Designers Center Blog

Website Re-Launch

2009-11-05T13:53:00.000-08:00

A long work in progress has finally come to fruition as we have redesigned our website to be more in-line with our newly redesigned store. Our new informational website features all of our major brands with information and interesting videos featured on each brand page. We are also highlighting current promotions and upcoming events. Take a look, tell us what you think!

www.DesignersCenter.net

Swarovski Signing Event

2009-10-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night is the night! After months of anticipation, Swarovski Designers Anton Hirzinger and Stefanie Nederegger will be in our store to sign their crystal creations! All the way from Austria, the two are on a North American signing tour where they will stop at only a few highly established retailers. These events draw crystal enthusiasts from all over because of their rarity. We are honored to be hosting this event and look forward to a great turnout.

The action begins at 5:00pm, and the designers will be singing until 8:00pm. We will have hourly Swarovski Door Prizes, gifts with purchase, live entertainment, refreshments, and more!

It is not too late to pre-order your pieces to be signed. Just call us at 650.871.4462 or order online at Swarovski Designer Signing Event TOMORROW 5-8pm! http://bit.ly/OMvzJ. Can't make it to the event, no problem! We can have your pieces signed and hold them for you until you can make it in!

Hope to see you all tomorrow night!

FREE PANDORA BRACELETS!!!

2009-09-26T17:31:00.000-07:00

Join us on Tuesday and Wednesday September 29th-30th for our FREE Bracelet Days! Receive a FREE PANDORA Lobster Clasp Bracelet ($35 Value) with your purchase of any four (4) PANDORA charms!

Plus, you can upgrade to a PANDORA clasp bracelet for just $15!

We are all anticipating the newest release of PANDORA beads in October, be prepared by pre-ordering your selections before they arrive to guarantee your selections from our first shipment! For a preview of the new collection visit PANDORA's Facebook gallery HERE! Also, become a Fan of Designers Center on Facebook by using the Facebook widget to the right (click "Become a Fan")

Vera Braley Winter '09

2009-09-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

Vera Bradley's new Winter 2009 Collection has arrived! We're excited to introduce Imperial Toile, Symphony in Hue, and Paprika to the Vera Bradley family. Along with the new colors brings a few new styles, the hottest of which has been a customer request for a long time: the Reversible Tote! Finally, we can enjoy the best of both worlds, the pattern on the outside and the pattern on the inside - all in a simple bag that is fun and practical. To accessorize the latest fashions, Vera's new Turnlock Wallet has all the functionality of the Zip Around Wallet but with a nice touch of class with turnlock hardware.

The new Stationery collection has arrived as well. This is the perfect opportunity to expand the Vera Bradley lifestyle into your everyday life in the form of notepads, ink pens, colorful pencils, and more!

Stop by and see what the buzz is about - find your new favorite pattern!

Also, don't forget that October is Breast Cancer awareness month, and donations will be made to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer for every piece of "Hope Garden" that is purchased!

New Swarovski Gallery

2009-09-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

It has been a little while since my last post, but everything has been quite hectic around here! We have been rearranging the store to make it cleaner, more open, and easier to shop, plus we have been bringing in several new lines that have extremely HOT, including JUICY COUTURE, DOONEY & BOURKE, and CALVIN KLEIN JEWELRY!

Our biggest new addition has been our Swarovski Gallery! We have expanded our Swarovski selections, and in particular, the Jewelry! We now have two huge showcases filled with the latest Swarovski fashions. What better way to kick off our new gallery than with a major Signing Event!

On October 20 from 5-8pm, we will be hosting Swarovski designers Anton Hirzinger and Stefanie Nederegger! They will be available to sign your purchases of their crystal designs. This is a rare event, and we are very honored to be hosting it! Click HERE to Pre-Order your pieces to be signed now, and we will have them ready for pickup at the event!

Come in and check out our new store configuration, and see what everyone is raving about!

Vera Bradley Sneak Peek!

2009-08-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

We haven't event received Vera Bradley's winter fashions yet, but how about a sneak peak of their Spring 2010 colors? There are four new patterns being released in January 2010, which can all be viewed at Vera Bradley's Facebook page HERE. Tell us what you think! And don't forget to come into the store for all of the latest Vera Bradley releases including the Microfiber, Canvas, and Nylon collections!

JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE HERE!

Oh Canada!

2009-08-02T13:37:00.001-07:00

We will be heading 'north of the border' for the Canadian Gift and Tableware Association Trade Show in Toronto, Ontario next week. We go to some of these regional shows to locate merchandise that will be a rarity in this area - as always, we try to bring hard-to-find gifts and accessories to you, and this is a great way.

We are already carrying several lines with Canadian connections including, LUG Handbags and Travel Accessories (designed and distributed in Toronto), ELLE Jewelry (designed in Montreal, Quebec), and some of our smaller home accessories lines.

We'll keep you posted on the newest findings that are sure to be a hit as we head into the Holiday Season!

Pre-Order Obama

2009-08-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

Thomas Blackshear has created a spectacular sculpture of our new President, Barack Obama! Coming in October, this 14"H sculpture will be a collectors piece for years to come - a true symbol of change. This piece will be a limited edition and will be released in the Ebony Visions series. The price of the limited edition piece is $295 and we will reserve one for you with a minimum $75 deposit. To pre-order, CALL us at 650.871.4462 or e-mail us at admin@designerscenter.net. We will be having an Obama release party in October to celebrate this fantastic piece - stay tuned for more details!

Major Announcement

2009-07-24T11:16:00.000-07:00

We are very proud to announce the additions of three major lines to our store's fashion department! Our customers have always raved at the selection of merchandise that we carry in our store, and we feel that these lines will be great additions to go right along with Brighton, Vera Bradley, PANDORA, Ed Hardy and our other current fashion lines. We take great pride in ensuring that our lines carry a great name that stands for top quality, great value, and highl fashion. Look for these new collections in our store beginning in August:

Dooney and Bourke

Top grain leather handbags and leather accessories, this collection features timeless pieces and other highly fashionable collections such as the new Zebra (shown) and Giraffe patterns.

Juicy Couture

A super hip accessories line featuring handbags, jewelry, gifts, and more! We will have a full assortment of the newest Juicy bags in leather and classic velour, along with all the matching wallets and accessories. We will carry the full line of Juicy charms and jewelry, including the limited edition charms!

Calvin Klein Jewelry

Swiss-made CK jewelry is an extremely high quality stainless steel collection featuring clean timeless designs.

PANDORA LovePods

2009-07-21T11:06:00.000-07:00

PANDORA's newest collection, LovePods, has arrived at Designers Center! Each piece is 18k gold and contains 3mm and 4mm precious stones including diamonds, black spinel, blue topaz, amethyst, and more. The highlight of the collection are the stacking pod rings (shown above), while matching earrings, pendants, and bracelets fill out the rest of the collection! Watch this video for a great intro to what LovePods are all about, then come in to our store to see them in person!

"Love Kills Slowly"

2009-07-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

Ed Hardy is making a huge presence at Designers Center these days... we are proud to be carrying Ed Hardy handbags, wallets, jewelry, watches, and accessories! The response thus far has been overwhelming! Ed Hardy's unique vintage tattoo wear is all designed by fashion legend Christian Audigier and is popular across all age groups. We have jewelry starting at $29.99 and handbags at $89.99. Come in an check out this fantastic collection! Visit our Ed Hardy page here for a small sampling of what we carry!

PS: Keep checking our blog for a major announcement on several new lines coming to Designers Center in the near future! We are very excited!

Feed Our Friends

2009-07-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

Brighton has created an exceptional set of jewelry whose proceeds will benefit an even more exceptional cause. The American Heroes Collection features semi-precious stones that are all hand-cut and hand-knotted. A statement from Brighton reads, "This labor of love from human hands and hearts makes every piece of American Heroes jewelry a one-of-a-kind treasure." The set features seven different stones including: Dyed Quartz, Rutilated Quartz, Peridot, Labradorite, Turquoise Jasper, Blue Chalcedony, and Natural Citrine!

Further, Brighton will donate $7.50 per necklace sold, $5.00 per bracelet sold and $2.50 per pair of earrings sold to Feed Our Friends - the 501 (C) (3) charity that they have created as a means of distributing the donations to American Heroes charities chosen at the end of the promotion.

Hurry in for your set while limited quantities last, and help stamp out hunger!

Lets Do Lunch

2009-07-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

From July 6-20, receive a Vera Bradley Let's Do Lunch bag (great for back-to-school) in a selection of new and existing colors for $10 OFF the regular price of $28.

Come in to see the new Blue Rhapsody, Carnaby, and Pirouette colors for yourself!

NEW Vera Bradley Patterns are in!

2009-06-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

Blue Rhapsody Carnaby Pirouette

Vera Bradley's new Fall Collection has arrived. Welcome Blue Rhapsody, Pirouette, and Carnaby to the Vera Bradley family! These three patterns are perfect for those late summer / fall outfits, especially here in the unpredictable climate of the Bay Area. There are also several new styles included in the collection: the Pleated Tote (a staff favorite!), the Stephanie, and the Euro Wallet! Come in to see the full 2009 Fall Collection!

New PANDORA Beads

2009-06-17T16:30:00.001-07:00

We just received a shipment of 9 new murano glass beads. The bright colors have hearts embedded around the entire bead for a fresh new look for PANDORA's murano beads! All colors are in stock now and will be selling quickly - we have already had quite a few pre-orders! Come in or call us at 650.871.4462 to order yours! Don't forget our PANDORA Wine Charm Event this Saturday from 1-4pm! Receive a FREE set of authentic Pandora Wine Charms with your $150 PANDORA purchase! To commemorate the event, we will be sampling various wines from around the world. Judy Arlen from PANDORA will be on hand to help with all things PANDORA! We still have a few Limited Edition "Grape Beads" remaining - hurry in before they are gone!

New Oka b Shipment

2009-06-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

Just as the weather is getting warmer (or is supposed to...) we received the latest fashions from Oka b sandals! This season's clear winner is the "Malia" that we have in copper and silver for $34.99! Also, check our our Fall styles - ALL ON SALE!

Each Oka b sandal is made one piece construction of an antimicrobial material (the same material that Crocs are made out of) here in the USA. Each shoe comes with a 2-year guarantee and has built-in massaging arch support!

Also, our first shipment of ED HARDY watches just arrived. There is much more ED HARDY on the way including handbags, jewelry, and accessories! Keep checking back for more updates!

Brighton Glass Beads are here!

2009-06-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

Brighton's new Glass Beads for their fantastic charm bracelets are finally here! Add a splash of color and sophistication to your charm bracelet or necklace! We have lots of other new charms in stock as well!

Go ECO-CHIC with Brighton's new set of two folding totes - your's FREE with a $100 Brighton purchase! Very limited quantities are available, so hurry in for Brighton's Totally TOTE-ABLE promotion running through June 21st!

The House of Cats Promotion

2009-06-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

Swarovski's new Lovlots collection "The House of Cats" has seen a great response since its initial release earlier this year. To make sure everyone has seen the lovable felines, Swarovski has created several promotions surrounding the Cats!

- Receive a FREE "House of Cats" note card set with your $100 HOC purchase

- Enter to win a Swarovski Crystallized cat collar and a golf bracelet (no purchase necessary)

- "House of Cats" Photo Contest! Does your cat look or act like one of Swarovski's "House of Cats?" Here's your chance to show off your lovable pet and win a set of Swarovski's new Lovlots in the process! (Details in store)

For the month of June as well, Swarovski is encouraging its SCS members to share the benefits of an SCS membership with a friend! Bring in a friend and if they sign up for the SCS, you will receive a Swarovski Crystallized tote bag. Your friend will get entered to win a set of the 2008 Annual Edition Pandas so they can catch up on the current trilogy!

Don't forget Anton Hirzinger and Stefanie Nedregger will be at Designers Center for a Signing Event on October 20th! Pre-Order your pieces to be signed now to ensure availability!

Back from the Jewelry Show

2009-06-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

We just returned from the annual JCK Jewelry Show in Las Vegas! What a trip! We have secured several new lines to bring into the store, including Ed Hardy Jewelry and Watches, Majorica pearls, and Hot Diamonds! We also filled in on the newest styles from Judith Jack, Crislu, and ELLE! We are also working on a couple of other big name jewelry lines that you will love as well...

The highlight of the show was stopping at PANDORA's booth to see all the new charms and match jewelry coming out in October! Get your next bracelet ready now because they have a TON of great charms coming out from Peace signs to Panda bears, Zodiac signs to Palm trees! Just wait until you see the new bracelets as well!

Don't forget to pre-order your Pandora Limited Edition Grape Charms now! They are $40 and are going fast!

Anniversary Celebration this SATURDAY

2009-05-27T11:49:00.000-07:00

SATURDAY, MAY 30 from 1:00 - 6:00pm
Celebrate another great year at Designers Center! We will have FREE Gifts, great door prizes each hour, and amazing one-day-only Sales! Meet the reps from some of your favorite lines! Door Prizes include:
- $450 Lladro Summer Serenade
- $115 Skagen watch
- $240 Swarovski Dalisa Flower
- Over $250 in Vera Bradley bags and accessories
- $295 Disney Classics Snow White Artist Proof
- $165 Thomas Blackshear Great Catch sculpture
- $200 Howard Miller Wall Clock
Plus many more from PANDORA, Brighton, Starlite Originals, and more!
Also, we're giving away $50 Designers Center gift certificates each hour!

Swarovski Designer Signing Event - CONFIRMED

2009-05-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

Great news this week! Swarovski designers Anton Hirzinger and Stefanie Nedregger will be joining us at Designers Center on October 20th from 5-8pm! We have been working on getting these artists here for over two years - so we are so excited to bring you this news! While many details will soon follow, we are already taking pre-orders on pieces to be signed at the event. Use our 6-month Layaway to get all your favorite pieces signed! Keep up to date on all the latest news and info on this event, HERE at our Swarovski Signing Event Page!

Don't forget that our Anniversary Celebration is next Saturday from 1-6pm! We have a great line up of door prizes each hour, plus one day only sales, and much more! Click HERE for more info.

Join our FACEBOOK page HERE!

Viva Designers Center

2009-05-11T16:33:00.001-07:00

A new shipment of our fantastic Viva Beads has just arrived! Indulge in new colors such as Turquoise Splash, Safari, and Coffee Bean! Each bead is created from polymer clay and is handmade using a 'caning' or layering technique - this is what gives the beads their rich colors and intricate designs! Come in to check out the full selection!

Bracelets start at just $11.99 and Earrings at $6.99!

Lladro Mother's Day Event

2009-05-06T15:48:00.000-07:00

Join us this Friday from 5-8pm for our Lladro Mother's Day Event! Pick out that special piece that she will cherish forever. We have lots of new Lladro releases on display! Light refreshments will be served throughout the evening.

Our 8:00pm Grand Door Prize is Lladro's Loving Protection! ($175 value!)

A Vera Bradley Prom

2009-05-04T17:18:00.001-07:00

Vera Bradley had their annual outlet sale this past weekend. Drawing over 62,000 shoppers, it was their second biggest event ever. At these events, everyone loves to show off their Vera Bradley collections, but what better way to do it than making your prom dress out of Vera Bradley napkins! Just Awesome! The event also raised over $35,000 for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer!

Don't forget we have the three New Vera Bradley Summer 2009 patterns in stock! All three are selling great so far! Also, the limited edition Contact Lens Cases just came in as well!

Follow us on TWITTER

PANDORA Mother's Day Event

2009-04-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

Join us this Saturday from 1-4pm for our PANDORA Mother's Day Event! Receive a $25 Gift Certificate from Flowers By Sylvestri for every $150 of PANDORA purchased! The cool part is that there is no limit to the amount of gift certificates you can get! If you spend $450 on PANDORA, you will get $75 in gift certificates to Flowers By Sylvestri! Now that will impress Mom!

We will also have PANDORA Door Prizes each hour and refreshments throughout the afternoon.

All the NEW 2009 Spring charms are in stock!

"Ears" Looking at You!

2009-04-27T15:22:00.000-07:00

Mix and match your favorite Brighton necklace and bracelet, then choose any pair of Brighton earrings FREE! Perfect for Mother's Day!

New Brighton giftware shipment is in! Picture frames, jewelry boxes, and more!

Just the Right Shoe... Finally

2009-04-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

After a long wait, the new release of Just the Right Shoe is in! The release includes 18 new shoes in the collection and several other special editions including Wild Thing (the new metal shoe), Dorothy's Ruby Slipper (Wizard of Oz), and Delicate Daisies (the new Breast Cancer Awareness design).

Everything is in stock NOW! Come in for the best selection!

Wild Thing

Tweet, Tweet at Designers Center

2009-04-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

For up to date info on new merchandise, events, special guests, and more... follow us on TWITTER at: http://twitter.com/designerscenter.

You can also connect with us on:

FACEBOOK

YELP

INSIDER PAGES

LUG is Here!

2009-04-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

We are finally ready to unveil one of the most exciting lines at Designers Center! LUG Travel has arrived! LUG is a handbag and travel accessory line that focuses on design and functionality. The clean designs and neat colors provide and endless combination of accessories for everyday use. Here are just a couple of our favorite designs:

ECOPOD

Inside the tiny carrying pouch are four environmentally friendly shopping bags. The pouch is lightweight and easy to carry to the grocery store (or our store!). The four matching tote bags expand to fit all of your purchases!

NAP SAC

Had enough of those scratchy airline blankets that they give out for long flights? Don't want to use a pillow that someone else just used? Well here is the solution... The Nap Sac is a made of a super soft fabric and is small enough to fit easily in your carry-on. Simply remove the blanket from the carrying pouch and inflate the pillow. The pouch then becomes your pillow case as you stay warm and comfortable with the blanket!

PUDDLE JUMPER

The perfect bag for anyone on the go! Loads of pockets and gadget holders inside keep all your personal belongings neat, organized, and easily accessible! Making this a perfect gym/beach bag, a ventilated pocket sits at the back for those sweaty shoes or wet bathing suits!

Brighton Maui Getaway

2009-04-14T14:38:00.000-07:00

Join us this Saturday from 1-4pm as we bring the "Spirit of Aloha" to Designers Center for Brighton's Maui Giveaway! Try on any Brighton handbag and register to win an enchanting trip for two to Maui, Hawaii! You could be one of 10 lucky winners to receive a trip for two (airfare and hotel only), 7 days and 6 nights on an island paradise!* Don't forget to wear your Aloha shirts and other Hawaiian attire!

Also, receive a FREE BRIGHTON HAWAII CHARM with any Brighton purchase!

We will have FREE Brighton Door Prizes each hour, including the Grand Door Prize of a "Barbados Zip Top Hobo" ($200 Value)!

*No purchase or payment of any kind to win. A purchase does not increase your chances of winning. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 years or older to register to win.

New PANDORA Charms!

2009-03-27T14:32:00.000-07:00

The New SPRING 2009 PANDORA Charms have arrived! We anticipated a mid-late April release, but to our delight, an overnight package arrived today with all of the fabulous new beads just in time for our Trunk Show tomorrow!

Because we are a PANDORA Shop-in-Shop, we get all the newest releases first! Be the first with the new ELEPHANT charm, FORGET ME KNOT charm, YIN AND YANG charm, and more! Plus, we have all the new match jewelry including necklaces, rings, and earrings!

Beat the Sales Tax Hike!

2009-03-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

On April 1, 2009 Sales Tax in the entire state of California is increasing by 1%! Here in San Bruno, our tax rate is 8.25%, so next Wednesday it will be 9.25%.

Not to fear, our great 6-Month Layaway and 90 Days Same as Cash will help cushion the increase. Get your Layaways put away before April 1 to reserve your items at the old tax rate!

If there is something you have been wanting for a while, now is the time to do it and SAVE!

PANDORA Spring Trunk Show

2009-03-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

Join us this Saturday, March 28, from 1pm-4pm for our PANDORA Spring Trunk Show! Add some bright colors and fun beads to your bracelet or necklace! For one day only, Receive a FREE PANDORA LOBSTER CLASP BRACELET with your $25 PANDORA purchase! Also, you can upgrade to the PANDORA clasp bracelet for just $15!

Get your PANDORA wish list ready HERE!

We will have FREE Pandora Door Prizes each hour, and refreshments throughout the afternoon!

Arrive early for the best selection of beads! Can't make it to the event? Just call us and we'll take care of you over the phone (650.871.4462).

You Just Can't Wait For Our Spring Premiere Event!

2009-03-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

Pre-Order the Spring Premiere Event Piece, Simba: Little King, Big Roar for our event starting April 17th. The piece is limited to 1,500, so with small quantities available, put your pre-orders in ASAP to reserve yours!

The Info:

Simba: Little King, Big Roar

4.5"H

Porcelain; Sculpted by Bruce Lau

Numbered Limited Edition 1,500

15th Anniversary Backstamp

Can't quite remember which part of The Lion King this piece was from, this memorable clip should jog your memory... enjoy!

ZING into Spring Event

2009-03-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

Join us this Thursday from 5:00pm - 9:00pm as we feature the latest Spring fashions from Brighton, including handbags, jewelry, charms, eye wear, and more! We will have fun and interactive door prizes throughout the night.

Receive a FREE BRIGHTON UMBRELLA with your $100 Brighton purchase as part of our Laughter in the Rain promotion.

Check out the latest Brighton releases HERE!

Our Blue Zone Sale is still going on for this weekend! We've added more exciting items to the sale! Don't miss out on discounts up to 75% OFF!

Enter the Blue Zone

2009-03-13T17:36:00.000-07:00

Starting tomorrow, Saturday March 14, we will be holding our Blue Zone Sale! Cool Items . . . Cooler Prices!

Enter the Blue Zone in our store, and you will find deep discounts on lots of your favorite collectibles, home accessories, and more! Look for the Blue Zone tags, as prices will be slashed up to 75% OFF. Arrive early for the best selection - limited quantities available!

Sneak Peek:
- Lenox 50% OFF
- Hummels 50% OFF
- Precious Moments 35% OFF (Buy 3 get them all for 50% OFF)
- Murano Glass 50% OFF
- Grandfather clocks up to $1,000 OFF (+ free delivery)
- And much, much more!

Hummel Figurines Back in Action

2009-03-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

In my September 15 blog, I had writen about how Goebel, the makers of MI Hummel figurines, were discontinuing the line. A few weeks ago, Goebel put out a press release stating that new investors have purchased the Hummel rights, and will begin to produce new pieces in early 2009! The investor group, Manufaktur Rodental GmbH, will continue producing the steadfast figurines in their Rodental, Germany factory. They will be reinstating, and growing, the MI Hummel Club which currently has approximately 130,000 members worldwide.

A Cool Tool from Swarovski

2009-03-06T10:23:00.000-08:00

We all love to enjoy our Swarovski crystal collections. Each piece has a special meaning - a special beauty to it. Now, with Swarovski's new Virtual Collection tool, SCS members can enjoy their collections on their computers at work, at home, or on the go. With the MY COLLECTION link on Swarovski's page, SCS members can track their entire collection of crystal, print it out, and even create a beautiful screen saver. This database is all encompassing, dating back to Swarovski's first pieces in 1976.

Even if you are not an SCS member, you can still enjoy their Wall of Fame which catalogs every Swarovski piece ever made. To become an SCS member, come into the store or check out our Swarovski section on our website.

Aloha Disney Fans

2009-03-03T18:12:00.000-08:00

The Walt Disney Classics Collection has hit another home run! Their newest set Mickey's Hawaiian Holiday has been flying off our shelves! The set was inspired by the 1937 cartoon short featuring Mickey, Minney, Donald, and Goofy. This release also comes in conjunction with some of their other great first quarter releases including, the Jungle Book's Vultures, The Little Mermaid's Ariel and Eric Statue, and The Pirates of the Caribbean Elizabeth Swann.

Come in to check out all the new WDCC releases! Here is the clip from Disney's Hawaiian Holiday (1937).

Living La VIVA Loca

2009-02-22T14:00:00.000-08:00

If you have not been in to see our brand new VIVA BEADS line, you are missing out! Everyone has been so excited with their unique colors and textures, and have been buying multiple bracelets to stack on their wrists. The best part of these clay beads is the price - bracelets starting at $11.99 and earrings starting at just $6.99!

Indulge yourself in Bahama Blue, Key Lime, Strawberry, Confetti, and the rest of the rainbow that makes up this fantastic collection!

Find us on FACEBOOK! Tell us what you think at YELP! and INSIDER PAGES!

An Exclusive Swarovski Event

2009-02-19T11:11:00.000-08:00

Saturday, February 21

1:00-4:00pm

Designers Center, San Bruno

The Shops at Tanforan

Join us as we showcase the Annual Edition 2009 Gorillas. Make any Swarovski purchase and receive an exclusive Water Tack Pin as a our gift to you. Plus, this is your first opportunity to purchase the 2009 SCS Event Piece, Blue Dart Frog, and the new Gorilla Charm Bracelet. Click HERE to go to our Events page, and click HERE to go to our Facebook Event page.

We will have Door Prizes each hour, with the Grand Door Prize of Swarovski's Winnie the Pooh ($180 Value)!

Experience the Gorillas in detail with videos, downloadable wallpaper and music, and more. CLICK HERE!

"Gifts for the Elegant Cook!"

2009-02-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

Our much anticipated Hollywood Kitchen line has arrived! Several installments ago, we featured some of our favorite finds from the Atlanta Gift Show in January. Making the cut was Hollywood Kitchen, a company that brings a little Hollywood style into your everyday cooking and cleaning routine! The two big items are:

1. Baking Beauty's Oven Gloves

- 100% cotton

- Heat resistant up to 400F

- Machine Washable

$14.99

2. Flashy Splashy's Household Gloves

- Heavy Duty neoprene gloves

- Machine washable

- Comfortable flock lining

$19.99

Stop by to see our new collection or visit us online at www.DesignersCenter.net

Find us on FACEBOOK! Tell us what you think at YELP! and INSIDER PAGES!

Ebony Visions News

2009-02-13T10:57:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note to all of our Ebony Visions collectors, and in particular, our Blackshear Circle Members, the Blackshear Circle Newsletter that we have all come to love will be suspended in its hard copy form. In an effort to "reduce the impact on our environment" they will not be printing and mailing further copies of the newsletter or a membership card. However, all future editions will be available online at www.department56.com.

We also have pictures of all the new pieces coming out in the Ebony Visions series. Pre-order now to ensure a First Issue piece!

Don't forget to join our Facebook group HERE!

Valentines Day Trunk Show

2009-02-02T13:43:00.000-08:00

Join us this Saturday, 2/7 for our PANDORA Jewelry "Valentines Day Trunk Show" from 10am-9pm. Send in that sweet someone with your wish list of charms and jewelry that you want and we will get them (and you!) all taken care of!

For the event only:
- Receive a FREE PANDORA Key Fob with the purchase of any 4 charms
- FREE bracelet cleanings
- FREE PANDORA Door Prizes at 2,3,and 4pm
- Get a sneak peak of the NEW Spring 2009 Charms
- Refreshments throughout the afternoon

My favorite Valentines Day PANDORA story came from a customer who had been trying to hint to her husband for several months that she wanted a PANDORA bracelet, to no avail. Finally, as Valentines Day rolled around, she went to drastic measures... She taped the PANDORA catalog with all her favorite items circled, right to his steering wheel, so when he went to work that day, he made sure to make a pit stop at Designers Center on the way home to get her a PANDORA bracelet!

Here is a great promotional video of PANDORA's NEW LovePods collection that we will have on display on Saturday!

It's a Surprise!

2009-01-30T11:33:00.000-08:00

As a 'special surprise,' when you purchase one or more Lladro sculptures at one time through February 28, 2009, totalling $500 or more, Lladro will send you a porcelain figurine valued at $170 as a gift to you for your exceptional support and patronage.

We can't tell you the name of the sculpture... IT'S A SURPRISE!

Blissful Youth

2009 Privilege Piece

$444.99

Here is a neat video about the history of Lladro porcelain... more so, I enjoyed seeing how much detail goes into making each piece - Its truly amazing! Check it out!

A Vera Bradley Wrap-Up

2009-01-26T12:08:00.000-08:00

On the heels of a very successful Vera Bradley Premiere this past weekend, we wanted to highlight an important part of the company that is not in the spotlight as much as it should be in our area. The Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer has been an integral part of breast cancer research in the US. Their lovely Breast Cancer Awareness patterns have become staples on our shelves and in our Vera Bradley collections, but we wanted to share a little bit more about the Foundation, and the other ways it is helping to find a cure... TAKE A LOOK!

The newest Breast Cancer Awareness pattern, HOPE GARDEN, is now in stock! Come in to get the latest styles in this lovely new pattern. We also want to thank everyone that came out on Saturday to participate in our Premiere. It was a great success, and we thank you!

Jump into Spring with Vera Bradley

2009-01-16T14:21:00.000-08:00

The four new Vera Bradley patterns are in! Come in to see our full selection of Hope Garden, Cupcakes Pink, Cupcakes Green, and our staff favorite, Purple Punch! We are the Bay Area's largest independent Vera Bradley retailer.We will be having our Vera Bradley Premiere on Saturday, January 24th from 10am-9pm. We will have FREE Vera Bradley Door Prizes at 12 noon!

Sisters Forever: The Final Piece

2009-01-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

The long awaited final sculpture in the Sisters Forever series by Thomas Blackshear is being released this April! We have been getting requests for this final piece for so long, and now its finally on the way. Get your pre-orders in early to ensure you get a first edition piece!

What a whirlwind!

2009-01-11T15:44:00.001-08:00

Ed and I headed off to the Atlanta gift show this past week for a two day romp through the mecca of giftware and fashion. We got to see all the new releases from our usual suspects including Lladro, Disney Classics, Franz, Jim Shore, and more. Plus, we were on the hunt for new and exciting lines to bring in and add to our mix. Here are a few of the notable ones that we are really excited about:

1. LUG Travel

Casual urban handbags and travel accessories. They use bright colors and sleek designs to get the most out of each piece through practical pockets, zippers, and straps. A few of our favorite pieces are the Puddle Jumper handbag and the Nap Sack travel pillow and blanket set.

2. Viva Beads

These handmade clay jewelry selections are bright in color and equally fashionable. Each bead is created using the "caning" methond, which is very similar to the layering method used to make Venetian glass.

3. Hollywood Kitchen

A truly fun line of kitchen accessories featuring Baking Beauties - oven mits with mink, leopard, and tiger trim - and Flashy Splashies - industrial stength household gloves with a femine spin!

This is just a sampling of the fun spring lines that we have in store here at Designers Center. Make sure to check out the store often to see what is new!

ELLE Jewelry

2008-12-28T15:47:00.000-08:00

Our brand new ELLE Jewelry Boutique has been up and running for the entire holiday season, and we had a great response! If you have not seen the ELLE collection you are missing out! Each piece is set in rhodium-plated sterling silver, and has a genuine ruby embedded in it! The contemporary designs are based off the fashions featured in ELLE Magazine (the largest fashion magazine in North America), and can all be viewed HERE! Make sure to come in and take a peek - we are also giving away a FREE ELLE TOTE BAG with any ELLE purchase!

Look for more great additions to our DC Fashion Jewelry Gallery coming in 2009!

A Warm Holiday

2008-12-28T12:28:00.001-08:00

We wanted to thank all of you for contributing to a wonderful holiday season here at Designers Center. Despite all the media hype surrounding the retail sector, we had a fantastic December and we want to thank you! We got to see a lot of familiar faces and lots of new ones that came in and found something beautiful and unique to put under the tree this year.

With that said, its back to work in the Designers Center offices as we seek to find new and unique gift and fashion lines to bring into the store. We are heading off to the largest gift trade show in the country in January; AmericasMart in Atlanta, GA.

Our event schedule is already starting to fill up for 2009. Here is a sneak peek of the first few events:
January: Vera Bradley Premiere - Spring 2009 (we will be featuring the 4 new patterns and all the new styles)

February: Pandora Valentines Trunk Show
Swarovski Redemption Event (featuring the 2009 Annual Edition)

Have a very Happy New Years, and we look forward to seeing you all soon!
Don't forget to look us up on Facebook!

Department 56 Bankrputcy

2008-12-01T17:17:00.000-08:00

Department 56 is bankrupt you say? After news broke last week that the collectible giant Department 56 filed for Chapter 11, we had several concerned collectors wondering if this was the end of their beloved village series. We are here to quash those rumors. Chapter 11 allows businesses with debt trouble to restructure their organization in an effort to alleviate debt and continue doing business. This is what they are doing. While we don't know the details, we received a letter stating that they were eliminating several fringe lines from their sales line-up. These are lines that we are not carrying currently, and will not affect our business. These changes will allow D56 to focus more on their strong selling lines including, The Original Snow Village, Ebony Visions, Just the Right Shoe, Lenox Classics, and more. This should streamline their operation and allow for better service and selection for their retailers and consumers.

We have a fantastic display of all the D56 Villages and accessories. Stop by to check out the new releases and limited editions!

Extended holiday hours begin on Monday 12/8 (9am-10pm).

Black Friday Extravaganza

2008-11-26T15:45:00.000-08:00

The busiest shopping day of the year is upon us - Black Friday! We all know what that means: waking up early, long lines at Starbucks, and Sales Galore! This year, Designers Center will be doing our first ever Black Friday Event! Everyone on our mailing list should have received a promotion and gift guide for the day, but if not, here is the rundown:

FROM 6am - 8am:
- 40% Off all Giuseppe Armani Sculptures
- 50% Off all Hummel Figurines
- FREE Skagen sunglasses with the purchase of a Skagen watch
- 50% Off all Lenox figurines
- FREE Vera Bradley Skinny Tote ($39 value) for the first 20 people to spend $100

AFTER 8am:
- 25% off all Giuseppe Armani Sculptures
- 25% off all Hummel Figurines
- 25% off all Lenox Figurines

ALL DAY PROMOTIONS:
- FREE Lladro silk scarf with any Lladro purchase
- FREE Franz panda sculpture ($45 value) with any $100 Franz purchase
- FREE ELLE Jewelry tote bag with any ELLE purchase
- FREE Brighton Ornament ($25 value) with any $100 Brighton purchase
- SALE TABLE: Great values on discontinued/overstock merchandise

Take advantage of these one day only specials! As always, we gift wrap for FREE and ship to your friends and family out of the area.

You CHARM Us

2008-11-21T10:45:00.000-08:00

To ring in the Holiday Season, we are kicking things off this weekend with a Brighton Trunk Show featuring the ever-popular Brighton ABC Charms! Our You CHARM Us Trunk Show will be held tomorrow from 10am to 4pm! We have tons of charms in stock and lots of bracelets ready to be charmed! Arrive early for the best selection!These charm bracelets are great Christmas gifts and as always, we gift wrap for free!

At 1:00pm we are giving away our Grand Door Prize: a $240 Brighton leather handbag!

Don't forget to get your Pre-Orders in for our Franz Signing Event with Junnie Fu on Saturday December 13! We have FREE GIFTS for you when you order by the end of this weekend!

Become a Fan

2008-11-12T18:56:00.000-08:00

On Facebook? Become a "FAN" of Designers Center! Our brand new Facebook page is up and running - this is a great place to interact with Designers Center when your not here in person. You can post photos of your collections, review us, start a discussion thread, and find out about all of our upcoming events! To join our Facebook page, CLICK HERE!

Two New Boutiques

2008-11-12T18:19:00.000-08:00

For those readers that have followed the evolution of our store since we reopened Designers Center in 2005, you have seen a clear trend. Our store has not only become a store of higher end brand names, but we have gone to great lengths to enhance the shopping experience of some of these lines by adding a "Shop-in-Shop" or a boutique to our store layout.

We are very excited to announce that we have opened two new boutiques within our store: PANDORA Jewelry and ELLE Jewelry!

Our PANDORA Shop-in-Shop is the first one in the state of California, and provides shoppers with an experience similar to that of PANDORA's flagship stores that are scattered throughout Denmark. Clean and simple designs allow for the entire jewelry line to be displayed clearly for shoppers to view and understand the PANDORA concept. These types of displays have become a growing trend with PANDORA retailers, and we are very proud to provide this experience to our dedicated PANDORA customers. By the way, a merchandising representative from PANDORA will be in our store tomorrow to help with some finishing touches, so stop by to chat (and show off your bracelet) if you have a chance.

The ELLE Boutique is not only unique to our store and California, but to the entire country. We have been given the opportunity to showcase the ELLE Jewelry collection like no other store by using their fantastic new showcase to highlight their sterling silver jewelry. If you are not familiar with the ELLE line, it is a contemporary collection of jewelry designed in Montreal, with each piece containing a genuine ruby as a trademark. To kick off the new boutique, we are giving away a FREE ELLE TOTE BAG with any ELLE purchase through Christmas! Look for some of our ELLE ads in the SF Chronicle coming up!

Independance from Sales Tax

2008-11-04T17:57:00.000-08:00

On November 4th and 5th, bring in proof of voting and Designers Center will pay the sales tax on all Brighton purchases! Be proud of your independence and be independent from sales tax!

What a weekend!

2008-11-03T16:59:00.000-08:00

Join us this Saturday, November 8th from 1pm-4pm for an amazing day of events at Designers Center!

To kick things off we are hosting our first ever SKAGEN Trunk Show! Skagen is a sleek line of Danish designed watches, jewelry, eye ware, and handbags. Our fantastic Skagen rep will be on hand to assist customers and chat about the line. There are FREE gifts galore for this event:

Purchase 1 Skagen Item: Get a Skagen Gift Bag full of fun Skagen items

Purchase 2 Skagen Items: Get a FREE Pair of Skagen Sunglasses

Purchase 3 Skagen Items: Get a FREE Skagen Watch

Quantities are limited on these items, so arrive early for the best selection!

PLUS, each hour we are giving away a FREE Skagen watch!

The second event of the day features our Swarovski crystal line, and in particular, the 2008 Annual Edition Pandas. We will have the Pandas, along with all the other SCS items available for instant redemption. As well, this is your last chance to purchase the 2008 Event Piece, Gecko. The Gecko has been very well received and is available on Saturday ONLY for $109.99!

PLUS, receive a FREE Panda shirt with a $100 Swarovski purchase. We will have Swarovski door prizes each hour as well!

Don't miss these great events this weekend - this is a great time to get your holiday shopping started. As always, we are taking layaways for Christmas!

FRANZ Signing Event

2008-10-29T14:45:00.000-07:00

Join us December 13th, as we welcome FRANZ artist Junnie Fu to Designers Center. Junnie will be signing all new FRANZ purchases, and will be doing a sculpting demonstration in the store. Last November, we had FRANZ artist James Tsai in the store, and it was a great event!

The FRANZ Collection is an intricate set of porcelain decorative accessories, each hand sculpted and hand painted. Within the collection there are several patterns to choose from, each one unique and different, including Bamboo Songbird, Island Beauty, Southern Splendor, plus many more! We just received a huge shipment of these and all the NEW Fall collections. Come in to explore a porcelain world of intricate beauty.

Pre-Order your pieces to be signed by November 23, and receive a FREE FRANZ Gift! Quantities are limited so order early - you don't want to miss this one!

Holiday Gift Ideas

2008-10-27T13:33:00.000-07:00

When Ed and I head out on our buying trips to trade shows in Atlanta, New York, and Las Vegas, we are always searching for new and unique merchandise. Over the past couple years, we have stumbled upon two great gift ideas, from the religious category. We carry a nice selection of religious merchandise, and always try to find items out of the normal realm of figurines and wall decor.

Our first find came several years ago from a company called Roman that specializes in religious giftware. The Christ's Story bracelet, has quickly become our #1 selling item in the store because of its uniqueness and practicality. For $14.99, you can have the story of Christ on your wrist in a beautiful charm bracelet with each bead representing a different part of his life. With the company's success in this bracelet, they have moved into other inspirational and holiday stories including 'The Night Before Christmas,' 'Jingle Bells,' 'Silent Night,' and 'The Nativity Story.' They have also expanded on the original Christ's Story with picture frames and crosses. All of which are available at Designers Center.

We stumbled upon the other great gift idea this past summer, and it has quickly become a hit! Three Kings Gifts comprise the three gifts that were brought to Jesus the night of his birth - gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Until now, we have heard the story, but most of us had never seen frankincense and myrrh before. The idea came to chemist who was on a business trip in the middle east and found a vendor selling these two incense. He got thinking and decided to market these as the original gifts of Christmas. Now, this Christmas you can give the same gifts the three kings did.
The Three Kings Gifts come in several sizes great for displaying in your home or presented as a gift.

We'll keep you posted on more unique gift ideas as we get closer to the Holidays. Until then, we are still taking Layaways for Christmas, so come in and reserve your holiday gifts early.

DC green

2008-10-12T15:06:00.000-07:00

These days, it seems that everyone is talking about going green. Our fragile environment is on the verge of crisis, and everyone is trying to do their part to pitch in. Our industry though is behind the times - many gift and home furnishing companies still pack their merchandise in non-recyclable Styrofoam and plastic. However, some companies such as Giuseppe Armani figurines and Swarovski crystal, have gone to new types of materials that can be reused as carton packaging or can be compressed to almost 10% of its original size and thrown away. While this packaging is just as safe as regular Styrofoam, it is certainly more expensive. These companies are caught between a rock and a hard place as they try to go green, and that is what we believe is the reason our industry is dragging behind others in terms of environmental responsibility.

At Designers Center, we face the same challenges our suppliers do, and are taking measures to make sure we are becoming a bigger part of the solution, and less a part of the problem. We reuse the cardboard boxes and packing peanuts that get shipped to us to repack new merchandise. We save excess gift wrap to use for wrapping smaller gifts, or as scratch paper. We are in the process of switching all of our light bulbs to energy efficient models, and ensure that no lights are left on when the store is closed. We recycle all of the plastic containers and cans that are consumed at our events. While we are only one store, we are trying to do what we can.

To further this process we are asking customers to return brown cardboard boxes, packing peanuts, and bubble wrap to us for reuse (or recycle them on your own). Just give us a call 650-871-4462, and we can have one of our employees meet you out in the mall parking lot to pick up the materials. Further, we are encouraging customers to use eco bags when they shop with us to reduce the use of plastic bags (we are working on a Designers Center eco bag to roll out in 2009). All the easy little changes that we make can contribute a lot more than we think to reducing overall emissions worldwide. Lets all do our part.

A Vera Bradley Success Story - Plus New Patterns!

2008-10-06T11:29:00.000-07:00

Last month, one of the Vera Bradley marketing associates that is based in San Francisco did a presentation at the Vera Bradley headquarters in Ft. Wayne, IN about store merchandising. He featured several stores to show the impact that a Vera Bradley Shop-in-Shop (a mini Vera Bradley store inside a retailer) makes on the overall shopping experience. He used Designers Center as an example, and furthermore was able to show the pictorial history of our Vera Bradley display, before and after adding the Shop-in-Shop. After the event, he was able to share with us the pictures he used to illustrate our success. Here they are . . .

2006 2006
2007
2007
2008
2008

On a Vera Bradley side note, we are excited to introduce the new Resort Collection featuring Mediterranean Blue and Mediterranean White. These limited edition patterns are available for 1 year only, and are available in every bag and accessory. The Mosaic pattern is only available in accessories, and is going to be retired at the end of 2008. We also have a FREE Gift with a $75 Vera Bradley purchase!

New PANDORA Beads

2008-09-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

All the new PANDORA Fall 2008 beads have arrived! From a lovable elf to a fun octopus, an alarm clock to keep you on time to a picnic basket full of goodies! This new release of beads has something for everyone. Love is in the air with four new heart charms as well! Stop in to Designers Center to view all the new charms in person.

Do you know that we always do FREE bracelet cleanings for your PANDORA jewelry? We have a fantastic jewelry tumbler that gets your precious metals looking as good as the first day you got them. We love seeing the look on customer's faces when their jewelry comes out of the tumbler! Other household ways to keep your jewelry looking its best during visits to our store can be seen here.

Keep an eye out for information regarding our next PANDORA Trunk Show, October 18! This will be an event not to miss! Lots of prizes and surprises!

Fall for Tinkerbell

2008-09-24T10:55:00.000-07:00

As the autumn leaves are getting ready to turn, the Walt Disney Classics Collection brings us a fantastic new piece to ring in the season. Tinkerbell: Blythe Fairy, captures the mischievous beauty of everyone's favorite fairy, all the while sitting on a beautiful Autumn leaf.

This limited edition piece of 2,000 is sold out! What this means is that the distributer, Enesco, does not have any more pieces available to ship to retailers. At Designers Center, we have stocked up on this great seller, but we too are getting low, and almost sold out. The piece retails for $99.99, and quatitites are very limited! Call 650.871.4462 to order!

For some inside information regarding the Walt Disney Classics Collection, view Duckman's Blog. Duckman is a very well educated collector that passes on his knowledge and passion for the WDCC. Give it a read!

Review us on YELP, let us know what you think!

End of an Era

2008-09-15T10:50:00.000-07:00

Since the 1930's, M.I. Hummel figurines have dominated the collectible market with porcelain sculptures that have captivated many collectors. At Designers Center, we have been carrying Hummel's for over 20 years, and it has become a staple gift for our customers, particularly at Mother's Day and Christmas. We have watched the line evolve right in front of us as collectors have built, and passed on their collections to future generations.

At the recent gift show at the America's Mart in Atlanta, we received news that the Hummel collection was no longer going to be made. While the news is shocking, collectors will not feel the effects for a while, as Goebel (the makers of Hummel) has loads of backstock to keep the shelves stocked for a while longer. Word is from our sources, however, that the line may still be picked up by another distributor, and production may continue (possibly not in Germany).

At this juncture, we have made a descision to close out our entire Hummel collection. While it was not an easy descision to make, we felt that with the current situation, it would be best to move forward with other lines.

So what does this mean for you??? Well, we are running a SPECIAL on ALL HUMMEL FIGURINES! Your first pices is 25% OFF, while all pieces after that are 50% OFF! Select pieces are instantly discounted to 70% OFF! This sale will be running through the end of September, or while stock remains. Take advantage before they are gone.

PANDORA Trunk Show

2008-09-10T13:23:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, September 13 from 1pm-4pm, join us for our PANDORA Trunk Show featuring Mix and Match Earrings!

DESIGN YOUR OWN EARRINGS . . .

. . . And combine them the way you want!

PANDORA jewelry introduces a whole new type of earring that makes it possible to create the exact piece of jewelry that reflects your mood, a special occasion, or the latest trend.

These earrings are fantastic! We have had them on display for a little over two weeks now, and the response has been great! Sterling Silver earring sets (a pair of posts and a pair of charms) start at just $50! And gold sets start at $250! From there, you can keep adding more charms to your posts! They make great gifts, and you always know what to get that special person for their next gift - another set of charms.

Trunk Show Special: Recieve a FREE PAIR OF STERLING SILVER POSTS (a $20 value) with your $75 Mix and Match earring purchase!

We will have FREE PANDORA Door Prizes each hour, meet the PANDORA rep, FREE PANDORA bracelet cleanings, and refreshments all afternoon! For more information or to purchase your Mix and Match earrings, visit our website at www.designerscenter.net.

Welcome

2008-09-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

We would like to welcome everyone to our new blog! For those of you that have been shopping with us for many years, we appreciate your loyalty and patronage. As you know, our store has undergone a major facelift in the past couple years - both to the physical look of the store, and to the merchandise inside it. As we move forward, we are taking steps to upgrade our online prescence as well.

Our new Designers Center Blog, will be the new center of information for our store. We will be updating you on new merchandise, events, news, and more. Subscribe to our Blog, and be the first with the latest info. Our blogs will range from highlighting new merchandise, stories about some of the designers, human interest articles, new promotions, contests and more! Have a question or a blog idea? Let us know!

We will be updating our blog on a weekly basis, sometimes more often! So keep checking back! In the meantime, feel free to jump on our website and browse around!