Midwest-CBK and Colonial Announce “Passport to Success” Sweepstakes Winners
Two independent retailers will be packing their suitcases and traveling to Paris on Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle as winners in the companies’ first “Passport to Success” sweepstakes. Randomly selected from thousands of entries, winners include Koula Louras, owner of Rand & Euclid Shell/Express Gifts in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, and Jessie Latt, owner of Parkview Nursery and The Boston Fern in Aberdeen, South Dakota. As prize winners, Louras and Latt were presented with the opportunity to choose from a trip for two to Paris or the Bahamas. Both Louras and Latt selected Paris, and each will be traveling in September 2012 with their husbands.
“I cried when I found out Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle chose me – as a gift shop owner, I haven’t had a day off in 27 days!” says Louras. “I’ve never been to Paris. I’m so excited to hit the gift shops – Louis Vuitton here I come! I can’t wait to see what’s out there in the European markets. Of course, I’ll enjoy the French cuisine and quality time with my husband of 27 years.”
Louras entered the Passport to Success sweepstakes during the Atlanta market. This was the first time she attended AmericasMart Atlanta, and says that “winning made it well worth the trip – I’ll be returning!” Ten years ago, Louras opened Express Gifts in a unique location – a gas station – and has been a loyal Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle customer for nine years. She eliminated the slow-moving items such as groceries, maintaining only what really moved. This freed up square footage for gift shop items, home décor and seasonal. Louras noticed a significant increase in sales with a higher profit margin. The foot traffic from the gas station continues to enhance gift shop sales with 20 percent increases in sales annually even in today’s economy. “I love Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle products, their pricing and customer service. They offer a great variety with something for everyone from kids to seasonal and home décor to great new candles, which I can’t wait to receive in the next couple of weeks.”
Latt has owned and operated Parkview Nursery, a garden center and nursery, for 15 years, which has been family owned since 1965. She also owns The Boston Fern floral shop. Parkview Nursery has been carrying Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle lines for 20 years and Latt says she returns every year thanks to the “unique product selection and great customer service.”
“It’s been a dream of mine to go to Paris since I was a child – I’m thrilled to go,” says Latt. “We’re planning to see the Eiffel Tower, visit the Louvre and several other museums. Monet is my favorite artist so I’m looking forward to seeing many of his paintings in person. I plan to enjoy some really great French cuisine. My husband and I look forward to a fabulous dinner at famous Le Grand Colbert restaurant! Thank you to everyone at Midwest-CBK for the trip of a lifetime!”
Each prize includes round-trip air transportation for the winner and one guest to Paris, four nights double occupancy hotel accommodation and transfers for an approximate retail value of $5,000 for each prize package. Winners were selected in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received during the winter 2012 markets.
About Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle
Midwest-CBK, a national design leader in holiday, gifts for home, garden and giving, is proud to bring independent retailers more Design, Style and Sparkle than ever before, through exclusive designs and best-selling formats. Colonial Candle, a national brand leader in premium candles and accessories, is known for its exceptional quality, exclusive fragrances, and trendsetting style. Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle parent company MVP Group International designs, manufactures and markets an extensive line of candles and home fragrance products, as well as exclusively designed holiday, seasonal and everyday gifts and home décor. They recently introduced the new Soyveda brand of Ayurvedic products from Everybody’s Ayurveda. Please call 800-394-4225, visit www.mwcbk.com or www.colonialcandle.com or contact your local Midwest-CBK and Colonial Candle account manager for more information, to request a catalog, or to locate a showroom near you.
