Debenhams Announces Chandelier Sales Soaring Despite Recession

High street store Debenhams have revealed that home owners, eager to lift the gloom of the recession, have created the most unlikely shopping boom of all time - highly ornate chandeliers.

Once the preserve of the rich and well-to-do, demand for the big, ever more elaborate, multi-bulb light fittings has been soaring ever since the first financial tremor hit the stock markets two years ago. ?

Sales have increased with every successive bit of bad news, to reach an all time high this week, says Debenhams. Customer demand for this type of home lighting (http://www.debenhams.com/home-furniture/lighting) has led the store to significantly expand its offer and make the full range available to buy online at Debenhams.com.

Debenhams spokesman Ed Watson said: "While economists are searching desperately for light at the end of the tunnel, home owners are opting for more certainty by putting huge lights into the ceiling over their heads.

"Dark days may lie ahead for the economy, but in front rooms all over the nation, things have never looked brighter." ?

Elaborate creations in gold and silver with fashion jackets dozens of reflective crystals and up to 12 bulbs are now common place in even the most modest terrace house, Debenhams revealed.

The most popular designs are miniature sized versions of some of the greatest chandeliers found in stately homes across the country, as not everyone may have the space to accommodate one of the larger models.

Many chandeliers are up to three feet wide, and almost as deep, with a series of elegantly curved arms, with the assembly secured to the ceiling by a gold heavy duty fixing chain.

Some designs break with tradition, opting instead for a Modernist approach, using highly polish chrome and simple straight lines to mimic the appearance of a chic boutique hotel lobby.

Other styles use stark black metal and rugged construction to create the impression of a medieval banqueting hall.

The cost of a chandelier can be anything from ?34 for basic model, to almost ?300 for the top of the range, which features more sophisticated designs. ?

Said Debenhams Ed Watson: "Chandeliers are now so popular that you're just a likely to find one in a two-up-two-down in Bognor as you are in Buckingham Palace.

"The smaller sizes of the chandeliers mean the style is more Louis Walsh than Louis the XIV, but the longing for a little bit of opulence in these tough times is clear."

About Debenhams
Debenhams is a leading department stores group, and has a strong presence in key product categories including women's fashion - such as black dresses (http://www.debenhams.com/women/occasion-evening-wear/dresses), evening dresses (http://www.debenhams.com/women/occasion-evening-wear), women's shoes, bikinis, jeans, make-up, health and beauty, accessories, perfume, lingerie (http://www.debenhams.com/lingerie), wedding attire including bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses - men's clothing, home ware and children's wear with a number of Debenhams deals also on offer.

PR Contact:
Carie Barkhuizen
Debenhams PR Manager
Debenhams
33 Wigmore Street
London
W1U 1QX
020 7408 3298
http://www.debenhams.com

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Denver Rescue Mission Marathon Team Runs Rock-n-Roll Marathon

Twenty-three men from the New Life Rehabilitation Program at the Denver Rescue Mission (DRM), participated in the Rock-n-Roll Denver Marathon and Half-Marathon as part of the Denver Rescue Mission Marathon Team. Since 1892, DRM (http://www.DenverRescueMission.org) has been meeting the needs of homeless and low-income men, women, and children through emergency services, rehabilitation, transitional and permanent housing, and community outreach.

The DRM Marathon Team began in 2007 when father and son DRM New Life Program participants Nick and Shane Sterner, led a group of 15 men through training for their first race at the Post-News Colorado Colfax Marathon. After graduating the program, Nick Sterner started Activity Inspired Rehabilitation (http://www.theairfoundation.org), an organization confronting homelessness and addiction through distance running. Sterner has been running with former addicts from DRM programs since graduating and trained his largest DRM team of 23 runners who participated in the 2010 Rock-n-Roll Marathon on Sunday, October 17, 2010. Team members are in the program and living at The Crossing, DRM's transitional living facility in Denver, and Harvest Farm, DRM's rural, rehabilitation 200-acre farm in Wellington, Colorado.

Racing in day-glow yellow DRM shirts on Sunday, the team ran through Denver's great parks: Civic Center Park, Washington Park, Cheesman Park, and City Park. Team members range in age from 20 to over 60, and their stories are as diverse as their ages.

Matt Schroeder is a first year team member, 35 years old and in Phase 2 of the DRM New Life Program. He has been addict women's coats ed to heroin since age 17. Matt has overdosed and lost three friends to heroin. Because of his addiction, he lost a music scholarship where he planned to be a piano teacher and has been to prison on drug charges two times. Facing another prison sentence, Matt explained to his judge that he had entered the New Life Program at DRM and just joined the marathon team. The judge, a marathon runner, gave Matt a suspended sentence. He has taken this opportunity to change his life and work towards productive, self-sufficiency.

Matt chose to be on the running team because he learned that less than 10% of 1% of the world's population had completed a marathon. He had always been part of a negative statistic – people who overdose on heroin. "Being on the team and training has helped me gain a sense of accomplishment," says Matt. "When I want to get over the pain I've caused my family, I can run and start to put it behind me." Matt has given his parents the medals received at races leading up to the marathon. "Now my Dad tells his friends I'm running, not jogging," says Matt. "Running has been a form of reconciliation for me and my family. I'm excited they were at the finish line on Sunday!"

Another first year team member is Mario Marshall, a 28 year old Phase 2 New Life Program participant who was in his last year of graduate school studying psycho therapy at the University of Denver before entering the program. Mario had a history of withdrawing from friends, family and society when things around him were not working. After a destructive relationship and breakup left him severely depressed, Mario began drinking heavily. He did not return to school after a holiday break, lost his scholarship which then led to him losing his home. Mario stayed on a friend's couch. The friend was Tuesday Buskey, chef at The Crossing. She encouraged him to enter the New Life Program. Mario could not believe he entered, thinking he was not like the other addicts. "Now I believe I am more like the other program participants than I could have ever thought," says Mario. "I am glad I joined."

Mario joined the DRM Marathon Team with another program participant Jason Sharrett. He wanted to know how far he could push himself and see if he could physically train and run a marathon. His mother came to see him at the finish line on Sunday as well as his older sister, who Mario had not seen in two and half years. She came to Denver from Vancouver. "The biggest positive I've seen in the running program is when I hit the wall running 24 miles," says Mario. "My team members pulled me through and told me not to give up!" He was also inspired by Gordon, who is 58 years old and on the team. "He is the oldest member and comes out on the runs and walks all the miles to complete his training."

Each DRM Marathon Team Member is fighting daily to change his life, to turn away from addiction and realize positive life change through spiritual development, case management, Christian counseling, education, and work therapy through the New Life Rehabilitation Program. Through this multi-phase program, the men discover that a major life change is not easy, but with small steps, loving support and guidance, it is possible.

The DRM Marathon Team trained since June 2010. Each week they ran with volunteers, participated in Yoga and Physical Therapy classes, and have been supported by Runner's Roost Colorado, Runner's Roost Fort Collins, Catalyst Therapies, Solepepper Sports, Rocky Mountain Road Runners, Fort Collins Running Club, Ancient Arts Healing, Running Guru, Endurance Sports Marketing Group, and Fusion Running. To prepare for Sunday's race, the Denver Rescue Mission Marathon Team had a celebration, carbohydrate-loading Pasta Dinner sponsored by Interstate Kitchen & Bar and Gaetano's at the Riverfront Lofts. "We are dedicated to helping maintain and progress the local communities in and around Denver. The Denver Rescue Mission is just one place we like to lend a helping hand," says Joseph Newman, owner of Interstate Kitchen & Bar.

Give Your Sole, held a shoe drive at the Rock-n-Roll Denver Marathon. Race participants donated their used running shoes right after the race. Runners took off their shoes that carried them through the race right off their feet and received a free pair of flip flops to wear home. All 425 pairs of shoes collected were donated to the Denver Rescue Mission.

Brett Byrd, founder of Give Your Sole, has seen first-hand the difference a simple pair of shoes can make to one of the 3.5 million people who will experience homelessness in the U.S. this year. "The impact of giving a person a pair of shoes is immediate," he says. "It gives them a sense of mobility that allows them to get to where they need to be; whether it is looking for work or going to the grocery store to feed their family. We are extremely blessed and grateful to have the relationship with the Rock 'n' Roll Series that we do. With their continued partnership we are able to reach those in need through such great organizations as the Denver Rescue Mission allowing us to give back locally in hopes of making a difference." In addition, 20 bags of clothing, 235 cases of water and 52 boxes of food were also donated by the Rock-n-Roll Denver Marathon.

About the Denver Rescue Mission
Since 1892, the Denver Rescue Mission has been meeting the needs of the poor and homeless through emergency services, rehabilitation, transitional and permanent housing, and community outreach. Last year, the Denver Rescue Mission served 659,854 meals, provided 171,480 nights of shelter, provided 185 tons of clothing, and placed 253 families into permanent housing. For more information, visit http://www.DenverRescueMission.org.

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Chloe Rose Boutique to Celebrate Launch with Fashion, Fun, and Fundraising

Marissa Olson is hosting the Chloe Rose Holiday Celebration to officially launch the recently opened Chloe Rose Boutique, http://www.chloeroseboutique.com.

It will be a combined fashion and fundraising event at the gorgeous new store on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th of December between 10am and 8pm and 10am and 7pm respectively. The store is located at 1824 Union Street in the hip Marina shopping district.

Marissa, the inspiration behind both the boutique and the event, brings a refreshing approach to integrating her young business with her community in a way that stretches her impact beyond style. The event will feature a selection of merchandise at a huge 40% discount for people who bring gently used clothing to be donated to The Community Thrift Store with proceeds going to The Women's Initiative for Self Employment. Chloe Rose will also contribute 100% of the profits from the sale of their stylish tote bags to this cause, which you can find at http://www.womensinitiative.org/index.htm. The event reflects Marissa's mission of connecting women who are passionate about style through fabulous fashion, quality experiences and meaningful contributions.

At least as elegant and inspired as the Chloe Rose launc women's jackets h event is the experience of the boutique itself. The space is beautifully organic and chic with natural wood finishes and an uplifting aesthetic. Often overlooked details like lighting and lovely changing rooms let you spend time experimenting with styles and chatting about design with friends, or Marissa and her exceptional staff.

The carefully crafted selection of apparel and accessories includes hard-to-find designers like Aaron Ashe and Ali Ro. There is jewelry by Vanessa Mooney, Rebecca Minkoff bags and Candles and Fragrances by Sage. Chloe Rose serves a variety of styles and budgets in an environment that always feels refined. Ultimately it reflects Marissa's personal motto to "Live what you love", and creates an opportunity for her customers to do the same.

For more information contact:    
Marissa Olson, marissa(at)chloeroseboutique(dot)com

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Fashionista Outlet Gets Loved Up for Valentine's Day

London-based clothes retailer, Fashionista Outlet has announced a competition to tie in with Valentine's Day and show off its great range of labels. Competition entrants have the chance to win a luxury Cavalli handbag worth almost ?500 or a luxury Versace shirt worth just over ?250. All clothes lovers' have to do to enter is to recommend three friends to the online shopping site, http://www.fashionista-outlet.com.

Fashionista Outlet has built up a remarkable reputation with its online retail service, which offers customers incredible savings on a huge range of designer ladies' clothing and accessories. It has seen sales of its designer ladies' clothing leap up in the last year as fashion conscious women turn to the Internet for their wardrobe purchases. Bu fashion jackets online t it's not just women who can benefit from the great range of designer wear: the site stocks designer men's clothing as well. This competition will give new site visitors the chance to explore the wide range of quality designer wear that's on offer and, of course, there's the chance to win one of those amazing prizes.

With London Fashion Week just a few weeks' away, designer ladies clothing is the catchphrase around town and Fashionista Outlet is gearing up to take the front row seats at all the must-see catwalk shows. The site prides itself on its up-to-the-minute range of women's and men's designer clothing and London Fashion Week is the big date in the diary for the buyers at Fashionista Outlet.

The company wants to build on its growing reputation and encourage more people to discover top labels with up to 60% discount on high street prices. This high profile competition should help to raise its profile, and one lucky lady will be the proud owner of a gorgeous Cavalli bag.

Fashionista Outlet are retailers of all type of fashion including womens designer clothing

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Forbes Consulting MindSight® Research Finds Shift Toward Self-Gifting Among Holiday Shoppers This Season

Forbes Consulting Group, the leading market research company that directly accesses the emotional brain to discover consumers' deep emotional reactions, today announced results from a new study that reveals holiday shoppers this year are just as focused on pleasing themselves as they are on pleasing others. According to the study, which used the company's proprietary applied neuroscience technology, MindSight?, holiday shoppers in 2012 are still using gift giving to express love and affection, but there has been a significant shift in focus toward shoppers rewarding themselves as well. Compared to a similar holiday shopping study Forbes Consulting conducted last year, the latest MindSight? emotional profiles reveal that motivation to focus on unique personal needs when holiday shopping this season has nearly doubled in strength.

Although the trend toward self-gifting is exhibited in both men and women, the 2012 spike is significantly higher among women. Retailers and manufacturers appear to be aware of this trend and are seeking to capitalize on it by actively promoting sales on items designed to "treat yourself" such as perfume, cosmetics and jewelry.

"Perfume is distinctively associated with striving to perfect self presentation, and is also a distinctive means for expressing one's individual taste and style," said Dr. David Forbes, President and CEO of Forbes Consulting Group. "However, buying perfume can pose emotional risks similar to purchasing rare wines or works of art – shoppers can be afraid that they will ask the wrong questions or not know where to start. Perfume retailers should strive to provide friendly, down-to-earth advice that subtly educates the consumer and demystifies the world of perfumes. Removing the emotional worries of "getting it wrong" should boost sales of gift purchases both shoppers themselves and others on their gift list."

Forbes Consulting Group's study findings are echoed by the latest National Retail Foundation's tracking survey, which finds an increase in "self-gifting" among holiday shoppers, and is further substantiated by online consumer search records: searches related to treating yourself have shot up in 2012 and stayed at near peak levels since September of this year.

Consistent with Forbes Consulting's 2011 research findings, holiday shoppers who planned to participate in Black Friday this year were primarily motivated by the desire to "win" and achieve competitive victory with a "team" of friends and family, ultimately permitting them to express affection through gift giving. Notably, this year's motivational profile of Black Friday shoppers wa Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) s particularly skewed toward fulfillment of personal needs, and this motivation was strongly associated with interest in entertainment media and consumer electronics. Retailers specializing in these categories should strive to appeal to these shoppers' needs to acquire impressive gifts and provide instant gratification for the themselves.

Black Friday shoppers expected to spend nearly 40 percent more on their holiday purchases than other shoppers this year ($1,200 vs. $870). Additionally, results showed that the mindset of veteran Black Friday shoppers is optimistic – they are more likely to feel that their personal financial situation is better this year than last year, feel that the re-election of Barack Obama is likely to further improve their finances, and expect that Congress will act to stave off the "fiscal cliff." They also present a distinctly positive overall MindSight? emotional profile. In stark contrast to the stereotype of Black Friday shoppers fighting crowds to find bargains out of necessity, this years results point to shoppers with the financial means and motivation to do considerable shopping for others and still have money left over for self-gifting.

Retailers hoping to capitalize on the self-gifting trend need to think about the emotional experience they provide to their shoppers. For example, Consumer electronics purchases are distinctively associated with feelings of achievement. But shopping for consumer electronics can feel isolating and disengaging To promiote a sense of achievement, consumer electronics retailers should quickly connect shoppers with knowledgeable sales associates trained to advise customers in making the "best choice."

About the Research

The 2012 research included a quantitative survey with 1,190 respondents in the U.S. ages 18-65. and was fielded in November. The survey covered the top shopping categories, including clothing, consumer electronics, entertainment/media, gourmet foods, arts and crafts, jewelry, perfume, spa services, power tools, small appliances, specialty alcohol, and, of course, toys.

The survey included the use of the proprietary Forbes Consulting MindSight? technology to evaluate shopper emotions and motivations.

•     MindSight? enables researchers to "talk to the emotional brain." It utilizes a patent-pending technique of applied neuroscience to obtain authentic emotional insight from respondents before their conscious mind can edit responses.
•     MindSight? employs the Forbes Consulting Unified Model of Human Motivation to explain respondent motivations (published in Review of General Psychology, June 2011).
•     MindSight? works by "talking with pictures," rapidly exposing a proprietary and statistically validated library of emotionally evocative images for respondents to react to – each image is linked to one category in the Model of Human Motivation.

About Forbes Consulting Group
Founded in 1985 and based in Lexington, Massachusetts, the Forbes Consulting Group is a strategic and innovative market research company providing clients with deeper levels of insight about emotions and motivations - and helping them gain strategic market advantage on the strength of this insight. In its 26-year history, Forbes Consulting Group has become a valued resource for Fortune 500 companies. For more information, including the opportunity to receive a demo of MindSight?, the company's proprietary applied neuroscience technology that uncovers authentic emotional insight from consumers before the rational mind can edit responses, please contact sale(at)forbesconsulting.com.

Fashion Industry Executives Speak to Academy of Art University Fashion School Students

On Thursday, November 30, Academy of Art University's Fashion School will host a fashion industry panel discussion with designers, journalists and retail executives. This panel will address the student body and answer questions. Executive Director Gladys Perint Palmer, also a journalist, will moderate.

The panel will include: fashion designers Laura and Kate Mulleavy of Rodarte; and Joe Haller and Ian Hannula of Nice Collective. Journalists Christine Suppes, editor in chief, FashionLines.com; Melissa Ceria, journalist and co-founder of ShareYourLook.com; and Donna Kato, fashion and style editor, San Jose Mercury News. Retailers Wilkes Bashford of The Wilkes Bashford Company; and Susan Foslien of stores Susan and The Grocery Store.

At 2:00 PM, the panel and other industry guests will tour the Fashion Design School studios at 180 New Montgomery Street. The First Floor holds the MFA Design Studios. The Seventh Floor holds the Illustration/Life Drawing, Fashion Design, Applied Textiles, Knitwear, Pattern Making, Draping and Construction Studios.

At 3:30 PM, the Industry Panel Discussion will take place at The Sheraton Palace, 2 New Montgomery Street, Twin Peaks Room.

Kate and Laura Mulleavy founded Rodarte in the fall of 2005. After bringing their first collection of 10 pieces to New York City, they found themselves on the cover of WWD and in a meeting with Anna Wintour, editor in chief of Vogue. They followed up their first season with a 16-piece collection, which won them the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award, and continued to gain support from retailers including the likes of Bergdorf Goodman, Colette, and Maxfield. Following their third collection, they were nominated for the CFDA Swarovski Perry Ellis Award and the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund.

In 1996, Joe Haller and Ian Hannula launched Nice Collective as a creative outlet including a club night, record label, DJ agency and clothing line. This season's collection consists of 100 different pieces comprised of 80% men's and 20% women's. Celebrity clients Chris Martin of Coldplay for his entire tour, Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor for his summer tour, and Brad Pitt in the upcoming film Babel.

Wilkes Bashford received an honorary doctorate from the University, as one of our "Men of Fashion" at the May 2006 graduation fashion show. He is credited as the man who "made Sutter Street" with his successful flagship store and hailed by Esquire Magazine as "The Most Important Men's Fashion Specialist in the Country." His awards include Cutty Sark Award for the Best Men's Store, Uomo Moda Collections Award for Italian Menswear in America, and the Hall of Fame of the International Best Dressed List. The Wilkes Bashford Company operates four upscale retail stores with annual sales in excess of $30 Million.

Susan Foslien opened Susan of Burlingame in the fall of 1983. Today she has four stores Susan and The Grocery Store - located in both Burlingame and San Francisco. She has developed a loyal client following by selling Jean Paul Gaultier, Romeo Gigli, Jill Sander, Prada and Balenciaga.

In addition to being a celebrated jewelry designer and published author, Christine Suppes is one of the few San Francisco journalists to attend Paris Haute Couture as publisher and editor in chief of Fashionlines.com. Launched in 1999, Fashionlines was the first purely editorial fashion e-magazine encompassing national and international coverage with editorial staff based in New York, Paris, Sao Paulo, and California. Created with the firm belief that fashion and art are intertwined, Fashionlines covers top galleries, artists, photographers and writers.

Melissa Ceria is a journalist and co-founder of Shareyourlook.com, an online community for people who love fashion to explore personal styles across the world. She has written about fashion, style, and design for The New York Times, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Time, Elle Decor, Departures, Travel + Leisure, and San Francisco Magazine.

Melissa started her career as the Eye Editor for Women's Wear Daily and W magazine in 1997, covering New York's fashion and social scenes. Two years later she joined Harper's Bazaar where she wrote and produced Melissa's Diary, a monthly fashion column on trends and celebrities in Manhattan, Los Angeles, Paris and London. She has worked as a freelance journalist since 2001.

Donna Kato is the style editor for the San Jose Mercury News, an award-winning Sunday lifestyles section that includes weekly features on fashion and beauty. A graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Donna started her career covering "death and weather" -- obits and blizzards -- at the Lincoln Journal. Her first fashion position was at the Kansas City Star. She stayed for five years anyway before moving on to the Los Angeles Daily News and the Mercury News. After more than a decade as a reporter covering city hall, health and fitness, youth and retail, among other topics, Donna returned to fashion in 2003 to start the Style section. She now loves th Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) e beat! While best known as the newspaper of Silicon Valley, the San Jose Mercury News enjoys the ranking of one of the top ten newspapers in the country by the Columbia Journalism Review and was named the boldest American newspaper by the Society for Newspaper Design.

For more information: 415.618.6271.

For press inquiries: Ian MacKintosh 415.618.3849

Academy of Art University is an accredited member of ACICS, NASAD, Council for Interior Design Accreditation (Formerly FIDER), (BFA-IAD), and NAAB (M-ARCH). The Academy also has one of the country's top Photography Schools, one of the nation's best Graphic Design Schools, and a highly regarded Architecture School.

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Sierra Trading Post Unveils New Website for Beta Testing

Sierra Trading Post launches a brand-new website to provide customers with the best online shopping experience yet. Enhanced product searches, streamlined navigation and clean layout are just a few of the many changes that come with Sierra Trading Post's new site.

"We built the new site to ensure that we are meeting the evolving needs of online shoppers," says Andy Newlin, Director of eCommerce for Sierra Trading Post. "We developed it in-house so that we will be able to implement new ideas and solve issues quickly."

In addition to simple navigation and modern look, the new site will allow customers to use advanced search options and filter product by a wide range of choices. "We feel that the new site is extremely user friendly," says Clint Nelson, Web Creative Manager for Sierra Trading Post. "We're excited to see if our customers agree." Users can now filter product by color, size, price range, customer review, brand and event. "It truly makes product selection faster and easier than ever."

One of the more noticeable features is the enhanced photo viewing, which provides an interactive zoom by simply clicking their mouse over the original. The quick-view window gives users a chance to view an item's details and add it to their cart without navigating away from their current page. There's even an area where customers can save products and buy them later. The enhanced user account with personalized dashboard will allow customers to manage their catalog and email subscriptions, shipping information and view their order history at the click of a button.

The new site is available to the public at beta.sierratradingpost.com, so customers can give feedback and any outstanding issues can be addressed. If all goes well, the new site will replace the current one at SierraTradingPost.com in the early months of 2011. "By asking for continual feedback and suggestions for improvements, we're letting the customer dictate how they want to shop the new and improved SierraTradingPost.com," says Newlin. "The feedback we've received on the test site so far has been very positive!"

About Sierra Trading Post
Headquartered in Cheyenne, Wyo., Sierra Trading Post is a multichannel retailer known nationwide for offering "Great Deals. Great Brands." Sierra Trading Post purchases brand name overstocks, closeouts and 2nds, and passes the savings on to its customers – selling outdoor gear, shoes, men's clothing, women's clothing, accessories and home furnishings at 35 to 70% savings ever Tips: Find Street Fashion Online(may be you can find what you want on the oasap.com) y day. A top 100 Internet retailer in sales per Internet Retailer Magazine, Sierra Trading Post operates four outlet stores in Boise, Idaho; Reno, Nev.; Cheyenne and Cody, Wyo.; with customer service call centers located in Cheyenne and Cody.

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