In October of 2001, I walked into William-Wayne & Co. in New York City with no appointment. I asked for the owner, was introduced to the co-owner, and suggested he build a website. The two owners, William and Wayne, agreed to discuss it further with me and we scheduled a meeting. Nine months later, William-wayne.com was born.
We’ve updated the website since then, but the fundamentals have stayed the same.
It all started with William & Wayne &...
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How Shop Local's software quickly populated the online store for a favorite Newton, PA retailer
March 29, 2024
We are pleased to announce that Home Tonic in historic Newton, Pennsylvania, has joined the Shop Local software platform to grow its online business. This home furnishings, accessories, gifts, and design shop is conveniently located between New York City and Philadelphia. They are a favorite of Bucks County residents and visitors.
Home Tonic saved $4,120 and 6 Weeks in labor on website product maintenance through the Shop Local platform. They have chosen Shop Local to expand their online ...
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Serve and bake casseroles, stews, lasagna, brownies, sweets, and confits with this 1-quart capacity Anchor Hocking casserole dish set inside a woven basket by Calaisio. It's a wonderful way to highlight your favorite dish in a rustic-elegant style. With its handwoven basket made of durable, organic, biodegradable and heat resistant exotic vines, your meal will look more appetizing and natural. Explore our selection of casserole dishes with matching baskets, which are perfect for table d&...
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Serve and bake casseroles, stews, lasagna, brownies, sweets, and confits with this 1-quart capacity Anchor Hocking casserole dish set inside a woven basket by Calaisio. It's a wonderful way to highlight your favorite dish in a rustic-elegant style. With its handwoven basket made of durable, organic, biodegradable and heat resistant exotic vines, your meal will look more appetizing and natural. Explore our selection of casserole dishes with matching baskets, which are perfect for table d&...
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How Amazon privatizes public spaces for its own profit
February 14, 2024
This is a daily sight on 8th St. in the East Village of New York City, a spot historically chockablock with indie, brick-and-mortar shops. This is an Amazon truck and freelancers who have taken over the street (it’s a no standing zone) and sidewalk as their own. This is one way Amazon sells things for less: it turns public streets and sidewalks into its “warehouses” and “stores.” Imagine you’re a local business with a roof and rent. You can’t compete ...
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Elegant black and white, a touch of red, and some neutrals like this rustic woven placemat will round off your Valentine's tablescape. It is a classic approach to evoke a sense of natural comfort and simplicity because it is made from exotic natural vines. Available in a set of 4.
This 1-quart capacity clear glass Anchor Hocking casserole dish presented in a woven basket by Calaisio is perfect for serving and baking casseroles, stews, lasagna, brownies, biscuits, desserts, and confits. It instantly dresses up your table with its comfortable, simple-grip handles made of strong, heat-resistant exotic vines. A beautiful rustic-elegant presentation of your favorite dishes. When you host meals with your family and friends, this cookware will look great!
Flowing and organic, the dynamic design of the THANNI Bloom Medium Bowl (Red and Gold) features rippling petal-like movement, creating a serving piece that combines beauty, artistry, and functionality. Designed in collaboration with Louisiana-based ceramicist Gretchen Murchison, the medium sized piece combines a red exterior color surface with a brilliant gold interior. The stunning color combination allows you to celebrate the Holiday Season in festive THANNI Collection style. This great medium...
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I recently saw a car with the license plate: WHYWRK. I had a sad feeling for the driver, who perhaps wasn’t as lucky as I to have the best job in the world – getting paid to shop for the most beautiful goods in the world – which I am now retiring from. After 40+ years as a buyer of tabletop and gifts in Buffalo, I have the opportunity to put the dishes away, polish the flatware, and store the stemware. As a small specialty store, we’ve been through our share of ups and ...
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It’s a 40th anniversary for the company founded by Colin Riggs (left) and Ned Voelker’s parents, Abigail and Ed Voelker. Over the last four decades, the entire family has created a curated collection of handmade tableware and giftware for the nation’s independent store retailers.
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Congratulations on a milestone 40th year in business. Are you surprised Abigails has endured? Ned Voelker: We are surprised. It’s a tribute to Ed and Abbie ...
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Embrace the spirit of simplicity and sustainability this holiday season with Festa Decorative Trees! Made from ecogres, a recycled clay, these trees are a beautiful testament to conscious living and eco-friendly decor.
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Embrace the season of warmth and elegance with Costa Nova's latest addition to the Luzia Collection! Introducing Luzia in Crimson, a color that embodies the perfect blend of sophisticated simplicity and casual charm at your holiday table.
How restaurants, hotels, and tableware brands are using loyalty programs--and what indie stores can learn from this.
October 11, 2023
Perk-y
I recently read about a new loyalty program and wondered what we could learn from it. The founder of Eater and Resy, Ben Leventhal, has started Blackbird, a loyalty program service designed for indie restaurants, reports The New York Times (Read the article). Using the Blackbird app, a diner receives a perk for eating at a restaurant. The retailer sets tiers for which the user qualifies for the perk. For example, a restaurant, Nat’s on Bank in New York City, gives tier 1 customers ...
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Amazon and third-party delivery services have setup a “warehouse” outside the Astor Place USPS office. This is not a truck parking for five minutes. This a day-long, everyday occurrence. I’ve seen this same scene on a daily basis all around the city for the last three years.
This hurts local retailers. While the local businesses pay extra taxes to operate a store in southern Manhattan, it costs Amazon much less to park a delivery truck (permanently?), put ...
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I see this situation all over the city. Amazon shipping companies are “warehousing” our public space. They put up cones and are permanently setup and conducting business. They use public space for private commercial use.
They’re like a pop-up store in a public parking spot. But unlike a physical store that is in a private building and pays commercial storefront taxes, these trucks don’t pay those retailer taxes. (Each year businesses in lower ...
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This 1-quart capacity clear glass Anchor Hocking casserole dish presented in a woven basket by @Calaisio is perfect for serving and baking casseroles, stews, lasagna, brownies, biscuits, desserts, and confits. It instantly dresses up your table with its comfortable, simple-grip handles made of strong, heat-resistant exotic vines. A beautiful rustic-elegant presentation of your favorite dishes. This kitchenware will impress your family and friends this holiday season.
In the field of astronomy, “nova” refers to a star that suddenly becomes thousands of times brighter and then gradually fades to its original intensity. In the realm of tableware, an ORGANIC PEARL Nova bowl from Beatriz Ball shines brightly always.
Rimmed in sparkling metallic beads, enhanced by richly organic surfaces--and some featuring flirty curves--ORGANIC PEARL Nova bowls embody good design ... with unmistakable Beatriz Ball flair.Equally at home with your casual dinnerware ...
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What universal standards can teach us about simplicity regarding e-commerce platforms.
September 25, 2023
When Apple launched its new iPhones this month, one of its most noteworthy updates was replacing its Lightning charging cable with a USB-C. This was not a voluntary move or extension of Steve Jobs’s love of simplicity. Apple changed it because the European Union required them to, according to Ben Cohen in The Wall St. Journal. Now, just about every mobile phone in the world (forget just little ol’ Europe) will have one charging solution (USB-C).