatives visited the shop unannounced.
“They won’t tell us how they found us or when they visited the store,” Mrs. Greek said.
She said many of the top 25 are companies with multimillion-dollar sales.
“This really is a wonderful honor.” Mrs.
Sales of U of M merchandise soar
The news is out: Tiger Fever is spreading and it’s not just contagious on the court.
With the whirlwind surrounding the University of Memphis men’s basketball team, the devotion to Tiger Blue is helping some local businesses rake in the green as sales of university-related merchandise pull in customers.
Christine Thomas stocks up on University of Memphis apparel with the help of Tiger Gift Shop assistant manager Colby Bowen. The store, at 549 S. Highland, opened in November and has experienced solid sales, thanks in part to the basketball team’s success.
Artisans forge new home
West Whiteland — A business built on the craftsmanship of hand-forged metals will be setting up operations in the newly renovated historic barn in Main Street at Exton.
Wendell August, whose artisans create jewelry, plates, bowls and gifts one-at-a-time, using hammers and anvils, expects to be opening its forge and gift shop in the restored 19th-century barn in May, according to Vicki Knaup, director of retail at Grove City-based Wendell August.
“We’re thrilled with the area,” Knaup said. “We’re so excited.
Village stores struggling
By 2010, the Fairport village location of Skip’s Meat Market, a family owned chain offering 25 varieties of sausage and chicken and other meats, may become an empty storefront.
Owner Donna Pink doesn’t plan to renew her lease when it expires in two years if business doesn’t pick up. Her shop sits next to the former location of Karen’s Crafts, a 15,000-square-foot building that has been empty for 18 months.
Sales are typically strong in Fairport during spring and summer, bolstered by revenue from boaters traveling the Erie Canal.
Even at Megastores, Hagglers Find No Price Is Set in Stone
San Francisco — Shoppers are discovering an upside to the down economy.