For sportswear empires such as Nike, Puma and adidas the grand slam tennis circuit, led by the Australian Open, are increasingly targeted as style laboratories where superstar players launch cutting-edge apparel, colours trends and fabric technologies before millions of potential consumers.

Equally, blue-chip jewellery companies are also vying for a share of the centre court spotlight tiffany their products with top-ranked female tennis players who attract a global fashionista following.

Young, beautiful, rich and style forward, the likes of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are the new cover girls for product endorsement worth millions in earning power.

Williams is one of the highest earning athletes in the world with her career prize money totalling more than $US28.5 million. According to Forbes Magazine the flamboyant dresser also earns around $US6 million per year from product endorsements.

From head-to-toe Serena and her sister Venus have ignored tennis dress tradition to introduce sexy on-court outfits that flash bare arms and dramatic colours that have left players dressed in white looking out-dated in comparison.

Whilst the Williams sisters are famous for setting outlandish tennis trends including ultra fluoros and even gladiator style leggings, the counter to their bling is the more classic Sharapova.

Ranked the World’s No.14 female tennis player, Sharapova has wasted little time since her arrival in Melbourne to commence her brand ambassador duties.

These have included hosting a night with Tiffany & Co. on January 13 at their Melbourne store followed by bangles opening the new Swiss luxury watch retailer Tag Heuer flagship boutique on January 14.

“It’s a really classy sport and there are two people standing on the court and all eyes are upon them and more often than not most tennis players are admired by people and when you have that it creates trends,” Glen Schlehuber, Australia’s managing director at Tiffany & Co told AAP when asked why tennis stars like Sharapova are such fashion drivers.

But for Sharapova her after hour duties are nothing compared to when she struts out onto the Australian Open centre court like its a catwalk wearing the latest designs Nike has especially created for their prized model.

The 22-year-old Russian is set to launch the Golden Set Dress that Nike promises will kick off the Grand Slam season with the most fashionable and technologically advanced designs yet. The Australian Open will be the first time she will wear this innovative design.

“It’s really incredible to be able to bring these looks that I love to so many women,” said Sharapova.

“I am equally excited about working with the design team at Nike to see how much more innovative we can get crossing fashion-forward designs with high performance fabrics and silhouettes.”

But no matter how photogenic Sharapova is just how much fashion can Nike afford to push within its female athletes’ sports gear?

“All of our tennis apparel and footwear is first and foremost performance focused to enable the athlete to perform at the highest level,” said Stefanie Bourke, Nike Pacific’s tennis product manager.

“We want to help our athletes be the best they can be, and look great on court.”

Nike are savvy enough to know that all sports and no fashion play may not result in strong consumer retail results. Fans do not just want to watch their tennis heroines, but dress like them too.

“At Nike, we are aim to deliver product to our athletes that not only performs on-court but reflects the personality of the individual athlete,” Bourke said.

“Take for example Maria Sharapova’s dress for the Australian Open.

“This elegant, fashion-forward design was based on a sketch by Maria, and our aim of working with her was to strike the perfect balance between aesthetic appeal and flawless performance.”

Tennis fashion has undergone a dramatic revolution from traditional whites into a kaleidoscope of camera friendly colours and flesh-revealing styles that can at times look more appropriate for nightclub wear.

How quickly do centre court trends become assimilated into the general street fashion scene?

When adidas brand ambassador Caroline Wozniacki showcases apparel by fashion designer Stella rings for the adidas tennis line they have stimulated store sell outs within days.

“With the adidas by Stella McCartney tennis line I feel like I have everything any fashionable female tennis player always dreams about: cutting-edge adidas technologies combined with Stella’s unique designs that actually perform,” she said.

“I always play better when I feel good, that is very important to me so I’m really excited about getting out on court in it.”

The revolution of women’s tennis wear first began when French tennis champion Suzanne Lenglen wore Jean Patou on the grass courts at Wimbledon in the 1920s.

But the introduction of carbon fibre tennis racquets and high-tech footwear from the mid-1980s has resulted in such power house performances.

The faster, louder and more visually excessive tennis becomes, the grander the prize money and endorsements opportunities.

However, in the wake of the Tiger Woods scandal that saw numerous brands including Tag Heuer end their relationships with the golf star, a new set of rules have emerged for what makes the right brand ambassador.

“With Maria she’s not only a champion on the court, she’s a champion off the court and she’s somebody people really look up to and admire,” said Schlehuber.

“You have to be a good person and honest with integrity both on and off the court and I think it’s extremely important that you have to live your life consistently.”

Great love makes a good story (think Romeo and Juliet, Odysseus and Penelope, Lady and the Tramp), and fine jewelry frequently plays a role in making romantic relationships even sweeter. What romantic tale doesn’t involve some sort of jewelry gift? From the Hollywood elite to the neighbor next door, love drives sales of many a diamond pendant, pair of earrings, strand of pearls, and every diamond engagement ring sold.

Jewelers know a lot about love-it brings customers through their doors every day. Without love tiffany as the main motivator behind sales, most might not ever occur.

To that end, JCK celebrates that powerful emotion and driving force in our business: love and romance. They are responsible for the sale of wedding bands, birthday bracelets, anniversary pendants and three-stone rings, push presents, “just because” gifts, and “get out of the doghouse” offerings, all of which give jewelers a livelihood and the rest of the world a shot at happily ever after. Here’s to the jewelers who drive home the romance message and spread that “loving feeling” year round.

IN-STORE WEDDINGS

-Josh Halpern, Albert’s Jewelers, Schererville, Ind.;

-Leon and Mark David, Ben David Jewelers, Danville, Va.

Fred Halpern, owner of Albert’s Jewelers, married his wife on Valentine’s Day. Years later, when Halpern was celebrating a milestone anniversary, a friend who was a justice of the peace offered to renew the couple’s wedding vows. The proposal was open-ended, allowing the Halperns to renew their vows with six other couples exchanging theirs for the first time. And with that anniversary celebration an annual store event was born.

For over 15 years, in-store weddings have been a Valentine’s Day staple for Halpern and his staff. As members of the Leading Jewelers Guild, Halpern and his son Joshua shared their in-store wedding event idea with other retailers, including Leon and Mark David of Ben David Jewelers. Both stores have become synonymous with in-store Valentine’s Day weddings with the David brothers doing their fourth next month.

From flowers, photographers, and a justice of the peace (or pastor) to champagne, cake, and food, the bangles requisites of a wedding and a reception are wedged into 30 minutes. Partnering with local support industries provides a complete wedding-day experience for the couples and also minimizes costs.

Each store does the weddings a little differently. Halpern and his staff bring in three justices of the peace with the goal of marrying 25 to 30 couples, more if possible. The David brothers bring in one justice and schedule about 12 couples.

Both stores have lounges that convert into makeshift wedding and reception areas. Near the back of Ben David Jewelers’ Danville, Va., store is a customer lounge with a large brick hearth and mantle built into a corner space. Furniture is cleared from the sitting area, and the adjoining beverage area allows drinks and food to be served.

At Albert’s Jewelers the 15-foot by 15-foot customer lounge is converted into Chapel de Fred, where the wedding ceremonies and receptions take place. The store has a hardwood floor area that functions as a dance floor.

Both jewelers aggressively promote the events, opening their stores to customers and others. The in-store weddings garner media attention, as TV and radio stations as well as newspapers look for feel-good Valentine’s Day stories.

People from many walks of life take advantage of the services offered by the Halperns and the Davids, including couples renewing their vows as well as first timers. “Some couples show up in jeans and casual clothes, while other couples get married in tuxedos and traditional wedding dresses,” says David. “We’ve even had a policeman and nurse married in their uniforms.”- PH

CHIEF ROMANCE EXPERT

-Craig Husar, Lyle Husar Designs, Brookfield, Wis.

Three years ago, Craig Husar became a Hearts On Fire dealer, learning a new way to sell diamonds. “It was a huge paradigm shift for us,” says the president of Lyle Husar Designs. “To truly romance a diamond, it required no facts or figures at all; we were selling the sizzle behind the product.”

Down from the countertops went Husar’s microscopes and away went his GIA charts. The second-generation jeweler even started joking with customers that his job was more about selling romantic ideas for couples than jewelry-an idea that he took a step further by emblazoning business cards with the title Chief Romance Expert. Husar enjoyed watching customers’ reactions as they read the card. “Consumers would laugh a knowing laugh, because they knew why [that title] was there. The very notion of giving a piece of jewelry to a loved one is romantic.”

As the economy tanked and competitors lowered prices, Husar held firm on his prices and sharpened the romance rings message even more (his store tag line is “Where women get into trouble and men get out of it”). He redesigned his store to feature private consultation areas tucked away in discrete corners and set up seating to accommodate two at a time and encourage intimate conversations. Curved glass display cases are etched with words like intoxicating , unforgettable , and forever to subliminally suggest romantic notions, and Husar’s salespersons became storytellers to help create connections with merchandise. Sales presentations even include instructions on how to present gifts to recipients. “I have salespeople repeat relevant stories to their customers as an example of how something special was given by others,” Husar says.

Fans of Lyle Husar Designs on Facebook are encouraged to post names of romantic restaurants and music titles, and a recent promotion challenged consumers to send in love stories for a chance to win a Tacori double heart necklace. Husar read all 75 entries, and so did his sales force.

“I try to help [my salespeople] understand how they’re making an impact on people’s lives,” Husar says. “People come to us on a weekly basis to thank us for helping them give a gift in a unique and memorable way. Prior to the [romance] campaign, [Lyle Husar Designs] was thought of as a jewelry store destination, but now we are the place to come to celebrate romance and romantic occasions.”- JH

PROPOSAL PLANNING KIT

-Ronda Daily, Bremer Jewelry, Peoria, Ill.

Ronda Daily has a firm policy at her store. A gentleman buying an engagement ring can’t leave Bremer Jewelry without at least some idea of how to propose to his intended. Daily is so dedicated to being a romance-friendly store for men that she recently had the store repainted in red and brown color schemes. “Guys find these colors comfortable and relaxing,” Daily says.

Daily and her predominantly female staff know a woman’s expectations when a man opens a small ring box. “When a woman tells her friends she got engaged, they ask two questions,” says Daily. “First, they want to see the ring, and then they want to know how he proposed.”

The Peoria, Ill., jeweler is as passionate about proposal planning as she is about the jewelry that takes center stage when a gentleman pops the question. The proposals that she’s helped prepare run the gamut from romantic and intimate to humorous and offbeat.

Daily works well with her customers’ ideas, which have included a man dressing up in a monkey costume with a sign reading “I’m ape over you” and contacting the manager at a couple’s favorite restaurant and adding some personal elements to a special dinner menu and romantic touches during the meal. But like any good coach, Daily also has a number of strategies in her playbook.

The Proposal Planning Kit was developed for Daily and her staff by Fruchtman Marketing. Designed with a football theme, the 24-page kit contains everything from product information on diamonds and precious metals to a host of wedding proposal ideas. It concludes with a checklist to make sure a young suitor is dealing with a reputable jeweler, whether brick-and-mortar or online.

Even the most romance-challenged guy can’t miss with the wedding proposal essentials in Daily’s parting gift bag: a bracelets of champagne, two flute glasses bearing the store’s name, a chocolate cake in a decorative box, and two small plates. “With that a guy can’t mess up,” says Daily. ”

The most fun Daily has had was helping a romance-challenged man be “that guy” with an ber-romantic proposal. Daily organized a dinner at the restaurant where the couple had their first date. A carriage was outfitted with a portable CD player so he could propose with “their song” playing in the background. Flowers added the final romantic touch to a moonlit ride along a river.

Another favorite was a proposal for a man who wanted a sequence of pictures showing his fiance’s reaction to his proposal. Daily helped arrange a photo shoot with his girlfriend’s dog. A box on the dog’s collar held the ring. When she opened the box the photographer shot a rapid series that captured her jubilation, second by second. “The resulting sequential images when framed were very special,” says Daily. “I still can’t believe it worked out as well as it did.”- PH

BALLROOM FOR BRIDES

-Anfesa Matthews, Anfesa’s Jewelers, Garner, N.C.

Anfesa’s Jewelers’ recent store upgrade makes sense when you consider the store’s mantra: “The wedding begins and ends with a ring.” This is why the 17-year-old business moved from a strip mall in a suburb of Raleigh, N.C., to a newly built freestanding 20,000-square-foot romance destination in Garner, N.C. The store includes a ballroom and banquet facilities, jewelry showroom, and day spa. Store owner Anfesa Matthews built it to provide residents with an elegant, fairy-tale-like venue as grand as falling in love itself. “Romance is how we sell our product,” she says. “People are buying jewelry for the people they love.”

The doors of Anfesa’s Jewelers and the Grand Marquise Ballroom opened Sept. 1, 2009, astounding residents of the town of 26,000 so much that they questioned their humble hamlet as the most sensible location. “People say, ‘You put this in Garner?’” says Matthews.

But she did, intending to make guests feel like royalty. This is why the ballroom is outfitted with six 7-foot-tall crystal chandeliers and 11 4-foot-tall wall sconces, a 20-foot by 20-foot marble dance floor, private dressing quarters for the bride and groom, and colored lights that coordinate with bridal party attire and accessories. A full kitchen allows brides to bring in their own caterer or select one that contracts with Matthews, while a 2,800-square-foot day spa enables everyone in the party to relax before the festivities. (Matthews sublets the space to professional massage therapists and hair and makeup experts who work their magic on patrons.) The pice de rsistance is a sweeping staircase flanked by marble columns that leads to the banquet area and dance floor. “The ballroom looks like it was ripped out of Gone With the Wind ,” the owner says proudly.

Everything from rings, bridal party gifts, reception space, and cake topper can be purchased at the new location. The ballroom can hold 425 people, and not just wedding guests. (Matthews hosted a tea party in October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.)

A bonus for brides: They can rent high-end jewelry to wear on their wedding day. “The idea is to sell cufflinks, of course, but not everyone can afford a $25,000 necklace,” says Matthews. “My vendors help us treat our customers just like Hollywood stars and New York socialites by lending high-end pieces.”

Word of the new spot has spread to some of the state’s most illustrious residents. According to Matthews, Miss North Carolina has booked her wedding reception at the ballroom. Matthews expects more North Carolinians to follow suit. “People are always going to get married,” she says.- JH

VIP TREATMENT

-Steven Singer, Steven Singer Jewelers, Philadelphia

Steven Singer is out to reduce the percentage of customers who purchase an engagement ring at a jewelry store and don’t return for the wedding bands-or any other jewelry.

Five or six times a year, usually on a Sunday, the owner of Steven Singer Jewelers invites to the store recent engagement-ring customers for a day of pampering and what he calls “the most fun you’ll ever have buying a diamond.”

Food and refreshments are served while customers move from case to case looking at wedding bands and other jewelry. Treats for the couples include a free engagement photograph by Shea Roggio Weddings and a horse-drawn carriage ride by the 76 Carriage Company, which also does carriage rides for the jeweler every Wednesday night.

Mixing romance with fun, the store also holds raffles. “We mainly give away swag from local sports teams,” says marketing manager LeeAnn Jacobs.

The events provide a way to promote new collections and the latest designs. In late October the store’s fall event featured naked settings for diamonds. “This is a new prongless setting that allows the diamond to be set in such a way that the stone can be viewed from every angle,” says Jacobs. “The diamond literally sparkles no matter what angle you look at it.”

Singer has held large-scale events for five years and smaller variations on the theme for 29. On average, 100 couples attend, but Valentine’s Day and spring events attract slightly more interest.

“It has been a real boon for us,” says Jacobs. “Over the years, we’ve seen a tremendous increase of couples returning to Steven Singer Jewelers for their wedding jewelry, and that means we have a greater opportunity to keep them as customers throughout their lives together.”- PH

FREE HONEYMOON

-John Carter, Jack Lewis Fine Jewelry, Bloomington, Ill.

In October, John Carter, owner of Jack Lewis Fine Jewelry, began a new ad campaign that may lead to a new store policy: Every couple that buys an engagement ring receives a free honeymoon.

Through an employee-incentive company based in Canada, Carter is able to give away a three-day honeymoon to Las Vegas, Cancun, or on a cruise ship, at a cost of $200. Carter estimates that a couple’s perceived value of the trip is five times that amount. That perception usually stops all discussions of discounting the jewelry.

“I actually save money by giving the honeymoon away,” says Carter. “The giveaway also saves us from having to have to discuss reducing the price of the ring during the associate’s sales presentation to the customer. And the free honeymoon has more of a lasting impact on the customer’s wedding-day memories, instead of a one-time discount on the day they purchased the engagement ring.”

Carter is promoting the free honeymoon with billboard taglines such as “We’ll float your cruise boat.” He’s also airing ads on local radio stations and using Facebook to get the word out.

To help create the casual and relaxed environment that Carter prefers, he keeps a wide range of domestic and imported beers on hand for clients, with an emphasis on exotic Belgian beers. “When a couple comes into the store we always offer them a beer or a drink or whatever beverage they want to make the sale presentation feel like a conversation between friends over a drink,” says Carter. “It really helps disarm the whole diamond selling process.”- PH

Smaller miners perform Since December-end last year, DSP BlackRock World Gold Fund has delivered a 37 per cent return and AIG World Gold Fund a 48 per cent return, rallying far past their benchmark – FTSE Gold Mines index. The interesting sidelight here is that the rally in frontline gold mining stocks such as Barrick tiffany Gold, Newcrest Mining, Lihir Gold and Gold Corp weren’t all that high.

However, gold funds have staged a strong performance on the back of smaller mid-cap gold miners such as Keegan Resources, Evolving Gold, Hochschild Mining and Petropavlovsk Plc, which have seen prices more than double this year.

The stocks of gold miners benefited from an improving earnings outlook. With gold seeing a 28 per cent appreciation in price – from $866/ounce in December-end last year to $1082/ounce now – their realisations improved. The commodity price correction also aided costs.

Gold itself managed a strong performance with help from fundamental factors. There was investment-led demand for gold following the weakness in dollar (the US dollar index is down 3.8 per cent this year).

The holdings of the US SPDR gold trust, the world’s largest gold backed ETF has gone up by bangles 45 per cent this year. In 2008, this fund’s holdings had gone up by a smaller 24 per cent.

The trend of central banks turning from net sellers of gold to buyers, also aided gold’s price rise.

For domestic investors, listed Gold ETFs have delivered a 23 per cent return this year, in-line with the domestic gold prices that moved from Rs 13445/10 gram to Rs 16500/10 gm.

Gold’s rally in rupee terms was restricted by the currency’s appreciation against the dollar. In the domestic context too retail jewellery demand had been subdued this year, but gold ETFs saw some good inflows.

Rajalakshmi Sivam BL Research Bureau rings Copyright 2009 Business Line

For sportswear empires such as Nike, Puma and adidas the grand slam tennis circuit, led by the Australian Open, are increasingly targeted as style laboratories where superstar players launch cutting-edge apparel, colours trends and fabric technologies before millions of potential consumers.

Equally, blue-chip jewellery companies are also vying for a share of the centre court spotlight aligning their products with top-ranked female tennis players who attract a global fashionista following.

Young, beautiful, rich and style forward, the likes of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are the new cover girls for product endorsement worth millions in earning power.

Williams is one of the highest earning athletes in the world with her career prize money totalling more than $US28.5 million. According to Forbes Magazine the flamboyant dresser also earns around $US6 million per year from product endorsements.

From head-to-toe Serena and her sister Venus have ignored tennis dress tradition to introduce sexy on-court outfits that flash bare arms and dramatic colours that have left players dressed in white looking out-dated in comparison.

Whilst the Williams sisters are famous for setting outlandish tennis trends including ultra fluoros and even gladiator style leggings, the counter to their bling is the more classic Sharapova.

Ranked the World’s No.14 female tennis player, Sharapova has wasted little time since her arrival in Melbourne to commence her brand ambassador duties.

These have included hosting a night with Tiffany & Co. on January 13 at their Melbourne store followed by officially opening the new Swiss luxury watch retailer Tag Heuer flagship boutique on January 14.

“It’s a really classy sport and there are two people standing on the court and all eyes are upon them and more often than not most tennis players are admired by people and when you have that it creates trends,” Glen Schlehuber, Australia’s managing director at Tiffany & Co told AAP when asked why tennis stars like Sharapova are such fashion drivers.

But for Sharapova her after hour duties are nothing compared to when she struts out onto the Australian Open centre court like its a catwalk wearing the latest designs Nike has especially created for their prized model.

The 22-year-old Russian is set to launch the Golden Set Dress that Nike promises will kick off the Grand Slam season with the most fashionable and technologically advanced designs yet. The Australian Open will be the first time she will wear this innovative design.

“It’s really incredible to be able to bring these looks that I love to so many women,” said Sharapova.

“I am equally excited about working with the design team at Nike to see how much more innovative we can get crossing fashion-forward designs with high performance fabrics and silhouettes.”

But no matter how photogenic Sharapova is just how much fashion can Nike afford to push within its female athletes’ sports gear?

“All of our tennis apparel and footwear is first and foremost performance focused to enable the athlete to perform at the highest level,” said Stefanie Bourke, Nike Pacific’s tennis product manager.

“We want to help our athletes be the best they can be, and look great on court.”

Nike are savvy enough to know that all sports and no fashion play may not result in strong consumer retail results. Fans do not just want to watch their tennis heroines, but dress like them too.

“At Nike, we are aim to deliver product to our athletes that not only performs on-court but reflects the personality of the individual athlete,” Bourke said.

“Take for example Maria Sharapova’s dress for the Australian Open.

“This elegant, fashion-forward design was based on a sketch by Maria, and our aim of working with her was to strike the perfect balance between aesthetic appeal and flawless performance.”

Tennis fashion has undergone a dramatic revolution from traditional whites into a kaleidoscope of camera friendly colours and flesh-revealing styles that can at times look more appropriate for nightclub wear.

How quickly do centre court trends become assimilated into the general street fashion scene?

When adidas brand ambassador Caroline Wozniacki showcases apparel by fashion designer Stella McCartney’s for the adidas tennis line they have stimulated store sell outs within days.

“With the adidas by Stella McCartney tennis line I feel like I have everything any fashionable female tennis player always dreams about: cutting-edge adidas technologies combined with Stella’s unique designs that actually perform,” she said.

“I always play better when I feel good, that is very important to me so I’m really excited about getting out on court in it.”

The revolution of women’s tennis wear first began when French tennis champion Suzanne Lenglen wore Jean Patou on the grass courts at Wimbledon in the 1920s.

But the introduction of carbon fibre tennis racquets and high-tech footwear from the mid-1980s has resulted in such power house performances.

The faster, louder and more visually excessive tennis becomes, the grander the prize money and endorsements opportunities.

However, in the wake of the Tiger Woods scandal that saw numerous brands including Tag Heuer end their relationships with the golf star, a new set of rules have emerged for what makes the right brand ambassador.

“With Maria she’s not only a champion on the court, she’s a champion off the court and she’s somebody people really look up to and admire,” said Schlehuber.

“You have to be a good person and honest with integrity both on and off the court and I think it’s extremely important that you have to live your life consistently.”

2009 Valentine’s Day Order Deadlines for Delivery by February 13, 2009:

Standard Ground Shipping* Friday, February 6, 2009 @ 1:59 AM (EST)

2-Day Shipping* Wednesday, February 11, 2009 @ 01:59 AM(EST)

Next-Day Shipping* Thursday, February 12, 2009 @ 12:00 Noon (EST)

*Guarantee Disclaimer

The February 13, 2009 delivery guarantee is contingent upon the customer supplying Overstock.com correct delivery information.

Items with specific shipping restrictions as denoted on the product page are not bangles guaranteed for delivery by February 13, 2009. This includes all oversized items, custom framed art, magazine subscriptions, and any other products with extended shipping time frames.

Orders shipped to Alaska, Hawaii, internationally, P.O. boxes, and APO/FPO are not eligible for expedited shipping and are not guaranteed to arrive by February 13, 2009.

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Like movies, television, a stiff drink and other affordable indulgences, the chocolate retail business is doing fine despite the fact that while other retailers in the county have left vacancies at a rate of 7.2 percent.the commercial real estate vacancy rate at 7.2 percent.

Candy is the No. 1 gift that people purchase for Valentines Day, according to the National Retail Federation, and local chocolate stores are readying for a quick sales spurt this week.

In downtown Ventura, customers havent stopped spendingcontinue to spend at Trufflehounds Fine tiffany Chocolates, said owner Claudia Gilman, even as surrounding retailers, including Bonnies gift and party supply store, clothing stores Duality and LINK, Brian de Staic Jewelry and a Quiznos sandwich shop, have closed.

Gilman expects to do 10 to15 times her normal business this week.

The owners of Tifa Chocolate in Agoura Hills also say they are thriving, despite the economic downturn. The store opened in April, said Mike Ashamalla, who co-owns it with his wife, Denise.

“We are happily surprised to see our sales are growing steadily, and we had a good holiday season and our sales continue to go up,” Ashamalla said.

Everybodys giving up things today, said Marcia Mogelonsky, senior analyst at Mintel International, a market-research company, but chocolate isnt one of them.

“Thats why these companies are doing well,” she said. “There still are a lot of people who say “I still deserve a special treat, and its not going to be a car or a diamond, but I can still afford chocolate. ”

Ashamalla echoed that.

“People are cutting back on big-ticket items like flat-screen TVs,” he said, “but people like little indulgences like a cup of gelato. Its a nice pick-me-up without spending a fortune.

“Maybe wed be doing a lot better if the economy wasnt so bad, but were really happy with the results.”

One of the top reasons people buy chocolate, according to a survey of chocolate buyers that research firm bangles Mintel conducted last year, is to celebrate a holiday, such as Valentines Day on Saturday. But most did so because “I had a chocolate craving,” “for no particular reason” or “as a reward.”

The rewarding attributes of chocolate are amorphous indeed.

Chocolate has long had a reputation as an aphrodisiac, recognized throughout history by such people as Casanova, the Marquis de Sade and Montezuma, whom legend states drank cups of chocolate for the same reason his descendants may take Viagra to increase libido.

The 17th Century poet James Wadsworth once said chocolate could:

“make old women young and fresh,

Create new motions of the flesh.

And cause them to long for you know what,

If they but taste of chocolate.”

California leads the nation, ahead of Pennsylvania, in the number of locations producing chocolate, according to the Census Bureau.

Chocolate sales are expected to grow steadily over the next six years, according to Mintels forecast. Total U.S. sales in 2007 were $16.3 billion, a 22 percent increase from 2002. By 2012 sales are expected to climb to $19.9 billion.

Its good news for stores such as Tifa, which is not a chocolatier, but an aggregator of chocolatiers fine chocolates. Ashamalla likens the place to a wine store.

“We try to find the really good ones from every chocolate maker out there and bring those together,” he said. “And its mostly artisan gourmet chocolate.”

Being that this is Tifas first Valentines Day, Ashamalla couldnt say with certainty how busy theyll be. But theyre preparing for a crowd nonetheless. His daughter and son also work at the store and theyre making up baskets and boxes.

“My daughter is creative and she picked all the colors and decorations,” he said. “We have chocolate from Italy, France, Belgium, Madagascar, Scotland and we try to put a good mix when making the baskets.”

Valentines Day is different for chocolate wholesalers such as Santa Barbara Chocolate Co., which supplies Trufflehounds.

They dont see quite as big of a sales spike as the retailers, said one of the owners, Jason Vishnefske, but sales definitely rise this time of year.

Like the retailers, Vishnefskes business hasnt faltered due tobecause of the recession.

“Weve been blessed with very loyal customers,” he said. “We also have a lot of celebrity customers and theyve rings been splurging right now, buying a lot of chocolate.”

Among them are Kelsey Grammer, Oprah Winfreys event planner, Jack Nicholson, Angie Harmon, Ozzy Osbourne and Sugar Ray Leonard, Vishnefske said.

If youre planning to buy chocolate for someone special this Valentines Day, keep this in mind: women tend to prefer truffles and men the nuts and chews, Gilman said of the advice she gives customers who frequent her 13-year-old shop.

“I tell them all the time when theyre confused,” Gilman said.Gilman expects to sell 10-15 times her normal business. Truffles in heart-shaped boxes are typically a big Valentines Day seller.

For those who dont know, a truffle is a thin chocolate shell filled with a blend of chocolate, ganache, fresh cream and flavoring. Trufflehouds, has nine flavors.

NEW YORK, Feb. 12 /PRNewswire/ — St. Valentine’s Day rolls around on the exact same date every year, but for some reason, it seems Valentine’s Day plans are often left to the last minute. What if you had your very own Cupid to get you through the day, someone who could answer all your last minute Valentine’s Day tiffany questions, help you make reservations at the perfect restaurant, give you great gift ideas, and even do a last-minute check of the weather before you head out for a romantic evening?

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What all these questions have in common is that they can be sent via text message to 542542 (kgbkgb), the number for the kgb 542542 text answer service, where a specially-trained kgb Special Agent is waiting to provide a quick, accurate answer.

The kgb 542542 text service combines the power of the company’s best-in-class knowledge database with the judgment and skill of a specially-trained community of agents — kgb Special Agents — who provide quick, accurate responses to any question. Users receive real-time responses to questions any time, day or night, from bangles any cell phone, for a cost of only $.50 through most providers.

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kgb (www.kgb.com) is a privately held, New York-based company and the world’s largest independent provider of directory assistance and enhanced information services. Founded in 1992 with the name INFONXX, the company changed its name to kgb in 2008. During its fifteen year history, kgb has built some of the most rings successful and recognizable retail brands in the telecommunications and enhanced information services sector in Europe, including The Number 118 118 in the United Kingdom and Le Numero 118 218 in France, both of which have the largest market share in their respective markets. kgb is also the largest and fastest-growing independent wholesale directory assistance service provider in the U.S.

kgb has pioneered the provision of a broad range of wholesale and retail information services beyond traditional directory assistance services, including call completion, movie listings, train schedules, price comparisons and “Ask Us Anything” service across multiple platforms, including mobile and landline phones, SMS and the Internet. In 2008, kgb won the Pelorus Award for the Best Text Directory Information Service in the United States. Last year kgb served more than a hundred million consumers globally and answered nearly a billion questions.

Yet with the national unemployment rate the highest it’s been in 16 years and economists forecasting a 20 percent drop in spending for Valentine’s Day, retailers are fighting to get their piece of the holiday spending pie as regular business revenue continues to decline.

Flowers, jewelry and a romantic dinner is still the go-to choice for many couples, but this year Feb. 14 has taken on an air of urgency.

“[Valentine's Day] is definitely more important this year,” said Paul Raimondi, owner of Baltimore-area chain Raimondi’s Flowers and Fruit Baskets. “The business is there, you just have to get your share of it. You have to be very aggressive in advertising, marketing and service — the consumer expects service now more than ever, and especially so with a quality product.”

This year, the family-owned Raimondi’s, founded in 1934, has an Internet special on a flower cube for $39.95 plus delivery and offered free extras to those who had their flowers delivered by Thursday. Raimondi said his business typically fills about 5,000 orders for Valentine’s Day, most of which are processed during the last three days.

Although Raimondi said he was “pleasantly surprised” to find himself on pace to fill as many orders this year, revenue was still down as customers have been spending less per order.

“When we initially planned the holiday [we] anticipated a 20 percent decrease; now we’re looking at being rings somewhere around 10 [percent] down,” he said.

With Americans planning to spend an average total of $102.50 — about $20 less than last year — on the holiday, according to the National Retail Federation, competition for consumer dollars and market share is fierce, and giving more bang for the buck is more important than ever, analysts say.

“People want to celebrate the holiday, and gifts will be purchased — there’s no question about that,” said Anirban Basu, CEO of Baltimore’s Sage Policy Group. “The question is how can retailers establish themselves as being the value consumers will look for?”

With more than a third of consumers planning on buying flowers and nearly one-half planning to dine out, according to the retail federation, florists and restaurants are poised to grab most of the consumer dollars this year. Even smaller florists like Fleur de Lis in downtown Baltimore report orders are just slightly down or even with last year’s, and a number of Baltimore restaurants said they had fully booked up the holiday by last week.

But looks can be deceiving. While Basu predicted that florists will have a “perfectly fine holiday” because it’s easier for customers to trade down from a vase of roses to a mixed-flower bouquet, restaurants are actually taking a loss because Valentine’s Day falls on a day when restaurants are busy anyway.

“Valentine’s Day is usually more beneficial when it happens on a Wednesday or Thursday because it adds to a busy weekend,” said Jason Ambrose, owner of Salt Tavern in Baltimore. “Case in point: Two Valentine’s Days ago it iced horribly on a Wednesday, and I was amazed [we] still did 120 dinners in a 150-seat restaurant.”

Ambrose and other downtown restaurant owners say that because the Saturday holiday is coming at a time when overall business is down between 5 percent and 15 percent, Valentine’s Day will have a minimal impact for them this year.

“Overall the business dinners are smaller and not as often — you used to have 20 people at a table and now you see something like 12,” said Ron McNeill, general manager at Morton’s the Steakhouse in Baltimore, which was booked solid for the holiday by Feb. 4. “Saturday is one of the busiest days of the week anyhow, so to bangles have Valentine’s Day on that day it hurts your net [revenue].”

But for other sectors, the weekend timing provides an unusual opportunity at a time when revenue is steadily declining.

According to Smith Travel Research, Maryland hotels averaged a 59.5 percent occupancy rate for 2008, down 4.6 percent from 2007, and saw revenue per room decline for the first time since 2003 to average $70.18.

In Baltimore, occupancy last year declined by 5.8 percent to average 61.2 percent for the year, according to Smith Travel. While the state still averaged a 3 percent increase in overall revenue for 2008, Baltimore’s total hotel revenue fell by $24 million to about $777.8 million for the year.

To combat the sagging market, the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association has launched a “Get a Room” Valentine’s Day promotion to take advantage of the three-day weekend many people will have with President’s Day on Monday.

The promotion offers a free night’s stay to those who book at least one night at a Baltimore hotel this weekend. More than 20 hotels are bracelets participating, including the 1840s Carrollton Inn bed and breakfast, the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront and the Admiral Fell Inn.

Instead of BACVA’s usual promotion of offering discounted rooms for Valentine’s Day, the two-for-one has some “extra cache,” said President Thomas J. Noonan.

“[Last] year when we did it we booked more than 2,000 room nights,” he said, referring to a summertime buy-two-get-one promotion. “I don’t know what our turnout will be this year, but I know we’ll pick up a lot of rooms.”

On the other end of the spectrum, jewelers stand to see their holiday profits fall this year thanks to tightened spending on luxury items.

After the worst holiday shopping season in decades, jewelers this year are staring at an uphill battle: Finlay Enterprises Inc., which operates 781 shops and jewelry counters in stores like Macy’s and Lord & Taylor, reported a 23.7 percent year-over-year drop in its November and December department store sales, and Zale Corp., which operates more than 2,200 retail locations in North America including Zales Jewelers, Gordon’s Jewelers and Piercing Pagoda, reported sales falling 19.6 percent during the same months.

“The goal right now is to continue to move merchandise, run over the inventory and position the inventory for better times ahead,” said Basu. “Jewelry would not be one of the big winners here — even the well-heeled customer has also become pessimistic.”

To that end, family-owned Smyth Jewelers, with locations in Timonium, Annapolis and Ellicott City,tiffany has gotten creative with creating store traffic by offering a gold buyback program. Initiated last year, customers can either receive cash for their pieces or get a store gift card with 20 percent more of the value on it. Ruth Ann Carroll, director of advertising for the Timonium store, said patrons have been using their gift cards this week to buy Valentine’s Day gifts.

While she noted sales have been down and she has budgeted for lower revenue this year, Carroll said the gold buys have been helping keep Smyth on budget.

Smyth is also selling a sterling heart earring and necklace set for $99 and offering a gift to those who spend $100 or more.

“We are trying to show folks you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great gift,” said Carroll. “There are other things you can get for $99 also that won’t be around forever.”

But however retailers fare this Valentine’s Day, it could be an indicator for another popular holiday for flowers, jewelry and restaurants — Mother’s Day. The two holidays are “seasonal outposts” for retailers between the holiday and summer seasons, said Basu, and investing money in advertising and creating attractive deals will be key for both. In addition, gaining market share now puts retailers in a better position to get repeat customers next year.

That is, if businesses can continue to hold on one year from now.

“I’ve been in this business for 48 years so I’ve seen several recessions before and this has been the worst that’s hit this industry,” said florist Raimondi. “Some shops are down 20 percent to 35 percent — you can’t continue at it that way for too long.”

The exhibit, which will start on Sunday, February 15th will be a cornerstone tiffany event in the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the founding of Vivid Entertainment. An extensive collection of cover art collectibles and never-before-seen, limited edition behind-the-scenes photos that chronicle the history of modern porn will be on display.

Vivid is widely recognized as the world’s leading adult film company, with iconic Vivid Girl stars such as Jenna Jameson, Tera Patrick, Ginger Lynn, Christy Canyon, Sunny Leone, Nikki Jayne, Hanna Hilton, Savanna Samson, Monique Alexander, Meggan Mallone and many others.

An opening reception party takes place on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14 from 7PM — 11PM, with an open cocktail bar at which guests will be able to meet Vivid Girls. Guests will also enjoy a screening of excerpts from “Deeper Throat” Vivid’s third premium cable TV series which debuts that evening. The exhibit bangles continues for four weeks through March 13th with hours of noon to 6pm from Tuesday through Saturday.

Keywords: Women, Entertainment, TV and Radio, Technology, Audio and Video, Photography, Film and Motion Pictures, S, Entertainment, Hollywood, Photography, Television, Vivid Entertainment Group.

This article was prepared by Leisure & Travel Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Leisure & Travel Week via VerticalNews.com.

You’re listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about rings WSU – the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers – on the Web at wichita.edu.

With Valentine’s Day approaching, perhaps the song comes to mind, “What the World Needs Now is Love.” But when it comes to relationships, Wichita State University sociologist Ron Matson says we also could use a heavy dose of honesty, trust and integrity.

Matson: “Honesty is about truth telling, and I think a lot of us feel like we have to maybe lie or tell a little white lie to get out of a situation in our lives or in a moment. And yet, without honesty, of course we can’t build some of the more important qualities that we think about in relationships like integrity and trust.”

Most people equate Valentine’s Day with love, but respect is very important, too, as Matson explains.

Matson: “I think in important relationships one of the things that happens is that people trade off respect for love, and in my point of view, human beings have as a fundamental need and a right, is respect. And I think that’s due us by all people we meet.”

And Matson cites three traits that are important in having and maintaining a strong relationship.

Matson: “The most important traits in relationships, regardless of whether romantic relationships or tiffany family, is honesty and trust and integrity.”

There is an old saying, “Without trust, there is no love.” Most experts would probably agree that love with trust lasts a lot longer than love without it. Count Matson among those who says trust is very important in relationships.

Matson: “Trust is really more important than love, and it derives from knowing that another person would not consciously hurt you. And it’s so fundamental in relationships to know that you can live your life day by day and count on that other person to never put you in a difficult moment, at least by choice.”

Integrity is another important trait in relationships. Matson explains what integrity means.

Matson: “Integrity is simply doing what you say you will do. If you make a commitment, you follow up and follow through with that commitment. So integrity is one of the things that I think is in short supply, but it’s essential, because if people can’t count on you and count on your word, then they’re going to feel really, really bad in the relationship.”

About 188 million Valentine’s Day cards are exchanged annually, making Valentine’s Day the second bangles-most popular greeting-card-giving occasion. Candy, flowers and jewelry are among the most popular gifts. Those things are nice enough, but Wichita State University sociologist Ron Matson says a genuine and authentic relationship is worth far more.

Matson: “I really like to talk about authenticity, about being genuine in relationships, and that means covering all those other traits that we’ve talked about. I just think that we have to learn to be the person we are. Strip away all the social roles, strip away the masculinity, the femininity, the boss, the employee, just be a real person. Be genuine and be authentic to everyone you meet.”

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.For more information about US Fed News contract awards please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, US Fed News, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.