The Biz: Feature Articles

Turkish towels have long been a staple in the most well-appointed homes and hotels. Turkey’s long history of loom-woven textiles, combined with its history of luxurious bath houses make it the perfect birthplace for towels that are soft, absorbent, and beautiful. The best-known type of Turkish towel, the pestemel, was a favorite that, along with other towel styles, made its way from the baths of Istanbul to the bathrooms of millions of Americans in the last century. Today, the Turkish textile legacy carries on to the next generation in towels, clothing and other materials made by Little Ashkim.

Finding an inviting place to get away from it all can be as close as one’s back yard – if that back yard comes equipped with hammocks where you can read and relax. La Siesta not only provides this luxury for adults, but has a line for children and babies as well. These quality products are sustainably made with only the finest materials. Hammocks for children may be just the unusual, novelty item your customers would love to see in your store.

It should come as no surprise that more and more vendors are implementing MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) policies as a way of protecting their brand’s image and encouraging retailers to present their products in clean, comfortable and professional environments where customers can view and touch the items, see demonstrations, personally interact with knowledgeable employees, and receive superior customer service. But what some vendors do not realize is that by merely implementing a MAP policy, without doing anything to make sure retailers comply with it, they may completely fail to achieve these goals.

America is such a diverse country with so many points of view and traditions to draw on, it’s almost impossible to pin down one look and label it “American Style”. While we don’t have one standard look, we do have a set of ideals we’re known for, and these can be seen in the products we wear and use. Our love for wide open spaces is apparent in western wear like you’ll find at Cuddlestar. Our innovation is seen in the “Why didn’t I think of that?” simplicity of the The Little Lasso. Our respect for the innocence and beauty of childhood shines through in fashions from companies like Malley & Co. and A Little Annafaith.