About Us
Who’s Hope?
In 1990, with no money and only a Visa card in terms of financial backing, I, Hope Milner, started a retail business called The New England Gift and Basket Company in the basement of my home. It became the largest single independent gift store in Canada with almost $3 million dollars in annual sales, won tons of awards and was named the best Gift Store in Canada in 2000 by the Canadian Gift and Tableware Association (the big cheeses in the industry!).
What made my store so different was my ability to find those winning products – things that no one else stocked, or had yet to discover. Customers of all ages made the trek from all over to find those special, practical or fun items that would bring a smile to their face!
In 2006, I was approached by a successful businessman with an offer to purchase the store and franchise it across the country. After 16 years, it was the proverbial “can’t refuse” offer and I became footloose and fancy free!
Now, in addition to continuing to write my column about “Great Product Finds” for Retail News Magazine, I am working as a consultant helping other retailers achieve the same level of success that I have experienced and am assisting manufacturers and distributors in new product development.
What’s Hope’s Bag About?
Hope’s Bag is a retail or shopping blog (surprise!) which showcases some of the unique products out there – products that are “flying off the shelf” in retail stores and on websites across North America as well as tons of undiscovered gems that will enrich your life.
I attend over 20 retail trade shows a year searching for these “finds” and through all my industry contacts and years of experience, delight in writing about them…it’s my “Bag”!
Many are not new products – in fact, some have been around and successful for over 100 years! Most come from independent distributors and are found in small shops across our continent. They run the gamut from Gourmet to Accessories and from Pets to Home… all lifestyle products for you and your family!
All these products are terrific… for you… your friends…as gifts…or if you are a retailer, potentially a great product find for your store!
Hope’s Promise
Hope’s Bag is meant to entertain, inform, educate and surprise you. I’ll give you my honest, personal insight and opinion on products that other consumers and retailers absolutely LOVE. I carefully choose every item that appears - from personal industry contacts, trade shows and sources from my years as a successful retailer. That’s what makes Hope’s Blog so different! No manufacturer can pay to have their product descriptions appear here. However there are no product guarantees here: what delights me may leave you cold.
Nevertheless I promise that you’ll find it worth coming back often… after all, I built an award winning business on items just like these! So bookmark Hope’s Bag or if you really want to be up to the minute, subscribe to the news feed in Google Reader or in your favorite news feed aggregator.
Are the Blogs Paid For?
Not a hope! All of the products featured on Hope’s Bag are items that I love and admire and would have on the shelves of my store - if I hadn’t been successful and sold it! The posts are editorial in nature and only the ads (clearly marked as such) are sponsored.
How do I get my product onto HopesBag.com?
If you absolutely want your item to be seen, admired, talked about and potentially purchased by our readers – buy an ad!
If you want to submit a product for my review or you have found a great “find” to share with other readers, email me here with the details! Ditto with any comments, suggestions or ideas!
Or you can send the info by snail mail to:
Hope’s Bag, 555 Rockhill , Beaconsfield, QC. Canada. H9W 3G5
