Tweet and Ye Shall Receive: Clothing Retailer Helps University Students Meet Philanthropic Goal

In the throes of a devastating nor'easter that brought historic snows to the area, a simple request on Twitter from a college student in Hamden, Connecticut, reached the owner of Source Clothing Company, a nearby women's discount boutique. The tweet was looking for a donation that would complete a service project to benefit people in communities devastated by natural disasters. This yelp for help using social media reached the right people and resulted in a deadline met against the odds.

Students at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut spent the month of October collecting jeans and other denim items for recycling. The goal was to collect 500 items by October 31, for donation to Cotton. From Blue to Green., a national program that recycles old denim, converts it into natural cotton fiber insulation, and donates the insulation to communities in need to assist with building or rebuilding efforts.

By October 30, the students had collected 420 denim items but were still shy of their 500-piece goal. That's when Ashley Benisatto, chapter president of Quinnipia women's jackets online c University's Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), jumped on Twitter and put the call out looking for the 80 pieces of denim that would complete their donation.

Scott Toth, the owner of Source Clothing Company in Cheshire, saw Ashley's tweet and responded immediately from his home in Florida. Ashley and Scott talked about how Source could help, then Scott asked his partner/store manager, Bill Procanik, and their employees to look for denim items that could be donated. That day, despite the historic snowstorm that knocked power out in Cheshire and throughout Connecticut, Source came through, donating the last 80 items that were needed to fulfill Quinnipiac's Cotton. From Blue to Green. goal.

Ready to celebrate their first anniversary, Source Clothing Company offers high end women's apparel, accessories and jewelry at discount pricing. Denim apparel is a major draw for Source customers, and the store carries products from Citizens for Humanity, Diesel, Joe's Jeans, Lucky Brand, Rekd Denim, Rock & Republic, Salt Works Denim, 7 for All Mankind, and True Religion among other brands. To solve Quinnipiac's emergency, store employees selected 80 pair of jeans that were not hot sellers and passed them along for a good cause.

"The timing on this donation is amazing," explains Procanik. "I don't think there are many people left in Connecticut who haven't personally experienced what it's like to be cold after this storm. And all of us at Source have friends who are temporarily homeless due to the power outages. In the midst of our own natural disaster, it feels great to help others in need."

About Source Clothing Company:
Locally owned and operated, Source Clothing Company offers high-end women's apparel, accessories and jewelry at discount prices in a modern boutique setting. The staff is trained to help customers find clothing that flatters their figure and fits their personal style regardless of their age or size.? ?The store is located at 187 Highland Avenue in Cheshire in the Stop & Shop plaza on Route 10. For more information, call (203) 272-8500, visit http://www.sourceclothingcompany.com or http://www.facebook.com/SourceClothing. Twitter handle @Source_Clothing.

For more information on Cotton. From Blue to Green., visit http://www.CottonFromBluetoGreen.com.

For more information on Quinnipiac University, visit http://www.quinnipiac.edu.

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San Francisco Fashion Boutique, Gigi + Rose Announces They Offer the Latest Collection of Deux Lux Bags and That Gigi + Rose is a Great Place to Buy a New Bag

Women looking for a great place to buy a new handbag should check out San Francisco fashion boutique, Gigi + Rose in Ghirardelli Square.

Gigi + Rose, a San Francisco women's clothing store carries an amazing selection of handbags both leather and vegan alternative. From coveted bags from Hobo and Orla Kiely they also offer the latest collection from Deux Lux, including their super glam new iPad case, beautiful Italian leather bags from Ellington Leather and glazed leather bags from Tano, available in amazing colors.

In addition, they also carry Matt & Nat's new biodegradable faux vegan line that is hip, stylish and eco-conscio women's jackets online us. Shiraleah also offers a stylish, faux vegan leather alternative that is easy on the pocketbook.

Gigi + Rose a one of a kind San Francisco fashion boutique with an ambiance that redefines "shopping for the kids" experience. Conveniently located in San Francisco's Ghirardelli Square, Gigi + Rose carries a tasteful selection of clothing and accessories for women and girls. They offer a unique collection of designer dresses and attractive women's clothing and stock fun accessories including tutus, dress up gowns, ballerina treasure and children's books.

"Think of Gigi + Rose as your new one-stop shop for hip, contemporary shopping for mom and an uber-pink experience for the little girls," says Kristina DePizzol, owner of Gigi + Rose.

For more information, contact Gigi + Rose at (415) 765-9060 or visit them online at http://www.gigiandrose.com. Gigi + Rose is located in Ghirardelli Square at 901 North Point #H103 San Francisco, CA 94109.

About Gigi + Rose
Gigi + Rose is a high-end San Francisco fashion boutique providing women's clothing, kids clothing and baby clothing, bags, accessories and more. Located in Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, the shop features collections ranging from the industry's finest baby gear to unique kids toys and fun accessories.

Gigi and Rose is part of Ghirardelli Square's movement to bring locals, and not just tourists, down to visit shops in the complex.

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Retail TouchPoints Announces First-Ever Customer Engagement Awards: Moosejaw, Foot Locker, Urban Outfitters Among Winners

Retail experts acknowledge that customer women's jackets engagement is the cornerstone of success in today's challenging retail environment, because shoppers are more empowered than ever and are demanding the right products at the right price, available when and where they desire.

"Retailers have been hard at work formulating and implementing unique and creative strategies to appeal to today's tech-savvy shoppers, and the Customer Engagement Awards honor those who have achieved outstanding success in today's challenging environment," said Debbie Hauss, Editor-in-Chief at Retail TouchPoints.

Through a nomination process, the winners were selected based on, but not limited to, four specific criteria:

*Unique shopping/promotional offerings
*Customer engagement strategies
*Customer analysis
*Technology innovation

The 2012 Winners List is as follows:                

• 8ta — mobile store, part of the South African brand Telkom (solution provider partner: One Digital Media)
• Casual Male Retail Group (CMRG) — specialty retailer of big-and-tall men's apparel (solution provider partner: QuantiSense)
• David's Bridal — specialty retailer of bridal and formal wear (solution provider partner: Manhattan Associates)
• Foot Locker — specialty retailer of footwear and sports apparel (solution provider partner: Epicor Retail)
• Hot Topic — specialty retailer of music- and pop culture-inspired fashion (nominated by: Impact Mobile)
• Inkjet Superstore — specialty retailer of printer and office supplies (solution provider partner: TurnTo Networks)
• Moosejaw — specialty retailer of outdoor clothing, apparel and gear (solution provider partner: Crossview)
• Rutter's Farm Stores — gas and convenience store retailer (solution provider partner: Gas Buddy)
• Tasti D-Lite — quick-service frozen dessert retailer (solution provider partner: Restaurant Pro Express)
• Urban Outfitters — specialty retailer of women's and men's urban apparel and accessories (solution provider partner: Starmount)

A complimentary copy of the 2012 Customer Engagement Awards Report in pdf form is available for download here.

RTP also presented certificates to several of the retail winners during the NRF 101st Annual Convention, January 15-17, 2012, in New York. To view the videos on TouchPoints TV, click here.

Retail TouchPoints is an online publishing network for retail executives, with content focused on optimizing the customer experience across all channels. The Retail TouchPoints network is comprised of a weekly newsletter, category-specific blogs, special reports, web seminars, exclusive benchmark research, and a content-rich web site featuring daily news updates and multi-media interviews at http://www.retailtouchpoints.com. The Retail TouchPoints team also interacts with social media communities via Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Hyena Cart Fund-Raising Auction Raises $33,000 for Popular DIY Blogger

After a three-day fund-raising auction on Hyena Cart, more than $33,000 was raised recently for popular artist and DIY blogger Ashley Hackshaw, who was diagnosed last fall with an aggressive form of cancer.

After discovering in November that she has Choriocarcinoma, Hackshaw began blogging about her experiences with surgery and chemotherapy on her wildly popular Lil Blue Boo crafting blog.

Soon after, more than 20 of her friends and followers from around the country banded together to organize and launch an online auction on Hyena Cart, with proceeds going to her rising medical bills.

The group of women, calling themselves Team Ashley, launched the auction last week on Hyena Cart, which houses more than 1,000 individually owned online stores offe women's jackets online ring a broad spectrum of products for the family.

Hackshaw is very well known among the DIY and crafting "set" and was named Babble's most creative Mominee. About 150,000 visitors per week read Hackshaw's blog, and she has more than 20,000 enthusiastic friends on Facebook.

Melanie Behles, of Goshen, Ind. and Wendy Russell, of Prosper, Tex., helped organize the auction along with the rest of Team Ashley, gathering about 250 donations from artists and companies all over the country.

Products in the auction included uplifting artwork, jewelry, children's clothing, dolls, toys and more. Hackshaw's favorite saying now is "choose joy," which Behles and Russell said was a theme among many of the donated items.

Behles said that some of the "hot ticket" items on the Hyena Cart auction included two passes to shop early at Matilda Jane's summer art fair sale (and receive 10 free items), a handmade Waldorf doll from Bamboletta dolls and a Choose Joy painting by artist Stephanie Corfee.

"Team Ashley could not be happier to be able to give such a great gift to the Hackshaw family on behalf of her internet fans and family," Behles said.

About Hyena Cart
Hyena Cart started as a shopping cart for Karen Lee's Kool Sheep Soakers. From there, it has grown to incorporate more than 1,000 active sellers offering a variety of natural products. Most of the sellers are moms, known as "mompreneurs," who operate their own online businesses using the Hyena Cart platform to facilitate online shopping. The most popular seller categories include cloth diapers, clothing, hand-knit items, hand-dyed yarn and toys.

For more information about Hyena Cart, visit http://www.hyenacart.com.

David Cameron Shows his Support for British Made Fashion and Manufacturing

Staff at a Derbyshire-based fashion company found themselves the unlikely stars of a party political broadcast when David Cameron made a surprise visit to the David Nieper factory in Alfreton, Derbyshire http://www.davidnieper.co.uk/

His visit followed the launch of his party's local election campaign with the 50 year-old family business becoming one of the settings for the filming of his party political broadcast, due to be aired Friday 20 April on ITV1 at 6.25pm and BBC1 at 6.55pm.

The broadcast, David Cameron on the campaign trail can be viewed online: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dxrJPx9fKk In the video, he says: "Here's a really good example of a family business that has kept in Britain, invested in Britain and expanded in Britain."

Spending over an hour touring the company's design studios and factory, and talking with staff, the Prime Minister pledged his backing to British fashion manufacturing with staff making the most of the opportunity to ask questions and give their views on what more should be done to help the economy and UK textiles trade.

David Cameron, said: "David Nieper is a brilliant manufacturer of clothing and I was very impressed by the design service they offer, the manufacturing, the selling – they do everything and all here in Derbyshire. It is a hard-working company and a great exa fashion jackets mple of the very best of Great British fashion manufacturing."

Staff were asked if they had any topical questions to ask the Prime Minister with subjects ranging from the retirement age and pensions to student loans and incapacity benefit.

Sheila Rhodes, seamstress, asked the Prime Minister on the video: "What are you going to do to try and get the textiles trade back in the UK". David Cameron responded: "We need to help fund more apprenticeships, so you can get young people into the business, we've got to keep the business taxes down so that businesses can put money in and expand ... and keep interest rates low."

Another one of the staff David Cameron spoke to during the visit was Charlotte Bryan, a graduate from The University of Lincoln with a BA Hons in Fashion Design. Charlotte joined the company full-time after winning a David Nieper Fashion Academy competition that included a paid internship as part of the prize. http://www.fashionacademy.org/

Charlotte Bryan, said: "The Prime Minister asked for my views on what it's like for graduates looking for jobs and what more could be done to help young people and graduates into work." She continues, "It really is hard and many of my friends are struggling to get work especially if they haven't got experience in a real-life working environment.

"It would be great if more could be done to support and encourage more companies like David Nieper to open their doors to graduates and young people to provide training and internships – it really is the best way to learn skills, on the job."

Christopher Nieper, managing director at David Nieper, concludes: "We welcomed the Prime Minister's visit, his interest and pledge to support British fashion manufacturing and to get the textiles trade back in the UK. Our company and 200+ staff is very much proof that fashion can and is still being made in the UK.

"Our family company has grown consistently because business is all about people, they are our capital. Investing in people with training and providing opportunities will ensure that 'Made in Britain' manufacturing will have a future and we welcome any support for this."

For more information on David Nieper or to arrange an interview, please contact Ellen Carroll on 0115 9932346 / 07790 631547, email: ellen(at)nelliepr(dot)co(dot)uk

NOTES TO EDITORS: ABOUT DAVID NIEPER

David Nieper is a designer and manufacturer of lingerie, nightwear and clothing for women – all made in England. Based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, the fashion house was founded in 1961 and is renowned for its use of the highest quality fabrics and the personal touch it achieves in delivering world-class customer service.

David Nieper:

•     Celebrated its Golden Anniversary in 2011
•     Employs more than 240 skilled people, including designers, garment cutters, seamstresses and dressmakers with decades of experience
•     Sells direct to customers throughout the UK and Europe, and through its own boutique in Alfreton
•     Is a family business, totally committed to UK manufacturing – all its collections are designed, manufactured and hand-finished in its UK headquarters in Derbyshire
•     David Nieper remains the company's Creative Director and his son, Christopher Nieper, has been the company's Managing Director for the past 15 years – responsible for the introduction of the systems and processes that underpin the delivery of a world-class service
•     Dedicated to developing and nurturing homegrown fashion talent – the company works closely with the local community, schools and colleges to foster relationships and fashion skills
•     Launching the David Nieper Fashion Academy in 2010 – providing vocational and business skills training for the fashion industry of the future. The Academy offers practical experience in a live commercial environment. There are very successful fashion manufacturers remaining in the UK and this helps to answer the fashion industry's SOS for skills.

For more information on David Nieper, visit http://www.davidnieper.co.uk
For more information on The David Nieper Fashion Academy, visit http://www.fashionacademy.org

Active for Troops and Walk for Troops Launch Today. Groups to Donate Goods to the Men and Women of the Military and Their Families starting this Memorial Day weekend.

Today Active for Troops and Walk for Troops, new locally-based organizations focused on providing support to military families, held its inaugural launch today appropriately coinciding with the Memorial Day holiday. Active for Troops provides a wide-selection of active wear to purchase wherein a portion of the proceeds go directly to the Active for Troops Foundation. Walk for Troops, is also a new organization that gives people a chance to gear up for their own personal support walk. Both organizations are solely focused on ensuring military men and women as well as local and national communities are supported in a creative way.

"You can't wait. Sometimes you just have to act, which is what we did and is why we started these organizations. We know American's understand the importance of supporting those that protect our freedom," said Marianne Yeager, founder of Active for Troops. "Now people can buy a great, quality product and feel good that portions of their purchase will go to an important cause. That's why we say 'Feel good, D women's jackets o good."

Active for Troops makes available active wear to purchase at very competitive prices. Each article of clothing has the company logo so people can proudly show their patriotism. And the products are just part of it, a portion of the proceeds of the purchase will be donated to either its Foundation. The Foundation will take the money and use to purchase items for military members and their families. "We believe that once people purchase and wear the products, they'll be hooked," said Mrs. Yeager.

Walk for Troops provides participants a unique and easy way to contribute to the effort. Simply visit the website to join the walking challenge and identify the person to support. When a person has walked a required number of miles, their miles can be used to gain free product from the Active for Troops web page. Cash out the points to send item to someone you are supporting, donate your points, or simply use the points on product for yourself.

About Active for Troops
Active for Troops is a Temecula-based company that provides high-end, quality active wear designed for the individual on the go. The company was the brainchild of Marianne Yeager, Andrea Van Hattem, and Julia de Vries in order to commemorate their grandfather's commitment to the country and particularly the men and women in uniform and their families. Portions of the proceeds are given to Active for Troops Foundation; thus the name, Active for Troops. Its motto is "Feel good, Do good." All products are available now and can be purchased on its website at http://www.activefortroops.com.

About Walk For Troops
Walk 4 Troops? is a social networking site dedicated to helping military families by becoming more active and healthy in their daily lives. It gives people another avenue of supporting our men and women in uniform by simply taking time to volunteer to walk to help. Through the use of a specially designed pedometer or smart phone application, one accumulates miles and uploads it directly to their account at http://www.walk4troops.com. Once the miles hit a certain level, their miles can be used to gain free product from the Active for Troops web page. Cash out the point to send item to someone you are supporting, donate your points, or simply use them for yourself. For more information visit http://www.walk4troops.com.

Media Contact: Robert Blodgett, robertblodgett(at)yahoo(dot)com or 619.823.4357.

PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com Unveils Its New Steampunk Costumes

The "Steampunk" genre is a sub-culture of fiction that is quickly gaining popularity. This is not only true about the world of literature, but also in the world of costuming for conventions. Given the unique and customizable aspect of the genre, many people enjoy creating their own Steampunk Costumes, complete with personalized gadgets. PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com is now providing costume makers and convention patrons with several garments that can be used in the construction of a personalized Steampunk costume.

What exactly is Steampunk? Steampunk is a genre that combines a Victorian era setting with various types of steam-powered machines. These gadgets can be for mundane tasks, such as a steam-powered hand tools, or can be as complex steam-powered airships that are a common a sight in the sky. It is not uncommon for a Steampunk setting to be an alternative version of history, which is why the Victorian era is such a popular choice for the genre. The Victorian era is also the same time in history when the Industrial Revolution was taking off. Since electricity was still in its infancy, most technology revolved around steam engines. This is why steam-powered gadgets are also so prevalent within the genre.

The Victorian Era also helps contribute to the fashion of the Steampunk genre. Victorian wear was comprised of elaborate dresses and corsets for the women, with stylish vests and long coats for the men. When combined with the gadgetry and scientific feel, costumes may include an airship pilot wearing aviator goggles along with a leather top hat. Another popular accent piece is Steampunk jewelry that takes the shapes of gears, keys, or other tools that tinkerers may use.

"It's one of the reasons why I think so many people are taking to the genre," says Pearson's Renaissance Shoppe owner Hailey Pearson, "You have so much flexibility, you can get really creative with your costumes." Another unique aspect of the Steampunk realm is that some fans actually create workin women's coats g gadgets to serve as accessories to their costumes that they can demonstrate while at conventions.

Therefore, fans of the Steampunk community will be excited to discover how quickly the genre is raising in popular culture. Steampunk enthusiasts wear costumes to Renaissance Faires, Steampunk Conventions, even the largest of all pop-culture events: Comic-Con. Don't be afraid to create a Steampunk costume to further interact with all of those patrons who are also enjoying the convention.

About PearsonsRenaissanceShoppe.com

PearsonsReanissanceShoppe.com prides itself on providing authentic and comfortable Renaissance Costumes, Pirate Outfits, and Steampunk Clothing to customers of all ages. They also carry a number of Steampunk accessories, Medieval footwear, Harry Potter Costumes, and LARP clothing. Learn more about and interact with Pearson's via their Facebook, Twitter, and Blog.