Galleria at Sunset to search for Henderson’s next chic stylist

Jeannie Mai, Nick Verreos join ranks of nationwide Project Style

HENDERSON, Nev. – Galleria at Sunset, along with 14 other shopping centers across the nation, are seeking entries for this year’s Project Style, an award-winning fashion competition that allows teens to show off their unique style. Winners in the competition will take home thousands of dollars in prizes. The grand prize winner will visit Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City in 2013.

This year, fashion experts Jeannie Mai and Nick Verreos will visit centers to help find the next Project Style winner. Project Style is a fashion competition for boys and girls 13 years old and older. From now through August, the Galleria at Sunset – located at 1300 W. Sunset Road, just off Interstate 95 in Henderson – will select two trendsetters per round during a five-round contest to put these local trendsetters’ sense of style and fashion to the test. Each participant will be judged based on the outfit they assemble for the competition using fashions they find within the walls of the Galleria at Sunset.

Those interested can sign up by visiting the Galleria at Sunset’s website, www.galleriaatsunset.com. Participants are judged on their overall style, personality and creativity represented by their entries, and two monthly semifinalists will be chosen to receive a $150 Galleria at Sunset gift card to purchase items to combine with one personal item for his or her wardrobe to create a trendsetting outfit.

The public will then vote online to determine which contestant will compete in the Project Style Live Style-off event in September. One winner will be named Henderson’s Top Trendsetter and receive a grand prize of $1,000. The national winner will be determined in October.

“Fashion is just another way for young people to express their creativity,” said Heather Valera, marketing director for the Galleria at Sunset. “This competition gives them a blank canvas to create and portray their style in a fun, interactive environment. It’s a great way for teens to stretch their creative muscles during the summer months. Hopefully, some future designers and fashion experts will come out of the Galleria at Sunset.”

The Galleria at Sunset joins 14 other Forest City properties across the country for Project Style 2012. In 2011, the International Council of Shopping Centers awarded Forest City with its Gold Maxi award, the highest presented for excellence in retail marketing programs.

“It’s exciting to see the originality and creativity of the customers who shop at our centers,” said Jane Lisy, senior vice president of marketing for Forest City Commercial Management, owner of the Galleria at Sunset. “We are delighted to provide a forum for these chic stylists to show off their trendsetting ideas, built around items they find at the fashion retailers within our shopping centers.”

Other participating shopping centers include:

• Antelope Valley Mall, Palmdale, Calif.
• Promenade Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook, Ill.
• Boulevard Mall, Amherst, NY
• Charleston Town Center, Charleston, WV
• Orchard Town Center, Westminster, Colo.
• Westchester’s Ridge Hill, Yonkers, NY
• The Mall at Robinson, Pittsburgh, Penn.
• Short Pump Town Center, Richmond, Va.
• Southlands, Aurora, Colo.
• South Bay Galleria, Redondo Beach, Calif.
• Shops at Tanforan, San Bruno, Calif.
• Promenade at Temecula, Temecula, Calif.
• Victoria Gardens, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.
• The Shops at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel, Fla.

The Galleria at Sunset opened in 1996 and is anchored by Macy’s, JCPenney, Dillard’s, Kohl’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods. It features premiere retailers such as Coach, bebe, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Gymboree, Buckle,Abercrombie&Fitch,Victoria’s Secret, Brookstone and more and is also home to the Galleria Library. Owned and operated by Forest City Enterprises, the 1,051,000-square-foot complex is the only enclosed mall in Henderson – one of the fastest growing cities in theUnited States. In addition to retail, the Galleria at Sunset boasts two full service and 12 fast food restaurants.

For more information on the Galleria at Sunset visit www.galleriaatsunset.com or contact the mall’s information center at 702-434-0202.

Pediped donates $10,000 to Henderson Libraries Foundation

Donation will go toward purchasing materials

HENDERSON, Nev. – Henderson, Nev.-based Pediped footwear has donated $10,000 to the Henderson Libraries Foundation to support Henderson Libraries in its mission to cultivate a literate community. Specifically, the donation will go toward the purchase of library materials.

Designed to promote healthy foot development, Pediped uses the latest technology and the highest quality materials and craftsmanship to create shoes for children that are designed to care for their feet from crawling, to their first steps, and into the toddler years. 

“Henderson Libraries creates an environment that encourages a love of reading, knowledge and imagination for children and provides our community with valuable enrichment opportunities,” said Angela Edgeworth, who co-founded Pediped with her husband, Brian Edgeworth.  “Pediped is proud to support an organization that has such a large impact on our local community.”

Pediped footwear’s donation to the Henderson Libraries Foundation is significant, as the foundation is on track to have raised $100,000 in a year’s time, ending April 30. One hundred thousand dollars equals approximately 10-12 percent of the district’s annual materials budget for its six Henderson locations.

“Pediped feels that all children should have the ability to pursue their fullest potential and believes libraries provide that environment for children,” Edgeworth said. “With our donation, we hope to help raise awareness about the Henderson Libraries’ funding needs and support programs that enrich our community.”

The Henderson Library Foundation established a Grand Challenge to help people do just that. Individuals or teams interested in participating in the foundation’s Grand Challenge, which encourages individuals or businesses to commit to raising $1,000 in a month’s time to benefit Henderson Libraries, can sign up by filling out the form on the Henderson Libraries Foundation website and dropping it off at any of the six Henderson Library branches.

“We are grateful to Pediped for their investment in our community,” said Tom Fay, executive director for Henderson Libraries. “We as a district have a long way to go to offset the budget cuts we have endured, and it’s gifts like Pediped’s that will allow us to continue moving in the right direction.”

The Henderson Libraries Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization funded by donations of gifts, grants and bequests, helps Henderson Libraries in its mission to create a literate community by providing financial support over and above the annual operating fund. Henderson Libraries relies on the support of the Foundation to continue to provide funds for the following areas: library collections; outreach services; innovative technology; capital projects; and scholarships.

Established in 1943 as a single library in Downtown Henderson, Henderson Libraries operates six locations throughout Henderson. Henderson Libraries cooperates with other public libraries in Southern Nevada, the Nevada System of Higher Education, the Clark County School District and all other libraries around the state to provide quality service for Nevada’s residents.

For additional information on Henderson Libraries and its many services and resources, visit www.mypubliclibrary.com or call 702-492-6581.

Angela and Brian Edgeworth established Pediped footwear in 2005 after their first daughter, Caroline, was born. Angela began thinking about footwear and what kind of shoes would be best for her child.  She wanted a shoe that was comfortable, stylish and could be worn both indoors and out.  Most importantly, she wanted a shoe that was healthy for her daughter’s feet.

Following extensive research, Angela discovered that doctors recommended barefoot walking or soft leather sole shoes, but the choices for infants and toddlers were limited.  Subsequently, the Edgeworths decided to create the perfect shoe that was the next best thing to bare feet. Today, Pediped is sold on www.pediped.com and in more than 3,000 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide.

In 2010, the Edgeworths and their business partner, Rudy Glocker established the Pediped foundation.  Since the company’s founding in 2005, Pediped has given nearly $1.5 million in product and monetary support to children in need.

For more information on Pediped footwear, visit the company’s website, Facebook page or Twitter account.

Fashion takes a night out with celebration at the Galleria at Sunset; Real Housewife Gretchen Rossi to host the evening, sign autographs

Chic is queen at Fashion’s Night Out, Project: Style – The Style Off Sept. 8; participants can enter to win a shopping spree with Rossi

HENDERSON, Nev. – The Galleria at Sunset will become the center of Las Vegas Valley fashion when designers, shoppers and fashionistas take over for the third annual Fashion’s Night Out from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8.

Free and open to the public, Fashion’s Night Out will feature celebrity host Gretchen Rossi from “The Real Housewives of Orange County.” In addition to hosting the event, Rossi will meet and greet with shoppers and sign autographs.

The evening will include mini-manicures, makeovers, free samples, food sampling and the opportunity to win a $250 Shop & Gossip Spree with Rossi.

Project: Style is a fashion competition for boys and girls who are 13 years old and older and members of the social shopping network site, Shoptopia. From April through August, the Galleria at Sunset – located at 1300 W. Sunset Road, just off the I-95 – selected two trendsetters per round during a five-round contest to put local trendsetters’ sense of style and fashion to the test. Each participant was judged based on the outfit they assembled for the competition using fashions they find within the walls of the Galleria at Sunset. The winner of the competition will be announced at the event.

Shoppers will be able to participate in Fashion’s Night Out just by shopping at the Galleria at Sunset. They will be selected at random to receive mall gift cards and instant makeovers by the Fashion’s Night Out street team as they roam seeking out the best deals offered up by participating retailers.

Fashion’s Night Out is an unprecedented global initiative created in 2009 in a partnership between American Vogue, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, New York & Company and the city of New York to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence, boost the industry’s economy and put the fun back into shopping. Since then, the event has grown exponentially, expanding nationally in 2010 to more than 100 cities and globally into 15 countries.

People can also get up-to-the-minute details on Fashion’s Night Out by downloading an app, http://gettag.mobi.

The Galleria at Sunset opened in 1996 and is anchored by Macy’s, JCPenney, Dillard’s, Kohl’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods. It features premiere retailers such as Coach, bebe, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Gymboree, Buckle,Abercrombie&Fitch,Victoria’s Secret, Brookstone and more and is also home to the Galleria Library. Owned and operated by Forest City Enterprises, the 1,051,000-square-foot complex is the only enclosed mall inHenderson. In addition to retail, the Galleria at Sunset boasts two full-service and 12 fast food restaurants.

For more information on the Galleria at Sunset visit www.galleriaatsunset.com or contact the mall’s information center at 702-434-0202.

Galleria at Sunset to search for Henderson’s top fashion trendsetter

Project Style allows local teens to show off their sense of style, compete for $1,000

HENDERSON, Nev. – Galleria at Sunset and Shoptopia, a social shopping network, are searching for Henderson’s top fashion trendsetter.

Project: Style is a fashion competition for boys and girls who are 13 years old and older. From now through August, the Galleria at Sunset – located at 1300 W. Sunset Road, just off the I-95 – will select two trendsetters per round during a five-round contest to put these local trendsetters’ sense of style and fashion to the test. Each participant will be judged based on the outfit they assemble for the competition using fashions they find within the walls of the Galleria at Sunset.

This year’s Project Style will include new and improved technology including a brand new mobile platform that will give shoppers the added flexibility of being able to vote from their Smartphones. In addition, a new Facebook page has been created to access the thousands of followers on the centers’ Facebook pages. These enhancements along with a new and improved user experience and streamlined registration will make Project Style more dynamic than ever before.

“People love to showcase their own style and creativity,” said Heather Valera, marketing director for the Galleria at Sunset. “Through Shoptopia, they have a vehicle to express themselves and win recognition for their style and talent. The sky is the limit and hopefully we will see future designers and style experts compete.”

Each of the selected trendsetters will be given a $150 Galleria at Sunset gift card to create a stylish outfit that represents their personal sense of style and creativity. All items included in the ensemble must be purchased from the Galleria at Sunset’s retailers with the exception of one personal item that can come from the contestant’s own closet. A brief video and pictures of their creations will be posted on the social shopping site, Shoptopia, and members of Shoptopia will be eligible to vote for their favorite trendsetter during the live voting segment of the online competition. 

People who are interested in entering the contest can visit www.galleriaatsunset.shoptopia.com and click on “Project: Style” to enter. Each entrant must upload a photo to their Shoptopia profile that showcases their style in order to be considered.

The trendsetter with the most votes from each round will move on to the Project: Style Live Style-off event in September. One winner will be named Henderson’s Top Trendsetter and receive a grand prize of $1,000.

Henderson’s trendsetter contest is part of a national competition hosted by Shoptopia and a number of Forest City malls throughout the United States.

“Our shoppers have embraced Project Style and we are thrilled to bring it back to them,” said Jane Lisy, vice president marketing, Forest City Commercial Management. “We love discovering and encouraging future stylists from our local communities, while showcasing our great fashion retailers at the same time.”

Participating shopping centers include:

• Victoria Gardens – victoria.shoptopia.com, Ranch Cucamonga, CA
• South Bay Galleria – southbay.shoptopia.com, Redondo Beach, CA
• Southlands – southlands.shoptopia.com, Aurora, Co
• Antelope Valley Mall – antelope.shoptopia.com, Palmdale, CA
• Boulevard Mall – boulevard.shoptopia.com, Amherst, NY
• The Promenade Bolingbrook – promenade.shoptopia.com, Bolingbrook, IL
• The Mall at Robinson – robinson.shoptopia.com, Pittsburgh, PA
• Charleston Town Center – charleston.shoptopia.com, Charleston, WV
• Promenade Temecula – temecula.shoptopia.com, Temecula, CA
• Orchard Town Center – orchard.shoptopia.com, Westminster, CO
• Short Pump Town Center – shortpump.shoptopia.com, Richmond VA
• The Shops at Wiregrass – wiregrass.shoptopia.com, Wesley Chapel, FL

Shoptopia is an online shopping experience where members can share their love for their favorite brands, discover new products, seek shopping advice from a community of friends, family and peers, and receive exclusive benefits from local shopping centers. Shoptopia was created by Mallfinder Network, the leading developer and provider of integrated marketing services for the shopping center industry. 

The Galleria at Sunset opened in 1996 and is anchored by Macy’s, JCPenney, Dillard’s, Kohl’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods. It features premiere retailers such as Coach, bebe, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Gymboree, Buckle, Abercrombie & Fitch, Victoria’s Secret, Brookstone and more and is also home to the Galleria Library. Owned and operated by Forest City Enterprises, the 1,051,000-square-foot complex is the only enclosed mall in Henderson – one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. In addition to retail, the Galleria at Sunset boasts two full service and 12 fast food restaurants.

For more information on the Galleria at Sunset visit www.galleriaatsunset.com or contact the mall’s information center at 702-434-0202.

Las Vegas native, longtime UNLV fan designs Runnin’ Rebel ‘swag’

Rebel Swag produces unique, fan-inspired apparel

LAS VEGAS – The success of Brian Schaff’s business, Rebel Swag, is the perfect example of what can happen with hard work and dedication.

Through his former company, ScreenWorkz, Schaff printed T-shirts for a number of clothing designers – including those printing T-shirts as promotional giveaways for UNLV Runnin’ Rebel home games. As he printed shirts, Schaff regularly found himself thinking, “I can design something better than that.”

Finally, Schaff – a native Las Vegan – began designing UNLV Runnin’ Rebel T-shirts in 2007.

“At first I simply designed shirts for myself and close friends and family, but after many ‘Where did you get that shirt?’ inquiries, I saw a neglected niche in the market that I could fill,” Schaff said. “Runnin’ Rebel fans want unique, fan-inspired and attractive-looking apparel – not the same shirt that can be found throughout the country (but with a different college’s name on it).”

A longtime UNLV Runnin’ Rebel fan, Schaff established Rebel Swag in 2008 to put his design ideas to good use.

However, Schaff quickly learned that it would take much more than a good product to get his new company off the ground.

It wasn’t until Schaff met former UNLV Men’s Basketball player (and the son of the team’s coach, Lon Kruger) Kevin Kruger that Schaff caught a break. Since then, the company has formed partnerships with such businesses as Zappos.com, and Rebel Swag’s sales have taken off.

Today the company designs, prints and sells UNLV Runnin’ Rebel apparel (including a backpack and towel). Unlike many fan apparel companies, Rebel Swag’s designs incorporate ideas from the university’s rich traditions and special events to ensure they are something fans will enjoy wearing, regardless of whether they are at an actual UNLV sport event.

“Our goal is to keep the UNLV fans hungry for more,” Schaff said. “Fans asked for the ‘old school’ Hey Reb, and, with some help, we delivered. Fans asked for the black jerseys, and we delivered. When fans ask, we listen. That’s what Rebel Swag is all about.”

Rebel Swag is a primarily Web-based apparel company that, when college basketball season begins, can also be found at all UNLV basketball games.

For more information about Rebel Swag or to suggest an idea for a new piece of Rebel Swag, visit www.rebelswag.com or http://www.facebook.com/RebelSwag.