A retailer to know: Chicago's Walter E. Smithe

Crabtree & Evelyn restructures

An award-winning product: stylish pet gates

The most profitable malls in America

Green products made by prison labor

Twitter Chatter

Upcoming gift markets

A retailer to know

Walter E. Smithe is a family-owned and -operated furniture and accessories retailer with 13 showrooms in and around Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Brothers Walter, Tim and Mark Smithe are the fourth generation to manage the company. The men never take themselves too seriously in their television commercials. In Smithe's latest ad they speak French to promote the new Pierre Deux French Country collection.

"Since none of us speak French, we all memorized the dialogue phonetically," said Tim. "Walter and I decided to play a prank on youngest brother Mark. We had him memorize a line that he thought meant 'We are proud to introduce our Pierre Deux line.' But what he is really saying is, 'A clown just called me and said he wanted his tie back'." See this ad, and others, at http://www.smithe.com/videos.htm.

Companies in the news

On July 1, Crabtree & Evelyn Ltd. filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In a statement, the Woodstock, Conn.-based company said, "Day-to-day operations and business will continue to operate through the Company's wholesale, e-commerce (www.crabtree-evelyn.com) and retail channels. The Company also intends to honor customer gift cards, returns and its loyalty program."

It said other members of the group, including affiliates in Canada, the European Union, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia have not filed for protection.

Housewarps.com, founded by Marcia Adams, launched a website offering interior designers and consumers hand-woven textiles for the home. The online store carries products made by more than 20 artisan weavers from all over the United States. "The weavers who consign their pieces to us work out of their own home or studio," Adams said. "Some of the weavers raise the animals from which the fiber is harvested, and some spin and dye their own yarn."

Unity Marketing is about to study the consumer market for greeting cards, stationery and specialty paper products, such as those used for crafting and hobbies. "The goal of the research project is to help marketers understand the mindset of their current customers and find new opportunities in a changing market," said company president Pam Danziger. Companies wanting to sponsor the research should call Danziger at 717-336-1600 or contact her through the website.

Melrose International is offering merchandise discounts to retailers who enroll in The 3/50 Project.

New products

Freedom Gates, an Edwardsville, Ill., maker of high-style pet gates for use inside a home, won The Next Big Thing contest at the Dallas gift market. The frameless gates are made with durable clear-acrylic panels that feature a selection of unique, interchangeable art screens that "add a little something to a room," according to company founder Donna Potter.

Where America shops

Despite the economic news, retail is thriving at some malls in the United States, according to "America's Most Profitable Malls" in a recent issue in U.S. News & World Report. Among the shopping centers are:

Ala Moana, Honolulu (estimated occupancy rate: 95%; sales per square foot: $1,125)

Fashion Valley Mall, San Diego (99%; $810).

Forum Shops at Caesars, Las Vegas (100%; $1,400)

Westfield Garden State Plaza, Paramus, N.J. (95%; $702)

Mall at Millenia, Orlando, Fla. (94%; $1,000)

Check out the report for other top malls, and see the related article "America's Most Endangered Malls."

This story has it all

This home décor story has it all--It's set in Argentina. There's a green angle. And the products are made by a not-so-typical workforce. The website Earth911.com reports that women prisoners in Buenos Aires are producing gifts and home furnishings with recycled materials. The effort is sponsored by Satori Labs. The women make pencil cases from recycled Adidas shoes, a robot from cosmetics packaging and a lamp from recycled PET straps. The products are available through the Museum of Latin American Art.

Twitter chatter

The Chicago Market: Living and Giving and gift source burton + BURTON are participating in a raffle for users of Twitter. Prizes include an iTouch, iPod Nano and burton + Burton gift certificates. To enter, entrants must post a Tweet on Twitter.com that includes the hashtag #Chicago09 between July 6 and July 22. The market runs July 16 to 22.

The Reading List

Bob Negen of WhizBang! Training writes about the "Top 10 Tips To Make This Your Best Trade Show Ever" on the website of national rep group OneCoast. Bob also talks about how to run your business more effectively in a series of video tutorials here on the Gift and Home Channel.

Updates from the gift and home markets

To honor the late "King of Pop" Michael Jackson, Global Views went with a black-and-white theme in its Dallas showroom last Friday during the gift market there.

Calypso Studios will be giving away approximately 2,000 re-usable S.H.O.P. totes at summer gift shows, including Atlanta (in the Southern Link showroom), Chicago (DNA), Los Angeles (Newcombs), Philadelphia (booth 1100 and 1102) and New York (booth 1415 and 1417).

Capel Rugs is opening a showroom at Filbert & Fig in the L.A. Mart Design Center.

Upcoming gift markets: Atlanta (July 8 to 15), Los Angeles (July 14 to 20) and Chicago (July 16 to 22).

That's it for this week. Have a happy and profitable Fourth of July weekend.

Bye-bye and Buy-buy.

Jim Carper

Keep up with the latest in gift and home décor at my Gift and Home Today blog, where there is a new product every day.