Monday, November 24, 2014

Small Business Saturday Hoopla

 
 
Back in 2010, American Express created Small Business Saturday, to bring attention to the nation's independent mom & pop stores, and was inspired by The 3/50 Project.  Fast forward to 2014, and we find that Small Business Saturday has become a thing, an event that was grown maybe not so organically (American Express, a huge financial corporation, is behind this, after all) but it has given us small business owners a chance to be recognized.  For that, we are eternally grateful.  And although we like getting customers in the door on this day, we wouldn't be who we are unless we dedicated the day to another group that does great things in our community.

Take both Room 13s in our area, first at John Muir High School and then at Elliot Middle School. Overseen in North America by Pasadena's Light Bringer Project, these are complete art studios run by the students, who not only learn about art, but about the business of art, as well.  They are responsible for hiring their own Artist In Residence, who guides the students in their endeavors, and they make and sell products to keep the studios running. Tom Coston, who heads Light Bringer, has been named to Room 13 International's Board Of Trustees.  You might recognize the name - it's Tom and Light Bringer who bring us the fabulous Doodah Parade, and the Pasadena Chalk Festival, among other wonderful community oriented events.

If you know anything about Hoopla Emporium (and Webster's Fine Stationers prior to our move), you know that we love supporting our local artists and entrepreneurs.  Here we have an opportunity to support our budding artists, and entrepreneurs, so we'll be dedicating this day and 15% of our proceeds from it, to Light Bringer and both Room 13s.  Come see us on Saturday, November 29, shop around, meet some of the kids our donation will be supporting, and if you make a purchase, you'll get a little surprise they've made just for you! 

Scott and I wish you a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving! Hoopla will be open Saturday the 29th at 10:00 am - we'll see you then!

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

It's Looking A Lot Like Holiday Time!

 
 
Welcome to the holiday season at Hoopla! An Emporium Of Good Things!  Of all the seasons, we love the winter holidays, for the warmth it brings, the camaraderie, and of course, all the hustle and bustle.  We are stocked and ready for you with the beautiful, the meaningful, and the tasty!

If you don't know it yet, Hoopla Emporium carries some great local and regional food products, from fair trade tea from Rishi, to shaped tea morsels from Tea Drops; to salted caramels from Le Bon Garcon, to fabulous jams, salsas, sauces, and spice rubs!  Some of our local vendors include Jabberwocky Smooth Jerk Sauces; Earl's Gone Wild pepper jellies and barbeque sauces; coconut sugar from Coconut World; mole sauces from San Angel Mole; full spectrum of sauces & salsas from Sierra Madre Grocery Company; shaped sugar cubes from Fantasy Sugar; lovely jams from LA Farm Girl; raw honey from Massey Honey Company; small-batch nut butters from Rock Rose Provisions; oils and balsamic vinegars from Beyond The Olive; and salad dressings/marinades/dipping sauces from David's Unforgettables.  We are adding to our selection of local and regional food products, and we think you'll be pleased with our healthy selection!

We have several new books from local authors as well.  We welcome to our bookcase new titles from Steven Gibson, Desiree Zamarano, Ellen Snortland, Anne Louise Bannon, and Randy Juarado Ertll. You are always welcome to come browse our book section, there are some wonderful books here!  We are hosting a meet & greet with author Anne Bannon, whose new book "Fascinating Rhythm" has just hit our shelves, on Friday, Nov. 21 at 6:30 pm!  We'll also be sampling some Beaujolais Nouveau, since Anne and her husband, Mike Holland, also author OddBallGrape.com.


 Hoopla Emporium welcomed several new vendors to the store this season.  There are great products from Wowwee, a Southern California company, along with offerings from Mixt Studio in Manhattan Beach, and greeting cards from Offensive + Delightful, a company in Los Angeles.  We also now carry Papyrus/Recycled Paper Greetings, too, as well as our local card makers, so you'll never leave without a card you love!  You'll find Ty Beanie Babies here, small stuffed animals from Douglas, kids' toys from Green Toys, Inc., and very popular lunch boxes and purses from the Tin Box Company.  Dog lovers will rejoice with a coffee cup from Demdaco, sporting their favorite breed, and magnets will delight, as well! 





Our favorite fair trade scarf patterns are in from Julian Imports in CA, and beautifully warm Pashmina's will keep the chill off. 


 
 
As always, we have a great selection of Willow Tree figurines and angels -



Scott and I wish you the very best this season, and we'll be waiting for you at Hoopla Emporium on beautiful Fair Oaks Ave.!