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  1. News from Us
  2. News from Members
  3. Events
  4. Press
  5. Dollars & Sense
  6. Profile Stories
  7. Updates
  8. Training Calendar
  9. Training Videos
  10. Jobs
+ Bridge in the News - Bridge in the News

Amy Stavis: 44 News Posts

November 21, 2024 Saying I Do to the Registry by Jason Solarek
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Saying I Do to the Registry by Jason Solarek
November 21, 2024
Our e-commerce platform helps 1,500 indie stores sell $22 million a year. Perhaps surprising is that more than 90% of these orders are wedding registry gifts. Our stores offer tens of thousands of goods for sale online with the lion’s share being wedding gifts. Why are wedding registry sales 90% of online sales while non-gift orders account for just 10%? Because much of the non-gift registry cake is eaten by new entrants – brands selling direct and big tech retailers like Amazon, ...
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November 21, 2024 N.STYLE — Unique. Innovative. Experiental
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N.STYLE — Unique. Innovative. Experiental
November 21, 2024
Gary Harlan opened N.COLOR in 2001 in the tony enclave of Naples, FL known for its highpriced homes, white sand beaches, and golf courses.

Harlan recognized he could elevate the upscale salon experience for his loyal and well-heeled clientele by adding a home section where customers could shop while styling. N.HOME is a highly-curated pleasure palace of elite brands showcased in eye-catching displays.

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Gary Harlan has styled hair for 40 years. Raised...
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November 21, 2024 Cash Registering
Cash Registering
November 21, 2024
Last month, The New York Times ran a story on today’s most popular wedding registry item: a new house. It’s not breaking news to us in the tableware industry that scores of couples are asking guests for money to buy new homes, honeymoons, even fertility treatments and student loan payments, all in lieu of traditional registry gifts, notably tableware.

According to The Times, in 2024, a survey conducted by Zola revealed that 87% of couples included cash funds as an option on their ...
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October 10, 2024 Let's Lead Together by Jason Solarek
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Let's Lead Together by Jason Solarek
October 10, 2024
Money is tight for many indie retail shops. Owners often ask themselves: What brands and products should I invest in to get the best return for my business? We have an answer to this question. Welcome to the Leaderboard. In each issue through this new column, TOP OF THE CHARTS, I’ll be sharing with you the best performing wedding registry brands and products according to my company’s data. There’s something for brands and sales reps as well: we’ll be showing you the best ...
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October 10, 2024 Josephinenhütte
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Josephinenhütte
October 10, 2024
It speaks volumes that the first line acquired by Maison3Amis after the purchase of DeVine Corp., a three-decade distributor of luxe European tableware, was Josephinenhütte, the five-year-old German-based maker of lightweight, thin-walled stemware and accessories. The Maison3Amis team (hereafter known as M3A) is helmed by two one-time Baccarat execs, Jim Shreve and Sally Burnside, who appreciate a nonpareil drinking glass, and Mark Brashear, who quickly recognized the allure of the brand. &...
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October 10, 2024 Spotlight Pattern: Costa Nova Marrakesh
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Spotlight Pattern: Costa Nova Marrakesh
October 10, 2024
Costa Nova’s Marrakesh was designed by famed French florist Christian Tortu, inspired by Yves Saint Laurent’s Les Jardins de Majorelle, the couturier’s botanical garden in Marrakesh that features the warm tones of sandy walls, vibrant spice colors found in bustling markets, and the rich hues of traditional fabrics, a collection with a keen eye to sustainability and Moroccan mystique.
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This isn't Christian Tortu's first collection for ...
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October 10, 2024 The More Things Change
The More Things Change
October 10, 2024
This issue marks my 40th year chronicling the tableware industry, the last 28 as the founder and editor of Tableware Today. Spend four decades in an industry and you see change: sometimes sweeping (lifestyle shifts/consolidations/e-commerce); sometimes specific (Covid/less entertaining at home/rising costs). On the other hand, four decades is just a blip in the life of many tableware producers. Our industry, really, is a contradiction in so many ways: a heritage category that must remain fresh, ...
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July 31, 2024 CHECK YOUR PLATES by JASON SOLAREK
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CHECK YOUR PLATES by JASON SOLAREK
July 31, 2024
The Wall Street Journal recently shared how the used car market has improved in the last 20 years because much of it is now conducted online. When car buyers use the web, they’re more likely to save money (about 2%) and dealers can, in theory, make more with dynamic pricing (about 2%) thereby giving each party a win. Unlike 20 years ago, when we didn’t have smartphones, today 95% of used car purchases start online. While 31% of used car purchases were completely in-person, ...
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July 31, 2024 Spotlight Pattern: Orrefors - 40 Years of Ornaments
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Spotlight Pattern: Orrefors - 40 Years of Ornaments
July 31, 2024
This year marks the 40th annual Orrefors Ornament, which began with the 1984 Dove, left. “That iconic inaugural piece set the tone for the collection, emphasizing quality and traditional holiday themes,” says Emon Maasho, CEO. “The ornament continues to be a cherished tradition, with collectors eagerly awaiting each new release. From classic holiday motifs to modern innovations, the series offers something for everyone, making it a lasting part of the holiday season.” ...
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July 31, 2024 EENY, MEENY, MINY, MOE
EENY, MEENY, MINY, MOE
July 31, 2024
I was working on scheduling a late summer mini-vacation so I carved out an afternoon for the planning. There were so many factors to consider (where? when? how long?) on top of juggling all of us coming from different parts of the U.S. The options were staggering and required so much screen time I was just about ready to give up. When did the world at our fingertips become a negative?

I got to thinking about the astronomical number of options Americans have in every aspect of life. I’ll...
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May 29, 2024 THE POWER OF BRAND BUILDING by KAREN OLSON
THE POWER OF BRAND BUILDING by KAREN OLSON
May 29, 2024
Brand strategy is one of the most powerful initiatives an organization can undergo. It’s an opportunity to evolve a company’s mission and value proposition based on current and future customer needs with the result being a purpose-led, customer-centric road map to create enhanced value for customers. ANDMORE recently completed this process as we rebranded from International Market Centers (IMC) last year. ANDMORE is more than just a new name and logo, it’s a framework for how ...
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May 29, 2024 A Bicentennial Bounty
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A Bicentennial Bounty
May 29, 2024
A BICENTENNIAL BIRTHDAY REPRESENTS REMARKABLE LONGEVITY AND VISTA ALEGRE IS TAKING FULL ADVANTAGE of it with dozens of new pieces created specifically to commemorate the 200 anos occasion. “It’s a very important milestone and a time of reflection to see how far we’ve come and where we want to go,” says Daniel Silva, who helped bring the brand new luster here since he started the American subsidiary in 2012. Nuno Barra, Vista Alegre product development director and board ...
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May 29, 2024 THE SWIFT GENERATION
THE SWIFT GENERATION
May 29, 2024
I’m going to presume you know Taylor Swift, the pop superstar with widespread public appeal and a vast fan base, who has influenced not only the music industry, but popular culture, politics, and economics. Her recent $5 billion Eras tour had a fiscal impact greater than 50 countries. The Taylor Swift economy has reached every town in America, measured in national retail sales figures, global inflation, and municipal economic bumps where concerts were held. The Swift microeconomy reaches ...
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March 27, 2024 RETAIL RELATIONSHIPS by MICHELLE HSIAO
RETAIL RELATIONSHIPS by MICHELLE HSIAO
March 27, 2024
Many years ago, as a new assistant at Lord & Taylor, the buyer cautioned me to not get too attached to people or merchandise. His wisdom was not cold-hearted, but a cautionary tale to keep emotional attachments in check. I was there to deliver strong financial results and if something wasn’t selling, I shouldn’t harp on it, but mark it down and move on. And, as far as work relationships were concerned, I should be a good coworker but not get attached to colleagues.

All these ...
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March 27, 2024 Tableware Today Interview - Jim Shreve, Tim DeVine, Mark Brashear, & Sally Burnside
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Tableware Today Interview - Jim Shreve, Tim DeVine, Mark Brashear, & Sally Burnside
March 27, 2024
Jim Shreve made Baccarat hip. Now, he and his longtime partner, Mark Brashear, along with Sally Burnside, the former Baccarat sales V.P., intend to do the same for DeVine Corp., the 32-year-old distributor of elite European brands. You're invited to the opening!
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Congrats to you all. This is very exciting. Tim, we’ve known each other since before you started DeVine Corp., 32 years ago. You’ve been looking for the right opportunity to retire.
TIM ...
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March 27, 2024 Mikasa - French + Italian Countryside
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Mikasa - French + Italian Countryside
March 27, 2024
MIKASA’s powerhouse COUNTRYSIDE franchise continues its domination decades after their launches. Tapping into the zeitgeist of the times, the patterns’ staying power is testament to compelling classic design, line extensions, and passionate fans.
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IT’S BEEN 50 YEARS SINCE MIKASA’s FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE DEBUTED, the perfect panacea to a formal-dominated dinnerware domain. The scalloped, edged, and curved creamware provided the ideal ...
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March 27, 2024 ANNIVERSARY WISHES
ANNIVERSARY WISHES
March 27, 2024
A McKinsey study found that the average life span of companies listed on the S&P 500 was 61 years in 1958; today, it’s less than 18 years. McKinsey believes that by 2027, 75% of S&P 500 companies will have disappeared. New businesses have an 81% chance of surviving their first year; in two years, a little less than 70% of businesses are still standing. Only 25% make it to 15 years or more. There’s a clear long-term trend of declining corporate longevity, with this figure ...
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January 29, 2024 Curating Cutlery by Debbie Riley
Curating Cutlery by Debbie Riley
January 29, 2024
I often describe flatware as jewelry for the table, the accent that gives table settings a special flair.
Of course, unlike jewelry, flatware is essential. Used everyday, whether to savor a quick snack or enjoy a thoughtfully prepared meal, you put a spoon or fork in your mouth more often throughout the day than your toothbrush. For nearly two decades, I have worked in the metals division at Lifetime Brands, so I fully understand that choosing flatware relies on many factors. Our team has done ...
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January 29, 2024 Spotlight Pattern: Mepra Fantasia
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Spotlight Pattern: Mepra Fantasia
January 29, 2024
It’s hard to believe that MEPRA’s sophisticated technicolor collection FANTASIA is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year because its incandescent chromatic complexion is as fresh today as its 1989 debut.
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The brilliantly-hued fantasia comes from the Italian silversmiths Mepra, post-war business founded in 1947 by the Prandelli family, four generations fashioning flatware in the industrial Lumezzane Valley, about 90 minutes east of Milan. ...
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January 29, 2024 Towle Way
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Towle Way
January 29, 2024
Designer Don Estabrooks just may have the most compelling flatware portfolio ever. The longtime Towle Silversmiths designer joined the company in the mid-’60s and has created hundreds of flatware patterns in an almost six-decade (and counting) tenure.

Perhaps his greatest achievement is Wave, which debuted in 2004 to rousing fanfare and has been at the top of the charts ever since. Chris Wile, another longstanding staffer (33 years), is president of Lifetime Brands/Metals (which owns ...
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Press: Shop Local & Bridge in the News
Shop Local Helps Indie Stores Rank on Page 1 of Google in 62% of States
Shop Local Helps Indie Stores Rank on Page 1 of Google in 62% of States
December 2024

Tableware Today Column: Saying I Do To Registries
Tableware Today Column: Saying I Do To Registries
November 2024

Tableware Today: New Leaderboard Column from Shop Local
Tableware Today: New Leaderboard Column from Shop Local
August 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Florida Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Florida Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
April 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Tennessee Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Tennessee Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
April 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Louisiana Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Louisiana Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
April 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Delaware Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Delaware Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
April 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Pennsylvania Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants in Pennsylvania Get Google Sales Leads 🔍
March 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants Get Sales Leads in Mississippi
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants Get Sales Leads in Mississippi
March 2024

Shop Local Merchants Are 60% of Google Page 1 Results in South Carolina
Shop Local Merchants Are 60% of Google Page 1 Results in South Carolina
March 2024

Shop Local Merchants Are 50% of Google Page 1 Results in Georgia
Shop Local Merchants Are 50% of Google Page 1 Results in Georgia
March 2024

Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants Get More Sales Leads than Big-Box Stores Using Google
Shop Local Helps Indie Merchants Get More Sales Leads than Big-Box Stores Using Google
February 2024

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