News
Online Popularity Contest Next in Barbie-Bratz Brawl
Barbie and her rivals, the Bratz, have taken their long-running fight for playground supremacy off to an important new venue: MySpace-like social-networking sites.Mattel Inc.'s Barbie has been under attack for six years from MGA Entertainment... more »
Gift shop delves into the Victorian; Hand of Man finds niche in Christmas decorations
Oswego -- The Hand of Man gift shop on Owego's historic Front Street found itself in a real pickle last year.Widely known for its enormous, year-round selection of colorful and unique Christmas ornaments, the shop... more »
Rapunzel’s Fairy-tale Transformation; Owner converts gift businessto boutique to answer growing demand for infant, tween apparel
Island retailer Randi Evans noticed that customers at her Royal Poinciana Way gift shop, Rapunzel's of Palm Beach, were always asking for and purchasing the limited array of baby clothes and children's toys and books... more »
Federal Minimum Wage Rising This Week
Washington - Fast-food waitress Fawn Townsend of Raleigh, N.C., knows exactly what she is going to do if her salary goes up with Tuesday's increase in the federal minimum wage: start saving for a car... more »
Businesses use the Web for retailing
There are few retail businesses that haven't felt the pervasive pull-and-tug of the Internet, and nobody knows that better than Chris Butts, general manager of Charmar Flower & Gift Shop.There was a time when traditional... more »
This Summer, Americasmart Exhibitors Presented Boldest, Best in Product Merchandising
Atlanta - Each January and July—during The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market, more than 2,000 showrooms and 4,400 temporary booths are judged on their creative efforts, including use of space, product display and... more »
U.S. teen retailers seek edge for back-to-school
Chicago, July 20 (Reuters) - The back-to-school shopping season has already begun, but the forecast for U.S. clothing sales appears cloudier than in years past.With factors such as higher gas and grocery prices weighing heavily... more »
Aurora Announces Newest ’07-’08 Products for Baby
Pico Rivera, CA - Aurora World Inc.'s (Aurora) giving retailers something to coo about with their spectacular new releases from the Baby Aurora catalog of products for infants and toddlers. Retailers have been anxiously anticipating... more »
Dogeared Jewels & Gifts Layers it On
Dogeared, a trendsetting brand that creates handcrafted jewels and gifts in Los Angeles, is previewing their latest line at the summer trade shows, where a significant trend continues to be the layering of handcrafted jewelry.... more »
Special Events During NeoCon Xpress
Chicago - NeoCon Xpress, the West Coast's premier contract furnishings show, makes an exciting debut with two days of special events, accomplished speakers and educational programming. The West Coast's foremost event for architects, designers and... more »
Textillery Weavers Names Diane Baker & Company Midwest Sales Agency
Bloomington - Diane Baker & Company has been named Midwest sales agency for woven accent and design trend leader Textillery Weavers. Representing the Bloomington, Indiana-based company's full line of hand-woven throws and top of bed... more »
