GIFT AND HOME RETAILER NEWS
A Service of GiftsWholesale.Com & OmegaNet Inc.

July 2017

 

Mall vs. Main Street

"Location, Location, Location" is the punchline of an old joke about real estate, in answer to the question, "What are the three most important things to consider in buying real estate?" Location is also important when it comes to where you lease or own space for your retail store(s).

Mall vs. Main Street After World War II, the retail landscape changed. The growth of suburbs and the creation of the Interstate Highway System, as well as demographic shifts, revolutionized people's patterns of living, working and shopping. Before World War II most communities had a well defined "center" that consisted of a business district that was the hub for commerce, community and worship. After the war, cities sprawled with tract homes on what had been farmland, engulfing smaller communities and turning them into "suburbs".

With the ubiquity of the automobile, better roads were needed so people could get from point A to point B, which were often further apart than before. The burgeoning network of highways moved the focus away from many town centers to highway intersections and downtowns all across the country died. Retailers in small towns were adversely affected. In many metropolitan areas, inner cities became ghost towns after 5 p.m.

Hastening the death of downtowns was the enclosed shopping mall, which became a sort of community center itself, although it was often far from the traditional center of most communities. The shopping mall had its detractors, who saw it as a soulless, artificial creation, afflicted with boring sameness and with none of the heritage and character of Main Street. Now consumer preferences seem to be changing again. Many have declared the death of the mall and it is true that there are abandoned malls across the country, casualties of overbuilding during the boom years.

One organization that is attempting to resurrect Main Street is the "National Main Street Center", a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. NMSC has assembled a national network of over 2,000 historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts that it calls "Main Street America™". The people involved in this project are working to "turn the tide in their communities—catalyzing reinvestment, creating jobs, and fostering pride of place" (source).

But the South's largest shopping mall owner and developer still believes in the viability of that venue, in spite of the naysayers. "We have great locations and properties and, contrary to what some suggest, people want the experiences that our properties can offer," says Charles B. Lebovitz, president of CBL & Associate Properties, Inc. "As long as we keep making changes and evolving with the market, these will remain the prime properties in most communities and we'll still be here." (source).

So, perhaps there is a future for both Malls and Main Street. As some focus on gentrification of traditional town centers and others focus on adapting malls to changing consumer needs, both may be able to flourish. Which is best for your store depends on who your customers are and what paths they travel.

Quick Industry News

NEW WHOLESALE WEBSITES

Sincere SurroundingsSincere Surroundings just opened its new CAMEO EZ© wholesale website. The company offers home décor and gifts that can be personalized with different colors, sizes, names, dates, locations, anniversaries and more. If your customers are constantly on the look-out for that one piece they just have to have, it can be found at Sincere Surroundings.

Don MarkDon Mark, a long time OmegaNet client, has recently refreshed its wholesale website with a new mobile-friendly design. Don Mark Gifts is a 131-year-old company based in Atlanta, Georgia, offering Mens Gifts like knives, tools and gadgets, but also Gifts for the whole family, like travel and personal accessories and pet gifts.

 
 

EZ Ribbon indicates a CAMEO EZ© web site.

Aloha Farms brings the tastes and scents of Hawaii to you. The site features Kona Coffee and Kona Green Coffee, Hawaiian honey, Hawaiian Treats like dried fruit, candy and macadamia nuts, plus Coffee scented candles and soap.
AMMA JO Collections include CrossBody Bags, Wallets, Shoulder Bags, Clutches and Duffles with unique designs. The designs will add a vibrant pop of color to your customers' collection! The AMMA JO brand is all about dreams come true and bringing color to life! After a 15 year corporate career, Amma Jo launched her dream with just one handbag and $100! If you are ever in Pennsylvania, come and visit her showroom downtown Harrisburg, PA. Amma Jo works to educate and empower other women and build a collection of brands that we nurture and we look forward to introducing those collections to you over the years!
Bandilac features custom, hand-crafted, laser engraved gifts and accessories, made in USA. In addition to its own designs, the company welcomes Custom and Private Label projects. With your logo, artwork or other image, Bandilac will create a personalized, custom product. With great price points, low setup charges and fast turnaround, Bandilac's Custom program provides great branding and promotional opportunities for your business.
Candles and Quotes' 100% All Natural All Soy Candles are made by "The Soy Sisters". They pour each and every candle by hand and use only Essential Oils to fragrance their candles, which are candles are 100% Eco-Friendly. Each candle comes with a beautiful quote, that is either meaningful, funny or down right crazy. If you don't see what you like ask "The Soy Sisters" and they will make it for you. They personalize all of our candles so your own uniqueness and quirky personality can be put on a candle. So watch what you say because it may wind up on a candle!

cinda b® was created by Altlant designer Cinda Boomershine. Cinda's love for color and a passion for design, inspired her to launch her own back and accessory line. cinda b® tastefully blends solid colors with modern prints. Poly/nylon fabrics make cindab bags uniquely lightweight yet durable, water and stain resistant, and machine washable.

Coast Lamp Manufacturing was established and incorporated in the state of Florida in 1955. Now, a North Carolina Corporation since 1975, located in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. We are a family owned and operated company. Our product is UL/ULC listed and approved and made in the USA. Customer satisfaction and a long lasting relationship are our goals. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you.

Artist Renee Rubach creates beautiful greeting cards and gift enclosure cards for all occassions. Early on, she became interested in creating greeting cards, both the designs and message. She absolutely loves creating products that people can enjoy and use.

GetSassys has fun, colorful, cool, hip gifts that are sure to bring a smile to everyones face! From flour sack towels to baby and toddler t-shirts, koozies, wooden memo holders and linens, Get Sassys designs make shopping fun!

Gina B. Designs is an award-winning greeting card, gift and stationery products company featuring exceptional art and design. With an array of styles, variety of products and outstanding customer service, Gina B. Designs has "something for everyone."  All products are proudly made in the U.S.A.

Miko is recognized as on of the world's leading manufacturers of sentimental gifts. Whether it is for Mom, Sister, A Loved One, Your Aunt, Your Guardian Angel or whomever, there tasteful gifts send beautiful messages to beautiful people. Economically priced with great retail appeal they are just the thing for special occassions or just to say I'm thinking of you.
Holiday Fried Pecans' rise in popularity can be attributed to its first treat a salty, sweet 100% certified Louisiana fried pecan that is guaranteed to satisfy the most demanding of cravings. These great tasting pecans that have less fat & calories than raw pecans are a perfect addition to any store. Lightly sweet, Lightly salty and great on Salads, Sweet Potatoes, Ice Cream, Cheese Cake or as a snack. Holiday Fried Pecans...a curious and delicious flashed-fried Louisiana Pecan that's great for corporate gifts givers, retail locations, cooking, baking or solo-snacking!
Isa's Naturals is a forward thinking personal-care products company. Our products include therapeutic bath salts, body cleansers and moisturizers. At Isa's, we draw our inspiration from Ethnobotany - the relationship between people and plants.

JTP Wholesale is a wholesale website offering monogrammed bathroom tissue, coasters and a line of t-shirts for the young and old: Future Jock t-shirts and onesies and X-Jock adult t-shirts.

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

Richard E. Bishop features Men's gifts like glass and mug sets, decanter sets, and "Tipsy Wine Glasses". Also the company features a variety of old-book-themed photo albums, binders and storage boxes.

Smile Drinkware provides custom tumblers to major brand manufacturers and also provides hundreds of unique exclusive tumbler designs to retailers and consumers. Provides high-end, top-quality insulated tumblers.

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.

SOi Essentials is a Northern California based company that offers an array of richly scented candles to enhance your overall wellness. SOi Candles are hand-poured in the USA using 100% All Natural Food Grade Kosher Soy Oil, that burns cleaner and up to 40% longer than paraffin based, wax or soy blend candles. The company's candles are made with 100% cotton lead free wicks, are soot-free and do not emit harmful toxins (such as Benzene) into your home or the environment.

Star Home features tabletop and home decor for specialty retailer, catalog and online marketers, the hospitality trade and more. Star Home's designers look to all corners of the world to gather inspiration for this ever-growing market. This inspiration is then turned into real-life, high-quality products by artisan craftsmen.

Stephers Inc. greeting cards featuring 100% Dead Sea Bath salts, funny sea characters, and a little 'BE HAPPY' meditation to lift your spirits ~ LIFE CHANGING SEA SALTS right in your very own tub! SPA CARDS. "TRANSFORMING HUMANITY ONE BATH AT A TIME".

Sunset Vista Designs offers you extra margin opportunities, and sells thru at retail. They offer innovative designs, in proven products, with space saving merchandising solutions, and attractive package deals that all add value to the quality products we offer. Many say this is the "best ever" line of innovative gift, garden, and home decor.
"The finest collection of artwork printed on baseballs in the world" is our tagline. The products are baseballs with a variety of designs printed on them. Some are images of famous stadiums, and other baseball themes, but others are messages for special occasions or just "Cool Design Baseballs".

White Mountain 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.

Zees Inc. has introduced innovative products designed to make eating and drinking more convenient and fun since 1993. Zees Inc. is known for beer glasses and tumblers, wine & champagne glasses, wine bottle stoppers, beer, water and soda can coolers, beverage dispensers, water bottles, cocktail glasses & mugs, lunch, beach and picnic bags, and more. All drinkware is BPA-free.
 

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.