Posted on November 30th, 2011 by rachel | Categories: Print - DON'T TAG | No Comments »
Archive for November, 2011
Posted on November 30th, 2011 by rachel | Categories: Print - DON'T TAG | No Comments »
Find us in New York Magazine’s holiday gift guide! We are honored to be alongside Miss Piggy! Woo Hoo!
In February of 2010, Molly Cygan Rossetie opened The Little Apple in the Manayunk neighborhood of Philadelphia. I’m a huge fan of Philly – I try to make as many weekend trips as possible – so a Philly Store Spotlight is exciting times for me! I now have so many new places I’ll have to check out! Thanks for all the recommendations, Molly!
Q: How would you describe your store’s aesthetic?:
A: The Little Apple carries new, vintage, and re-purposed gifts, cards, jewelry, home goods, and baby items. It’s very eclectic and I try to carry gifts for everyone…your sister, your funny aunt, your friend who has everything, etc.
Q: Any fun or interesting store facts you’d like to share?:
A: The building the store is in is from around the Civil War, and the floors, tin ceilings, and stained glass doors are all original. I also like to tell people that I bought Retail for Dummies and read it cover to cover before I opened the shop.
Q: Tell us about your city/neighborhood. Why do you love it?:
A: Philadelphia is a great city. I have been here for two years now and have loved the opportunities it has afforded me. The food culture here is amazing. Manayunk, a little outside Center City, where the shop is located, is a quaint historic main street with roots in the textile industry. Many of the buildings maintain their original facades which adds to the charm of the district. It’s the perfect place to come for weekend brunch and then walk along Main Street visiting the shops, taking in all the newly installed public art, thanks to Mural Arts in Philadelphia.
Q: When not in your store, where is the next most likely place you’d be?:
A: You can usually find me and my French Bull dog, Penn, in Rittenhouse Square walking in the park, running errands. Or I’m with my husband, John, eating at some of our favorite Philly restaurants. John is at Drexel Med in his 3rd year. And when I’m not in Philly, I’m usually in Southern California visiting my family!
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in your city/neighborhood?:
A: There are so many good ones in Philly it’s hard to choose! Right in Manayunk, there is a newer restaurant called Agiato that is delicious – rustic Italian paninis, wine & cheese. At home, in the city, I love Zama Sushi Bar in Rittenhouse Square and El Vez, a fun Mexican restaurant that brings me right back to Southern California.
Q: If there is 1 thing someone “must do” when they visit your area, what would you recommend?:
A: The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a must do…the building itself is beautiful. If it is a nice day, walking along Kelly Drive and seeing the Boathouse Row is a treat. If you are a food lover, there are so many great spots. Setting up your own food, wine, or craft beer tour would be an awesome day.
Q: Whats next for you/your store…. any upcoming sales/events?:
A: Holidays are almost upon us and I’m re-launching my online store. I’m updating the site and adding all new items. I had a fun and successful “Last Minute Shopping Party” on December 17th last year, so I’ll be doing the same thing this year.
Q: What blogs/magazines do you follow?
A: Design Sponge, GOOP, The Novogratz. I follow a lot of local artist, shop & restaurant blogs: Something’s Hiding In Here, Three Potato Four, Clover Market, Fleurishing, and CityPaper
Q: Where do you find all of your products?
A: I source my products from the annual gift shows, Etsy, Big Cartel, local artist fairs and events, vintage, consignment shops. And my secret (not-so-secret-now) weapons are my mom, Kitty, and sister, Annie, in California. They always keep a watch on local auctions, events, and sales. They have impeccable taste and love the thrill of the find!
Q: How did you come up with your store name?
A: New York, as everyone knows, is the Big Apple. So the Little Apple is an homage to New York City. My mom grew up and lived there into her 30s. As a family we’ve always spent weeks in the summer there and it was always a fun and exciting trip…food, exploring, museums, shopping in cool boutiques, and visiting my parents’ old stomping grounds. After college I lived there for 5 years and the idea of opening the store came to me while sitting in my NYC apartment. I draw inspiration for my items and displays from some of my favorite NYC shops - John Derian, ABC Carpet, and Roberta Freymann.
Q: What was your inspiration/motivation to open your store?
A: The Little Apple was definitely a labor of love. I moved to Philadelphia with the intention of continuing my work in arts education and museum programming. With the economy on its way down, many arts and cultural institutions were implementing a hiring freeze, so I had little luck finding a job. A close friend’s sister had started a successful online invitation and stationary business, so I began my journey the night he described her business. I thought, “I could do something like that!” I bought Retail for Dummies, wrote a business plan, found some kind investors, traveled to the gift shows, and the rest is history. It’s a day-to-day learning experience and I’ve made countless mistakes, but being your own boss is a wonderful experience. I love that owning the store puts to use both my creative side and my crazy person organizational skills. I tell people with a lot of time and a little money, you can do anything!
Visit The Little Apple at 4353 Main Street in Philly or online!
How did you come up with your store name?New York, as everyone knows, is the big apple. So the little apple is an homage to new york city. My mom grew up & lives there into her 30s. As a family we’ve always spent weeks in the summer there & it was always a fun & exciting trip…food, exploring, museums, shopping in cool boutiques and visiting my parents old stomping grounds.
After college I lived there for 5 years and the idea of opening the store came to me while sitting in my NYC apartment.
I draw inspiration for my items and displays from some of my favorite NYC shops– John derian, abc carpet and Roberta freymann.
Oh, Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving because it gets right to the point: great food with great people. My mother’s chicken-n-dressing is serious business. Maybe this year I’ll be able to convince her to write the recipe down on one of these super cute recipe cards (2)! I’ve had my eye on this amazing utility canvas apron (4) for awhile – so cute and functional. There’s plenty room in this bad boy for this colorful mortar and pestel (5), which would spice up any Thanksgiving dinner. And while I’m waiting for the turkey to cook, I might just paint my nails with my new obsession – Essie Chincilly (6).
Of course Thanksgiving isn’t all about food… Show thanks to your host with a bottle of wine in a Philly wine tote (1).
Posted on November 21st, 2011 by rachel | Categories: Blog | No Comments »
Posted on November 18th, 2011 by rachel | Categories: Websites - DON'T TAG | No Comments »
When getting ready for a trip, you’ll never forget your toothpaste again! Our new dopp kits (toiletry case) come in a fun travel pattern. Available in grey, denim, and natural canvas, get ready to jet set in style.
We are excited to also announce that our zip pouch line has grown. You can now carry your knick-knacks around in a New York or Los Angeles pattern. Perfect spot for your metro card or car keys, these pouches come in red, grey, or natural canvas and will be a great accessory to your tote.
Get your zips and dopps today… They’ll make the perfect gift for this holiday season!
When people ask us what types of stores we sell our products, there’s always the urge to simply respond, “all kinds!” Wine shops, boutiques, book stores…you name it! Well, this week’s installment of the store spotlight series is the perfect example of Maptote’s retail diversity. Harney and Sons SoHo is a purveyor of all things tea and then some. Owner Emeric Harney has been providing NYC with quite the tea experience since opening last November. See what I mean in our Q&A and pictures below!
Q: Please describe your store aesthetic:
A: Our store aesthetic aims to capture the town and country aspect that embodies both the Harney family and tea. We use clean, modern furniture and lines made of rustic oaks, recycled barnwood and sweet pine. We stock the store full of teas (obviously), tea accessories and many great items that would enhance any gift.
Q: Any fun or interesting facts you need to share with us?:
A: There is no other Harney & Sons store in any metropolitan area!
Q: Tell us about your neighborhood. Why do you love it?:
A: We’re based in SoHo, a super chic and historic neighborhood. We get a great mix of tourists and devoted tea enthusiasts. We’re located amongst many other small boutiques, which reminds us of where we’re from in upstate New York.
Q: When not in your store, where is the next most likely place you’d be?:
A: A Yoga studio!
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in the area?:
A: I really enjoy Osteria Morini, just a block away from the shop. They make their own, fabulous pastas and serve up great drinks with an authentic southern Italian atmosphere.
Q: If there’s one thing someone must do when they visit your area, what would you recommend?:
A: Visit our shop, of course.
Q: What’s next for you/your store….any upcoming sales/events?:
A: We’re celebrating our 1 year anniversary, offering matcha classes, book signings etc. We keep a very busy schedule because we like to be an overall cultural institution for tea and all things related.
Q: What blogs/magazines do you follow?:
Q: Where do you find all of your products?:
A: A mixture of travels, gift shows and even customer recommendations!
Now that chilly weather is here (at least in the city), you’ll definitely be needing to warm up with a cup-o-tea, so stop by and see the masters at work the next time you’re in the area! [map] Also, be sure to follow Harney & Sons SoHo on Twitter and check out the official Harney & Sons Fine Tea website and learn what the Harney family is all about!
Always wanted a personalized Maptote? Well we’ve added alphabet buttons to our line! These buttons are perfect to put your initials on a bag for your upcoming wedding, place a simple heart over your childhood neighborhood or literally spell out your “love” for your favorite city. We’re so excited for this addition as we get tons of requests for custom Maptotes and now this is an easy solution. These buttons will definitely make your tote even more special and unique. Decorate away!
