Penny auctions are relatively new to the world; however, they are declining almost as quickly as they have gained popularity. This has proven to be mind boggling to the traditional business guru; however, this article will clearly show the reasons why this new method of shopping has such “rollercoaster” chart movements and how one company (WinnersMountain.com) is looking to capitalize on the volatility of this market.

Starting less than five years ago, mega companies such as Swoopo, Haggle, and Beezid have created revolutionary empires in the “shopping world.” They have mixed excitement with the natural human urge to get great deals and pay the least amount possible for brand new items. This unique combo has created a new system yet to be seen in the twenty-first century.

These sites attract millions of “shoppers” every month. Their users log in, pay for bids, and try to win big items for insane deals. We aren’t talking about 25-50% off retail price, we are talking 75-95% off!

Although it seems to be a hit, studies show it’s a dying market. The reason is because the odds of winning are ridiculous. Each auction only allows for one winner. It doesn’t matter if ten people are bidding on an Apple Ipad, or one hundred. There will only be one winner. This puts the odds of winning at 1/10 or 1/100. With those odds, it’s almost easier to get hit by a car and win a million dollars in a lawsuit! With Penny Auction sites, “losers” literally lose all of the money that they spent on bids.

Because of the “gambling” like atmosphere, shoppers are naturally drawn to these auction sites. But with the horrible odds in place, they are quickly turned off to auctions sites once they lose their money.

A new site called WinnersMountain.com is looking to change that by offering the world’s first free penny auction site. No longer will shoppers have to feel the pain of losing their money. Why? Because they will no longer have to fork over their money to enjoy the excitement that “entertainment shopping” has to offer.

WinnersMountain.com has created a system in which users can still shop and bid on fantastic prizes for free. With a hurting economy, it is expected that this new system of free penny auctions will take off.

WinnersMountain.com has replaced the dreaded system of having to pay for bids with a new friendly system of getting free bids in the following four free ways.

First, users get 100 free bids just for registering. Secondly, every week WinnersMountain.com reloads their users with 25 more bids for free. Thirdly, for each person that a user refers, they get 10 more free bids. Lastly, WinnersMountain.com offers weekly contest that allows users to win more bids.

“Losers” will no longer be out money when playing at Winners Mountain. It’s a free service that Winners Mountain hopes to bless others with by giving away free prizes to its winners.

Training Your Fine Jewelry:

The first thing you should do is to give your fine cheap jewelry its own little space for when it is not being worn and train it to stay there. Jewelry items do not live or party well together. Much of the damage, other than wear, that is done to jewelry happens in jewelry boxes. Stones scratch each other and the metals around them. Chains get caught in tangles that almost always cause some sort of damage.

Cleaning Your Fine Jewelry:

The best way to clean your fine discount jewelry is with a soft (used) toothbrush and a mild dish detergent. If the pieces are very dirty, you can soak them in detergent and water. Do not use harsh cleaners such as chlorine bleach or ammonia. It is not advisable to use toothpaste either. Many contain a mild abrasive, which will remove some metal and cause a dull finish. Any competent jeweler can polish items on occasion, but this process also removes small amounts of metal and so should be used sparingly.

Checking Prongs & Stones:

If the stone moves in the setting, put it in some kind of small bag or container and take it to your nearest qualified cheap costume jewelry. The small bag prevents loss of the stone should it fall out. Loose stones are also more easily chipped or broken. Another good indicator of a loose prong is if the piece gets caught in clothing or hair by a prong.

Checking for Wear and Tear:

Over time, gold and silver will wear down. This can happen over months or years. This can be a problem for people who do certain kinds of work. The solution to this type of problem is the use of heavier metal in the prongs, the use of platinum for the setting or the use of a bezel setting to secure the stone. Prongs should be checked occasionally and if thin they should be replaced. The bands on rings can also become quite thin and eventually need replacing. The thinner the band to begin with the faster this will happen.

If you give your cheap fashion jewelry a little care and check it periodically for wear and overall condition, it will give you many years to a lifetime of joy. A competent jeweler can recondition most pieces so long as the damage hasn’t been allowed to go too far.

The bulk of the jewelry market skews towards women. There remain men in the world – geeks and stubborn classicists alike — whose idea of major league bling is a Timex watch. Most women, however, will at least wear a discrete necklace or broach. And, in a lot of ways, diamonds have never stopped being, to paraphrase the old song, a female’s best friend. Zircons and now moissanite may not be as close pals, but are still well liked acquaintances of women of all ages.

Such matter as deals, closeouts,China wholesale jewelry suppliers, and the like, may change from year to year and month to month, but jewelry is never going away.

Nowdays fine jewelry has become the fashion and become the focus of the elegant women.Modern fine jewellery usually includes gold jewelry, white gold, platinum,diamond jewelry, palladium, titanium or silver jewelry. Fine jewelry is what it is all about when it comes to jewelry.  However, what does the phrase ‘fine jewellery’ actually mean?  Well, fine jewelry is jewelry that is great, fantastic,elegant, nice to look at, fitting with the person that is wearing it.  To be honest fine jewelry can be just about any type of fashion jewelry as long as a person is happy with it.The fine jewelry is just for yourself.

After all, the function of wearing fine jewelry is make a person feel happy.  That is because jewelry is the type of item that can really cheer people up.It does this because every individual item of fine jewelry is small, cute and lovely and nearly all the items when polished can really sparkle too.  Obviously when a person puts on this sparkly jewelry they will feel really happy about it and can go out and about and feel like they are worth a million dollars!So actually the value of the fine jewelry is not the sole factor that why so many people love them.

Wedding Jewelry can be bought in many different shops right up and down the high street.  Customers tend to have their favourites but there are only really a couple of jewelry shops which sell ‘fine jewelry’.  There is of course the internet too, and customers can find their fine jewelry items on the internet too.  The internet is a very easy place to shop cheap jewelry for consumers as they can compare one item of jewelry against another, and then compare the two on different points including price points, brand reputability, likely customer service they are going to get from the retailer and how easy it is to navigate around the website as un uncomfortable journey through purchase can make a customer very unhappy.

Fine jewelry found on the Internet is plentiful for selling online or purchasing as a gift for that special someone. Most wholesale jewelry manufactures will ship anywhere and many have no minimum purchase. It is possible to choose from a large variety of wholesale gold jewelry and other magnificent items. Some of the variety includes various gemstones such as amber, emerald, garnet, jade, ruby, sapphire, and diamonds, among others. Types of pieces available include bracelets, earrings, rings, necklaces, pendants,  and charms.

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4word Systems, Inc. is proud to present the brand new website redesign for AAA Logowear of Livonia, MI.  AAA Logowear has paired with 4word Systems, Inc. who has more than delivered, by creating a more professional and clean look for their website.  AAA Logowear, a leader in the embroidery industry, has a goal of making your business look its best by providing professional active wear.  From collared shirts and polos, to jackets and fleece for men, women, and children, AAA Logowear has everyone covered.

For over 5 years, AAA Logowear has provided beautifully embroidered clothing and accessories for Southern Michigan businesses and companies.  They offer a wide variety of clothing for men, women, and youth, as well as, accessories ranging from blankets to backpacks and more!  Their items each come in a variety of colors so that you can match them directly to your logo or image.

4word Systems, Inc. has redesigned and built a completely new ecommerce website that showcases each item clearly and utilizes the online purchasing feature.  Customers of AAA Logowear can now choose their items and upload their own personal logo directly on the site, making the embroidery process much easier for the customer and the team at AAA Logowear alike.

4word Systems, Inc. has developed a variety of unique internet solutions for clients from all corners of the business world.   From specializing in ecommerce website construction and business consulting, to internet marketing and productivity results, 4word Systems, Inc. can stand securely by their product.  The professional and educated staff is dedicated to working hard to get a return on your business investment.   4word Systems, Inc. brings together systems, people, and technology to create an individualized and user-friendly internet solution.  4word Systems, Inc. is confident in their product and guarantees you the most up to date and innovative internet solutions.

Visit AAA Logowear at http://www.aaalogowear.com

Visit 4word Systems at http://www.4wordsystems.com

Balloons Childrenswear kicked off their new season ranges with Catimini. They “are launching the chromatic revolution! So they can live life in… Technicolor” according to Catimini’s own press release. Balloons, who provide one of the widest on line offers of the French children’s label, said “the response from customers over the first few days has been fantastic. It’s been our best ever launch with a very high uptake”.

When Balloons Childrenswear attended the buying session last year they were excited about the design and story lines, “we were excited when we bought it, but the real test is obviously whether our customer agree and only a few days in we’re seeing the orders come thick and fast”. Balloons said that Catimini has a very discerning customer following. At the start of each season we see customers come in who want to secure an entire range, but this years early response is significantly higher than any other season.

This seasons trends are 70′s Hippie inspired, the bohemian version. A tumble of tiers, patchwork florals, printed cashmere, fringes and long petticoats. Clean and vivid at the same time, trendy and sport chic, standard rules are turned on their head. Stripes, repeated text and pictograms are coming to give clothes form. Outdoor festival bringing the worlds of pop, rock and electro together. Outdoor festival is the urban nomad look with hybrid clothes, a re-coloured army jacket and amplified ‘cover’ volumes. African remix, a mixture of city and ethnic rules, a fusion of chic and nomad, an urban look crossbred to create the African remix trend. They are daring to put the boubou print onto structured shapes and decorative panels onto T-shirts. Art and fashion mix together. Prints take hold of master paintings to revisit them, outfits are woken up by the fluorescent and the flashy. Tachism and paint brush effects intermix to make each piece a work of art.

Catimini have supported the launch via their promotional catalogue images combining the models with clever graphics and use of vivid background colors.

Nottingham based Balloons, provide Catimini for both boys and girls from Newborn to 12 years. They tend to launch on line for pre-orders a few of weeks before the stock arrives and can be put into the shop.

Monterey, June 1, 2008 — evolve108 announced today that it plans to open the first eco chic boutique in Monterey.

The new store is scheduled to officially launch on August 8, but will be open for special previews and designer discoveries starting later in June.

Managing Partner Desiree Cromwell said, “evolve108 is the first 100% eco friendly shop in the Monterey, Carmel, Pebble Beach and surrounding communities. We will be introducing beautiful organic and recycled products — designer clothing, accessories, and gifts for personal and home uses…with a host of items exclusive to our area.”

“I expect that many visitors to our store will be excited, even surprised with the extraordinary level of style and conscious creativity that is now available using eco friendly materials, ingredients and processes. Our local area is one of the most beautiful spots in the world, and the home of so many generous and conscious individuals. We deserve to have a cool place like evolve108 to champion the modern fusion of green and gorgeous.”

The store is located at 108 Webster Street in Monterey, near the Post Office on Hartnell Street.

To learn about preview days and times or gala store opening events to be held on 08.08.08, go to http://evolve108.com and get on their email list.

Contact: Tina Mansfield
Phone: 281 852-6042
Cell Phone: 281 782-4041
Email: info@string-ring.com

A MOM CREATES A POSITIVE RESPONSE TO BULLYING

The new trend in cyber bullying, various campus rampages and threats, and teen suicides have rattled the nerves of parents across the country. Tina Mansfield, a mom and graphic designer living in Kingwood Texas, decided to use her skills to respond to an increasingly egocentric, mean and competitive environment among our youth. She has designed a ring called String-Ring — The Kindness Reminder.

The attractive sterling silver ring is designed to be threaded with interchangeable colored strings and is inspired by the old custom of tying a string around your finger to remember something, in this case … kindness. Each ring comes with a set of 10 strings, each color representing a particular act of kindness.

“Worn as inspirational jewelry, the ring is designed to help us remember kindness, consideration and respect towards others” says String-Ring creator, Tina Mansfield. “I believe by simply reminding people of their innate desire to be kind, we can ease social pressure, bullying and acts of retaliation. Kindness is something we should emphasize and teach to our children through our words and own actions.”

Tina has donated the first 100 String-Rings to The Rachel’s Challenge Project. Rachel was the first victim of the Columbine school shooting in 1999 and her father, Darrell Scott, travels the globe speaking to high-school students at assemblies in the hope of promoting kindness and tolerance.

According to String-Ring owner, “As the new trend begins in enlightened business, the corporate world recognizes that the time is right for a change in the way we view the world — our attitudes and directions, especially in our schools. The need to move towards unity instead of separateness is imperative. By wearing a String-Ring, people will join our growing kindness community and will share in a uniting message that each one of us is a member of a community and therefore have inherent responsibilities, such as acknowledging that our actions have consequences.”

“We are in the process of creating a kindness blog. Here, kids can share their own acts of kindness”

String-ring was designed by Tina Mansfield, a graphic designer and mother, who was concerned with a noticeable lack of respect and kindness between co-workers, children and adults, and between peers. In addition to being a very attractive piece of jewelry, a String-Ring reminds us to slow down and treat our neighbors with respect and kindness.

If you’d like more information about this topic, please email Tina Mansfield at info@string.ring.com or log on to String-Ring.com

Candy Company Offers
Healthier Alternatives
of Childhood Favorites

Parents concerned about sugar-laden sweets loaded with artificial additives now have a healthier alternative. Pure Fun™ Confections makes a full line of candy that is certified organic, low glycemic, fair trade, certified kosher and vegan. Its product line includes childhood classics as lollipops, candy canes, cotton candy and hard candy.

Realizing that you can’t stop kids from eating candy, especially around the holidays, an increasing number of parents are opting for buying candy made with healthier ingredients. Much of this candy is organic since, for many consumers, organic products carry a halo of quality assurance. The market for organic candy is booming, with sales this past year of non-chocolate candy up 8.4% versus flat sales for conventional candy, according to Candy Industry Magazine. The selection of candy ingredients is also drawing scrutiny. There is also growing concern over the use of artificial colors and flavors, ingredients that have been linked to hyperactivity and allergies in children and adults. Large confectionery companies are scrambling to reformulate their products with natural ingredients. Anxious to control diabetes, sweet lovers are flocking to low glycemic candies, whose sales jumped 5000% this past year, according to the market research firm Nielsen.

“By making candy that is organic, low glycemic, fair trade and made with natural ingredients, Pure Fun is right on target with many of the major trends affecting the confectionery industry today,” says confectionery industry analyst Curtis Vreeland.

Packed with Healthy Ingredients
Pure Fun candies use natural colors derived from red beets, alfalfa extract, turmeric and red cabbage. They are sweetened primarily with organic brown rice syrup — a low glycemic sweetener — and organic evaporated cane juice that retains the minerals and nutrients and not to be confused with processd sugars which remove the benefits included by nature. They contain no gluten, casein, preservatives, fat, pesticides or GMOs. In an era of questionable overseas manufacturing practices, these candies are made in Canada and the U.S. with ingredients sourced from reputable fair trade suppliers.

“Our candies contain all the goodness of all-natural ingredients and none of the bad stuff, the ‘badditives.’ They’re better for you, plain and simple,” explains company founder Luna Roth. “This is Better for You Candy® made the way our grandparents enjoyed it, before the advent of artificial ingredients. We’re recognized for the ingredients we don’t include in our candy”. The candies have such kid-friendly names as Loony Lemon, Wacky Watermelon and Giddy Green Apple.

The Pure Fun Story
Founded in 2006, Pure Fun’s mission is to produce “better for you candies”. In September 2007 the company was profiled by the Food Network’s Unwrapped. Ms Roth was nominated for the 2007 JoAnna Townsend Award honoring Canadian women entrepreneurs involved in international trade.

In addition to her leadership position at Pure Fun™, Ms. Roth sits on the board of B’nai Brith Canada, League for Human Rights, Altzheimer’s Toronto, Toronto Food Incubator, Pediatric Palliative Care Advisory Council, Organic Trade Association Advisory Council, and holds a special interest in Starlight Starbright Children’s Charities, medical and allergy associations.
Luna also invests time providing mentorship to students at Rotman and Schulic School of Business and is sought out for speaking engagements to women’s groups, Agri Canada, Canadian Manufacturers association and consulting firms to small business. She is well known for encouraging women to utilize their diversity and bring confidence to the creativity and abilities that women have to offer in the business world.

Recognized by Food Industry Canada as a “Top 100 Food Company”
Gear Awards 2007 Winner
iParenting Award 2007 Winner

Product Availability
Pure Fun candies are available from a wide array of natural and conventional supermarkets, including specialty retailers, Whole Foods, Sobeys, Shaw’s, Planet Organic, Stop and Shop, Giant and Albertson’s; or online at www.wellnessgrocer.com, www.veganessentials.com , www.amazon.com .

For media inquiries:
Luna Roth
416-927-7544
purefun@purefun.ca
www.organiccandy.com

For purchasing inquiries:

USA
Allan Becker
201-327-2993
allan@purefun.ca

CANADA
Colin Desmeules
(519) 571-1406
colin@purefun.ca

INTERNATIONAL
Export manager
export@purefun.ca

You’ve never tasted candy that is so delicious. Pure Fun™ was founded in 2006 by Luna Roth with a team of highly committed, professional, talented and like minded partners and associates who are committed to research and development, microbiology, manufacturing, and excellence of customer service. Pure Fun Confections offers an unusually wide choice of candy items for a healthy, ethical lifestyle. They make organic, natural, eco-friendly candy products that will satisfy your sweet tooth without any chemicals or additives!

The company is located at 490 Midwest Road in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada with distribution capabilities throughout Canada, U.S.A., U.K., Europe, Australia, Israel, and Asian markets. They work with state of the art QA labs, maintain in-house R & D, and hold many certifications including organic and kosher. Pure Fun™’s comprehensive range includes organic, kosher and vegan candies made primarily from brown rice syrup organic cane juice for the wellbeing of children and adults. The lollipops, candy canes and hard candies are made in Canada or the U.S. under strict supervision of organic certification bodies. All candies are Gluten Free, Casein Free, Free of artificial colours or flavors and taste delicious.

Find Pure Fun™ at http://www.organiccandy.com/products.html Manufactured with only Certified Organic ingredients, “better for you candy®” is made just the way our grandparents enjoyed it…. candy that was made before FD&C colors, pesticides, BHT, synthetics, artificial flavors, refined sugar and genetic modification were invented. Pure Fun ™ candy is manufactured under Fair Trade conditions in Canada and the U.S.A. and does NOT take advantage of cheap labor from underdeveloped countries.

Since scientists now suggest that what we eat is absorbed into our bodies, there is growing concern that the use of synthetically produced chemicals in candy products could pose a threat to our health. While people are becoming increasingly health conscious and keen to adopt a more ethical lifestyle, the safety of such products is therefore emerging as a main consideration. Children and adults love to eat candy According to Allergy Kids’ medical board, one of out of every three children now has allergies, asthma, ADHD or autism, affecting 20 million children. Allergies now affect approximately 20% of all children, having increased by 400% in the last twenty years. Over this same period of time, ADHD has increased by 400% and asthma has increased by 300%, with a 56% increase in the number of asthma deaths So what has changed? …Additives & Preservatives… The Mayo Clinic reports dry mouth is common among older adults. Mouth dryness may be due in part to the effects of aging. As you get older, your salivary glands may secrete less saliva. Thirst and your perception of thirst also may change. Thirst receptors in your brain become less responsive to your body’s need for fluids. For this reason, older adults are at increased risk of dehydration. A common, reversible cause of dry mouth is a side effect of medication. Methods to reduce mouth dryness include sucking on a candy. Pure Fun™ Premium candies contain no additives or preservatives and will help stimulate production of saliva. Consequently, there is a rising demand for candies that are based on organic ingredients such as fruit and vegetable extracts, rather than chemicals and synthetic recipes. Pure Fun™ ’s low GI (Glycemic Index), Certified Organic Brown Rice Syrup is one of the best alternatives to tame the roller coaster ride of your blood-sugar levels while continuing to pamper your sweet tooth. These are organic natural sweeteners produced by steeping brown rice with a special enzyme preparation. Following this method the broken whole grains or brown rice are converted into a smooth-flavored and pleasantly sweet liquid extract. Organic Brown Rice Syrup is quite healthy and mild with a buttery flavor and delicate sweetness, which makes it an ideal choice for making Pure Fun™ Organic candy. The nutritional values and derived benefits of Certified Organic Brown Rice Syrup lay hidden in its main ingredient, the brown rice. Brown rice is simply white rice that still has the bran intact and thus becomes a much better source of fiber. Besides the fiber found in the brown rice, the bran contains nutrients like magnesium, manganese, and zinc. All these healthy advantages of organic brown rice are transferred and reflected in it’s by products, Brown Rice Syrup being one of them. Generally a healthy helping of organic Brown Rice Syrup consists of approximately 50% soluble complex carbohydrates, 45% maltose and 3% glucose. However in sharp contrast with regular sugar or tapioca, the glucose in Brown Rice Syrup is absorbed easily into our system, leaving lesser provision for fat accumulation. The company believes in zero tolerance for pesticides, synthetic chemicals, cyanide derivatives, preservatives, trans-fats, and dyes! They use only the finest non-allergenic organic ingredients, organic and natural colors and flavors derived from non-genetically modified fruit and vegetables to satisfy restrictive diets and a healthy lifestyle. All raw material suppliers are encouraged to establish fair trade practices and guarantee only the finest ingredients are used to make Pure Fun™ candy. Unless ingredients are scrutinized in an informed way, ‘natural’ or ‘organic’ labels can currently be misleading, because pseudo-natural and organic products (including many found in Health Food Shops) may also contain ingredients with a known risk to health. As an example, in the United States, The U.S. Department of Health Agency for Toxic Substances Substances. (ATSDR) http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts8.html names Cassava as the primary source ingredient for manufacturing of Tapioca. It is a plant that contains high levels of cyanide. The FDA provides for a maximum tolerance allowed in food but do they take into consideration whether it’s a 300 pound male or 30 pound child that will be consuming it, nor do they consider the accumulated amounts that may be consumed.
For this reason Pure Fun™ strives to provide clear, up-to-date information and resources about ingredients, health issues, and widely used chemicals that are best avoided.

All products manufactured by Pure Fun™ are carefully researched to ensure that they contain only substances that are proven safe. Pure Fun™ is well known for the ingredients they don’t put into their “better for you candy®”.The low GI (Glycemic Index) of Certified Organic Brown Rice Syrup is one of the best alternatives to tame the roller coaster ride of your blood-sugar levels while continuing to pamper your sweet tooth. These are organic natural sweeteners produced by steeping brown rice with a special enzyme preparation. Following this method the broken whole grains or brown rice are converted into a smooth-flavored and pleasantly sweet liquid extract. Organic Brown Rice Syrup is quite healthy and mild with a buttery flavor and delicate sweetness, which makes it an ideal choice for making Pure Fun™ Organic candy. The nutrition values and derived benefits of Certified Organic Brown Rice Syrup lay hidden in its main ingredient, the brown rice. Brown rice is simply white rice that still has the bran intact and thus becomes a much better source of fiber. Besides the fiber found in the brown rice, the bran contains nutrients like magnesium, manganese, and zinc. All these healthy advantages of organic brown rice are transferred and reflected in its bi-products, Brown Rice Syrup being one of them. Generally a healthy helping of organic Brown Rice Syrup consists of approximately 50% soluble complex carbohydrates, 45% maltose and 3% glucose. However in sharp contrast with regular sugar or tapioca, the glucose in Brown Rice Syrup is absorbed easily into our system, leaving lesser provision for fat accumulation.

Particularly positive feedback has been received from allergy sufferers, and people with Gluten and Lactose intolerances. Likewise, as awareness increases about the added vulnerability of children, parents are especially keen on Pure Fun™ candies. Pure Fun™ “better for you candy®” is recommended by allergy groups as an excellent alternative to conventional candy.

FICTION: CANDY CAUSES TOOTH DECAY

FACT: The acids that cause tooth cavity are produced by specific types of bacteria (mutans streptococci and lactobacilli) that live in dental plaque. When we consume foods and beverages, we create waste products. Bacteria do the same thing. The bacteria that cause tooth decay utilize foods containing glucose, sucrose, fructose, lactose, or cooked starches as their food source. The waste products created from digesting these sugars are the acids that cause the demineralization of tooth enamel and dentin. Since the bacteria that live in our mouth eat when we do, as we ingest foods which contain sugars such as soda, milk, fruits and vegetables and candy these bacteria get a meal too. Tooth decay can usually be prevented with proper oral hygiene

FICTION: CANDY CAUSES OBESITY

FACT: Gluttony – overeating of high-fat or refined sugary foods is the primary cause of obesity.The type of foods eaten play an important role in the rise of obesity. Researchers continue to discover more metabolic and digestive disorders resulting from overconsumption of trans-fats and refined white flour carbohydrates, combined with low fiber intake. These eating patterns are known to interfere with food and energy metabolism in the body, and cause excessive fat storage. Obesity can usually be prevented with proper portion controlled eating habits According to annual report in “New Nutrition Business” The Key Trends in Kids’ Nutrition for 2008 are: The mainstreaming of “free-from” and “all-natural”–Organic provides the answer; immunity and digestion–Brown rice syrup the excellent solution; healthy snacking–Consumers are making educated choices in indulgence foods; spotlight of overweight blame needs to refocus to portion control while enjoying special treats– PURE FUN™ PROVIDES THE POSITIVE SOLUTION.

Pure Fun™ has a large selection of candy including lollipops, candy canes and hard candy in a variety of flavors like goji berry, pomegranate, and green apple, and is well known for manufacturing organic candy for a healthy, environmentally-friendly lifestyle. All ingredients are certified as safe. Focus is given to up-to-date information about potentially harmful substances in mainstream products, alongside a variety of green issues. Please visit Pure Fun™ online for more information at http://www.organiccandy.com

Contact:

Luna Roth

luna@purefun.ca

Owned and operated by Dan and Lily Harris, Our Lady Catholic Gifts announced the launch of their online Catholic gift and collectibles website, www.ourladycatholicgifts.com to showcase their divinely inspired Catholic statues from the Philippines. Lily, who is originally from the Philippines, immigrated to the United States in 1980 and became an American citizen in 1987. Proud of her heritage, Lily wanted to find a way to showcase not only the beautiful artistry that comes from the Philippines, but she also wanted to be able to showcase the talent of her niece Sally, and Sally’s husband Gough, who are the artisans behind these hand-crafted and hand-painted statues.

Lily explains, “About a year and a half ago, the statue company that Sally and Gough worked for closed their doors leaving Sally and Gough unemployed with no way to support their growing family. With over 25 years of combined experience and having developed a reputation among their customers as skilled craftsmen, Sally and Gough acquired the statue molds and opened their own statue shop.”

Fortunately they did. The statues that Sally and Gough produce are second to none. Each statue is inspected after being removed from the mold. Once sanded and finished, the statue is inspected again before painting. Each statue is then meticulously hand painted down to the finest detail and inspected again before shipping. Dan says, “Until now, Sally and Gough’s statues have only been available in the Philippines. We wanted to do something for our family in the Philippines, so we decided to open up Our Lady Catholic Gifts to share these beautifully crafted statues. We are hopeful that others will see what wonderful pieces of Catholic art these statues are. We hope to not only help out our niece and her family, but we also want to share the beauty of these statues beyond the Philippines.”

In addition to their Catholic statues from the Philippines, Our Lady Catholic Gifts has found additional unique gifts and collectibles from around the world. Some of their other unique gifts include hand made Rosaries from Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus and Christianity, Ladder Rosaries from Italy, Holy water from the Jordan River and Holy Earth from Bethlehem. They also offer assorted other gifts and collectibles for anniversaries, baptisms, first communions, weddings and more. For more information, Our Lady Catholic Gifts website can be found at www.OurLadyCatholicGifts.com

Toronto, CANADA Retail Merchandising Takes a New Approach.

The manual is geared for the smaller retailer and is
affordable for any organization. Merchandising for many
small retailers has been a secondary consideration. Today however, a well designed merchandise plan is critical in today’s hypercompetitive marketplace.

Retailers must plan their merchandising in a strategic
manner that makes time starved customers feel comfortable in the stores and easy to understand. Many customers are so time starved that the time they spend is very limited when shopping.

“They need to get in, navigate the store and understand
it quickly..” advises Ron Pawlowski, managing partner of
The Retail Institute. “Beyond that, the [merchandise] plan must induce a buying decision and motivate the customer to buy multiple items”.

Merchandise plans must be well thought out so that they
make the store easy to understand, shop and generate
increased multiple sales and portray the brand of the retailer. Merchandising when properly presented can express a branding message of selection, price, convenience or a combination of all three.

Developing a plan should start with setting a list of objectives. These should include expressing a brand message, laying out the store into different zones that promote new merchandise as well as sale/promotional goods and finally staple items. Using plan-o-gram software can create an effective merchandise plan at low cost that can also be changed every two weeks at low cost.

Today, merchandise plans must also be measured against
financial parameters, in order to truly measure their
effectiveness.

“Sales per square foot, zone performance, sell through
rates and merchandise turns per year are just some of
the metrics that contemporary retailers must scrutinize on a monthly basis.” added Pawlowski.

Merchandise planning has become far more structured than random placement of goods for the smaller retailer. A good manual, plan-o-grams and measurement tools are critical to maximise sales, cashflow in inventory turns as overheads increase and margins get thinner.

Contact:

Ron Pawlowski
The Retail Institute
Toronto Canada
905 778 1234
ronp@retailinstitute.ca
www.retailinstitute.ca

Attention Online Shoppers:

Ecrater Merchants Want You!

If you’re looking for great deals on quality items — things that you spend precious time bidding on at online auctions sites — visit the Ecrater Shopping site. There are over 1,000,000 items for sale on Ecrater.

Ecrater sellers offer a wide range of merchandise — From antiques to automobiles and everything in between. Definitely something for everyone!

What makes Ecrater a great place to shop?

• Ecrater is a 100% free marketplace. This makes it a great place for buyers and sellers, since we are able to pass the savings on to our customers.

• Ecrater has an attractive storefront setup that is easy to navigate and allows you to search the entire site or your favorite store. After your purchase you can leave feedback to thank your seller for their service.

• The merchants at Ecrater are experienced sellers. Many have migrated from auction venues and offer the same products that you have to wait to bid on elsewhere.

• Shopping on Ecrater is safe. Google Checkout and Paypal are available options for sellers. Many also accept checks and money orders.

• Ecrater offers its members helpful forums to trade tips and ask questions.

• Moderators on Ecrater do a great job of keeping the site free of fakes, scams and objectionable items.

So, visit http://www.ecrater.com/ and join in the excitement of shopping on a really great site!

I’m one of the Ecrater store owners and you can find me at

http://pennsylvania-antiques.ecrater.com/

Nuts For You a Preston, ID corporation has announced a big change in their pricing structure. Prices have been reduced an average of 30% across the board on all nut product offered by the company. The move was spurred by the company’s desire to become a premier player in the snack and salty foods market.

“We took a hard look at the economy and realized that consumers are really struggling right now with energy, food, and other living expenses” said Nuts For You President Randy Taylor. “We just don’t think that consumers should have to pay more for their nut product as well, and this move insures we now offer the lowest nut prices both on the Internet as well as retail outlets. We think once people realize that we have the highest quality product available at the lowest prices anywhere and that we offer exceptional customer service as well that customers will return time and time again”

The company has pledged to ship all orders received by 2:00 Mountan Time the very same business day, and to email each customer with a tracking number so that they can track their orders easily.

Nuts For You was founded in January 1997 and recently celebrated their 11th aniversary. They currently ship tens of thousands of pounds of nut product to customers all over the United States. Find our more by going to www.NutsForYou.net There, you can sign to receive notification of their weekly specials for high quality nut product as low as $3.99 per lb.