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INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 04, 2007

Store owners plan to offer custom-blended skin-care products

The Villages — Ladies in The Villages will love this store. Well, you guys might like it, too.

How about custom-blended skin-care products designed to meet your individual skin needs and formulated in the store while you wait?

That’s what a Villages-based partnership plans to offer in a few weeks when it opens a Bonne Chimie retail skin-care products store in Spanish Springs Town Square.

“It’s such a unique concept and product line,” said Villager Austin Griffin, who, along with wife, Kim, and her sister and brother-in-law, Jill and Mike Baker, operate the new partnership.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

Snowing Outside – Play Card Golf

Golfers are putting their clubs away a bit earlier than normal this year. But thanks to an indoor golf card game that no longer means golf season is over.

Card Golf is a custom deck of playing cards that allows golfers and non-golfers alike to enjoying the game of golf from anywhere, at anytime. The rules, the clubs, and even the world’s top courses have been condensed into a fun, easy-to-play and educational golf card game. It’s golf in a box!

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

NYC Mayor Proclaims “Home Textiles Market Weeks” For 2008

White Plains, NY – New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has issued an official Mayoral Proclamation, declaring the two 2008 weeks – January 31-February 7, and August 14-21, – as “Home Textiles Market Week,” in New York City.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

Artisan-Focused Seminar to Benefit Buyers at Beckman’s this January

Chicago – Buyers attending the Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show can take advantage of a Power Lunch seminar with a handcrafted and artisan focus on Monday, January 21, 2008 from noon to 1 p.m. The seminar, titled “How to Build Your Business through Handcrafted Product,” will be presented by Country Business editor Susan Wagner and will address the retailing needs of Beckman’s attendees.

“Retailers of handcrafted, artisan products have unique opportunities that they can take advantage of,” says Ann Fruland, director of marketing for The Chicago Market: Living and Giving.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

KidsWorld Debuts Leading Manufacturers During Grand Opening Celebration; Dallas Market Center to Open an Entire Floor of Children’s Products

Dallas, TX – – Dallas Market Center, the world’s largest wholesale resource, today announced its grand opening celebration plans for KidsWorld, a comprehensive 200,000-square-foot marketplace debuting January 16, 2008 on the 8th floor of the World Trade Center. KidsWorld will feature leading manufacturers of gifts, home decor, toys, furniture and related merchandise to complement the children’s apparel and accessories showrooms already in place.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

Annaleece Introduces Over 50 New Items to Their Collection!

Dedicated to offering quality products at unparalleled prices; Annaleece offers affordable elegance and style for everyone. This December, Annaleece will once again provide affordable high quality products and superior customer satisfaction for retailers and consumers alike.

  • Handmade 100% Thai Silk Scarves

    Thai Silk is known worldwide for its quality and unique texture, continuing the company’s commitment to offering high quality fashion accessories. The new silk scarves are handmade in Thai villages exclusively for Annaleece.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

Two old friends open Olley Court, a home design and gift store

There are ostrich eggs on Main Street in Ridgefield.

They’re right in front of the twisted, large choker vine from Bali, and large, green moss balls.

These unique items are part of the eye-catching display in the window of Olley Court, 418 Main Street, Ridgefield’s newest home design and gift store. It is owned by Susan Buzaid of Redding and her friend, Robin Curnan of Ridgefield.

“Passersby do a double-take, smile and often stop in for a better look,” said Ms. Buzaid.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

Gift-Card Gotchas

I can be a little old-fashioned about certain things, like table manners, thank-you notes, and the idea that gifts should be objects chosen with the recipients in mind rather than cash disguised as a colorful plastic card redeemable at your local grocery store.

But, love them or hate them, there will be nary a stocking in the land without at least one gift card inside this month. More than half of this year’s shoppers plan to buy at least one.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

Retailers’ next ‘Doorbuster’ event — Christmas Eve?

SEATTLE (MarketWatch) — This holiday season, anxious retailers are going the extra mile — well, several miles — to boost sales and attract shoppers.

We’ve read about all those “Doorbuster” specials offered on Black Friday, when retailers opened at 12:01 a.m. Some stores even served hot meals — right after Thanksgiving dinner — to warm the bodies freezing in line, shoppers eager to grab hot new toys like Wii’s “Guitar Hero III” or a $24 diamond necklace Wal-Mart dangled in front of early Christmas shoppers.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

Out-of-towners flocking to ethnic shopping districts in boroughs

Lucky Sherpa and Brighton Beach shoppers find ethnic neighborhoods are place to go.

Her arms laden with Russian delicacies, Elena Leschenko scoured the shelves of her favorite Brighton Beach food store.

She had snapped up her husband’s much-loved meat sauce, herring, kielbasa, caviar and cans of Russian pickles.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Dec 03, 2007

Hestand under new ownership

Hestand Floral and Gifts, a Portales business that’s been around for nearly 60 years, is under new ownership and management.

Rosalie Richards and her husband, J. Mark Richards, are the new owners. They purchased the business in late November from Trish and Richard Lovorn, who owned the florist shop for approximately eight years.

“We’ve always had the dream of owning a business,” Richards said.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Nov 30, 2007

Design Legend Vladimir Kagan at Las Vegas Market on January 31

Las Vegas – Vladimir Kagan, the grandfather of modern furniture design, will visit Las Vegas on Thursday, January 31, 2008 for two exciting events in conjunction with the 2008 Winter Las Vegas Market.

First, Kagan will kick off the new “Design Icon” lecture series at Las Vegas Design Center, where design legends share their stories and experiences in order to inspire tomorrow’s designers. He will speak from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the World Forum on the 16th floor of Building B on the World Market Center campus.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Nov 30, 2007

Ceaco Launches The Simpsons Pieceless Puzzle A Revolutionary Puzzle That Won’t Cost You a Lot of D’Oh!

Newton, MA – Even Homer Simpson gets this concept: a one piece jigsaw puzzle. An original twist on a traditional classic, the Pieceless Puzzle is harder than it sounds but easy enough for everyone between the ages of four and 104.

“We are so excited to introduce the Simpsons (TM) themed Pieceless Puzzle to our brand new puzzle series,” says Carol J. Glazer, CEO of Ceaco, one of the country’s largest jigsaw puzzle makers.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Nov 30, 2007

OKA b. Launches 2008 Spring and Summer Shoe Line

Atlanta, GA – OKA b. expands its popular line of stylish comfort footwear with the introduction of a new 2008 Spring and Summer Collection. Available to retailers beginning January 1, 2008, the collection features new styles as well as fresh additions to existing models.

Taking a page from the runway, OKA b’s Spring and Summer Collection focuses on trend-right embellishments that speak to the fashion-conscious consumer. The Belmont’s onyx-colored stones and Marion’s oversized jewels are a stunning contrast to the Camellia’s flirty flower and the Madison’s enduring charm.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Nov 30, 2007

Introducing Climate Change Chocolate: New Bloomsberry & Co. Premium Dark & Milk Chocolate Bars Help Chocolate Lovers Learn how to Fight Global Warming

Salem, MA – It just got easier for consumers to help the environment and eat their chocolate too. Bloomsberry & Co., best known for its premium chocolate and award-winning packaging and Terrapass, Inc., the leading consumer retailer and marketer of greenhouse gas reduction offsets, have partnered on a chocolate bar that helps educate consumers on how to reduce their carbon footprint.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Nov 30, 2007

GHTA Hosts Successful Conference, UnConference in La Jolla

More than 300 industry attendees turned out for the fifth annual Gift and Home Trade Association Conference, which was held Nov. 16-17, 2007, in La Jolla, Calif., at the Hilton Torrey Pines Hotel.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Nov 30, 2007

Peacock Shag Adds Five New Glittering Colors in 2008

Among the most exciting new products to be introduced in 2007 by Home Comfort, creators of the popular Jellybean accent rug, was the Peacock Shag. In 2008, Home Comfort will add 5 new sparkling colors to this outstanding collection of accent rugs.

Peacock Shag rugs are made from a combination of beautiful polyester yarns in various shapes and sizes creating an extraordinary shimmer and shine. The look is so glamorous that Home Comfort has tagged this rug as “Jewelry for the floor.”

Peacock Shag rugs will be available in 10 colors and two sizes in 2008.

INDUSTRY NEWS | Nov 30, 2007

Port Aransas boutiques provide offbeat gifts for Christmas

Port Aransas — There are plenty of reasons to head to the beach during the winter months.

The hotel rates are cheaper. The restaurants are less crowded.

And then, of course, there’s the shopping.

Never thought of doing your holiday shopping in Port Aransas? Well, why not?

INDUSTRY NEWS | Nov 29, 2007

Prinz Opens Corporate Showroom in Atlanta’s AmericasMart

Northbrook, IL – Prinz Ltd., a leading producer of decorative photo frames and albums and a wide assortment of social expression products, has announced the opening of its new corporate showroom in Atlanta.

The 1,000 square-foot showroom, located in AmericasMart, Building 2 – Suite 1305, is contiguous with Southeast Marketing, the company’s new sales representative organization for the Southeastern United States.

Featuring attention-getting displays that retailers can emulate in their own stores, it is a “showroom within a showroom,” with entry from both Southeast Marketing and from the

INDUSTRY NEWS | Nov 29, 2007

Manual Woodworkers & Weavers Inc. Features the First Isabella Journey’s Luncheon

Hendersonville, NC – – Manual Woodworkers & Weavers, Inc. invites show attendees to the first annual Isabella’s Journey Luncheon at the Atlanta Gift Market, Sunday, January 13.

Manual continues to benefit from the success of the reputable Isabella’s Journey brand and would like to celebrate by initiating the first Isabella’s Journey luncheon. Manual wants to provide show attendees the opportunity to repose and grab a bite to eat. Participants can enjoy themselves and delight in the unique and enticing atmosphere embraced by Isabella and all of her endeavors.

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