Retailer Features

This Grass Is Greener

This sustainable resource is a great choice for eco-friendly materials from furniture to clothing. Bamboo and other sustainable materials are becoming hot commodities for producing jewelry, gifts and housewares as more consumers seek out eco-friendly... more »

Eco-Choice Awards for Spring 2014

With the field of eligible candidates growing every time, the latest edition of the Eco Choice Awards recognized outstanding environmentally conscious products that stood out in a sea of stiff competition. The ninth edition of... more »

Baby is Big

A timeless category for gift stores, baby continues its heavy growth spurt with new product introductions. Alyssa Tierney is a big believer in shops carrying, at the very least, a few great baby gifts. “Baby... more »

Best Sellers in Baltimore, MD

Baltimore is a city of great contrasts with its gritty side made famous by television shows like “The Wire.” On the other hand, there are horse farm homesteads and quirky, artsy neighborhoods like Hampden. Baltimore... more »

Going Global

Growing Roots in Alaska GrassRoots Fair Trade Store Jill Dean, Owner Anchorage, AK www.grassrootsfairtrade.com When Jill Dean opened the doors of her gift shop in Anchorage, Alaska, five years ago, it was the only fair... more »

Best Sellers in Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia is a city of contrasts: historic port, college town and self-proclaimed “Birthplace of Independence,” where tradition works in tandem with cutting-edge. The neighborhoods of Philadelphia are their own insular little worlds. Folks are fiercely... more »

Housewares Are Hot!

The marriage of form and function (and fun) is making housewares a vibrant product category. The colorful tumblers, some 600 to 700 of them, are stacked seven feet high against a 24-foot wide wall in... more »

Here Comes The Sale

In 2014, weddings are expected to be a $56.3 billion industry nationwide, according to The Wedding Report, Inc., a research company headquartered in Tuscon, AZ, that tracks and forecasts the number of weddings and related... more »

Fair Trade’s Stirring Reception

Fair trade principles have become increasingly relevant in a rapidly interconnected world. Find out what’s new in this important product segment. Thanks to social media, many of us have instant access to news around the... more »

Born in the USA

Buying “Made in America” makes a difference in local economies. Increasing numbers of your customers are waking up to that message. Yet will they pay more for locally sourced goods? Read on. The economy, a... more »