GIFT AND HOME RETAILER NEWS

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October 2013
Pocket Plus - Portable Pocket That Attaches With Magnets

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October 2013
4-7 Kansas City
6-8 Minneapolis
13-17 Los Angeles
15-18 New York
17-21 Atlanta
18-20 Portland
19-24 High Point

November 2013
13-14 Long Beach, CA
18-22 New York

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Celebrating Things "Made in USA"

It is time once again for the annual "Made In USA" issue of Gift and Home Retailer, in which we spotlight vendors who buck the trend of offshore outsourcing to still make their products in the United States.

For decades, manufacturing of almost everything has moved overseas, where labor is cheaper, resulting in a drying up of manufacturing jobs in this country. Recently, the country's largest retailer, Walmart, took concrete steps to help create manufacturing jobs in the US.

Walmart has announced its commitment to invest $50 billion over 10 years. The company's first step is to partner with 1888 Mills in Griffin, Georgia, which is a towel plant. 1888 Mills is the reincarnation of the textile industry that once hosted 4,000 jobs in that small town south of Atlanta. (Click here to watch a YouTube video about 1888 Mills).

All For Giving personnel in the factory In the Gift and Home industry, there are still products manufacturered in the US. For 35 years, Oatmeal Studios has been in the business of making people laugh. The North Adams, Massachusetts company produces greeting cards and self-stick notepads with humorous wording and artwork by a variety of artists. Oatmeal Studios is owned by Excelsior Printing Company and has all its day-to-day functions, including printing, under one roof.

Beverly Harvey of Designs by BeverlyThe fact that she got a "C" in Art Appreciation in college didn't stop Beverly Harvey from starting a business built around her own designs printed on fabric. Located in Cumming, Georgia, Designs By Beverly, reproduces designs on fabric. Their products include bags like wheel chair and stroller bags, shoe bags and wet bathing suit bags, plus a wide variety of children's clothing, all of which is machine washable and colorfast.

Scottsdale, Arizona is home to All For Giving specializes in unique and affordable gifts for that someone special. The company produces a wide array of accessories includes: wine stoppers, wine glass charms, wine boxes and faux fur wine bags, along with coordinating picture frames, magnetic note pads, votive candles and coasters. All For Giving collections include: coastal, vintage, classic, animal print all with old world style.

Amy Beth Pitcher of Country Gourmet HomeCountry Gourmet Home, of Preston, Idaho, produces high quality, easy to make gourmet food mixes including dip mixes, dinner mixes, dessert mixes, seasonings, soup mixes and more. Together Shane and Amy Beth Pitcher create and develop mixes using their favorite family recipes. Each product is developed with two goals in mind; (1) the finished product can only require one or two basic kitchen ingredients to complete and (2) a flavor that tickles your taste buds with the comfort of homemade goodness.

The Cookbook Company has it's books printed at Jumbo Jacks in Audubon IowaWhen Teri Harrison had a child, she joked to her mother that she should start a retail store called "Grandma's House" There never was a store, but 20 years later, Teri has an extensive line of products under the name "The Grandparent Gift Company". Teri, who is based in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, authors all the poems and sentiments found on the products, many of which are made or at least assembled in the USA. Today the products include Baby gifts and gifts for all members of the family.

Jackie McClure of The Cookbook Company says, "Jumbo Jacks started printing my books, The Bitch Books ("Babe In Total Control of Herself"), in 2003." While The Cookbook Company is in Marble Falls, Texas, Jumbo Jacks is in Audubon, Iowa. In the beginning, Jackie considered going overseas to get the books printed. "I am so glad I didn’t," Jackie says, "because it has worked out great for me and for them. They have printed 15 different titles for me."

There are many, many more "Made In USA" manufacturers besides those we've featured above. See the "Featured Vendors" below for links to more Made-In-USA vendors, indicated by the red outline and bunting. Many more vendors manufacture and/or assemble their wares in the USA, including:

  • Alphabet Pix: NY
  • Applelicious: AL
  • Betsy Drake Interiors: NC
  • Blair Cedar: MO
  • Brownlow Gift: TX
  • Channel Craft: PA
  • Coast Lamp: NC
  • Counter Art: FL
  • Crown Mulling Spice: AL
  • Custom Wood Gifts: SC
  • The Dish: GA
  • ER Sales: VA
  • Fiddlers Elbow: NY
  • Gently Spoken: MN
  • Golden Hill Studios: NY
  • Greenhill Music: TN
  • The Greeting Place: TN
  • Imagine Design: MN
  • Headdress NY: NY
  • Heart Gifts By Teresa: NC
  • Jeane's Things: IL
  • Kiss Me In The Garden: CA
  • Leslie Handpainted: OR
  • Pockets Plus
  • The Professionals & Kidsville USA: AL
  • Prissy Plates: NC
  • Pumpernickel Press: VA
  • Robicheaux Candy: MS
  • Sassy Stuff: AR
  • Scandical: CA
  • Scentennials: CA
  • Servant's Heart: NC
  • Spin Shades: CA
  • Stephers: MD
  • Sunbelt Gifts: GA
  • Three Kings Gifts: MD
  • Under Stella's Umbrella: GA
  • ...and many more!

Channel Craft

Featured Vendors

indicates a CAMEO EZ© web site. Red, White and Blue Bunting indicates Made in USA.

All For Giving offers a unique assortment of gifts and accessories for the home, office, and the wine enthusiast. We strive to provide our customers with high quality yet affordable products to make that perfect gift for someone special.

Americana Charm presents a hand crafted heirloom quality collection of life-sized animals, featuring cats, ducks (decoys), lop rabbits, baby bunnies, piglets, dogs, and puppies covered in colorful fabric and glazed with a glass-like finish.

Badash Crystal: Our broad selection of mouth blown tabletop and decorative accessories from around the world will surely meet your needs. Every piece is individually and safely boxed. We offer superb quality and value for all your gift giving, bridal and/or personal pleasure.

Botskis features wine bottle bow ties, light up wine & cocktail charms with colored LEDs, musical wine and spirits gift boxes and more.

Brownlow Gifts: Brownlow produces a full line of inspirational gifts for every occasion. You will find useful and attractive home decor gifts for the kitchen, bedrooms, study and all other rooms in the house. Brownlow is well known for gourmet products, journals, gifted paper items, photo albums, photo frames, decorative sentiment plaques, a variety of stationery, many different ceramic gifts as well as a large assortment of inspirational gift books. Most products are in coordinating themes that retailers can purchase in eye-catching countertop display collections.

Camille Beckman is known worldwide for the quality of their fine creams and lotions. For the past 18 years, this 'Made in America' product has been rated #1 in the personal care industry and continues to offer formulas based on rich and wholesome ingredients, blending small batches and using hand-crafted, old-fashioned methods that create a difference you can feel! Being that personal care products are an indispensable item for many gift shops, Camille Beckman is a natural choice because of their 27 years of service to the locally owned gift industry.

Desden offers the most unique wholesale collegiate licensed gifts! Shop the company's totes, aprons, iphone cases and accessories. Choose from the collection of Made in the USA items, Chevron patterns, or blank totes for monograming!

Divinity Boutique is a gift company that is focused on trendy and fun gifts that feature inspirational verse and themes.

Elegant Baby Elegant Baby® understands that babies deserve style just as fresh as they are! Our marvelous collection of baby products is full of bold colors and spectacular designs. From traditional to contemporary, today's baby gift is sure to become tomorrow's treasure. Products ranging from My First Rubber Ducky to My First Baby Bible, My First Baby Blankie, My First Baby Jeans to the iconic silver spoon, Elegant Baby is where style meets tradition.

Europa Home decorincluding glass, candleholders and candles for garden, lodge, awards, gourmet food, sale items and more.

Flair Hair: Need a spikey flair to your day? Flair Hair is the answer! You can wear Flair Hair Visors anywhere. The comfortable adjustable bandanas and visors with hair are great for golfing, fishing, riding your motorcycle, hiking in the mountains and anything else you can think of. No matter where you go, our hats with hair ensure you will be the life of the party. Whether you want to sport the blonde colored hair you grew up with, or throw in a change-up with brown, black, or gray; people will notice!

Fortune Keeper: Have you ever opened a fortune cookie, had a powerful connection to the message inside, and wanted to hold on to it for inspiration? Do you have other inspirational messages or pictures that you would love to wear? Welcome to FortuneKeeper - Beautifully designed necklaces, keychains and bracelets to safely store your prized fortunes, quotes, mantras, prayers, pictures or affirmations.

Halle Joy is a different type of company, committed not only to designing beautiful products, but to bringing joy to people throughout the world. A portion of the proceeds from every piece we sell goes to support worthy causes around the world.

Highland Graphics: a leader in functional gift with decorative items for gift giving and kitchen. From our topselling Absorbastone coasters, to our decorative bamboo cutting boards, everything we manufacture is made in the USA. Our high quality plus competitive pricing lets our customers make higher margins. We feature licensed art, official collegiate products and have a full range of custom capabilities with low minimums.

InDesign, Home of The Sophie Collection, one of America's leading fashion accessory wholesalers! All products designed by Anna Larsson Daley using only the finest textiles and materials available. We provide retailers with unique, high quality fashion accessories including the # 1 selling jewel embellished scarf at retail.

JTP Wholesale: Monogrammed toilet paper and coasters - The perfect gift for the person who has everything.

Julia Knight: Designer Julia Knight creates bowls and trays, glassware and serving pieces with meticulous patterns and shapes, color and hue.

Lily For Hangables is your source for household and celebration needs. The company has more than 75 shapes and products with over 175 prints and colors with more to come. Lily for Hangables carefully hand forms each product, showing the greatest care; making each piece unique. All products are proudly made in the United States.

Leslie Handpainted Glass: Leslie Hand Painted Glass is Proudly Painting in Portland Oregon USA Specializing in Custom & Regionally Specific Designs - Personalized Wedding & Bridal Parties - Corporate Gifts & Events.

Luvali Convertibles features "all things reversible or convertible", including women's and children's clothing, hats, handbags, handheld electronics cases and more.

Malibu Creations collection of affordably chic home décor will turn your decorating daydreams into reality with fun and stylish designs inspired by the warm colors of sun-kissed beaches, the refreshing comforts of mountainside resorts, and the vibrance of today's active lifestyle. Malibu Creations believes you should be able to decorate and redecorate your home as inspiration strikes, and with the company's smart prices, you don't have to miss out on a single design trend you love. Live your life in affordable luxury as you spend time with family and friends in your beautifully decorated home, enjoying an evening of dining on the patio or just relaxing in a cozy, sunny nook in the living room.

Mya Grace features unique jewelry, keychains, watches and snaps. Mya Grace donates a portion of our profits to childrens cancer research.

Nicole Brayden Gifts: a bright and trendy collection of stationary and home decorproducts. Lots of fun colors and designs offered. Introducing new and exciting "Purse Pad" stationary assortments as well as the trendy Cheeky Chic collection.

O3 USA: Founded on principles of creativity, functionality and a funky spirit, O3 USA strives strive to offer products that are unique, stylish, and, most importantly, cool. From kids' backpacks and luggage with integrated coolers, to fun accessories for the family, we hope you find what you are looking for with us here at O3!

Red Carpet Studios, Ltd.: All Jazzed Up Fashion Accessories for Fall & Spring. A wide range of Giftware for the Home & Garden. Visit our website for New Products & Specials.

snoozies!® are not socks and they're not slippers - sort of a crossover between the two and that's why we call them "foot coverings"! snoozies!® are made with a brushed fleece exterior in colorful & fun printed patterns and then lined with a soft Sherpa fleece inside.

Shade Tree Greetings' "Actual Pictures" are recognized as one of the best-selling greeting card lines in the industry. Nostalgic photographs and clever, funny verses make these cards a success. Go to our website to browse over 300 styles. GREAT introductory programs and free fixtures.

Stupell Industries: one of America's premier suppliers of handcrafted decorative accessories for upscale homes and offices. In business for over 30 years, our line includes a wide variety of baby products, kitchen and bathroom plaques, wall hangings, faux windows, picture frames, and other unique decorative objects. We are constantly enlarging and updating our product offering to keep abreast of the latest trends and styles in the fast-paced home decorative market.

Sunday Greetings is a greeting card company that started when Brenda Kellman made a homemade birthday card for her husband Alan. Brenda's photography is on the cover of the company's greeting cards for every occasion.

Tripar International Inc.: Tripar International is your source for both displays and decorative accessories. Our extensive product line includes a wide assortment of easels, risers, ornament stands, plate racks, mirrors, jewelry displays, and unique display pieces. We are also an excellent source for wine accessories, wall decor, inspirational signs, and cookbook stands. We offer quality with style, low minimums and fast shipping.

Wellspring makes functional products with fresh designs for companies that sell gifts. Great fun and cute personal accessories designed for the purse, stationery designed for organization and Flip Notes- the best-selling slim notepad consistently ranked by retailers as a top 10 in sell through. Perfect 4th quarter pick up gifts at under $10 retail- a sweet spot with today's consumer. Now with collegiate logos! www.WellspringGift.com.

White Mountain Puzzles is ahead of the pack when it comes to puzzles with educational content. Why not learn something while doing a puzzle? If you love to travel, why not put together an entertaining birds eye view of KEY WEST, MARTHA’S VINEYARD, BOSTON or NEW ENGLAND? Or work on a puzzle of states like MICHIGAN, ILLINOIS, OHIO, VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA or GEORGIA? Or learn something about PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY or THE CIVIL WAR? These challenging projects take artists like DAVID HARRISON WRIGHT, DEB MARCONI, GARY TORISSI, and MAUREEN RUPPRECHT months to create.

Wild Habitat has long had socks but also features arm sleeves, baby booties, backpack buddies, wristbands and plush hats.

WOW Window Posters, for Halloween and Holidays, are brilliantly colored, backlit plastic window posters that illuminate with your household lamps to delight all people who pass by! They fit big and small windows alike, and quickly decorate your home by transforming your windows into an incredible display of holiday art!

Zingz And Thingz : Located in Santa Monica, California, Zingz & Thingz proudly offers more than 700 products to retailers. The company's merchandise strengths are in our wide selection of affordable and fun Garden Decor items and our continually expanding Lighting collection. Discover Zingz And Thingz' extensive collection of fun and functional products today and put a little zing in your life.


Be The Surprise!

Dear Friends,

As a manufacturer, I cherish the lively, spirited, and often profound conversations I have with the many retailers I talk to each day. What a community of kindness, appreciation, and creativity we are part of. No wonder they call us the "gift" industry.

Our discussions often include conversations like:

  • Should I move to a higher traffic destination?
  • How can I breathe more live into my business?
  • How can I inspire my employees to become more engaged in our business?
  • What if I changed our store name?
  • What if our business doesn’t improve?
  • How can I tell a better story with my existing brand?

Here’s my advice. Keep having discussions. Who knows what idea or person will help your business soar? With an open heart and mind:

  1. Set yourself apart from a marketplace loaded with access to goods and services. Look for stories about other businesses and their success stories outside of our industry. Be the surprise in your business! Personally, I love reading Fast Company and Inc. magazine for innovative ideas.
  2. Stay motivated and inspired! Subscribe to a few online blogs and newsletters that will challenge your way of seeing the world. Some of my favorites are: www.JonAcuff.com, www.MondayMorningMemo.com and www.TheDailyLove.com.
  3. Survey your customers every four to six months either in-store or online using a service like www.surveymonkey.com. Whenever possible, use multiple choice responses and leave a line for a personal response. Ask questions like: What do you like best about our store? What magazines do you read? How would you rate our customer service? What special events would you most likely attend? What are your favorite colors for both home and fashion? What type of products would like to see us offer? What can we do to serve you better? How would you describe your decorating style?
  4. Keeping connected today is priceless! No matter what, keep collecting email addresses and encourage your customers to LIKE you on Facebook.
  5. Be the gift! Authentically smile. Listen. Care. Step into your shine and dazzle the world. Here’s to a holiday season filled with insight, wisdom, PEAS and abundance.

Truly,

Cheryl Karpen

As a speaker, author and product developer, Cheryl Karpen thrives on telling stories that inspire the heart and mind. With nearly a million gift books sold, her self-publishing company, Gently Spoken, is best known for the Eat Your Peas Collection (www.gentlyspoken.com). Cheryl can be reached at 877-224-7886 or at cherylkarpen@aol.com.


Quick Industry News

New Wholesale Websites

These CAMEO EZ© websites are new (or have a new look) for October. Check them out!

Gift Show Specials Home Page GiftShowSpecials.Com, the website that features show specials of the vendor members of the Gift Sales Managers Association, recently received a face lift. The association's annual conference is this month.

Drake Design and The Faith Collection Home PageDrake Design / The Faith Collection has a new look. Check out their inspiration themed gift items.

Fone Face Home PageFone Face opened its wholesale CAMEO EZ© website recently. Click to view their fun phone covers.

Qwerty Look Home PageQwerty Look has added a CAMEO EZ© wholesale ordering site featuring their unique reading glasses which are always at your fingertips.


CAMEO EZ© is the B2B e-commerce system developed by OmegaNet Inc., publisher of this newsletter, for use by retailers in ordering inventory for their stores. A partial list of CAMEO EZ sites can be found at the company's portals such as www.giftswholesale.com, www.accessorieswholesale.com, www.apparelwholesale.biz, www.decorwholesale.com, www.usmadewholesale.com, www.toyswholesale.com and www.usmadewholesale.com. A complete list of sites is available in the "Directory" on www.CAMEOEZ.com.