The Biz

We have all experienced firsthand that “fashion is fickle.” However, unlike most fleeting fads and trends, Victorian style has influenced fashion design for centuries, as the classic lines and exquisite details never grow old. Powell Craft emulates the style of the Victorian Era and provides a “time machine” in which retailers can import goods reminiscent of a bygone age of English cottages in the rose-scented countryside. Offering timeless elegance and beauty, Powell Craft’s Old World designs are here to stay!

“Making something from nothing” used to be just an expression that described someone’s creativity and ingenuity. In today’s age of environmental concerns and attention on “going green,” some businesses now literally make something from nothing, turning what most would consider trash into treasures. By reusing and re-purposing as much as possible, Shains, TerraCycle and Ecoist are a few companies that are turning the message of “tread lightly, use less and leave less” into innovative eco-business enterprises!

Over the past few years, Lori Riley, has taken her brand, Shoe Money, from a cottage industry working on a shoestring budget, to a shoe-in as one of the most “ahh”-inspiring collections of infant and children’s apparel and accessories on the market! Lori named her company “Shoe Money” after the ‘50’s housewives’ dollar-stretching expression, which referred to tucking away a few dollars to buy “I-want” items. In Lori’s case, she literally loved to buy shoes! When Lori left her teaching career to focus on being a mom, she quickly realized that she would need to get creative to make ends meet. Here, Lori shares her Behind The Brand tale of the trials and triumphs that gave her more than pocket change to keep herself well-heeled.