FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Keli Sim DeRitis Company: Poggi Bonsi, LLC Phone: 206.714.8278 FAX: 425.282.45892 Email Address: keli@poggibonsigifts.com Website: www.poggibonsigifts.com Renton, Washington, November 5, 2012 Local Gourmet Kitchen Store Poggi Bonsi Chosen by the Italian Trade Commission to Participate in "Tuscan Home," an Event Celebrating the Quality and Craftsmanship of Tuscany. Poggi Bonsi was selected by the Italian Trade Commission, Artex, and Promozione Toscana as one of 15 stores from across the country to participate in "Tuscan Home." This promotion was developed to enable small artisan manufacturers in Tuscany to connect with independent retail store owners in the United States. The "Tuscan Home" event featuring newly arrived Tuscan ceramics, hand selected during the promotion this summer, will run December 9-13, 2012 at Poggi Bonsi's store at The Landing in Renton. The highlight of the event with be an Italian-themed wine reception on December 13, 2012 from 6:30-9:00pm. As part of the "Tuscan Home" promotion Poggi Bonsi co-owner, Michelle Codd, travelled to Tuscany in June of 2012 to meet with Italian artisans who craft everything from cashmere sweaters to papier mache masks of Michelangelo. "Naturally we were interested in the Italian ceramics." said Codd, "though it was delightful to visit a company called Egizia--in the town of Poggibonsi--which creates intricate silk-screened glassware." Through the contacts made on this tour Codd and business partner, Keli Sim-DeRitis, placed orders with four new Italian ceramic studios. Ceramics from these artisans will be arriving at their store in Renton in mid November 2012 and will be featured as part of the "Tuscan Home" event. The Italian Trade Commission works to increase awareness of Italian-made products around the world. In the "Tuscan Home" campaign small shops in strategic American cities were chosen to bring Tuscan-made products to their customers and to help increase awareness of Italian quality and design. Poggi Bonsi is the only venue represented for this promotion in the Pacific Northwest. About Poggi Bonsi: Poggi Bonsi (www.PoggiBonsiGifts.com), is a direct importer of Italian ceramics, French pottery, Italian olive wood utensils, and fine European linens. In addition to its imported goods, Poggi Bonsi features an assortment of gourmet kitchenware, specialty foods, whimsical gadgets, wine accessories and home decor celebrating the Mediterranean lifestyle. The name Poggi Bonsi is taken from the village of "Poggibonsi" in central Tuscany. Owners Michelle Codd and Keli DeRitis have traveled hundreds of miles in the European countryside seeking out suppliers who practice their centuries-old crafts. XXX
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Keli DeRitis
Poggi Bonsi
907 S.W. 152nd St.
Burien, WA 98166
206-859-6401
keli@poggibonsigifts.com
The CakeSpy, Live and in Person, Coming to Poggi Bonsi at The Landing in Renton
Jesse Oleson, a.k.a. the CakeSpy, with be at Poggi Bonsi at The Landing in Renton, Washington on Friday, November 25, 3-6pm signing copies of her new "CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life" Cookbook.
This is your chance--your BIG CHANCE-- to come eat cake, hang out with the CakeSpy, and buy a copy of her lovely and amazing new book, "CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life"! And she will even sign it and draw a unicorn in it, if you'd like.
Forget Black Friday, it's all about the BAKED GOOD! What could be sweeter than a cupcake-stuffed cupcake? Perhaps a piece of birthday cake French toast? Or a Pop-Tarts ice cream sandwich? Maybe a piece of Magic Cookie Bar Pie? Oh the choices, how sweet they are. In CakeSpy Presents Recipes for a Sugar-Filled Life, readers find 60 of "Head Spy" Jessie Oleson's most popular, totally sweet treats, along with stunning photography so you can really appreciate the awesomeness of her desserts. And of course it wouldn't be a CakeSpy book without unicorns, robots, or Cuppie the Cupcake. Jessie's iconic and whimsical illustrations are featured throughout the book. CakeSpy's mission is to seek sweetness (literally) in everyday life, and this little book does just that.
Ms. Oleson has just returned from her "Tour de Sweet" book tour ~ she was hosted by bakeries across the United States where she signed her book, drew unicorns, and ate excessive amounts of pastries. Her delightful dessert book was recently featured on the today show.
But wait, there's more! Save 20% on all bake ware and cupcake accessories during Jesse's book signing. Leave Poggi Bonsi prepared to create some of The CakeSpy's sweet treats for the holidays.
Missing this would be a big mistake.
About CakeSpy:
CakeSpy.com is a Dessert Detective Agency dedicated to seeking sweetness (leterally) in everyday life. We do this by writing about bakeries, conducting baking experiments, and picking the brains of bakers and food artists, and finding awesome products for lovers of baked goods.
The CakeSpy crew is headed up by Head Spy Jessie Oleson. Jessie is a Seattle-based freelance writer and illustrator, whose writing appears on DailyCandy.com, and has a weekly column on Serious Eats. Jesse has illustrated for various companies including Microsoft, iPop, All-Mighty, Taylored Espressions, and is a regular contributor to Taste of Home.
The CakeSpy Gallery and Shop is located at 415 E Pine Street, Seattle WA 98122, 206.325.1592, cakespyshop@gmail.com,
About Poggi Bonsi
Poggi Bonsi (www.poggibonsigifts.com) is a direct importer of Italian ceramics, French pottery, Italian olive wood utensils, and fine European linens. In addition to its imported goods, Poggi Bonsi features an assortment of gourmet kitchenware, gadgets, specialty foods, seasonal and home decor celebrating the Mediterranean lifestyle.
The name Poggi Bonsi (pronounced POE-jee-BONE-see) is taken from the village of "Poggibonsi" in central Tuscany. Owners Michelle Codd and Keli DeRitis have traveled hundreds of miles in the European countryside seeking out suppliers who practice their centuries-old crafts.
Poggi Bonsi has two retail stores in the Seattle Area -- One in the Olde Burien Shopping District (907 SW 152nd Street, Burien, WA 98166) and another at The Landing in Renton (920 N. 10th Pl., Unit F, Renton, WA 98057), as well as an online store www.poggibonsigifts.com which ships good throughout the United States.
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Press ReleasesNovember 6, 2010
Poggi Bonsi serves up more Gourmet Gifts with European Flavor with an updated websiteNow with a revamped website, owners of Poggi Bonsi Gifts, Keli DeRitis and Michelle Codd, are sharing their enthusiasm for unique French and Italian kitchen products more effectively than ever.
Traveling around Europe in a cute little car sounds like a lot of fun, but for American entrepreneurs Keli DeRitis and Michelle Codd, every minute on the winding back roads of Italy and France is spent searching for artisan-crafted products to satisfy the savvy customers who visit www.poggibonsigifts.com. The U.S. economy is keeping their customers at home at the computer, and business is good for this company that brings Europe to America’s door.
Now with a revamped website and a new blog, DeRitis and Codd are sharing their enthusiasm for unique French and Italian home products and jewelry as well as communicating with their customers more effectively than ever. Poggi Bonsi, their Burien, Washington-based import company—born in 2001 from their passion for European home decor, entertaining and travel—has redesigned its website to include more kitchen categories including European brands such as Le Creuset, WMF German-designed utensils, Wusthof German kitchen knives, and Le Jacquard Francais French linens.
The upgrade reflects Poggi Bonsi’s recently expanded merchandise cultivating a Mediterranean lifestyle, and gives customers more information that is easier and faster to navigate. For DeRitis, the most exciting part of the website’s user-friendly makeover is brighter colors and added categories featured in easy-to-navigate drop-down menus.
Poggi Bonsi is known for its artisan-quality merchandise, including its highly sought-after beautiful Italian and French ceramics and unique Italian olive wood products. Italian olive wood is difficult to find in the United States, and Poggi Bonsi's selection is the largest in the country. Codd and DeRitis have a knack for discovering European products that have a wide appeal and represent the charming style and superb craftsmanship of the Mediterranean. Together they travel to Europe to scout out potential products and work directly with family-run businesses, many of whom are located in remote villages, don’t attend major gift shows and don't speak English.
“By meeting with suppliers in person and building relationships, we are able hand select traditional patterns and also design exclusive patterns no one else has,” Codd said.
While Poggi Bonsi's early focus was on French and Italian ceramics, linens, glass, and jewelry, the company has branched out to carry merchandise that celebrates a Mediterranean lifestyle, including items for the kitchen and home entertaining. Among the new products featured on the website are the brightly colored Le Creuset cast-iron cookware, Wusthof German knives, whimsical kitchenware designed by French toymaker Pylones and color-rich linens from the popular Le Jacquard Francais looms.
Poggi Bonsi ships online orders across the United States and internationally from its Burien warehouse. The company has two retail stores located one located in the Olde Burien shopping district and a much larger store in The Landing Shopping Center in Renton.
The company's products have recently been featured in Renton Reporter, The Seattle Times and the magazines Italian Cooking and Living, Lucky, La Cucina Italiana and Seattle Metropolitan. Some memorable sales include sending a wedding present to actress Glenn Close and a Christmas gift to chef Mario Batali, as well as helping actor Kelsey Grammer's decorator choose linens and accessories for his new home.
Located just minutes from downtown Seattle, Burien and Renton's proximity to Sea-Tac International Airport makes Poggi Bonsi an ideal shopping diversion for relatives or friends traveling through the airport.
Poggi Bonsis website can be found online at www.poggibonsigifts.com and the blog is at www.poggibonsigifts.com/blog. The company’s two retail stores are located in the Olde Burien shopping district of Burien: Poggi Bonsi, 901 S.W. 152nd St., 206-242-9121, and Poggi Bonsi at The Landing, 920 N 10th Place, Renton, 425.988.3906.
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We have two stores in the Seattle, Washington area which are showcases for all of our European imports and kitchen items as well as unique gifts and jewelry.
We have traveled hundreds of miles in the European countryside to hand select our products and import them ourselves.
We have taken our name from the Tuscan town of "Poggibonsi." On our first trip to Tuscany, we got lost every day and kept running into signs for "Poggibonsi" — the name stuck with us because it is so fun to say.
October 31, 2009:
Two boutique retailers countdown to launch holiday season with new stores at The Landing in Renton
Seatte-area retailers Poggi Bonsi of Burien and c'est La Vie of Edmonds are launching new stores at The Landing in Renton in Mid November, 2009 with a joint grand opening celebration scheduled for December 4.
Poggi Bonsi of Burien and c'est La Vie of Edmonds are launching new stores at The Landing in Renton in Mid November, 2009 with a joint grand opening celebration scheduled for December 4. Both stores are #1 winners in King 5's "Best of the Northwest" contest 2009-c'est la Vie won for best gift store and Poggi Bonsi won for best housewares store. The two retailers-who share a common customer demographic, business philosophy and promotional savvy-will remain separate entities but will team up to plan advertising, promotions and in-store events. This creative partnership will provide their customers with a varied and unique destination shopping experience.
Poggi Bonsi specializes in kitchenware, Italian and French ceramics and linens, specialty foods, home decor and "Gifts with European Flavor." C'est La Vie is an intimate and sophisticated artisan boutique featuring contemporary jewelry, clothing and home furnishings. Each store will occupy approx 2,800 square feet with a connecting doorway so customers can stroll between the two with ease.
The Landing in Renton was chosen as the location to launch this new partnership because of its commitment to attracting boutique retailers to an under-served area of South Lake Washington.
About Poggi Bonsi
Poggi Bonsi (www.PoggiBonsiGifts.com) is a direct importer of Italian ceramics, French pottery, Italian olive wood utensils, and fine European linens. In addition to its imported goods, Poggi Bonsi features an assortment of European kitchenware, specialty foods and home decor celebrating the Mediterranean lifestyle. The name Poggi Bonsi is taken from the village "Poggibonsi" in central Tuscany. Owners Michelle Codd and Keli DeRitis have traveled hundreds of miles in the European countryside seeking out suppliers who practice their centuries-old crafts.
About C'est la Vie
C'est la Vie (www.clvcatalog.com) is a one stop gift, clothing, jewelry, furniture and wall art store based in Edmonds, WA. C'est la Vie features brands such as jewelry from; Trollbeads, Heather Moore, and David Tishbi, clothing from Michael Stars, Jag and many more. C'est la Vie also showcases a constantly changing selection of handcrafted Artisan works. The store's focus is on unique, trendy products for the discerning boutique customer. C'est la vie, which translated means "such is life" is a favorite saying of the owners; Colleen Bowman, Susan Dunn and Michael Bowman. This ownership team, with the essential help of a phenomenal staff of sales associates, combine their talents to make C'est la Vie a one of a kind shopping experience.
About The Landing
The Landing (www.thelandinginrenton.com) is a 46-acre mixed-use development located in Renton, WA that sits at the base of Lake Washington conveniently located just off Interstate 405. The $300 million project will offer a unique combination of housing, restaurants, entertainment options, national retail chains and regional boutiques to create an urban village with all of the desired options for area residents. When finished, the project will include 900 plus residential units and more than 614,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space. The Landing is a joint venture between Harvest Partners a Dallas-based commercial real estate development firm and Transwestern Investment Company, L.L.C, a Chicago-based principal investment company.
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Direct importers of Italian and French Ceramics, Olive Wood, Venetian Glass, Jewelry, and European Linens with two stores in Seattle, Washington and an online store www.poggibonsigifts.com selling imported goods, kitchenware and gifts.
June 2, 2009
Poggi Bonsi Brings the Provencal Beauty of Southern France to your Table
Poggi Bonsi is delighted to introduce our exclusive artisan made French ceramic garlic plates, hand painted, in Vallauris, France, a small village perched high above the French Riviera--a region with a rich history in French pottery production.
Cheery and functional, these 4" plates are hand painted and add French style to any table. Simply grate the garlic clove on the ceramic grater section to puree the garlic, add a little extra virgin olive oil and perhaps some balsamic vinegar or herbs...dip some artisan European bread and enjoy! Gifts of these inexpensive and traditional spots of Provencal color are a well received alone or accompanied by a Couleur Nature, french inspired, linen with colors to match any kitchen. These lovely French pottery garlic plates, as well as a variety of Italian ceramics, European linens, kitchen items and gifts are available at www.poggibonsigifts.com.
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Direct importers of Italian and French Ceramics, Olive Wood, Venetian Glass, Jewelry, and European Linens with two stores in Seattle, Washington and an online store www.poggibonsigifts.com selling imported goods, kitchenware and gifts.May 13, 2009:
Poggi Bonsi Gifts, a Seattle-based importer of Italian Ceramics is proud to introduce FIMA of Deruta Gallery a very special collection of artisan hand-painted Italian Ceramics which will be shipped to its U.S. customers directly from Italy.
Poggi Bonsi Gifts, a Seattle-based importer of Italian Ceramics is proud to introduce FIMA of Deruta Gallery a very special collection of artisan hand-painted Italian Ceramics which will be shipped to its U.S. customers directly from Italy. The FIMA of Deruta Gallery includes ornately decorated wall plates, display pieces, large pitchers, jars and vases, as well as fine Italian ceramic dinnerware.
FIMA of Deruta, Italy is a small family-run studio which has practiced the art of Italian Majolica for more than 40 years. FIMA Italian ceramics are known throughout the world for their quality and unique designs. FIMA continually researches new techniques, forms and decoration, seeking to keep alive the rich history of Deruta ceramics.
The production cycle is completely carried-out within the studio in Deruta and each phase is lovingly attended to by its expert staff. Each Italian ceramic piece is modeled from the high quality Italian terra cotta clay found in rich deposits around Deruta. After a first firing in the kiln, the ceramics are glazed, decorated by hand and then put in the klin for the final firing. The resulting Italian ceramic creations are made completely by hand , maintaining the ancient traditions of Deruta. FIMA of Deruta Italian ceramics are known for their quality workmanship and beautiful designs and are highly sought after by customers all over the world.
The entire collection can be viewed online at www.poggibonsigifts.com.
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Direct importers of Italian and French Ceramics, Olive Wood, Venetian Glass, Jewelry, and European Linens with two stores in Seattle, Washington and an online store www.poggibonsigifts.com selling imported goods, kitchenware and gifts.
