Liquid silver 7n'
of local jewelers
By Liz Crumley
Want to be "in" this year? Just buy liquid silver and
turquoise, according to Lincoln jewelers.
Liquid silver is small pieces of silver chained together to
give a "liquid" effect. Originally, it was made solely by
Indians.
Chokers made of this with small stones or shells inter
mingled are the most popular type of jewelry, according
to most of the 10 jewelers surveyed.
Prices range from $3 for a woman's plain liquid silver
necklace at Brandeis to about $7.50 at Hovalnd-Swanson
and Powell's. The price depends on length of the chain.
Normal choker length for women is IS inches. Normal
choker length for men is 18 inches.
Liquid silver necklaces with one turquoise stone costs an
average of $8 at most stores. The price goes up as more
stones are added.
Self-made jewelry
Jewelart is the only store surveyed that sells supplies for
self-made jewelry. The cost of a quarter-inch piece of liquid
silver is four cents. The price of turquoise ranges from 75
cents to $8, according to Jan Harding, sales clerk.
John Brown, assistant manager of Zales Jewelers at Gate
way, said natural shells are popular this year. These include
heishi, puca shells, pin shells and coconut shells.
Heishi is the name for any shells that are tube-shaped.
Puca shells are small, dark, conical shells originally found in
Hawaii.
The popularity of puca shells varies according to
different jewelers. Brown said he thought puca shells hadn't
quite hit Lincoln yet. Jack Powell, owner of Powell's
Jewelers, said he considered puca shells a "flash in the
pan. His store used to carry tnem, he said, but does not
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The Hitchin Post, 144 N. 14th St., offers
boots among its variety of men's clothing.
Gift plants offer
'something real'
By Sandy Mohr
"Everybody seems to enjoy something real.' This is how
Mark Kramer, buyer for Kramer's Greenhouses, explains
the popularity of plants as holiday gifts.
"It's a trend that's here to stay," said Robert Danielson
of Danielson Floral Co.
Although poinsettias still are the most popular Christmas
flowers, Kramer said almost any red flower is desirable.
Hanging plants and plants that are two or three feet tall
are popular now, said Al Kammerer, buyer for Sum of the
Parts at Treasure City. They are popular because they give
a "splash of color to a room," he said.
Wandering Jews and asparagus fern are two plants he
said are currently popular.
Because they're easy to maintain, draceana and
margenato are popular, said Tom Rogers, buyer for Green
fingers. Rogers said gifts make up 10 per cent of his
business and that 75 per cent of his sales are tropical plants.
Terrariums are decreasing slightly in popularity, both
Rogers and Kammerer said. People still like them, they
agreed, but more maintenance is required for them.
"More and more people are moving into the foliage
plants," Rogers said.
Kammerer said plants are popular because they're cheap
and easy to trade. One also can give cuttings to friends for
them to start their own plants, he said.
Since people are starting their own plants, half of Sum
of the Parts' business is in plant accessories and supplies.
Fifteen per cent of Greenfinger's business is in that area.
Pottery makes up 25 per cent of the total business at
Sum of the Parts. Mexican pottery is the most popular,
Kammerer said.
now.
Other stores surveyed said puca shells are popular now.
These include Ardan Jewelers and Distributors, Brandeis,
J.C. Penney Co., Jewelart, Jewels, Fred Wilson Jewelers
and Hovland-Swanson.
Kaufman's Jewelers does not carry liquid silver or
turquoise and deals mainly in wedding and engagement
rings.
doily fiebrasitctrt
Special editor: Dennis Onnen. Advertising manager:
Mary Ann Myers. Production manager: Kitty Policky.
Photo chief: Ted Kirk. Layout and design: Shelley Becker.
Copy editor: Stan Linhorst. Advertising copy writer: Bruce
McMorris. Advertising sales: Carol Berggren, Fred Hakes,
Rogene Jensen, John Loudon, Dan ODonnell, Jayne
Sohl, Doug Weber, Gregg Wurdeman. Advertising produc
tion: Suzy Carlson, Bob Radek.
Toys: Knewel to Sesame Street
Christmas (
S II
ByBarbLutz
Children are counting the days, and toy clerks are count
ing change. The holiday season is a favorite time of year for
children, and it makes store managers smile, too.
With five weeks left until Santa Claus comes some
popular toys already are sold out.
Kent Leach, toy department manager at Brandeis, said
people are buying more this year, and earlier. Television
advertising has a lot to do with it, he said.
J.C. Penney's toy buyer, Al Wenstrand, said facsimile
toys from shows such as Emergency, The $6 Million Man
and Sesame Street are big sellers.
Sales so far indicate that less violence on TV has killed
off the popularity of guns, and dolls have made a move on
the market.
Kathy Oswald, clerk at Ardan 'j, said children see' a toy
on TV and tell their parents about it. When the parents go
shopping, they say we'd "better not get anything except
that or he won't like it," she said.
Jack Werner, toy buyer for Richman Gordman, said
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parents ask for advertised items. Toys for chain stores are
bought nationally, he said. An annual toy fair six months
before the holiday season serves to tell buyers what will sell
well, what is being manufactured most and what is new.
Some toys, however, remain favorites year after year.
The assistant toy buyer at K Mart, Bob Wood, said the
new games outsell the old standbys. Westrand said Mono
poly and Risk are good sellers every year.
Dolls have made a bit comeback in the last three years,
but Barbie is dying out. The trend has gone back to love
able, cuddly soft dolls and fewer battery operated ones,
Wenstrand said.
Baby That-Away and Bless-You Baby Tender Love are
the new favorites at most stores, but Raggedy Ann and
Andy are popular as usual.
The sensationalism created by Evel Kneivel has spilled
onto the toy market. Wood and Werner both said the Evcl
Kneivil dragsters, trail bikes and dolls are top sellers this
year.
Guns are not selling except with dolls such as G.I. Joe.
There is no western influence anymore, and action toys,
especially with the rescue theme, are gaining popularity.
Arvis Br ay man, toy buyer for Miller and Paine, said
Fisher-Price preschool toys are a bestseller. Wenstrand said
that brand "is always good because it is built well."
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