At its stop on Gurley St., hundreds of attendees welcomed the Capitol Christmas tiffany jewellery Tree photo: courtesy Kim Webb

This year, Arizona was given the honor of providing the nation’s Capitol Christmas Tree. The 65-foot tree was donated courtesy of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest headquartered in Springerville, AZ and will be presented to Congress on November 30th, after a national tour.

After departing the Show Low-Pinetop area on Tuesday, the Capitol Christmas Tree delivery bangles caravan made stops in Fountain Hills, Prescott Valley, and finally in downtown Prescott at 5:30 pm. The tree was wrapped in sheeting for protection, and the large crowd on Gurley St. were encouraged to sign it.

The City’s special events manager, Becky Garvin arranged for the tree to come through Prescott. “As a former state capitol and the place where many great Arizona politicians have addressed their constituents, it felt right to have the tree come through our town.”

Follow the tree on it’s way to Washington D.C. by visiting the Capitol Christmas Tree website For more information rings please contact: Sarabjit Jagirdar, Email:- htsyndication@hindustantimes.com.

“On the front line of consumers, parents going into stores, we want them to know that tiffany jewellery they should have increased confidence,” said Scott Wolfson, a spokesman for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The reason: a new law went into effect this month that restricts lead and another potentially harmful substance, plastic softeners called phthalates, from children’s products.

Championed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act was inspired in part by outrage over the death of a 4-year-old Minneapolis boy named Jarnell Brown. He was poisoned three years ago after he swallowed a lead charm that had accompanied a pair of Reebok sneakers.

“The death of Jarnell Brown had a major impact on our agency,” Wolfson said. Today, his agency’s inspectors patrol U.S. ports, armed with “XRF guns” that they use to sniff out lead in imported products.

The agency also has a bigger club to whack violators: the maximum penalty rose from $1.8 million to $15 million, he said. The $1 million fine paid by Reebok last year in Jarnell Brown’s case was the largest of its kind in the agency’s history.

Perhaps more significant than the new enforcement power, businesses are scrambling to ensure their products cufflinks don’t violate the new limits on lead and phthalates. The law requires manufacturers and importers to test their products and send the results to the government, but that provision was postponed for a year for certain products. Nevertheless, “major testing laboratories in the United States and around the world are overwhelmed right now,” Wolfson said.

That’s all well and good. But when one of those trinkets shows up in my house, and I don’t have an XRF gun, how can I be sure it’s safe?

If I know who made it or sold it, I can check the CPSC’s website to see whether the product has been recalled. Last year, products were pulled off the market in 70 recalls because of lead hazards. I know there are more lead-laced baubles than that.

So it comes down to common sense. Wolfson said that if your kids are young enough to put toys in their mouths, don’t give them any suspect money clips jewelry. The safety is worth putting up with the screams of indignation.

whistleblower@startribune.com

LOOKING UP RECALLS

To keep informed about dangerous projects, www.cpsc.gov has a database of more than 4,000 recalls going back to 1973. You can search by product type, product description, product category, company, hazard, country of manufacture or date. You can also sign up for e-mail alerts about product recalls. And the agency has a consumer safety hotline, 800-638-2772, which is staffed during business hours and takes messages anytime.

Since 2002, she was vice president and divisional merchandise manager of Wal-Mart’s fine jewelry and watch division. Mortensen’s previous retail jewelry business experience includes positions with Service Merchandise and Bailey Banks & Biddle when it was a division of Irving-based Zale Corp.

She started her career in 1977 as a buyer for Sanger-Harris department store in Dallas.

The service lets shoppers purchase items without using a credit or debit card. They do not have to make payments for 90 days.

Biz.com, of Culver City, Calif., auctions cufflinks jewelry through its namesake Web site and sells them at fixed prices on Buyz.com.

PayPal, a unit of eBay Inc., bought Bill Me Later Inc. of Timonium, Md., last year.

Credit: By Zachary Wasser

A woman reported a $120 necklace missing from her booth at the festival Monday afternoon. She thought she’d seen a man in the booth who might have taken it when she wasn’t looking, according to reports.

The man was spotted near the booth, and officers interviewed him. They found earrings, a pendant and other bangles in his backpack in a voluntary search, reports said. But they didn’t find the necklace, and he was released.

Police then interviewed other jewelry vendors and found that those vendors were missing items found in the man’s backpack, police said. They went to the man’s home, arrested him on suspicion of theft, and took him to the Kitsap County jail, where his bail was set at $20,000.

The O.C. Tanner store – a sensitive melding of the historic Beaux Arts structure with the conveniences of a modern building – is both historic and contemporary, grand and intimate, and preserves one of the area’s most historic structures in the midst of a quickly evolving downtown Salt Lake City.

“Dad was a life-long lover of beauty, and creating ‘the most beautiful Tiffany jewellery store in the country’ was one of his more audacious dreams,” said Carolyn Tanner Irish, the daughter of Obert C. Tanner and chair of the Board of Directors for the O.C. Tanner Company since Obert’s death in 1993.

“The renewal of this amazing building more than fulfills that dream, and it builds on the legacy of its own history in the civic life of Salt Lake. Thanks to the work of family members and many trusted associates over 82 years, the company is able to offer this remarkable gift to the city.”

The opening of the new O.C. Tanner store provides a productive and continued use for a historic structure that not long ago faced an uncertain future. Built in 1905 as the city’s main library, it served that function for 60 years. The building then was used by the beloved Hansen Planetarium, which left in early 2003 for a new location in the west part of downtown. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the three story building then sat vacant and decaying for four years until O.C. Tanner bought it from the city after submitting plans to restore its faded luster.

So at a time when businesses are hesitant to invest in anything “non-essential,” what motivated O.C. Tanner to make this kind of community gift? According to David A. Petersen, CEO of the O.C. Tanner Co., the restoration continues a long tradition of generosity and community commitment for the company.

“Many locals know us primarily as the bangles store company but the O.C. Tanner Company is the nation’s leading employee appreciation and recognition firm,” said Peterson. “This company is built on the philosophy of giving and demonstrating thanks. So building the jewelry store is simply another demonstration of our gratitude to our shareholders, thousands of employees, store customers and the 8,000 corporate clients we serve on a daily basis.”

The O.C. Tanner store lies within a 10-block area of Salt Lake City that is the focus of $1.5 billion of investment over the next five years. Promoted under the moniker of Downtown Rising, the revitalization project marks one of the most significant periods of investment since the Pioneers first arrived in Salt Lake City.

“The magnificent remaking of this important and historic building is truly a gift to the citizens of Salt Lake City and the entire region,” says Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. “The O.C. Tanner rings Company has not only preserved a beautiful icon from our city’s past, they have created a one-of-a-kind destination store that enhances our Capital City.”

“We are always looking for innovative ideas to develop fine jewelry and the Nickelodeon partnership to license SpongeBob is the perfect addition to the Simmons Jewelry Co. family,” said Russell Simmons, who will be on-hand to announce the partnership in Park City.

Marking the first luxury brand jewelry partner for SpongeBob SquarePants, the collection will be available for both men and women. Available at fine jewelry and specialty retailers in fall 2009, the products will retail from $150 to $75,000.

“We are so thrilled to partner with the innovators at Simmons Jewelry Co. for such a creative, and absolutely beautiful SpongeBob SquarePants jewelry collection in celebration of its 10th Anniversary year,” said Hal Snik, Senior Vice President of Domestic Licensing, NVCP. “Simmons Jewelry Co. has a unique ability to reinterpret iconic brands into beautifully crafted jewelry, and their work with SpongeBob is going to yield an absolutely gorgeous line appealing to die-hard fans and trendsetters.”

“Simmons Jewelry Co. is very excited for the opportunity to work with a global empire such as Nickelodeon, and are thrilled about combining SpongeBob’s universal appeal with our creativity and industry knowledge,” said Scott Rauch, President and CEO of Simmons Jewelry Co. “The development of SpongeBob jewelry has been a tremendous creative experience which we are excited to share with our retail partners and consumers. This fine jewelry collection will help further fill a void in the marketplace for the trendy and fashion forward consumer.”

Yellow is the new black this year, so it’s time to get ‘Happy Squared’ in honor of the landmark Money Clips 10th anniversary of SpongeBob SquarePants. Kicking off during the 2009 Film Festival in Park City with the first-ever SpongeBob live cast reading, Nickelodeon will celebrate the pop culture icon throughout the year with TV specials, original online content and new lines of apparel, toys and games. SpongeBob also will be a featured part of Nick’s multi-year pro-social campaign, The Big Green Help.

SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most popular series in kids’ television history. It has been the number-one animated program with Kids 2-11 for more than six consecutive years and its Saturday morning airing ranks as the top-rated program on television among Kids 2-11. Adult viewers also continue to tune in and have increased by 121% since the premiere of the show in July 1999 (Nielsen Media Research, based on A18-34 (000), September 2008 vs. July 1999, all SB telecasts combined). Nearly 70 million viewers watch SpongeBob SquarePants monthly (Nielsen Media Research, May 2008). The most widely distributed property in MTV Networks’ history; SpongeBob SquarePants is syndicated in 171 markets in 25 languages and is among the top rated kids’ shows, across broadcast and cable, in every major television market around the world.

About Simmons Jewelry Company, LLC

Simmons Jewelry Co. is where fashion meets fine jewelry. The company is quickly emerging as an industry leader and design innovator in all jewelry categories. SHR & Simmons Jewelry Group holds the licenses to Kimora Lee Simmons for Hello Kitty fine jewelry and watch collections (North America), Hello Kitty by Simmons Jewelry Co., Baby Phat Fashion Watch Collections, Simmons Jewelry Co. Steel Collection and Brown Sugar by Justine Simmons. Simmons Jewelry Co. can be found in premier jewelers and fine department stores including Kay Jewelers, Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, Zales, Gordon’s Jewelers, , Neiman Marcus and Macy’s Department Stores. For more information about Simmons Jewelry Co. and retail locations visit www.sterlingtiffany.com

About Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products manages the world’s third largest licensing business, pendants representing leading properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, and managing merchandising for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV.

Nickelodeon, now in its 30th anniversary year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 96 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for more than 14 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B).

The apparel business can use the spark. According to SpendingPulse, a sales tracking firm in Purchase, N.Y., while total U.S. retail sales, excluding gasoline, slid 2 percent to 4 percent during the weeks in November and December over the year-ago period, apparel sales plummeted between 19 percent to 21 percent. Hardest hit was the women’s category, with declines of 22 percent to 23 percent. Men’s apparel sales faired a little better, posting an overall 14.3 percent falloff during the recent holiday season.

Felix Mercado, celebrity fashion stylist/ expert and founder of Say It With Style, agrees that shoppers need to wowed. “The most important thing is to know who your customer is and produce a quality product he/she will ultimately decide whether they can or can’t live without,” he says.

He thinks the economy could favor young, but affordable, talent. “This season, and bangles over the course of the rest of this year, retailers will be looking for styles that are new and fresh, but most importantly, priced really well to lure customers back into stores,” he tells License! Global.

Retailers agree and although they want to be optimistic, they are being realistic and realizing price is more important than ever. Kara Ornato, the owner of fashion boutique Bottega Giuliana in New Haven, Conn., will be looking for cleaner cut styles for 2009 and will also be on the hunt for lowerpriced items.

She says the economy has changed retail buying patterns. Manufacturers are expected to go into production closer to the selling season this year, as a way to guard against surplus inventory. The move could disrupt retailers’ buying routines. “Typically, you would buy six months in advance of the season. Now, we might be buying in August for fall,” says Ornato. Understandably, she added, “nobody wants excess right now.” Otherwise, she is hoping manufacturers will lower minimum purchase requirements this year, “to make it affordable for us [smaller retailers].”

Roseanne Morrison, fashion director for The Doneger Group, classifies the looks that manufacturers hope will be must- haves into three themes – school of rock, town and country, and folk lore. Additionally, the major licensed looks continue to be those based on up-and-coming TV programming for kids. As far as celebrity licenses, the hip/hop rockers grab the headlines.

School of Rock: This look was teased in last season’s back-to-school period, but will be in full force for 2009, said Morrison. It is reflected in plaids, buffalo checks and C.P.O. shirts. The looks will translate from clothing right down to footwear. Tees will feature iconic symbols, many dating back to the 1960s. Distressed denim is making a comeback, along with dark rinses and even black and gray denim.

While denim has endured some competitive pressure recently from leggings and other leg wear forms, “It is still always going to be hot,” declares Anastasia Lee, marketing director for V.O. (Virgin Only) Jeans, a contemporary denim manufacturer based in Los Angeles that will be exhibiting at MAGIC. For 2009, V.O. is focusing on ankle-skinnies and distressed and ripped styles, and is introducing an ocean blue and a red denim in its spring and summer collection.

EBay style director Constance White agrees leggings will be key, and will be updated with a liquid metal look. Anything reminiscient of the 1980s will play a major role in spring and summer apparel. White even portends a return to jumpsuits.

Town and Country: Upcoming fashion trends also include styles that evoke a weekend in the rings country especially an English countryside. This includes plaids, tweed and khaki. “We’re going to see more bows and interesting fabrics. Cardigans will be big with a chunkier stitch,” said Morrison. In outerwear, this will be translated into anoraks, safari jackets and windbreakers. This look will even hit legwear, according to Wayne Lederman, president of Leg Resource in New York, the maker of fashion hosiery under both private label and licensed brands, including Nicole Miller, Anne Klein and Betsy Johnson. “We are expanding our tight assortment to include more textures and sweater knits, and we are really going after different and new fabrications, such as bamboo tights and aloe vera-treated tights. There will also be more emphasis on cashmere.” He adds that legwear will be a focus for fall 2009 because tights are “a way for a woman to update her wardrobe for a relatively little amount of money,” he said.

Folk Lore: Another major theme expected for 2009 is an extension of bohemian looks that started appearing in 2008. Several manufacturers said they expect to use more paisley, embroidery and novelty stitches. “We’ll see a lot of tunic dresses with matching tights,” adds Morrison.

Collaborations are also sure to blossom in 2009. Burt Tanksy, Neiman Marcus Group president, recently spoke at the National Retail Federation’s annual meeting where he said his merchants are looking for more exclusives.

While Neiman Marcus eyes name-brand exclusives, Target keeps up with its lines created especially for its stores. Timing couldn’t have been better for Target and its Thakoon Panichgul exclusive launch. First Lady Obama has been a fan of the designer, and Panichgul was the creative force behind her dress at the Democratic National Convention as well as events prior to the inauguration. The collection, called Thakoon for Target GO International, is priced from $16.99 to $44.99 and features prints with Panichugul’s Eastern heritage.

In other licensed properties, experts expect to see rock star-backed brands to flourish such as Apple Bottoms by Nelly and Dereon Jeans from Beyonce, as well known existing logos such as Skechers. Skechers, in fact, is launching a children’s clothing line from Adjmi Apparel Group in retailers that carry the popular footwear.

Also in kids, the popularity of Dora continues and has been joined by interest in a Nick Jr. show that teaches Mandarin Chinese (much like Dora taught Spanish) called Ni Hao, Kai-lan. Parents appear to like teaming up learning with licensed merchandise as demonstrated with all new apparel and accessories based on Super Why! from Out of the Blue Enterprises. Super Why! fans get a chance to transform into superheroes with clothing from the PBS Kids show from six fashion companies – Kids Headquarters, Berkshire, Global Design Concept, Handcraft, H.E.R. accessories and Pan Oceanic. The range debuts for back to school 2009.

No mention of 2009 is complete without noting Barbie’s 50th birthday and the myriad promotions that will celebrate the event from a runway show during fashion week to shoes designed by Christian Louboutin.

Speaking of shoes, eBay’s White concludes that footwear will feature dramatic statement looks for bracelets spring and summer into fall. Bold and chunky shoes as well as color block and plaid sneakers will all help consumers finish off fresh new looks. “People do have at least some money to spend and will spend on the right item,” says White.

A line of do-it-yourself kits inspired by “Project Runway” are in development through FAB/Starpoint and will arrive in stores this summer. The Project Runway kits for teens and tweens will range from handbags and hats to stationery and room accessories.

Just ask the folks at Tiffany & Co. For more than 165 years, the luxury Tiffany jewelry giant has slipped every customer’s purchase _ whether it’s a $100 sterling silver bracelet for Valentine’s Day or a $100,000 square-cut diamond engagement ring _ into a little blue box.

“I feel giddy when I receive that blue box,” said Lisa Wallace, a stay-at-home mom in metro Atlanta’s east Cobb County. “You just know it’s going to be something good.”

That box color, trademarked as Tiffany Blue, is one of the most recognizable hues and brands in the world, making it a giant in the marketing world.

“Materials define the product, including the packaging, and we are influenced by them,” says Deborah Scarpa, president of DJS Marketing in Miami. “The Tiffany box has a combination of power, quality and history behind it. To be powerful, most everyone must know the brand.”

After opening a cherished Tiffany box, many save it as a keepsake _ using it to store Tiffany jewellery or other trinkets. Those not fortunate enough to receive a gift with the blue box are simply out of luck.

“All the time people come in and ask for boxes,” says Tom Carroll, a regional vice president with Tiffany. “But you have to buy something in the store to get a box. That’s an important part of our policy.”

Since 1837, the company has used the distinctive hue, often described as a robin’s egg blue, for boxes that come tied in white satin.

“The world will implode before they change the color,” said Scarpa. Only the ribbon color changes _ from white to red _ during the holidays and for Valentine’s Day.

But Tiffany hasn’t cornered the market on signature colored boxes.

For 150 years, Cartier, the French jewelry house, has packaged Tiffany bracelets and watches in glam, heart-colored boxes that are overwrapped in white paper. “It’s symbolic of what’s inside,” says Cartier store manager John Terracino. “Red is an exciting color, and, of course, everyone is excited when he or she receives one of the red boxes.”

At Helzberg Diamonds, goodies come in burgundy boxes tied in gold ribbon.

“We make the burgundy box the hero,” said Linda Baker, the advertising director. The company’s slogan says it all: “Confidence comes in a burgundy box.”

And many cybershoppers go to www.redenvelope.com, where the ad tagline reads, “devotion in a red box.” Gifts from the online retailer arrive in signature bright red boxes tied in ivory grosgrain.

While orange might seem like an unusual color, those in the know happily anticipate opening a box containing a luxurious scarf or handbag from the French retailer Hermes. The company places every purchase in a burnt orange box tied with brown ribbon.

Even hotels are getting box happy. Since last November, the Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta has started placing gift certificates in signature forest green boxes with white ribbon.

It may be a little early for the Four Seasons to consider protecting their boxes, but veteran Tiffany has the process down cold. They even protect the blue boxes that aren’t fit to go home with customers.

“We had to make other trash removal arrangements,” says Carroll, after Tiffany learned that people pulled boxes from the garbage outside its New York City store. Now trash is removed during the middle of the night.

However, some resourceful souls have still found a way to obtain Tiffany and Cartier boxes without stepping into the stores. They visit ebay.com, the online auction site. Recently, a Cartier red watch or jewelry box was advertised for $5. And a Tiffany suede ring box plus a blue box and bag was going for $9.99.

“I guess we are supposed to be flattered,” said Carroll. “It becomes a problem when someone returns a gift in a Tiffany box to the store, and we must tell them the merchandise inside the box is not ours.

“Personally, I feel bad for the customers.”

BOXING AT TIFFANY’S

Inside Tiffany & Co.’s blue box with Tom Carroll, a regional vice president with Tiffany earrings.

Q. How many versions of the boxes do you make?

A: I would say at least four dozen styles.

Q:Is there one size more popular than another?

A: I think the most popular size, from our customer’s standpoint, is the box that holds a diamond engagement ring or the box that holds diamond stud earrings.

Q: Are the boxes made of anything special or just regular cardboard?

A: They are cardboard but (coated) with a high quality finish and done with a very specific color process.

Q: Is there a secret dye process used?

A: We do have a specific Pantone number that is used and is closely held information known to a small number of people.

_ Marylin Johnson

Tiffany’s fourth quarter adjusted earnings per share beat analysts expectation, as the second-largest luxury Tiffany jewelry seller said its bottom line was helped by strong sales overseas, especially in Asia Pacific and Europe as well as sales in more profitable items. Sales of engagement rings and designer jewelry both went up.

Net income in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31 fell 16% to $118.3 million, or 89 cents a share, from a year ago, while sales grew 9.8% to $1.05 billion. Excluding one-time items, the company posted $1.27, vs. $1.07 a year ago, fourth quarter EPS from continuing operations, topping analysts estimate of $1.21.

Tiffany raised its earnings forecast for the year, and expects growth of 11% to 15% in diluted earnings per share for fiscal year 2009 [ending January]. It sees adjusted EPS of $2.75-$2.85, above the Streets forecast of $2.49. Tiffany also sees net sales growth of about 10% for the year.

Tiffany shares jumped 10.5% to 42.65 on Mar. 24. In its category, Zale (ZLC) rose 3%, while online jeweler Blue Nile (NILE) shot up 12%. The broader S&P Retail Index rose 3.6%.

After the surprising results and rosy outlook, some analysts remain skeptical about Tiffanys earnings outlook for the year, citing the bleak economic environment and rising commodity prices globally. “We believe the U.S. business is likely to disappoint this year, especially in the NYC market where Wall Street layoffs are sure to have a negative impact and the benefit from foreign tourists is likely to diminish,” wrote Paul Lejuez, an analyst with Credit Suisse in a research note on Mar. 24. “We would be sellers of the stock into today’s strength.”

And some analysts indicated that the companys earnings growth could largely be a result of the company’s change in accounting method. The New York-based Tiffany jewellery retailer announced on Monday that it plans to move from “last in first out” inventory [LIFO] to the average cost accounting method, a shift thats likely to “artificially help earnings” in fiscal year 2008, according to Lejuez of Credit Suisse. LIFO counts cost of goods based on the prices of the latest purchased raw materials, and could hurt profit margins when prices rise.

Prices for metals, including platinum, gold and silver, have gone up quickly the past few months, fueled by inflationary concerns and speculations around the world. Platinum prices, for example, have surged more than 70% in February from previous-year period.

Platinum is a key component in about 45% of Tiffanys U.S. sales, Lejuez noted. Gold and silver are also heavily used in Tiffany’s jewelry products. “We believe Tiffany rings will face additional pressure on its cost of goods sold throughout the year,” he wrote in a report last month.

Some analysts also believe that the sluggish economies in the company’s major markets, notably the U.S. and Japan, would make it harder for Tiffany to pass the rising costs to consumers and thus make it a challenging year for the company. The combined U.S. and Japan market accounted for 76% of sales at Tiffany bangles.

Tiffany’s international sales last year rose 19%, largely helped by a weakening dollar as overseas sales numbers were translated to more dollars than before. On a constant exchange rate basis, sales rose 7%. Total international sales accounted for 41% of Tiffany’s worldwide net sales.

Still, some analysts continue to be upbeat about Tiffanys strong brand, pricing power and overseas presence. “We think strong brands like TIF, Coach (COH) and Nike (NKE) benefit in uncertain economic periods, as consumers are attracted to strong brand heritage, boding well for sales and EPS gains in calendar year 2008,” wrote Marie Driscoll, a retail industry analyst at Standard & Poors Equity Research. She kept a strong buy recommendation on Tiffany shares. [S&P, like BusinessWeek, is owned by McGraw-Hill Companies (MHP)].

“I think they are holding up okay compared to others, and with their strong brand recognition, they are in a better position to pass on some of the cost to consumers,” said Kimberly Picciola, an equity analyst with Morningstar (MORN).

The approximately 40% of sales from international markets “offers some downside protection from the weak economic trends,” said Kristine Koerber, an analyst with JMP Securities LLC, in a research note.