News
Bringing toys to life
Cherie Bouchard is seeing firsthand how a toy craze takes off with the increasingly popular Webkinz pet.The plush toy comes with a secret code that allows the owner to enter Webkinz.com, an online world where... more »
Preventing Retail Theft
In retail, you want your products to fly off the shelves and out the door--but only after they've been paid for. Theft--both by customers and employees--costs American retailers more than $33 billion per year. Entire... more »
Webkinz a big hit at small retailers
Webkinz could be on the way to becoming one of this year's biggest toys, and one of the reasons may be because it is not being marketed to the biggest stores.At first glance, a Webkinz... more »
Retailers looking forward to back-to-school season
After modest sales gains in June, retailers are gearing up for the back-to-school season, according to the National Retail Federation.Retail sales — excluding automobiles, gas stations and restaurants — rose 3.4 percent unadjusted over last... more »
A hodgepodge of pleasures
Jerri Turner, who owns Sweets, Treats & Design, has quite the varied inventory. Along with chocolates, the North End Tacoma boutique offers tea sets, candles, frames and custom work. "We do wedding favors, we do... more »
Merchants hoping to cast spells over shoppers
Novi, Mich. — Harry Potter entered the wizard shopping district known as Diagon Alley and was amazed by what he saw."Harry wished he had eight more eyes," J.K. Rowling wrote in "Harry Potter and the... more »
Side by side: In business and in life
They met over a coffee maker.Three years ago, Kirk Miller ventured into a Lexington kitchen store, looking for a Krups coffee maker. It wasn't in stock so Tina Lowry, the owner of the store, Ladles... more »
Toy charms at hospital gift shop found to have high lead levels
Action by an alert Health Department employee visiting a gift shop at Fletcher Allen Heath Care has triggered a state attorney general's investigation into a line of children's jewelry with potentially high lead levels. Mike... more »
‘Expert’ consumers spread word on retail
The most influential group of consumers, opinion leaders who talk more frequently with friends or online about products and retail experiences than others do, are more likely to pass on positive recommendations than negative ones,... more »
Urban Expositions Announces Staff Appointments for Gift, Souvenir Trade Shows
Atlanta, GA - Urban Expositions, leading producer of regional gift, souvenir and resort merchandise shows, has announced a series of staff appointments related to the Philadelphia Gift Show, Virginia Gift Show, Ocean City Resort Gift... more »
Gift Cash and Carry Show Offers Timely Fill-In Merchandising Opportunity for Holidays
White Plains, NY - The fall 2007 edition of the New York Gift Cash & Carry Show Gifts to Go is an ideal buying opportunity for retailers, offering timely inventory growth options in advance of... more »
LearningCents Teaches Kids Financial Responsibility by the Seat of their Pants
Atlanta, GA - Have you ever watched a kid empty his or her pockets before shoving their jeans into the hamper? It's like a Harpo Marx coat: empty candy wrappers, bleeding pens, lint balls, sundry... more »
