Klepto

When it comes to The Third Annual Runway for the Ballet, think Project Runway meets So You Think You Can Dance, but for a good cause. This event is a fashion and dance affair benefiting North Carolina Dance Theatre and will exclusively feature fashions from boutiques Black & Blue, eMartini, Scout and Molly’s, and ChezElle on the runway. Varied in with the fashion, excerpts from one of NC Dance Theatre’s signature performances, Innovative Works, will be showcased. This year is extra special due to the show only featuring smaller businesses, which provides exposure for them as it supports the NC Dance Theatre. In the words of the beloved (yet heavily accented) Heidi Klum: “You’re either in or you’re OUT.” For tickets or more information, visit www.runwayfortheballet.com/home.htm. $20-$65. 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Booth Playhouse, 130 N. Tryon St. 704-372-1000.

— Marian Drayton

Want to know more? Check out this video from last year’s Runway For Ballet.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

By Cheris Hodges

As the economy continues to slide into the crapper, some Charlotte residents, community leaders and entrepreneurs are working to keep the businesses in their communities afloat by initiating “shop local” campaigns.

The hope behind these initiatives is that neighbors will choose to spend cash close to home and buy what they can from shops in their own neighborhoods.

James Mathis, Historic South End director for Center City Partners, said it was about last fall when things started to get tight.

“Anyone who was paying attention knew that the economy was declining,” said Mathis. “I started to hear from my retailers down in South End that things were a little tight and there was less traffic. They were really looking to Thanksgiving and Christmas as being really vital to their year. That’s when we leaped into action.”

Mathis leapt and helped to launch the Web site www.discover-southend.com, which was designed to direct more people to South End-based businesses. The site hit the Internet a week before Thanksgiving in an effort to help shops in the neighborhood during the holiday shopping season.

“We created it in two weeks and [South End business owners] put their information on there,” he said. Take a visit to the Web destination now and you’ll see South End shops — including restaurants, clothing shops and art galleries — listed, along with the businesses hours of operation and directions.

Once it was constructed, www.discover-southend.com was promoted via ads in local magazines, banners on buildings in South End and through Center City Partners’ marketing department.

“In this economy, it was important. It’s one of those deals where in tight times you sort of tighten your straps and do what you have to do to survive and make through this bad economy,” said Mathis. “The feedback that I’ve received is that [residents and business owners] feel a camaraderie when they go and shop locally. They feel like if they are going to spend money that they would like to spend money with people who are going through the same things that they are.”

THREE'S COMPANY: South End business owners (l to r) Josh Frazier (Black Sheep), Johnathan Cuevas (Apostrophe Lounge) and Bobby Webster (Niche)

(more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

By Rhiannon Bowman

This morning, despite the icky weather, IKEA opened — 15 minutes early — after Mayor Pat McCrory and some of the company’s top officials sawed a log, a Swedish tradition meant to welcome new guests. The crowd entered the store, screaming, to applause; the lobby was packed with IKEA staffers, some dressed in Swedish garb, cheering, taking pictures and offering high fives to the store’s new customers.

Hundreds of Queen City residents waited in line, some for 12 hours or more, hoping they would be one of the first 100 through the door — those folks received a free IKEA chair. The first 2,500 through the door received a gift card, values ranged from 50 cents to $250. (Mine was $50, which is going to Twitter user @IKEA_Devotee. Even though she’s been pumping up Charlotte citizens about today’s opening for months, she wasn’t able to be there this morning.)

Most of the people in line said they were there for the experience, not necessarily to buy anything in particular. Though, several mentioned the store’s famous Swedish meatballs, available in the second floor cafe, one of the store’s two cafes, as a good-enough reason to stand in line in the freezing rain. (They are good.)

More pictures can be seen after the jump.

(more…)

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Circa, a trendy women’s boutique started by mother-daughter duo Shannon and Ashley in 2006, has all new merchandise on sale at 20 percent off. In addition, their sale items are priced at 50-75 percent off. The boutique has a selection of dresses, tops, sweaters, jackets and basics from brand names such as Kensie and Free People.

8145 Ardrey Kell Road, Suite 101
704-845-0433

— Jaclyn Letizia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Consignments On South has items on sale between 20-50 percent off, depending on the length of time they have been in the store. Items go on sale daily!

Consignments On South is a consignment store filled with old books, paintings, purses and antique furniture. It has multiple rooms with different themes, and is attached to the warehouse-size Sleepy Poet Antique Mall.

4450 South Blvd.
704-521-6632

— Jaclyn Letizia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Sunglass Charlotte, a sunglass emporium in Phillips Place, is currently running a sale for each section of the store, with 20 pairs per section at 30-50 percent off. The store carries 14 different brands from Oakley to Ray-Ban to Chanel. If you don’t see something you like, Sunglass Charlotte has a special order service that allows them to contact many major suppliers and get you the brand or style you want.

6809-C Philips Place Court
704-552-7861

— Jaclyn Letizia

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

With the economy slipping, we’ve all been suffering both directly and indirectly, having to make some changes like tightening budgets or even cutting down on things. We hear about big businesses struggling to stay up and running as an effect of the recent falls of the economy, but what about the little guys?

Creative Loafing took the time to see how some of the smaller local businesses have been doing during these tough times, and they too have had to adjust. City Supply, a furniture store in Charlotte, has been feeling the pressure of the inflation in our economy, and has had to put in a great effort to keep up.

“Sales are definitely very, very down,” said Robert Boyd, manager of City Supply. “It affected sales quite a bit. It hurt.” In fact, they’re only selling about half of what they did last year for the month of December. They haven’t raised any of their prices, but because the prices of gas were so high, prices went up on them for freights. City Supply has managed to stay afloat, but it’s been tough.

Some other businesses though, are luckier than others and are still prospering.

“I had to change my practices, like what I bring in, nothing really extreme though. I’ve managed to stay up but I’ve had to try harder,” said Scott Wifhart, manager of Lunchbox Records. Sales for Lunchbox Records have actually gone up compared to the year before, and although times are tough, he’s managed to keep things rolling.

Calls to some other locally owned spots, including Civilian in Phillips Place and Envy in Plaza Midwood, went unanswered. We’re hoping they were too busy with customers.

So the next time you drop in to your favorite little boutique, give ’em props for being able to stay open in such a dog-eat-dog business world.

— Robyn Banez

Bookmark It

Hide Sites