Burlington Vermont

Ho Ho Ho

2010-12-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

The holiday season is rolling. The shelves are stocked(more or less) and the folks are out and motivated. Here is the list of 2010 holiday front runners:

The Jesus Toaster - 29.99 is the clear and early front runner.
It's only fitting, I think, in this season named after him.

The Head Massager - 4.99 is definitely a contender .
Last year this was last year's winner.

The Nespresso espresso/coffee maker - 199.00
is the most coveted item this year.

Finally it's a toss-up between the Buddha Board - 39.99

and...

The fondue set 44.99

Are You You Ready For The Second Toasting?

2010-10-20T10:15:00.000-07:00

When we got the Peace Toaster I thought that we were pretty cool. Then we got the Hemp Leaf Toaster and I said "Wow, how edgy." I was even surprised, although I'm not sure why, we do live in Vermont after all, when the target market turned out to be moms buying them for their kids. Fantastic right?

I was feeling especially good about it too, because the company who brought these two funky items to market were local entrepreneurs from The Kingdom. Owen and Ian, two great guys, who make Ben & Jerry look like a pair of of corporate suits, came in to pitch the toasters to me. The whole staff loved the idea right away so we bought our first dozen. I asked the guys for 12 Peace toasters. It was back to school time and I thought that the kids would really dig them since toasters are one of the few appliances allowed in the dorm rooms.

A couple of days later the toasters arrived, delivered by hand I might add. As I was pricing them I realized they had shipped me 9 Peace Toasters and 3 Hemp Leaf Toasters. Oh no I was thinking, how am I going to pull this off. Folks can get pretty touchy about this stuff and I am in the customer service business not the political statement business. So, I decided to tuck the pot leaf downstairs in a display in the home office / school department. Well, in about two days I was on the phone to Ian to get more leaves. Ian was not at all surprised.

It turned out however, that the men from Danville had one more ace up their sleeves. You may have seen it in seven days, you may have heard about it on VPR you might have even learned about it on FOX News(on second thought probably not). Well here it is and the folks are loving it. Holy smokes Batman it's Jesus Toast.

I have only one thing to add to this.

There are only 65 days left until Christmas!

Coming Up For Air!

2010-09-14T15:17:00.000-07:00

The students are back with a vengeance. It has been non-stop here at Homeport. If you've done any driving downtown then you know what I'm talking about. Nowhere to park, the restaurants are packed with a wait, and no one on the roads has a clue where they are going.
Well you can relax and reclaim your city. The kids are ensconced and they won't pop their studious little heads up again until parent's weekend and then not again until the holidays. If you're curious what catches the eye of the students these days here's the short-list. :

Sidewalk Sale

2010-07-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

Sidewalk Sale is in full swing. Tomorrow is the last day to take advantage of this great Church Street tradition. All up and down the pedestrian mall merchants are outside showing off their stuff and breaking out some terrific bargains. For our part we've got shower curtains at $9.88, basic wine glasses at $3.48 a pair as well as heavy duty coir doormats for $9.88 just to point out a few.

It's a fantastic excuse for a nice walk in the sunshine!

Whoop-Ass Steak Sauce

2010-07-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

Every once-in-a-while one of my snooty preconceived notions gets thrown right back in my smug face; or, as in this case my mouth. When I saw the Whoop-Ass line of sauces and marinades I thought it was just a gimmicky, somewhat "cheesy" sauce line geared towards the gift market focused all on form and devoid of function.

Jalapeno Steak Sauce

After all, the clunky box packaging slash western outfit, the cartoon cowboy faces, and the tacky plastic cowboy hat, even the name ...really ... I mean come on!
Well, we have been selling bunches of this stuff for years now with me scoffing all the while.
I really am a food snob you can ask anyone. I love to cook, I am especially concerned with subtleties of flavor. I have a fairly discerning palette, I have traveled to France and Italy where food is everything etcetera, etcetera, etcetera

So, the other day the store manager, Beth, gives me a bottle because the cowboy's chapeau has gone missing. Apparently they don't sell if their little outfits aren't just so. I have 8 people living in my house and as a result I never say no to free anything; besides their ravenous appetites and plebeian tastes won't care at all. That evening I grilled up some nice steak. In my opinion well prepared beef shouldn't require anything after it has been served; however, curious I splashed a little on my plate just to see what passed for flavor among the "great unwashed". As I sure you have surmised by now I found the Whoop-Ass Jalapeno Steak Sauce to be quite delicious. It was not unlike the British steak sauce HP (not to be confused with the American version with the same name). It has a slight hint of citrus and the unmistakable flavor of jalapeno without being too spicy. So if you love great food I really recommend that you give it a try.

How Sharp Are You?

2010-06-25T14:51:00.000-07:00

   I have just finished revamping our knife section and it got me thinking about how rarely I see really good home cooks using decent cutlery. I am talking about friends and relatives who really love to cook and and take great pride in their skills and are able to put the proof in their puddings.
   Yet there they are laboring away with tools that should be embarrassed to be in the service of such fine workmanship. So...this gives me the idea, next time I am invited to the home of one of my favorite cooks, I am going to skip the wine and flowers and instead bring a gift that not only will endure but that can turn a chore into a real pleasure, ...oh yes and hopefully get me invited back.
   If you have ever used a really fine knife then you know exactly what I'm talking about. There is nothing like slicing veggies with a really sharp Wusthof 8" Cooks Knife. Last Thanksgiving my dad got me a 12" carving knife from "Chef's Choice" This is a great knife at a great price. Chef's choice is now making their knives right here in the United States. They use the German methods of fine cutlery making and for the moment they are one of our best value propositions.
   Far and away our most exciting new line is Kikuichi. This group of knives is definitely on the pricey side and is only for those of us who are really into the art of cooking. However, setting aside the craftsmanship only found in a family that has been producing sword grade steel for 700 hundred years, these pieces are truly works of art. Worth their price simply for their beauty, these kitchen tools can really make the experience of preparing a fine meal a joy from the start.

Jazzfest is going on right in front of Homeport

2010-06-11T10:35:00.000-07:00

Well, It's been pretty busy around here. The short-list is as follows:

Jazzfest is going on right now. There is lots of free music to hear all over the Marketplace. You should make it a point to come downtown and enjoy some of it.
We have officially launched our online gift registry. Couples can create and manage their own registries on line and their guests can shop from anywhere whether they plan to attend the event or not.
Believe it or not the back-to-school action has begun. Students living off campus are signing leases and are beginning to outfit their apartments with cool decor from Homeport.
The fruits of our spring buying are starting to sprout on to the shelves and on to the floor. So, there is a lot of fresh new merchandise to look at.

All-in-all it's a very good time to be on Church Street the cafes are all out and when the sun is shining the is no better place to enjoy a day. When you do come down we sure hope that you'll stop in and say hi.

Cow - A - Bunga!

2010-05-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

If you're reading the Homeport blog then I already know that you are as sharp as they come and it will seem banal for me to point out that Church Street is, simply, littered with loudly adorned bovine effigies. So I won't point that out. You probably also are aware that they are an effort by the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce to bring the Burlington Arts Community and the Burlington Business Community together in a sort of bucolic Civil Union while at the same time helping out in the Vermont Campaign To End Childhood Hunger. So I won't mention that either. In the end, there is not much to add in the way of words.But... This isn't a story about pretty words. It's about pretty pictures.

This Is The Cow That Homeport Sponsored. With Art Work By Carolle Larue-Bouchett

And Here Are Some Other Cows:

Don't get stuck out in the cold.

2010-05-07T15:48:00.001-07:00

Ever had one of those moments when you're out walking Church Street, not really headed anywhere, but unwilling to call it an evening and head home? We see countless people every evening wandering up and down the pedestrian only way (and you can too by logging in to our Downtown Web Cam).

We also see a lot of you caught with the evening wanderlust fail to find refuge from the falling twilight temperatures, but fear not, Homeport can now be your shelter! We've extended our hours and are now open until 8:00pm Monday through Saturday. No more tugging on our inviting foyer doors to find them locked and barred.

So the next time you're strolling the Marketplace after a dinner out at one of the numerous local eateries, swing on in and see what new offerings we've received.

I'm sure you won't regret it.

Back From The Furniture Show

2010-04-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

Man it's good to be back in good old Vermont, even if the weather is as weird as all get out. You are looking at some of the raw data coming back from the Highpoint Furniture show. These are 3, of the many, pieces that we found noteworthy.

However it's just the beginning of the buying process. Of the things that we see at a show only the most popular will actually go into production. Then we buyers have to come back home and figure out how much it will cost to bring it to our part of the country. Vermont, by the way, is at the end of the shipping chain so getting goods delivered here is often more expensive than bringing them to a more populated market. Still I don't think we would trade our great environment and slightly higher cost of living for their shipping discounts and traffic jams. Never-the-less we still have to figure out whether or not we can get it to market at a competitive price for our customers.

Then we look at our product mix. There are thousands of new products introduced at each new show and deciding which ones will suit our store from a price, quality, and style perspective can be a daunting task. It is also the most rewarding when we pick something that our customers really dig. Conversely it is a real bummer when you pick a dog.

Here at Homeport we have a tried and true method of curbing the number of bad buying decisions - "Merciless Ridicule" Here is but one example of a real looser: The Moon Goblets. You might even be thinking "Hey, those aren't so bad" and you would be in fine company. We thought well enough of them to buy several dozen. We were wrong!

All of that said, the buying trips are great fun and if we do our job right then you will be able to enjoy the fruits of our labors in the coming months right here on Church Street.

I will leave you with a few more possibilities to ponder:

...You see those "Nutter Butters" on the Kitchen Cart? That's just one of the perks we are treated to as vendors try woo our buyers...

Get Out!

2010-04-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

Leave your desk, drop your pens, and close your laptops. The sun is-a-shining and it looks like it may for awhile. So, get out and enjoy it. For next week it may snow!

The Newton Sleeper Has Arrived!

2010-03-20T07:59:00.000-07:00

I am prepared to stipulate that this is a super lame photograph. However, I'm out of town at the moment and it was the only one I could conjure up. I do have one other picture but I'm not sure it's any better.

Photo aside this is a very cool little sofa. It measures only 56 inches wide by 36 inches deep so it is great for when you need a comfortable seat in a tight spot. Plus (that's right there's more) it folds out in to a bed 46 x 71 perfect for the overnight guest you may not be ready to cuddle up with yet and absolutely wrong for a 3 week visit from the in-laws.

It is super light weight. It's a lot of fun to carry these guys through the store on your shoulder. You feel like superman for five minutes or until some little kid comes over and lifts up the end of it, with one skinny little arm no less. Here is the real kicker though; it's made right here in the good ole US of A.

I have included this random odd picture which my son took. It is a panorama of a Ft Lauderdale coastline.I hope this makes us even for the earlier picture -Mark

Homeport Now Has Bed Linen

2010-03-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

Just In JS Sanders Collection 1500 Thread Count 100% Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set Includes:

Flat Sheet
Fitted Sheet
1 Pillow Case

Twin	39.99
X-Long Twin	49.99
Queen	59.99
King	89.99

Colors Available In-Store Now : White and Taupe
Colors Due Soon: Sage
As soon as they are all in they will be posted on the Website and available for purchase.

Mardi Gras On Church Street In Burlington Vermont (well actually Samdi Gras)

2010-03-03T08:54:00.000-08:00

New Greeting Cards!

2010-02-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

Hoping to escape the January cold, four of us scurried to Atlanta mid-January to attend a trade show. You may have seen it…"record low temperatures in Atlanta” that week.

Back in winter warm Vermont, the new items we selected are arriving daily. Come on in and check out our new greeting card lines……MikWright, Shade Tree Greetings 'Actual Pictures', and a more complete line of Shannon Martin, Girl Designer.

An expanded selection of cards designed by Vermont artists, St. Patrick's Day and Easter cards are here now, too!

No More Naked Texting

2010-02-20T14:18:00.000-08:00

Do NOT be the last one on your block to be fashionably attired!

Text-wear is the penultimate fashion accessory; at once modest and bold.

Thumb Threads™ could be your ticket onto the "A" List.

Eyelash Panels

2010-02-10T14:08:00.000-08:00

WOW! Are you sitting down because this awesome item just came in!

   I apologize for the hyperbole right away but I'm the buyer of this one and I think they're terrific.
   Its a 42"w X 84"h panel. suitable for a doorway, a tall window, as an accent for a wall, or even as a light division in a room. There are available in black, brown, and rust(shown) and will soon be available in ivory, khaki, and gold.
   It is a very cool look and it's only $26.99. I haven't got them on the web yet so you'll have to come into the store to see them.
    This is one of the first of many new items to arrive from our latest Atlanta Gift Show buying trip.

Monkey Band

2010-02-05T19:58:00.001-08:00

I don't know how I missed it. Our intrepid, man on the spot, Ben Higgins, you may know him as his alter ego HomePort Man, took this wonderful photo right outside our door. January 17th, 2010.

You can see more of Ben's fine work at the Homeport Twitter Pics Site

If you had been checking out our web cam you would have seen it too.

Brushing Off The Moss

2010-02-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

   It's February and in a grand effort to point out the obvious it's cold here in Burlington, VT. Which is no problem really because we Vermonters are made of heartier stuff. I know this because as I was driving in today I saw a farmer who lives near me up on his barn roof wearing only a lumber jacket, mostly unbuttoned, with a bit of plumber's "you-know-what" bringing up the rear.

   New on the Homeport website is a chat feature. We have added it in the hopes that it will offer our customers yet another way to find out what we are all about and what we have in store for them. With a selection as vast and as dynamic as we offer it is challenging, to say the least, even to keep a fair representation online. With any luck this will help folks who visit our site get the answers their looking for. Obviously it cannot be tended 24 hours a day but we are trying to watch it during business hours.
   Until Next time.

Bloody Cold Here

2009-12-30T13:28:00.000-08:00

   I don't know if you can see it in the lower right corner of that picture but it's 14°f. True, it's up from yesterday's sad, sad 5°f. but, still blinking cold.

   However, as you can see Vermonters aren't scared off by a little cold weather. The folks have been braving the frost and snow to take advantage of the post Christmas discounts.

   On a more serious note, please be careful out there while driving about. I saw two cars right off the road and an eighteen wheeler jackknifed hard yesterday as I came in from Charlotte on Route 7.

   Have a great new year and remember Homeport for your entertaining needs.

Phew! We All Made It!

2009-12-26T12:24:00.000-08:00

So wraps another Christmas Season at Homeport. However, the madness is but begun.
THE SALE IS ON!
You can see our sale ad by clicking here.
We're doing it a bit different this year. If you happen to be a veteran sale shopper at Homeport you will notice that we are only running
Toys 50% off until Dec. 31, 2009.
At that point they will join the general sale of
20% off The Entire Store Until January 23rd *.
That is because we are planning to keep a modest toy department all year long.
We just could not bear to see the dissapointed looks on the young faces when they came in post holiday, tearing a B-line to the 2nd floor, parents in tow, only to discover that the toys had dissapeared for the season.
Hope everyone had a great Christmas, Chanuka, Kwansa, Islamic New Year, or whatever you choose to observe or not...
We had a great season at Homeport and for that we thank you!

Head Massager Mania

2009-12-15T13:04:00.000-08:00

   This run away, best selling, holiday item is BACK IN STOCK!
   The Head Massager, aside from reducing tension by stimulating sensitive nerves in the scalp, is a favorite this year for stockings, secret Santas and office gift giving.
   It is instantly invigorating and best of all it's only $4.99. Click here to order yours!

Friday Night Buzz

2009-12-11T16:52:00.000-08:00

As many of the frequent Homeport shoppers may know, we've been offering demos of our newest espresso machines, dolling out samples of Nespresso coffee like it was going out of style (it's not, don't worry!). During my demonstrations, I'm asking our customers if they'd like a cappuccino or a latte, and it's become clear the average Vermonter doesn't know the subtle difference between the two. Which I admit is surprising considering the number of tall, grande and venti size cups from Starbucks or Uncommon Grounds I see come through the front door.

"So what is the difference?" I can hear you asking both then and now.

Both drinks contain the same amount of espresso, and both can be made with any strength of roast (I prefer a traditional Italian Espresso roast, but then again, I like my coffee black, black black). The difference is in the foam; more specifically, the amount of foam.

Cappuccinos traditionally have lots of foam and just a bit of the warm milk added to the shot of espresso. This preserves the flavor of the espresso, and creates a "drier" beverage. Lattes therefore, have less foam and more warm milk. This gives the latte a "wetter" flavor.

So which one is better? Honestly, that's up to you. Each person's taste buds and preferences differ. Now that you know a bit more about the enigma of espresso drinks, which one can I prepare for you?

Father Christmas

2009-12-10T14:45:00.000-08:00

People have been commenting on our life sized Father Christmas who lives in the foyer at Homeport. So I thought I'd post a picture for all to see.
The more astute among us may even recognize him as the creepy butler from our Halloween display. Carolle, our display artist did a wonderful job transforming him from Scary Halloween to Slightly Uneasey Christmas

It's Snowing

2009-12-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

Well today we saw our first real snow in Burlington. The snow started off all fluffy and blowing but by this afternoon it was ripe for snow men and snow balls. This is the view from our web camera It looks right out our front door towards the Burlington Town Center FKA: Burlington Square Mall.

You can see Church Street through it any day you like by clicking here. Unfortunately the camera only operates during business hours because we keep flipping the breaker it uses when we close up. So until I get it together to figure out which breaker it is it will be business hours only.

Mermen Added To The Website

2009-12-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

Check out all of the mermen here!

Let's Get Started

2009-12-09T07:55:00.000-08:00

We are Homeport - a family run, lifestyle and home furnishing store located at 52 Church Street in Burlington, Vermont. Our goal is to provide our customers with an outstanding shopping experience! If you are they type of person who shops for entertainment then you're going to love Homeport.
When you visit us you can expect displays akin to an Indian bazaar overflowing with unique, some might say weird, stuff. The music will keep your toes tapping, and the staff will make you feel like part of the family.
We offer a large range of products to suit your every household need. We travel around the country to different trade shows and to meet with small, specialty vendors in order to carry the products Not typically available to the mass market. Check out our website for an idea of the kinds of products we have. Don't forget to check back again...we're adding product all the time!