MAKING YOUR STORE’S BLING SHINE

Retailers are drawing attention to jewelry offerings as standalone collections and complete ensembles that tourists can gleam in.

STORY BY BY CAROLINE RISI

Jewelry plays a major role in the looks customers at boutiques across the country are trying to create. April Hicks, owner of April Blooms Boutique in Pasadena, California, says her customers are usually eager to complete their outfit by adding accessories.

Hicks opened up April Blooms six years ago. Her original calling was as a hair stylist, which she’s been doing for the last 29 years, including operationg a salon.

The store’s story started with Hicks lending a small area of her salon to a client to sell T-shirts and jewelry. When the space for a store opened up nearby, April Blooms was founded. “It’s definitely been a challenge, but we’re still here,” she says.

Her experience, means she is all too familiar with completing a look, whether it’s hair, which she still does every day, or jewelry for customers who want that special accessory to go with the cute ruffle dress or wrap dress they just found.

Jewelry is displayed at eye level in the store. In addition, there is placement next to an outfit that’s displayed to show a complete look, whether on a dress form or table display, she says.

Completing The Look

Hicks finds that displays in a designated area, and the cash wrap are the best choices. Arrangements using materials that suit the style of the store work best. The shop is 750 square feet, and there are two designated shelving displays for accessories as well as the cash wrap.

As far as jewelry trends, Hicks says she is seeing more pearls, gold chunky necklaces, some with name plates, and that she is starting to see some edgy silver pieces coming back.

“We try to incorporate some of the trends but keep a lot of simple pieces and hoops, which are always our customers’ favorites,” she says. Earrings are the best-selling jewelry pieces, with basic hoops and big hoops standouts in terms of popularity. April Blooms sells a lot of brass, silver and natural stone jewelry. Among the popular designers the store carries are Ink + Alloy and Scout.

Hicks has resumed offering in-store events, which were shut down during the height of the COVID pandemic. She’s has had two gatherings but observes, “People are still a little shy about coming out.”

There are also a lot of opportunities for pop-ups in the community, and Hicks has participated in fundraisers for local charities and nonprofits for such causes as cancer and the Pasadena Symphony, with a portion of her sales going back to the charities.

Collections That Dazzle

Judy L. Goldie, owner of the ladies’ boutiques

Trendy Pieces and Bella’s Boutique as well as The Marketplace home and gift in historic downtown Murfreesboro, Tennessee, says the stores stock several amazing jewelry lines.

The stores use social media platforms to attract shoppers to the three stores, which are connected and open to each other. The sales floor space for the three combined shops is over 5,000 square feet. In designing the retail spaces, the owners kept much of the old and added the new.

The three best selling jewelry lines are Enewton, Kendra Scott and ABLE. According to Goldie, Enewton and ABLE perform well for the shops because customers like that they are gold filled and can be worn in the shower, pool etc., and they keep their beautiful shine. The stores also offers the works of two local jewelry artists, Darby Drake and Cross the Line.

The stores all merchandise and group jewelry lines together. Goldie says having a full display to showcase a line is important. Customers typically come in to see the jewelry and are asked questions on the style they are looking for. It is fun to show them all collections when they need jewelry for themselves or for a gift, she says.

Dressing Things Up

At Sierra Bell, a 1,350-square-foot store in Reno, Nevada, the best-selling jewelry item tends to be classic gold layered chain necklaces, according to Owner Hope Triplett. She explains that gold chain necklace can be a staple piece to any wardrobe and can easily dress up any outfit. Layered necklaces especially are a best-seller as the simplicity of purchasing an already layered necklace set takes the hassle out of trying to match and layer multiple necklaces, she adds.

Triplett says it is extremely important to place complementary pieces of jewelry next to each other to allow customers to easily see what pieces work well when worn together.

“We use many neck and head displays to show a necklace paired with earrings, as well as placing jewelry on our mannequins throughout the store to easily display which pieces look the best with different outfits. Natural light as well as glass displays provide a beautiful display to easily see the shine of different metals and stones,” she says.

To garner attention for jewelry, Triplett places jewelry on a front display, allowing for immediate interest when customers walk into the store. Also placing jewelry throughout the store and near the register allows the customer to be continually reminded of jewelry throughout their shopping experience.

The store is currently working on rebranding, and the new logo will be pink. For the remodel, Triplett plans to paint the walls pink, as well as replace large wood fixtures with glass shelving to provide more light in the store. She is currently making small changes to match the new aesthetic of the brand image. “We are so excited to share the new logo publicly,” she says.

Like Hicks, Triplett also participates in pop-ups and events to get out into the community, as well as using social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to stay engaged with the customers. “We love when we see our customers wearing pieces from Sierra Belle out in the community,” she says. SGN

OneCoast to create flagship showroom at Dallas Market Center

OneCoast, an omnichannel wholesale sales and marketing company, and Dallas Market Center, have announced a new flagship showroom for OneCoast. The expansive space on the atrium of the World Trade Center will open in time for the January 2024 Total Home & Gift Market.

The move follows a series of investments by OneCoast in Dallas Market Center. The expanded location will provide an enhanced shopping experience for its existing customers while expanding its reach to Western region retailers. This move also comes at a time of Dallas Market Center’s launch of a new vision to enhance the atrium experience and the overall shopping environment for retailers.

“I am truly excited about the vision of Dallas Market Center and our initiative together to create an environment that exceeds our retailers’ expectations,” says John Keiser, CEO of OneCoast. “With our long-term partnership with Dallas Market Center, we will continue to build on this experience for years to come.”

“OneCoast is a forwardthinking company, and we have a special partnership built upon long-standing shared values and mutual support for the independent retailer,” said Cindy Morris, president and CEO of Dallas Market Center. “We are pleased that a destination like OneCoast will have an atrium presence to welcome and inspire buyers year-round.”

To accommodate the new OneCoast showroom, the existing Gourmet Market exhibitors will transition into a larger, new neighborhood of gourmet and housewares resources.

Wild Republic celebrates new headquarters, donates plush to children in need

Wild Republic, an international toy company lauded for its 40-plus years of giving back and supporting various humanitarian, environmental and animal charities, has announced the relocation of its U.S. corporate headquarters from Twinsburg, Ohio, to Independence, Ohio.

The move to a larger, more modern space at 7711 E. Pleasant Valley Road, comes as the company has seen tremendous growth with innovative, groundbreaking and environmentally friendly products. To mark the occasion, an official ribbon cutting ceremony was held Nov. 29, 2022, Giving Tuesday, an International Day of Generosity which encourages organizations to do good and give back to their communities.

In 2022, it earmarked close to 18,000 plush to be distributed through local Rotary Clubs to several different agencies in Independence, Ohio, that care for children in distress, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, food banks and foster care organizations.

“We wanted to make sure we are giving back to the community we are now a part of in Independence, Ohio, and are honored to have Mayor Gregory Kurtz in attendance as our special guest,” said Vishnu Chandran, CEO of Wild Republic and grandson of the company’s founders. “Our relocation coinciding with Giving Tuesday is just another reminder that giving back to our community and the world we live in is a main pillar of our company and will continue to be in the years to come.”

Founders G.B. and Kamala Pillai have funded several animal sanctuaries and rescue organizations throughout the world and began an orphanage for young girls in India who needed housing. Since 2002, Wild Republic has partnered with The Audubon Society to help sustain natural habitats for wild birds throughout the United States. In 2022, Wild Republic partnered with Planet Water, a nonprofit organization focused on alleviating the global water crisis by bringing clean water access and water health and hygiene education to the world’s most impoverished communities.

Philadelphia Gift Show recognizes Third Wolf with Best Handmade Product Award

Third Wolf, a Wayne, New Jersey-based clothing brand, was awarded the Best Handmade Product award at the 2023 Philadelphia Gift Show, which was held Feb. 5-7 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania.

Artist and Owner Alexa Varano individually hand paints every item. The self-taught artist and business owner began with painting on canvas, but then had the idea to paint on clothing.

“I decided to hand-paint shirts rather than screen print them in order to keep the authentic feel of each original product,” she says on the company’s website. Varano will sketch out a design, cut out a stencil then hand-paint each shirt individually. The materials used are sustainable and made in the USA. The most popular material she uses is bamboo. Many of the designs are nature and wildlife themed.

Puffin Drinkwear introduces travel and leisure line

Puffin Drinkwear, a line of personality-infused apparel for your drink to wear, keeping beverages chilled and looking stylish, is introducing a new travel and leisure line, Time to Chill in the second quarter of 2023. Samples of the new line were on display at the company’s booth at January’s Surf Expo in Orlando, Florida.

“For the surfer, paddler, hiker, skier, golfer, or tailgater, we’ve got a Puffin for that,” the company notes.

Puffin Drinkwear’s tagline is “Fun Together” and with its variety of options, it aims to keep family and friends close and drinks cozy.

Every Puffin is designed with a sturdy, non-slip rubberized base to ensure the Puffin stays upright. Puffin also uses insulation technology with a premium thermal liner for colder sips ‘til the very last drop.” Puffins offer a lifetime warranty “so your trusty sidekick isn’t going anywhere,” according to the company.

“We view ourselves as an outdoor industry brand, but we want to start expanding out,” says founder Tyrone Hazen. “There are so many places we can go with our identity here. We don’t want people to be left out. In the case of travel and leisure, this opens Puffin up to golf course communities, hotels and spas.”

Puffin Drinkwear comes in a variety of silhouettes for any gift recipient: a space suit for space-lovers, hoodies for casual beverages around the bonfire; adventure vests for hikers; T-shirts for surfers; life vests for boaters; sweaters/snowsuits for skiers; and football jerseys for tailgaters, college students and football fans.

P. Graham Dunn launches wooden pickleball paddles

P. Graham Dunn, Dalton, Ohio, has launched a new line of wooden pickleball paddles.

The new collection combines the company’s signature craftsmanship with eye-catching designs and sentiments to create a must-have accessory for pickleball players of all levels.

Each paddle is made from high-quality plywood and feature fun, playful design elements and humorous sentiments.

From bright florals to whimsical patterns, these paddles bring a touch of artistic flair to the game.

1: Xplorer Maps

Chesapeake Bay framed hand-drawn map. www.xplorermaps.com

2: Kool Tees

Name-drop plush bone toys for dogs. www.kooltees.com

3: Morris Magnets & Dust City Gifts

Laser cut gifts and souvenirs with lasting colors. www.morrismagnets.com

4: Seaside Graphics

Hooked for Life yellow performance shirt. www.seasidegraphics.com

5: History America

History of Women in the U.S Military patriotic print. www.historyamerica.us

6: Laser Gifts

Personalized heart keychain with location name. www.lasergifts.com

7: AdventureKeen

Nature field guides, books and activity books for the outdoors. www.adventurewithkeen.com

8: A.T. Storrs Ltd.

Wild Pearle collection abalone jewelry. www.atstorrs.com

9: Ande Rooney

Yellow cautionary black bear crossing sign. www.anderooney.com

10: Urban Charm

Go Into the Wild bronze keychain with tassle feature. www.urbancharmbeads.com

11: Mountain Graphics

Dark sky bear diecut sticker with custom name-drop. www.mtgraphics.com

12: Fiesta

Comfies moose made with extra soft fabric and stuffed just right. www.fiestatoy.com

13: Desperate Enterprises

Weathered Coca-Cola bottle cap tin sign. www.desperate.com

14: Beacon Design

Great blue heron ornament with custom name-drop. www.beacondesign.com

15: Bucket Wonders

Personalized coaster magnet with destination art. www.bucketwonders.com

16: The Lipco Group

Personalized metal keychain with beach-themed charms. www.lipco.biz

17: Catania Metallic Specialty Metallic multi-use bottle opener with custom name-drop. www.cataniainc.com

18: Kurt S. Adler

Western cowboy gnome ornaments. www.kurtadler.com

19: Penny Bandz

Great Adventure penny journal holds 146 pressed coins. www.pennybandz.com

20: Impulse Souvenirs

Leather patch with unique artwork. www.impulsesouvenirs.com

21: The Petting Zoo

Highland cow 12-inch plush made of recycled water bottles. www.pettingzooplush.com

22: Maple Landmark Woodcraft Cardinal windspinner made from reclaimed hardwood maple. www.maplelandmark.com

23: SJT Enterprises

Wall hanging bottle opener customized to a location. www.sjtent.com

24: Wheeler

Paua earrings from the Nature’s 1 collection. www.wheelerjewelry.com