Dinner at Brasa tonight?

Alex Roberts' much-awaited new restaurant, Brasa Rotisserie, opened today at 11 o'clock in the former Betty's Bikes and Buns location, at 600 E. Hennepin in northeast Minneapolis. The food is locally sourced and organic, as it is at Brasa's high-class sister restaurant Alma. But here you will find a mix of Latin American, Peruvian, and Creole cuisines, served cafeteria-style and priced accordingly. And while fans of Betty's may flock to taste the slow-roasted pork, rotisserie chicken, grits, rice, beans, and sweet potatoes, even old regulars won't recognized the space. Roberts worked with perennial restaurant design company Shea, Inc., to convert the former service station into a faux-Caribbean shanty with a large, shaded patio. Roberts must have called in powers even greater than David Shea to order today's weather. Dinner service begins at 5.

'Carribean shanty' to begin selling soul food

Brasa Rotisserie, a new restaurant by chef Alex Roberts, opens Thursday at 600 E. Hennepin Ave. in a space formerly home to the coffee shop Betty’s Bikes and Buns.Roberts is the chef behind the acclaimed Restaurant Alma, 528 University Ave. SE.Brasa Rotisserie’s building was originally built as an automobile service station and its interior has been redesigned to feel like a “Carribean shanty,” according to a press release from Shea Inc., a Downtown-based marketing and design firm that worked on Brasa’s design along with the construction company Site Assembly Inc. The restaurant features two steel and glass garage doors that open to an outdoor patio.Brasa’s menu staples will be soul food, including rotisserie chicken and slow-roasted pork with side dishes of grits, rice, beans and sweet potatoes. According to the Shea press release, Roberts calls the cuisine “simple food of the Americas.”Restaurant guests can order food cafeteria-style with meals delivered to their table and patrons can also order family-size takeout meals.

NEW PRODUCTS FROM AMANDA

Decca Holdings Ltd. is a publicly traded corporation that was founded in 1973 as an interior millwork company. The company focus is architectural woodworking for contract and hospitality applications. As Decca evolved, it expanded in to various areas of the high-end furniture industry. Today, in addition to the office furniture division, Decca Contract, Decca Ltd. operates Decca Hospitality in Atlanta, GA and Bolier & Company, a residential products manufacturer based in High Point, NC.

http://www.deccacontract.com/rottet.php

JULY EVENTS/HOLIDAYS

1 - Build a Scarecrow Day

4 - Independence Day

6 - Kristie's Birthday!!!!

7 - National Strawberry Sundae Day

8 - Dan's Birthday

9 - Shea welcomes Ryan P.

- Rock N Roll Day

11 - Peter's Birthday

13 - Puzzle Day

14 - Pandemonium Day

15 - Jennifer's Birthday

- Cow Appreciation Day
- Gummi Worm Day
- Ice Cream Day

20 - National Lollipop Day

21 - National Hot Dog Day

22 - Parents' Day

24 - Cousins' Day

26 - All or Nothing Day
- Aunt & Uncle Day

27 - Take Your Plants For A Walk Day (this was too crazy not to post!)

28 - Accountant's Day

29 - Andy and Larry Z.'s Birthday

30 - Father-In-Law Day

3-D Branding in New Entertainment Complex

Eventscape’s newest project is the Flames Central and Wildfire Grill in Calgary, Alberta. Partly owned by the Calgary Flames franchise hockey team, this 25,000 square foot multi-faceted facility is a unique hybrid sports entertainment venue. Enormous light features; one 36-foot diameter and four smaller (16-foot diameter) were created out of frame and fabric. The intricate metalwork encompasses four inter-locking framed fabric rings on each element, which raise and lower to reveal the three-dimensional Calgary Flames logo.

Backlit with programmable LED lighting and installed on the 38-foot high ceilings, these custom light features illuminate the interior of the main sports lounge and change the atmosphere from a subtle corporate feel to a vibrant red when the Calgary Flames are in town.

Dynamic framed ribbon forms of fabric above the bar create energy and focus. In the Wildfire Grill, the Calgary Flames brand is reinforced with circular framed fabric light features printed with custom graphics.

This project is an excellent example of Eventscape’s three-dimensional branding capabilities. From large-scale features, to printed graphic forms and iconic rollouts, we can help you create a memorable space. This branding can also be translated into special events, as Eventscape is also a full service exhibit and event company.Contact us for your next project and create an unforgettable branded environment.

Hilton CEO Elected to Macy's Board of Directors

Macy's Inc., Cincinnati, announced that Stephen F. Bollenbach, co-chairman and CEO of Hilton Hotels Corp., has been elected to the company's board of directors. "Stephen Bollenbach is one of our nation's most distinguished business leaders, and brings a depth of expertise in finance and operations for leading consumer-driven organizations," said Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and CEO of Macy's. Bollenbach was named co-chairman of Hilton in 2004, and has served as CEO since joining the company in 1996. Prior to joining Hilton, Bollenbach was senior executive vice president and CFO of The Walt Disney Co. He also previously served as president and CEO of Host Marriott Corp.

NY restaurant group sues to avert menu labeling

NEW YORK (Jun. 15) The New York State Restaurant Association has filed suit against New York City, claiming the city’s health department had overstepped its authority late last year when it ruled that some restaurant chains must list calorie counts on menus and menu boards.
In December the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene passed a regulation requiring that restaurants already offering calorie information on the Internet, food wrappers, tray liners or in brochures must list the information on menus and menu boards. New menus containing calorie contents must be in place by July 1. At the time, the department also ruled that the city’s 24,000-plus foodservice operations have until July 1, to switch to oils, margarines and shortenings that contain less than 0.5 grams of artificial trans fat per serving.
Rick Sampson, NYSRA’s president and chief executive, said the association is hoping to get a temporary injunction that will halt the implementation of the menu-labeling regulation. “The bottom line is, we’re tired of government dictating to the industry what we can do and what our customers can eat,” he said. “It affects chains today, but it will affect mom and pop operators tomorrow. This is bureaucracy at its worst.”
Sampson said the association also is battling similar legislation in the state legislature in Albany, N.Y., where lawmakers are trying to expand the New York City regulations throughout the entire state.
Philadelphia’s City Council also passed a similar regulation in 2007 that bans artificial trans fats from restaurants and mandates menu labeling.
Earlier this year Wendy’s International and White Castle had attempted to exempt themselves from the ruling by removing nutritional information from their New York City stores. White Castle also removed the information from its website.

How Surveying Workers Can Pay Off

Companies Are Finding Engaged Employees Become More Motivated

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118211923947038363.html?mod=dist_smartbrief

Macy's Margins: Retailer's regional buying strategy is criticized

By SUZANNE KAPNERFor more Business, visit NYPOST.COM June 12, 2007

Even as Macy's spends millions of dollars to create a national brand through advertising and store renovations, behind the scenes the company still operates through seven regional buying offices, a system that analysts have panned as outdated and costly.
Macy's argues that its regional divisions allow it to better tailor merchandise for different stores, ensuring that marquee locations such as Macy's Herald Square carry more upscale items than do stores in less affluent neighborhoods.
But analysts point out that Macy's is one of the few large retailers to still rely on regional buying offices. J.C. Penney, Kohl's and Nordstrom are among those that have switched to central systems, yet manage to pepper stores with local flavor, these people said.
As Macy's sales continue to lag expectations, the company's cost structure is increasingly becoming a topic of conversation. This is especially true as savings from itsmerger with the May Department Stores Co. start to run their course.
"Macy's cost structure is too high, and, as a result, their prices are too high," said Robert Buchanan of A. G. Edwards. "That is a key reason why they are likely to lose market share."
Buchanan estimates that Macy's could save $100 million a year by eliminating all but two of its buying offices. He favors the retention of regional merchandise managers to ensure that products are tailored to individual stores.
Such a move would help bring Macy's expenses in line with competitors. According to Buchanan, Macy's expense-to- sales ratio is 32 percent compared with 27 percent for Nordstrom and 25 percent for both J.C. Penney and Kohl's.
Macy's has tried centralized buying in its home department with disastrous results, making it less likely the company would move quickly to streamline other divisions, observers said.
The move to central buying for bedding, furniture and other items for the home pre-dated Macy's, then known as Federated Department Stores, 2005 merger with the May Co. Logistical problems with warehouse and distribution centers overwhelmed the Macy's team. Then the housing slump kicked in, further hurting sales of home goods, which have been among the company's weakest performers.
The pressure to cut costs by centralizing operations comes as Macy's finds it increasingly difficult to integrate the roughly 400 stores it acquired from the May Co.
Macy's is adding more promotions and adjusting merchandise through a seven-box grid. Prices range from good, better, best. Styles are lumped into four groups with traditional being the most conservative and fashion the most trendy.
Tinkering with the merchandise only works if consumers perceive products sold at Macy's to be of comparable or better value to what competitors are offering, analysts said.
For instance, towels sold at Macy's under its private label Charter Club brand for $16 stack up poorly against Target's Fieldcrest towels, which regularly go for $11.99, said Robert Passikoff of Brand Keys.

Macy's Delays In-Store Martha Stewart Model Homes

Macy's Inc., Cincinnati, will launch a new line of Martha Stewart products, but will delay building the branded model homes in-store, according to Reuters.com. On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Macy's had decided against building the homes. However, a company spokesman said that while Macy's would delay building the units, it has not ruled out the plan. "It is an idea we still think is interesting," a company spokesman told Reuters. "We still would like to pursue it, but we are not doing it this fall because of the other logistics involved in the launch." The 3,000-sq.-ft. models were going to be constructed by builder KB Home in Macy's San Francisco, New York and Chicago. According to the WSJ, the sharp decline in the U.S. housing market led Macy's to cancel or postpone the plan. Macy's will begin selling the exclusive line of Martha Stewart home goods including dinnerware, holiday decorations and bedding in its U.S. stores in the fall.

Health Costs Push Companies to Set Targets for Workers

WATCH your cholesterol and triglycerides. Your boss and fellow workers are counting on it. As the nation’s employers aim to get their money’s worth from ever more expensive medical insurance, many are playing a bigger role in managing and monitoring their workers’ health.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/business/businessspecial3/11intrude.html?ex=1339214400&en=970f111d212554af&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Casa Cristina Debuts at Kohl's

Hispanic celebrity Cristina Saralegui drew more than 8,000 fans during her personal appearance at Kohl's in Buena Park, Calif., on June 10 to introduce her new Casa Cristina Collection available exclusively at Kohl's stores nationwide and on the Kohl's Web site. The new collection includes sheet sets, bedding sets, bath towels, decorative towels and table linens. As part of the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Cristina and Jon Palmatier, district vice president of Kohl's, presented a check for $10,000 to benefit The Dream Center, a nonprofit organization based in Southern California, whose mission is to transform the lives of those facing homelessness, poverty or hopelessness. The Dream Center offers opportunities and resources for at-risk youth, low-income individuals and families to reach self-sufficiency by providing assistance in the areas of substance abuse, education, job training, food, clothing, after-school programs and health care.

PLAN AHEAD FOR JUNE 20th

Just a heads-up that on June 20 Target Center will be hosting the Get Motivated Seminar. Scheduled speakers include General Colin Powell, Zig Ziglar, Bill Cosby, Tom Hopkins, John Stossel, Suze Orman, and Jeff Taylor.

The start time for the seminar is 8 AM and end time is 4:45.

The seminar will break for lunch from 12:30 to 1:45 and attendees to have the option to leave the building. There are also two 20 minute breaks though it is not expected that attendees will leave the building for those.

It is expected that 15,000 people will be attending the seminar so this will have an impact on traffic, parking, etc. Please be advisedto plan accordingly.

Ballpark Area Construction Update

CONSTRUCTION ALERT

This Update is the sixth in a series of informational alerts to let you know about the construction going on related to the Twins Ballpark. Over this next week you will see:

· Continued mass grading in the south lot in the area where the Cedar Lake Bike Trail terminates and mass grading in the right field area;
· Demolition of the ramp from 3rd Avenue to 7th Street;
· Storm Sewer work starting in the 3rd Avenue/ 5th Street Intersection;
· Site utility demolition on 3rd Avenue;
· Demolition of the first span of the 5th Street Bridge by the Ford Center and demolition on the bridge abutment in order to move the BNSF tracks;
· Metropolitan Council Interceptor Sewer Relining continues on 5th Street and under the 5th Street Bridge.

The 5th Street Bridge remains closed until early fall; the 3rd Avenue Ramp up to the 7th Street Bridge closes permanently; and the Cedar Lake Bike Trail until early to mid August. Some construction delays have lengthened the time that the bike trail will be closed. The City of Minneapolis previously provided a map showing the detour route for the Cedar Lake Trail. A number of you called requesting a detour route that showed street names. The City provided that map and it’s available on the Ballpark Authority web site.

Motorists and pedestrians are encouraged to drive and walk carefully, expect delays, and allow extra time to reach destinations.

Macy's Ups Ads during Post Field's Struggle

Macy's planning on more sales, ads: Disappointing earnings, disaffected customers have executives rethinking post-Field's strategy.

Gita Sitaramiah, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
June 8, 2007

http://plainvanillashell.com/article.asp?ID=7959

New Product Info from Krystal

Barlow Tyrie

The leading manufacturer of leisure furniture whose brand represents the highest standard of quality and service.

http://www.teak.com/

furthurdesign

Modern Glass Objects Designed & Produced By William Couig

http://www.furthurdesign.com/main.html

Jacquard By Georgette

Fine European Textiles for Upholstry and Drapery

http://www.jacquardbygeorgette.com/home.html

Renovatio

interni d' autore

http://www.renovaint.com/

Father's Day Spending to Increase

Father's Day is expected to be a $9 billion dollar retail holiday this year. "While not quite as much money is spent on fathers as mothers ($9 billion for dads vs. nearly $13 billion for moms), it's up nearly 12 percent over last year and represents an enormous retailing opportunity for brands," said Robert Passikoff, president of New York-based Brand Keys Inc., a brand and customer loyalty consultancy. Results of a Brand Keys survey indicate that 77 percent of consumers will be celebrating the holiday, and that they'll be spending an average of $125--an 8 percent increase over last year. Consumers will be spending money on gifts such as clothing (28 percent), gift cards (26 percent), tools (10 percent), wine/alcohol (9 percent), CDs (8 percent), books (6 percent), electronics (6 percent), phones (5 percent) and computers (2 percent). The biggest change from 2006 is that more consumers will be buying gift cards, up 5 percent over last year. Virtually everybody (83 percent) will be sending a card, and half of the consumers (52 percent) indicate that they'll be celebrating at a brunch, lunch or dinner. There's still an even distribution in terms of where consumers will be shopping for dad's gift when it comes to bricks and mortar stores. Consumers will shop at department stores (27 percent), discount stores (26 percent) and specialty outlets (25 percent). Online spending for the holiday is estimated to be 14 percent, with catalog sales accounting for the remaining 8 percent of gift purchases.

BRICK BY BRICK KICK-OFF PARTY TONIGHT!

BRICK BY BRICK is an event designed to revitalize the creative energy of the Warehouse District and bring back the spirit that defined it as the creative center of Minneapolis. Just as this community was built, brick by brick, the stories continue to grow and the influence on the local arts scene is embedded forever.

We have made our selections and the winners are...going to be announced tonight at the kick-off party at First Avenue & 7th St. Entry 5-8 p.m. You may know one of the winners!!!! SEE YOU THERE!

Selected entries will display as banners on the light poles along First Avenue, extending from Washington Avenue to 8th Street South. Each winning submission will also be available in an online auction with proceeds benefiting the local neighborhood. Free sidewalk gallery guidebooks will be distributed through local businesses.

Don't say we're not tech-savvy here at Shea

If you've ever wondered how your computer mouse really works, click here.

Best Buy Mobile Stores to Roll Out in July

Best Buy Co. Inc., Minneapolis, will rollout specialty cell phone stores in mid-July, according to Twice.com. The retailer plans to open upwards of 180 Best Buy Mobile units in 12 states over the next nine months, including 170 shops within Best Buy stores and up to 10 freestanding locations. The rollout, which will be completed by February 2008, will include markets such as Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Washington and Raleigh-Durham, N.C. Best Buy Mobile stores, which debuted in Manhattan late last year, feature an expanded assortment of handsets, accessories and services for multiple carriers. The shops also provide customer seating, as well as repairs, loaner phones and other services. The standalone stores are about 1,500 sq. ft., while the in-store shops, located near the current wireless section, have about 800 sq. ft. of display space. The concept is a joint venture with U.K.-based The Carphone Warehouse, an independent cell phone retailer with 2,000 stores across 10 European markets. Currently, Best Buy operates 12 Mobile locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and one in Secaucus, N.J. Five of the 13 stores are freestanding locations and eight are in-store shops.

Macy's Launches Solar Power Systems in California

Cincinnati-based Macy's Inc., formerly Federated Department Stores Inc., announced plans to install solar power systems and significantly reduce energy consumption in 26 stores throughout California.

http://www.ddimagazine.com/displayanddesignideas/content_display/industry-news/e3ifae08acdf914f1644cad802be7e4bc21

Ladies First.

Perhaps a first in the hospitality industry, a Grand Rapids, Mich., JW Marriott hotel due to open in September will feature a women-only 19th floor and lounge. The reasoning behind it is the growing population of female business travelers, who make up half of all business travelers, said Andrea Groom, spokeswoman for the hotel.
"A lot of women are saying they're not feeling like they're safe when they're traveling to a strange city," Groom told The Grand Rapids Press. "They don't necessarily want to go down to a lounge and feel like they are getting hit on by guys."
For about $30 more than the normal rate, female clientele can enjoy chenille throw blankets, ionic hair dryers, jewelry holders and special bath products in these rooms--and a nice glass of wine after a long flight in the lounge without unsolicited male conversation.
It seems like a good idea, and definitely sets Marriott apart from the competition, which should benefit the hotel chain...but maybe not. Some are already concerned whether this is discrimination, and if it is, in fact, against the law. So, does this mean non-smoking floors are against the law if smokers are prohibited? Come on..let's not get too carried away here.
I think it's a great concept. And pointing to the growing number of female business travelers, I've seen many new magazines that target this consumer as well. And I bet TravelGirl will be the first to cover this new destination.

Restaurants Embrace Eco-Friendly Practices

In January, the board of the National Restaurant Association voted to promote more ecologically friendly practices in the nation's 900,000-plus eating establishments, according to The Dallas Morning News. Last week, at its annual restaurant and hospitality show in Chicago, green tactics were prominent points of discussion. Under the Green Restaurant Association, 300 restaurants have signed up to become certifiably green. And others are making changes on their own. At the Green Restaurant Association, to earn a Certified Green Restaurant logo, restaurants must sign a contract agreeing to certain standards (such as recycling, no polystyrene foam or Styrofoam) and to make four environmental improvements a year. The restaurants pay the association $560 to $3,000 per location for guidance and marketing. So far, most of the restaurants that have taken the Green Restaurant Association's pledge are either small regional chains or independents. This month, about 200 company-owned cafes in the Los Angeles-based Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf chain became certified (including 45 certified earlier that were re-examined). The U.S. Department of Energy listed food service as the commercial activity with the greatest fuel consumption per sq. ft. in 2003, the most recent figures available. Restaurants are also among the highest generators of food waste and paper trash. The national association hopes its new green task force will improve such statistics.

Ramsay, Beckhams said to be collaborating on L.A. restaurant

LOS ANGELES (May30) Famed chef and television star Gordon Ramsay is reportedly teaming up with celebrity couple David and Victoria Beckham to open his second Los Angeles restaurant. The Beckhams are expected to move to California when David Beckham joins the LA Galaxy Major League Soccer team in July.
The menu for Ramsay's second Los Angeles eatery will contain "a range of vegetarian options," as requested by the devout vegetarian Victoria Beckham, according to a story in News of the World, a publication based in the United Kingdom.
Ramsay, a former pro soccer player himself, is expected to launch his first restaurant in Los Angeles in 2008 at the London hotel in West Hollywood.
Ramsay, star of the hit reality show "Hell's Kitchen," opened his first U.S. restaurant, The London, in a New York hotel of the same name in 2006. Ramsay also operates several fine-dining venues in the United Kingdom, including the renowned Gordon Ramsey in London. He also has restaurants in Tokyo and Dubai.

Calif. Senate passes menu-labeling bill

SACRAMENTO , Calif. (Jun. 1) Over objections by the California Restaurant Association, the state Senate on Thursday voted 22-17 to pass a bill that would force chains to post approximate calorie counts for all items directly on menu boards and also disclose fat and sodium content on printed menus.
SB120, by Sens. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles, and Carole Migden, D-San Francisco, pertains only to chains of 10 or more branches and exempts daily specials and add-on options like cheese.
The measure now goes to the state Assembly. New York City has passed a calorie-posting law affecting large chains, and similar measures are under consideration in at least six states.

Macy's hopes Prince strikes youthful chord

Chris Serres and Jon Bream, Star Tribune, Minneapolis
May 31--Can a man who wears purple suits and high heels help restore a sense of glamour to a downtown department store?

http://plainvanillashell.com/article.asp?ID=7915

Fashion: Hot Mama, cool moms

An Edina boutique has grown into a multistate mini-chain thanks to one simple concept -- mothers don't want to look matronly.
By Sara Glassman, Star Tribune
Last update: June 01, 2007 – 12:01 PM


Saylor Ratliff, 19 months, knew just what she wanted. When her mom, Krista Ratliff, parked her stroller outside and brought her into Hot Mama boutique on a rainy Friday morning, Saylor made a beeline for the big glass jar of animal crackers.
Like the other toddlers in the bright yellow-and-red boutique, she soon was occupied with a paper cup filled with lion and monkey treats, while her mom browsed the collection of Ella Moss tops, Michael Stars tees and the hottest premium-denim brands around -- from Seven for All Mankind to Paige.
If Saylor got bored while her mom shopped, she could play at a train table or sit in front of an iMac or follow her mom into an oversized dressing room.
Ratliff came in wearing her gym clothes, fresh from a yoga/pilates class. She is a weekly regular and all of the store's employees know her and Saylor.
This boutique and default day-care sells clothes for moms that are anything but matronly.
Hot Mama was the brainchild of Megan Tamte, 33, who has cultivated a loyal customer base by appealing to moms like her who are, or want to be, like the name promises, s-s-s-smokin'.
"You can see it in [the customer's] eye. Deep down, she's there because she wants to look hot," Tamte said.
Necessity is the mother of invention
Tamte, a mother of two, came up with the idea right after she had her first child, Allison, now 10. "There was no longer a place for me to find clothes," she said. "Everything changes when you have a child."
She was referring to physical postpregnancy shifts as well as the demands of attending to a stroller-bound child and the time challenges.
"When I went to Nordstrom after I had my baby, ready for this big day out, the stroller would get jammed in the aisles. If someone was helping me, they didn't understand. It was unbelievable that there wasn't a store to cater to moms," Tamte said.
She talked and talked about her idea for five years. "I was spending all this time watching 'American Idol.' Then I decided, I'm not going to sit here and watch other people make their dreams come true. That was it. I poured it all into a business plan."
Her husband, Mike Tamte, 35, an accountant, helped her format the plan. Then they stumbled onto an empty space at 50th St. and France Av. in Edina, near their home. They signed a lease without having any idea how to actually open a store. They both quit their jobs, he as chief financial officer of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, and she from a job at the University of Minnesota's Department of Education, working with a reading grant.

With a small-business loan, some of their own money and investments from friends and family, the Tamtes prepared to open shop. Under the guidance of Shea Inc., the architecture firm that designed the look of Chino Latino and the Chambers hotel, they painted their new store themselves and constructed the fixtures.

Hot Mama opened in August 2004. Since then, the couple has opened two other stores in the Twin Cities and two more near Chicago, close to where Megan grew up. They plan to have seven stores by the end of the year.
The store has also expanded its stock to include maternity clothes, which now make up about 25 percent of their business. "We were turning away so many bellies," Megan said. "It seemed silly not to have maternity."
Service with smile -- and a sitter
What seemed so obvious to Megan is apparently an undertapped retail niche. "Trying to make the shopping experience a good one for those moms is a very viable approach," said Geoffrey Meredith, the president of Lifestage Matrix/Marketing, who has consulted for Gap and Levi.
He said that he thinks motherhood is one of life's major defining moments and helps to inform purchasing patterns, though he added that it's "unusual" to define the store's customer base as "moms."
The merchandise in Hot Mama also varies from the norm. Alongside familiar brands such as Juicy Couture and Trina Turk is a different selection specifically for moms.
The top-selling jeans brand is Joe's Jeans "Muse" style. Unlike the stereotypical "mom jeans" that make tweeners groan and roll their eyes, these don't have a high waist, but they're also not so low that a postpartum muffin top is inevitable. They cover trends, but not in extreme ways. "We interpret clothes for moms," Megan said.
Svelte moms, that is. Their customer's average size is a 6-8 (they carry sizes 0 through 14). One category that didn't sell well for them: sweatpants.
Prices range from $29 for Junk Food graphic tees to $180 for premium jeans. Their suburban locations attract stay-at-home moms during the week and working moms on weekends.
It's a formula that seems to be catching buzz among moms. "Ninety percent of our business is referrals," Mike said. "Once they 'get it,' it's tremendous."
Last month, Hot Mama launched nationally through an online shop that features "models" who are their real customers.
Despite the added convenience of shopping at home, a bigger part of Hot Mama's success is customer service. Megan works on the floor at Hot Mama stores about three days a week.
The idea is to make shopping truly easy for moms, like Ratliff. "I love going there because my kids love going there. When they aren't a nuisance, I can shop," she said. "It's wonderful. At other stores, you have to schedule a baby-sitter."

Dates to Remember in June

4 - Kim Returns

5 - Dan's Anniversary at Shea

7 - Susan's Birthday

10 - Adam's Birthday

11 - Michelle's Birthday

11 - Ryan's First Day

14 - Flag Day

17 - Father's Day

18 - Jason's Anniversary at Shea

19 - Emancipation Day

21 - First day of Summer

22 - Jami's Wedding

24 - St. Baptiste Day (whatever that is)

28 - Paul Bunyan Day (opposite of Arbor day?)