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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
News Furniture Row's 1st full-service store coming to Carolinas
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Looks like IKEA's getting some company soon.
Furniture retailer Furniture Row expects to build a 70,000-square-foot store starting early this year in Belgate, a mixed-used project in the University City area, according to the developer, Crescent Resources.The project includes giant home-furnishings retailer IKEA, which opened a 356,000-square-foot store in early 2009. Belgate is planned to ultimately include an additional 400,000 square feet of stores, two hotels and two apartment communities. Site work is under way for a Pantry convenience store.
It would be Furniture Row's first full-service store in the Carolinas. The Denver-based retailer has an outlet center off Independence Avenue.
Read the rest of this Charlotte Observer story here.
News How did local shops fare during the holidays?
Posted By Web Editor on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Nationally, the holiday shopping season was a lot better in 2009 than the previous year.
According to Reuters, "SpendingPulse, a unit of MasterCard Advisors, showed retail sales rose 3.6 percent in the period from Nov. 1 through Christmas Eve on Dec. 24."
Comparatively, in 2008, spending fell 2.3 percent as tracked by SpendingPulse and 2.8 percent as tracked by the National Retail Federation, as the financial crisis led consumers to cut back, Reuters reported.
Though the rise in spending across the nation seems to point to an economic recovery, what's going on in Charlotte's retail backyard?
The city's economic landscape is still reeling from banker layoffs and an unemployment rate in the double digits. But some local retailers said the holiday season gave them reason to hope for a better year.
Busy is how Julie PageSmith, owner of Cottage Chic -- a lifestyle store that offers furniture, personalized jewelry and many other things in between -- describes the holiday shopping at her store.
Read the rest of this story here.
Events Upcoming: 'Vintage to Vogue' event
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 10:56 AM
Samples and accessories will be up to 75% off. RSVP by calling 704-348-1774.
Events Tonight: Charlotte STYLE Magazine January Fashion & Style Industry Mixer
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 10:48 AM
From the folks at Charlotte STYLE Magazine:
Start your year off right by mixing and mingling with Charlotte's Fashion & Style Industry insiders. You don't want to miss Bella Ropa's fashion viewing, showcasing chic Charlotte looks. Potion will also be on hand to demonstrate beauty tips for the new year.
Also, we'll introduce you to one of Charlotte's up and coming local designers Hannalei Taylor, who was recently selected to participate in Charleston Fashion Week's Emerging Designer Contest. Former CFW contestants have been featured on Project Runway!
Where: Urbana - Birkdale
16836 Birkdale Commons Parkway
Huntersville, NC USA
When: January 12, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Click HERE to RSVP.
Sales / Sale of the Day Sale of the day: Handpicked
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 10:31 AM
It's time for Handpicked's semi-annual "Pink Tag" sale. Save 50 percent on select sterling silver and stone, fun fashion jewelry, and accessories during their winter clearance event.
1721 Kenilworth Ave.
704.334.2037
8040 Providence Rd., Suite 600
704.541.1431
9844-A Rea Road
704.405.9780
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sales / Sale of the Day Sale of the day: Black & Blue
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Mon, Jan 11, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Head out to Black & Blue for 20% off all regular priced clothing (excluding jeans)! Plus enjoy up to 50% off winter merchandise AND the $99 jeans sale is still in progress.
720 Governor Morrison St # 180
704-366-9339
Friday, January 8, 2010
Features / Events Step into Keaton's Cupboard for 'going-out' clothing
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 5:24 PM
Over in the Area 15 section of NoDa, there's a little shop next door to Moazen's Jewelry that calls for your attention. Keaton's Cupboard is a tiny boutique that specializes in men's and women's going out clothing and church attire. Owner Keaton Wells says his target audience is the 20-40 crowd, perhaps those who go to the club; he caters to those who are shopping for the "grown and sexy look." His goal is to show people how to intertwine "classy church gear and casual gear" to come up with fresh looks.
Keaton's Cupboard has been in its current location for about two months now, but Wells has been in business for seven years. The grand opening event for the shop wil be on Feb. 12 with a fashion show held at Area 15. At the event, Wells will debut the spring line as well as show the audience how to turn work clothes into "going out on the town" wear. The all-black affair (wear all black!) starts at 7 p.m. for a networking hour and the fashion show starts at 8 p.m.
Keaton's Cupboard is located at 512 E. 15th St., and Wells can be reached at 704-222-9157. Visit www.keatons-cupboard.com for more info.
News Lady Gaga is new creative director for Polaroid
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 4:23 PM
Even though she looks crazy as hell, Lady Gaga talks about her new job as creative director of Polaroid in this video. Remember Polaroid? Yeah ...
According to Guardian: "Despite the fact that the traditional analogue Polaroid cameras were discontinued last year, the company continues to sell a range of digital products and sees Lady Gaga as the ideal spokesperson for a 'specialty line.'"
Sales / Sale of the Day Sale of the day: Paul Simon
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Fri, Jan 8, 2010 at 10:35 AM
Take 40 percent off during their winter clearance.
Paul Simon for Women
1033 Providence Road
704-333-6139
To see who else is having a winter sale (it's quite a few places), check out the Scoop Charlotte site.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
News Obama promotes outdoorwear Weatherproof?
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Thu, Jan 7, 2010 at 11:37 AM
No, but a billboard in Time Square using his image says he does.
When President Obama was on his trip to China back in November, he was photographed wearing a Weatherproof jacket. Weatherproof president Freddie Stollmack saw the photograph and decided to utilize it for their ad campaign — without seeking permission from the White House. Ooooohhhh....
The White House said Wednesday that it will ask Weatherproof to remove the billboard because the ad misleads by suggesting it was approved by Obama or the White House, which has a long-standing policy disapproving of the use of Obama's name and likeness for commercial purposes.The ad has potential to be effective with consumers because the president and first lady both carry considerable fashion credibility, said Dudley Blossom, chairman of the marketing department at fashion-focused Lim College in Manhattan. But it also risks passers-by getting so caught up with the image that they won't notice the brand name, he said.
Read the rest of the story here.
