Briefly

Scrapbooking author and television personality Sandi Genovese joined Mrs. Grossman's, Petaluma, CA, as the company's creative director.

The semiannual Gift Fair in Atlanta will introduce Atlanta General Merchandise Expo, a new section geared to discount customers, at its winter 2005 edition in the Georgia World Congress Center.

Vera Bradley Designs, Fort Wayne, IN, signed its first licensing deal, with Andrea by Sadek, New York. The tabletop supplier will introduce three Vera Bradley collections at High Point this month.

The Boyds Collection Ltd., Gettysburg, PA, appointed Michael A. Prager vice president of sales. Prager's 20-year career has been focused on consumer goods companies, most recently The Timberland Company, where he served as v.p. of sales.

After 30 years serving Northeast retailers, The Center in Bedford, MA, will rename itself Northeast Market Center, and move to new facilities in Billerica, MA, by November.

Blyth Inc., Greenwich, CT, appointed Jim McTaggart to its board of directors. McTaggart is chairman of management consulting firm Marakon Associates.

Designer Lillian August will create a lighting collection for Currey & Co., Atlanta, scheduled to debut in April 2005.

Arteriors Home, Dallas, hired Richard Soard as vice president of design. Soard was most recently with Currey & Co. He will launch a new Arteriors Home collection of chandeliers and wall sconces in April 2005.

Designer Tracy Porter signed a licensing deal with Allure Home Creation Co., Boonton, NJ, for a collection of bath products.

Dallas Market Center's Holiday and Home Expo (formerly Silk and Holiday Expo) will take place January 8–12, 2005, adjacent to the Super Market's dates of January 12–19.

Obituary: Bob Solomon, 50, chief executive and owner of plush manufacturer Applause LLC, Woodland Hills, CA, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Friday, August 20. Solomon is survived by two daughters and a son.