The Biz: Feature Articles

Lately I’ve been allowing my sweet tooth to make more and more of my eating decisions. Cupcakes in particular are a personal favorite. And clearly I’m not alone. The cupcake business continues to boom with new bakeshops popping up on every street corner. We certainly don’t need them to survive, so why are we consuming them at such a high rate? Obviously we’re addicted to the sugar rush, but there’s more to it. It seems the bakery industry has developed the perfect recipe for cooking up demand. And it’s time for other industries — ours included — to take note. Because let’s face it, no one needs anything brands are selling.

Andrea Sherr finds being a mother of three kids under age 10 means she’s outsmarted on a daily basis — a relatable feeling for any parent left speechless at what comes out of the mouths of babes. Last year, Sherr began compiling “kiddisms” from her own children and others on her website www.heardontheplayground.com. At first, it was simply a labor of love, with Sherr working late into the night reading and laughing. Other than selling some T-shirts with the quotes, she didn’t have a long-term revenue strategy. Then she decided to turn it into a book called Heard on the Playground – Funny Things Kids Say.

Gift giving can be pure joy… or a perplexing problem. There are always people on a giver’s list that simply seem to have everything or defy any specific option. Customers seek gifts that go beyond the traditional to something that clearly expresses the gifter’s caring and thoughtfulness. Having an exemplary gift selection in your store saves customers time, stress, and money; the bonus is that they remember your shop and become regulars. Ideal gift solutions can be found from Elegant Baby, The Grandparent Gift Co., and Tumbleweed Wholesale.

In a time when outsourcing is common, it’s a valuable point of differentiation to find companies that produce quality merchandise in the U.S.A. For expertly crafted, handmade children’s clothing that’s made to order; darling hats, headbands and other accessories that are hand stitched with love; and diaper bags and totes that are stylish as well as functional, consider this trio of brands all under the Gracious May corporate banner: Gracious May, Snugars and Bushka.