GIFT AND HOME RETAILER NEWS
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A Service of GiftsWholesale.Com and OmegaNet Inc.
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December 2013
GiftsWholesale.Com and OmegaNet Inc. and are not responsible for changes in show information or typographical errors. GiftsWholesale.Com and OmegaNet Inc. are not directly associated with any trade show.
December 2013
8-11 Myrtle Beach
January 2013
4-7 Philadelphia
7-14 Atlanta
16-22 Chicago
17-21 Columbus
21-27 Los Angeles
25-31 New York
26-30 Toronto
26-30 Las Vegas
30-Feb. 1 Phoenix
30-Feb. 3 Atlanta
February 2013
1-4 New York (SOURCENY)
2-6 New York (NYNOW)
10-13 New York (7W)
16-18 Columbus
16-19 Edmonton
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TheShoppePlace.Com (Retail)
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In This Issue:
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Winter Trade Shows are "Win-Win"
In January, the New Year means a new round of trade shows kicks off. Besides the expected new and hot products on display, plus educational seminar opportunities, trade shows are about the experience: travel, food, and seeing friends. But often the experience includes drawings that give you a chance to win a variety of prizes.
In Dallas, at the Total Home & Gift Market (Jan. 15-21), you could win a HERO3 GoPro camera by dropping your business card into the pot at the Hemisphere Design Gallery. Or if travel is more to your liking, visit the Gourmet Market (Housewares & Gourmet Market) for a chance to win a 3-night stay at the Hilton Anatole. Then on the Atrium 7th floor you could win "bucks" good for 7th floor jewelry, fashion and accessory showrooms.
Not to be outdone, Atlanta (Jan. 7-14) will have a "Buyers Bonus Giveaway" where for shopping the Home & Rug floors, you could have a chance to win an iPad mini. Building 2 will also give away an iPad with retina display. If free food and drink is on your radar, HD Home will feature complimentary breakfast espresso, latte, or cappuccino at 9 a.m. Jan. 10-12. Also in HD Home on Jan. 10 will be an Opening Day Reception with refreshments beginning at 2 p.m. Holiday & Floral/Home Decor in building 1 will feature a 4 p.m. "Holly Jolly Christmas Party" with plenty of snacks while you shop.
For Las Vegas (Jan. 26-30), "Sunday Is the New Monday" beginning on Sunday this year. The show will feature a variety of seminars, ranging from practical ("Pathway to Profit" Caroline Hipple) to painful but necessary ("The Affordable Care Act: What It Means For Your Business, Your Industry, Your Family" Barry Levine) to the stylish ("Style & Substance in Home Furnishings").
Chicago (Jan. 16-22) will have "Coffee and Conversation" with Caroline Kennedy, Editor in Chief of Gifts and Dec magazine. SnapRetail will host a mini-bootcamp on retail store marketing (Jan 18-20). And there will be giveaways and customer appreciation parties in the Roman showroom and Folkmanis and Picnic Time will be giving free freight on orders over $500.
In New York (Feb. 1-6), the seminar programming includes expert-led sessions on timely topics such as design and color trends, online retailing and social media, emerging consumer preferences and importing. Industry events and "Only in New York" experiences include the Gift For Life's Party for Life fundraiser, the 2014 Housewares Design Awards and a "Night on Broadway" featuring Motown: The Musical. The NY NOW seminar series complements the show's four new product collections, "Handmade", "Home", "Lifestyle" and "New".
"GALLA" (Give And Live Los Angeles) is the new identity of LA Mart's bi-annual Gift + Home + Design Center trade shows. Winter GALLA (Jan. 21-27) features a drawing where pre-registered buyers can win $1,000 or two prizes of $500. The LA Mart has added more than 33,000 square feet of new showroom space this year.
Wherever you attend the shows, you'll find plenty to keep you busy, make you smarter, and you may even win a prize. That's "Win-Win"!
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Featured Vendors
indicates a CAMEO EZ© web site.
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.
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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.
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Bridge Brands Chocolate was created to provide chocolate lovers with gourmet-quality, superbly packaged chocolate at a non-gourmet price. Since debuting in 1999, our chocolates have become a favorite with San Francisco locals and visitors alike.
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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.
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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.
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Clarissa Tumblers: The Clarissa Tumblers' motto is: There's no order that's too big or too small - we do them all! Our customers are our priority and enjoy receiving our services to provide them with quality custom and personalized tumblers for their weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, golf tournaments, family reunions, custom brand marketing, and more. Clarissa Tumblers is passionate about tumblers, and knows that their tumblers are second to none, and pride themselves on their superior customer service.
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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.
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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!
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Divinity Boutique is a gift company that is focused on trendy and fun gifts that feature inspirational verse and themes.
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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.
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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!
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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. |
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. |
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.
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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.
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JTP Wholesale : Monogrammed toilet paper and coasters - The perfect gift for the person who has everything.
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Julia Knight : Designer Julia Knight creates bowls and trays, glassware and serving pieces with meticulous patterns and shapes, color and hue.
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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.
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Luvali Convertibles features "all things reversible or convertible", including women's and children's clothing, hats, handbags, handheld electronics cases and more.
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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.
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Mya Grace features unique jewelry, keychains, watches and snaps. Mya Grace donates a portion of our profits to childrens cancer research.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Sunbelt
Marketing Group, Inc. Licensed functional and decorative giftware for the home and tailored for the men's market, i.e. (clocks, signs, coat/key racks, salt and pepper shakers, bottle openers, shelves, picture frames, games key chains and more). Licenses include Coca-Cola, General Motors, Pepsi-Cola, Farmall Tractors, Shelby and the Shelby Ford Mustang and Dodge. Product mediums include wood, polyresin, and glass and mixed mediums. |
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 Lin Mfg & Design (Wild Habitat) is located in Logan, UT, and is a manufacturer of hosiery and apparel. BAMBOO Loungewear and MICROFIBER Seamless Cami/boyshort are new additions to their collection. Other items that are part of their Wild Habitat Collection are: Baby Booties, Plush Hats, Backpack Buddy's, and over 100 designs of socks.
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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. |
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Use "Speed Sourcing" to Find the Hidden Gems at Trade Shows
Dear Friends,
As if on a great mission, I would blast like a comet down the aisles and hallways of AmericasMart, confident my invisible buyer's radar would know exactly what showroom to visit or what temporary exhibitor was worthy of my time and money.
After all, a glance, especially making eye contact with an exhibitor, could turn into a conversation. With time, energy and money at a premium, the price of human interaction was likely too great of a price to pay.
If only I could turn back on the tables of time. I would have approached trade show season with less perception and assumption and more openness and time for surprise and discovery.
Recently, while exhibiting my own product line at the Smokey Mountain Gift Show, I took time to peruse the booths of my neighboring exhibitors. Frankly, as a buyer, I would have walked past every single one of these manufacturers. The gray curtain panels and predictable POP displays were a bit of a turn off. Yet, after having spent a few minutes taking an up close look at their products and prices, I realized I would've purchased from every single one of these vendors! Joe, a quiet unassuming guy, sold the most beautiful playing cards I've ever seen at an extremely low price. Luxurious paper stock combined with National Geographic quality images of my home state of Minnesota would've been a perfect impulse item with an above average mark-up.
I admit it. And not so proudly.
As a store buyer, my PERCEPTION about a product category, booth design, or brand often prevented my two stores from reaping more profit and offering an even more desirable merchandise mix to my customers.
Oh yeah! That's me. The non-judger, judging.
Am I suggesting you stop and visit with every vendor this upcoming trade show season? If the show is small, hey, why not? If the show is giant-size, hardly. However, keeping an open mind outside of your comfort zone can yield some surprising and profitable results.
As the winter/spring 2014 trade show season draws near, you'll be spending your hard earned money on travel, hotel, and food. Why not optimize your experience, time, and money?
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Be especially curious. Consider new product categories, vendors, floors and showrooms that you would normally overlook.
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Walk the trade show as a type of Speed Dating. Or call it Speed Sourcing. Ask manufacturers for an elevator speech about their product or company. Simply say,
"I'm curious. Please give me a 30-60 second elevator speech about your company or best-selling product." If you're intrigued, stay and learn more. If not, smile and say,"What a great concept! Thank you for your time!" And walk away.
Why? Because.
You don't know what you don't know.
You can't feel what you don't touch.
You can't be enchanted or changed by a story you won't listen to.
In an effort to get to the proverbial finish line and walk the entire trade show, take time to
discover and to be inspired by the extraordinary gems and people along the way. See
you at the shows!
Wishing you plenty of joy,
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.
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Quick Industry News
Trade Show News
"Whisper Up" - Under Stella's Umbrella's Popular "Whispers" Line Top 10,000 Units
ATLANTA, GA: November 25, 2013: "Whispers" from Under Stellas Umbrella will be featured at shows in Atlanta, Dallas and Las Vegas. The company shipped over $15,000 worth of orders of the popular new line in October alone and November was even better. The company has announced that it has topped 10,000 Whispers sold across the country and, at this pace expects to reach 20,000 units sold soon.
Under Stella's Umbrella will also be promoting Bellemonde as the go to gift line for men. Finding the perfect gift for him is NEVER an easy task. But USU offers premier luggage items for men of all ages; from the company's Dopp Kits, to its Rolling Duffels and briefcases.
The Grandparent Gift Co. Has New
Valentine's Day and Spring Gifts Ready to Ship Now.
Alpharetta, GA - Nov. 25, 2013: The Grandparent Gift Co. Inc. of Alpharetta, GA is unveiling their new logo and many new products for Valentine's Day and Spring sales now on their CameoEZ website and at the January 2014 Americasmart show January 9-13, 2014.
The Atlanta-based company is moving locations and can now be found in the General Gift Section on the 5th floor, Booth 3, 5-401. There they will showcase their current line and exciting new products to their growing customer base of general gift stores, hospitals, Hallmarks, baby stores, Christian stores and more. For Valentines' Day they will be showcasing two new lines of heart-shaped mirror gift lines and expanding their line of new glass Made in America glass hearts and crosses. New PS I Love You Frames and updates to their classic Heart Collection series will make great offerings for Valentine's Day gifts of love.
At their newly updated show booth, The Grandparent Gift Co. will be offering a variety of show specials pulled from their candy dish of great offers with any $200.00 order. As usual they will have a selection of nostalgia candies for weary buyers.
Sourcing International Giving Away Confetti Chains
Signal Hill, CA, November 25, 2013: The best things in life are free. With this old adage in mind, Sourcing International is giving away FREE Confetti Chains at our winter trade shows. Come see them in the Diverse Marketing Showrooms in Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis or Dallas, or catch them at any trade show and get a FREE Confetti Chain.
Confetti Chains are painted galvanized steel chains available in 16 colors. Mix-and-match two, three or even more colors to perfectly complement any outfit or style. This top-seller is available in a 48-piece assortment (3 each of 16 colors) at only $1.65 per piece ($79.20 per assortment).
Backyard Soaps Announces Sports Fan Collection
Port Huron, MI - Nov. 25, 2013: Backyard Soaps & More's motto is "Fun never smelled so good!" They offer simple "add on" gifts that put a smile on one's face and can turn a bad day into a great one instantly. Freshly scented, top premium ingredients, creatively designed and packaged are a few characteristics of a company that is a proud manufacturer of 100% American made specialty soaps.
This holiday season they're offering retailers a Sports Fan Collection that will knock their athletic socks off. The active collection includes football, basketball and baseball soaps, perfect for the sports aficionado. In addition they will be offering the hockey puck, soccer ball and golf ball soaps, which will satisfy the sports lover in your customers. Adding the flair of fun, they created holiday flip flop soaps for the seasonal traveler and of course a cookie cutter soap collection for the food lovers.
Their product line covers just about every holiday, season and special occasion with their cheery, colorful glycerin soap slices, creative detailed guest size soap collections and designer mosaic pillar and unique martini candles.
Join in on the fun and make your fans go crazy!
Transitions
About Face Designs Signs With OneCoast
Highland Park, IL - November 25, 2013: About Face Designs™ is excited to announce a new strategic initiative for 2014. Effective January 1st, all sales territories for About Face Designs will be represented nationally by One Coast. Company President Bob Ricciardi commented that "the new partnership with One Coast will enable the company to accelerate our consistent growth pattern by pursuing new markets through the professional and superbly managed One Coast sales team". About Face Designs was founded by Ricciardi in 1998 and has come to be known as a leading sentiment gift resource in the industry today.
New Wholesale Websites
These CAMEO EZ© websites are new (or have a new look) for December. Check them out!
Bridge Brands Chocolate just opened its brand new OmegaNet wholesale website. Bridge Brands Chocolate was created to provide chocolate lovers with gourmet-quality, superbly packaged chocolate at a non-gourmet price. Since debuting in 1999, the company's chocolates have become a favorite with San Francisco locals and visitors alike. The business is rapidly expanding beyond the shores of the Bay Area, thanks to the many visitors who brought BridgeBrands Chocolate tins home as souvenirs.
Long-time CAMEO EZ© client Magnolia Lane Collection has a brand new look. If you haven't been there recently, check out their college licensed Tailgating products, the "Deck the Halls" Christmas collection, Southern themed frames and plaques, sentimental wall hangings and more!
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Trinity Cross Collection has a new CAMEO EZ© site. The elegant design of the Trinity Cross comprises three separate pieces, each reminding us of the significance and power of the sacred "threes." Its central rope detail is meant to signify the strengthening nature of faith during those times when we need it most.
The Grandparent Gift Co. website just received a facelift. The Grandparent Gift Company sells baby gifts, ultrasound frames, ultrasound cards, ultrasound ornaments, grandma brag books, grandpa brag books, aunt brag books, christening gifts, baptism gifts, dedication gifts, christening gifts for godparents, gifts for great grandma, gifts for great grandmother, gifts for godmother, gifts for godfather, baby handprint frame and much, much more.
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Clarissa Tumblers provides custom tumblers to major brand manufacturers, and also provides 100's of unique exclusive tumbler designs to retailers and consumers, and is the proud supplier, for the second year in a row, of the 2013 Gift With Purchase holiday promotion tumbler for Costa del Mar Sunglasses, due out in select Costa del Mar retailers around the beginning of November. Check out the new OmegaNet / CAMEO EZ© site!
Veteran OmegaNet Client Fiddlers Elbow recently redesigned their site with a new look, but also with complete Mobile device compatibility. Visit them again to see the current line of varied screen-printed products and cloth toys, which appeal to art, pet, and nature lovers.
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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.
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