Retailers across the country are yanking shoes, toys, Valentine’s gifts and other children’s goods from shelves to comply with a strict lead law that took effect Tuesday.
The repercussions of the hotly debated Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which bans the sale of children’s products containing dangerous amounts of lead and chemicals called phthalates, began rippling through the industry as manufacturers realized the law wasn’t going away…. More info
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The L.A. Boat Show opened on a high note considering the challenging economic times. On the whole, exhibitors reported more interest that far exceeded expectations.
“We’re happy and making sales at the show,” commented Scott Driesbach, Advantage Boats COO with factory headquarters in Lake Havasu City, AZ. “It’s been a long six months, but after this Saturday and Sunday, we’re feeling much better about what 2009 holds in store. We closed several deals the first day and the introduction of our new 34 XFlight model created a lot of consumer buzz and plenty of quality leads that we’ll be following up in the weeks and months ahead.”
“This was pretty much the sentiment expressed by the majority of exhibitors at the show,” said SCMA Executive Director, Dave Geoffroy. “What was very encouraging…Â More info
The slowing economy is having an effect even among the wealthiest residents of Hawaii, and the private clubs that cater to them.
Membership is down at some of Oahu’s major private clubs, while others are seeing their rosters remain stagnant in the economic recession.
While some have cut fees and delayed major improvement projects, others are putting faith in longtime strategies to ride out the recession.
Real estate and business consultant Stephany Sofos dropped a membership at the Honolulu Club, one of two private club memberships she has held for 28 years. “As I saw the recession coming, I wasn’t using it and it was a luxury I didn’t need to have; I wanted to cut my expenses,” she said. “I walk every day in a park now, which is free.” …Â More info
Kia ora! Greetings from Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud, a/k/a New Zealand. Much as Polynesian voyagers traveled several thousand miles north to Hawaii from the Marquesas and Tahiti, they also navigated south across the vast Pacific to the three major islands of New Zealand: Te Ika a MÄui (“the fish of Maui,” or the North Island), Te Waka a MÄui (“the canoe of Maui,” or the South Island) and tiny Te Punga a MÄui (“the anchor of Maui,” or Stewart Island).
The MÄori (as it’s spelled now) of New Zealand also call the South Island Te Wai Pounamu, “water of the greenstone,” for its prized jade, and you’ll sometimes see “Te Ika O Maui” and “Te Waka O Maui” and other variants … but that’s not what really matters to those with an interest in Hawaiiana. It’s the fact that this is the same Maui who figures in so many Hawaiian legends and lent his name to the Valley Isle…Â More info
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