New gift shows in 2006

Michigan Association of Gift Salespeople (MAGS) will no longer be holding its monthly shows at the Michigan Gift Mart in Northville. However, the new year will offer numerous gift shows, including several new ones. These shows are wholesale only, with credentials required for admittance.

• Great Lakes Market Show (new)
January 7-9
Rock Financial Center, Novi

• Chicago Gift & Home Market
January 18-25
Merchandise Mart, Chicago

• Lansing Gift Show (new)
March 5-7
Lansing Center, Lansing

• Creative Shows Annual Gift Show
April 22-24
North Central Michigan College, Petoskey
(new location—formerly in Traverse City)

• Northern Michigan Gift Show
April 23-25
Boyne Highlands Resort, Harbor Springs

Tom and Linda Dufelmeier, co-owners of Mackerel Sky Gallery of Contemporary Craft, were honored by the East Lansing City Council “for their commitment to the East Lansing community, its downtown and art lovers everywhere during their 15 years of business.”

This year, Mackerel Sky Gallery was again named one of the Top 100 Retailers of American Craft in the country at an awards ceremony in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. More than 18,000 professional craft artists throughout the U.S. and Canada nominated over 700 galleries, retail stores and museum shops.

Mackerel Sky Gallery has been voted into the Top 100 Retailers of American Craft for each of the 11 years the honor has been awarded, and it’s the only Michigan gallery to have received the honor each year.

Theresa Wren, owner of Kean’s Store in Mason, has opened a second location, Kean’s Etc., in Eastwood Town Center, Lansing Township. The new location will offer the top 50 best-selling items from the Mason store, with the goal of motivating people to visit the original location.

Country Gifts & More in Monroe has moved from Monroe Street to Telegraph Road and changed its name to Gifts & More to reflect its current merchandise selections. The new location, not far from the former downtown location, is larger and better situated for drawing new customers.

Imagination Station, an educational toy store in Fenton, moved from Silver Lake Village to N. Leroy Street in June, prompted by lower rent and the chance to be farther from the large discount retailers near its old location.

Ideation, Inc. of Ann Arbor, a catalog company serving independent gift retailers, has successfully moved its Chelsea store, Dayspring Gifts, from downtown to a new commercial area about a mile south on M-52. The new store, which is smaller, “has an updated look and is better organized, making it easier for shoppers to find what they are looking for,” said owner Tom Ungrodt.

Powers Clothing, a family-owned menswear retailer in Hart, has closed shop after 95 years in business. The closure leaves a gaping hole in the center of Hart’s downtown and residents without a local clothing store, said owner Dennis Powers.

Mervyn’s is closing its 15 Michigan locations by February 2006. The California-based retailer plans to eliminate 62 stores nationwide. The closings will mean the loss of 1,100 jobs in Michigan.

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