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New York Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- New York Post
‘Shop local' queen beat tariffs with store of NYC-made goods
Tariffs busting your budget? One charming NYC shop is here to save your wallet — and your conscience. Tucked away at 434 Sixth Ave. in the West Village, the Locavore Variety Store is helmed by 'shop local' queen Caroline Weaver, an entrepreneur on a serious mission to change the way New Yorkers consume. Since opening a year ago, the 'shop about shopping' has become something of a gold mine for quirky, homegrown finds — sourced within 100 miles of the Big Apple. Advertisement 8 Since setting up shop a year ago, the Locavore (above) has morphed into a hot spot for offbeat, locally made loot — sourced within 100 miles of the Big Apple. Kim Max for Amid candy-colored decor, quirky displays show off 700 products from over 130 regional makers. There are household essentials — cleaning supplies, kitchen utensils — pantry staples like green goodies made by Eddie's Pickles in Maspeth, Queens, and unusual notions and gifts like cigarette lighters made with Dum Dum gum wrappers by comedian and downtown denizen Amy Sedaris. 'I want to remind people that shopping is fun,' Weaver told The Post. 'It's about going out, experiencing our neighborhoods, discovering something new and having fun.' Advertisement Weaver's retail journey started with the beloved CW Pencil Enterprise, a cult-favorite stationery spot she ran from 2014 to 2021 on the Lower East Side. But when the iconic address shuttered during the pandemic, the city cheerleader found herself dreaming of the ultimate buy-local boutique — giving birth to her latest retail baby not long after. 'The shop was always meant to be my demonstration of what shopping local really means — that it's friendly, it's fun, it's about things that are made in our communities and that have stories,' Weaver explained. 8 Inside the Locavore, you'll find a parade of offbeat displays, showcasing 700 handpicked products from over 130 local makers. Kim Max for Advertisement 'That's the storytelling part of it, and that's something Amazon and big box stores will never be able to compete with. My hope is that as the economic squeeze tightens and small businesses start to struggle, people will really begin to see why it matters to shop local,' Weaver said. The selection is as unexpected as it is charming — think Wiffle Balls straight outta Shelton, Connecticut, or wool dusters created by a Bronx family business, all waiting under the watchful, cardboard-cutout eye of another local staple: the pigeon. And Weaver has opted to keep things as simple as they are amusing, featuring grocery store-style shelving sourced from a Canarsie warehouse — she even sanded and stained the floor herself. 8 Shopping at the Locavore is like stepping into a treasure trove of local finds. Kim Max for Advertisement But this isn't just a smile-inducing spot for a browse — the passionate proprietor wants to spark excitement in her customers for a full exploration of Gotham's gargantuan selection of worthy mom-and-pop shops. Since 1990, big corporations have slashed 4 million jobs, but small businesses added 8 million, according to the Small Business Administration. As that number grows, Weaver has made it her job to catalog every independent retail space in the city — hoofing it through all five boroughs to track down all the hidden gems, going back to 2021. Four years and 14,000 stops later, she's almost done. 8 This ain't just a feel-good pit stop — Weaver's on a mission to get New Yorkers hyped about exploring the city's hidden gems and unsung mom-and-pop shops. Kim Max for To save New Yorkers a ton of legwork, she's put out the Locavore Guide — a pint-sized version of her epic database, spotlighting 670 of the city's coolest indie shops like Village Revival Records in Greenwich Village and Beadkraft in Chelsea, to name a few. And you can shop her store without even leaving the house — Weaver also recently caved and launched an online operation to bolster revenue and make her finds accessible beyond NYC. Katie McClure, who helped Weaver set up her entertaining emporium, said the Locavore has become more than just a retail space. 8 The selection's a delightful grab bag of the unexpected — think Dum Dum lighters handcrafted by Amy Sedaris and old-school C. Howard's gum at the counter, which Weaver likens to a classic 'bodega setup.' Kim Max for Advertisement 'People who come in here are friends. I've made friends with customers, and also very randomly, a lot of people run into each other here,' McClure said. Emily Dean, who started working at the Locavore before its official opening, said the close-knit nature of the shop and its locally made items are what make it special. 'People come in and say things like, 'Oh, I know the person who made this,' and I'm, like, 'No way, that's a real person that makes that, and they're right around the corner.' Things like that just bring in a lot of joy,' Dean said. 8 Weaver's kept it stripped-down and spirited, decking out the shop with old-school grocery store shelves from a Canarsie warehouse — and she even sanded and stained the floor herself. Kim Max for Advertisement Weaver explained that she wants shopping at the Locavore 'to feel democratic,' and that she sells items in 'every price range and category' so that everyone who walks in 'can feel like there's something for them.' Weaver also wants her store to be the opposite of shops that 'make you feel like you're not allowed to touch anything' and encourages customer curiosity and exploration. Cleo Le-Tan, who knows a thing or two about running a small biz, is a happy customer. She owns Pillow-Cat Books in the East Village — and she's in love with the Locavore's vibe. 8 Weaver's on a mission to map every mom-and-pop shop in the city — pounding the pavement across all five boroughs since 2021. Four years and 14,000 stops later, she's nearly there. Kim Max for Advertisement 'I like that you can just get all this different stuff — it's kind of a sort of deluxe convenience store. There isn't really that anywhere,' Le-Tan told The Post. 'My 6-year-old daughter does ballet upstairs, so we always come down after. She always wants to come here — she calls Caroline 'Coraline,' like the movie,' the professional bookworm added. Le-Tan's daughter Alpha told The Post that she loves the store's locally made fruit leather from small biz Joray — with 'strawberry and cherry' her two current favorite flavors. For Weaver, these visits — Alpha's candy runs, or the children who come in for their weekly Eddie's pickle fix — are exactly why she opened the shop, and why she loves being part of the community. Advertisement 8 Weaver's all about breaking the 'don't touch' vibe of stuffy shops — instead, she wants the Locavore to invite hands-on browsing and playful exploration. Kim Max for 'I grew up in rural Ohio, and I became a shop owner because of all the memories I made as a kid in little shops like this,' she said. 'That's why it matters so much to me to create those kinds of experiences for other people's kids now.' For Alpha's birthday last month, Weaver tied up a bouquet of her favorite flavors as a special gift. 'It's moments like that — being part of these kids' lives — that really matter to me,' she said with a smile.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Kentucky mom's astonishment after 70,000 lollipops show up at her doorstep
A Kentucky mother was left stunned to find mountains of lollipops mysteriously piled on her doorstep, only to discover that the order was placed by her mischievous son during an unsupervised shopping spree. Earlier this month, Holly LaFavers opened the front door of her Lexington home to a jaw-dropping sight - 22 massive red boxes stacked tall on her doorstep, containing a staggering 70,000 Dum-Dum suckers in total. The mastermind behind the sugary surplus? Her eight-year-old son, Liam, who already concocted grand plans for the surplus of lollipops he'd ordered from Amazon while on his mother's phone. 'He told me that he wanted to have a carnival, and he was ordering the Dum-Dums as prizes for his carnival,' LaFavers told CBS News. 'Again, he was being friendly, he was being kind to his friends.' However, LaFavers was in for another shock when she checked her bank account, only to find that the candy had set her back a whopping $4,000. 'When I saw what the number was, I just about fainted,' she told the outlet. The flustered mother quickly turned to Facebook, sharing two photos that captured the unbelievable sight of the massive delivery - each box packed to the brim with 2,300 suckers. The mastermind behind the purchase was her eight-year-old son, Liam, who had already concocted grand plans for the surplus of lollipops he'd ordered from Amazon while on his mother's phone (pictured: Liam and LaFavers) Eight more cases in the order were unaccounted for, but after a quick trip to the post office, LaFavers was able to return the remaining boxes to the sender before they made it to her doorstep. From there, she figured the best course of action was to sell the boxes individually and try to recoup some of her unexpected costs. 'Hi Everyone!' LaFavers wrote to Facebook. 'Liam ordered 30 cases of Dum-Dums and Amazon will not let me return them.' 'I contacted Amazon as soon as I realized what had happened,' she continued. 'They originally told me to reject the delivery and they would refund my money. The driver never knocked or rang the doorbell so now they will not take them back.' She decided to market each sealed box for $130, hoping to turn the sugary setback into a bit of a profit - or at least recoup some of the money. However, her anxiety finally eased when she managed to secure a refund from Amazon, despite the initial headache. 'After a long day of working with the bank and talking to a few news stations, Amazon called and they are refunding my money!!!' LaFavers wrote in an update to Facebook. 'Thank you everyone that offered to buy a box to help us,' she added. 'I will be happy to get you what you ordered or donate them to a charity of your choice.' In even better news, LaFavers received a pleasant surprise when her bank agreed to waive any fees associated with the order. 'I was able to laugh about it a little earlier today, so I can finally laugh about it,' she told WKYT News. Still, LaFavers walked away with a very valuable lesson: Liam is officially banned from using her phone. Just in case Liam cooks up another bright idea and manages to get a hold of her phone, LaFavers already started adjusting the device's settings - determined to make sure no more surprise deliveries land on their doorstep. Either way, if any Dum-Dums stick around the LaFaver home, one thing's for sure - blue raspberry will be the flavor of choice.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Time of India
8-year-old orders lollipops worth Rs. 3 lakh—here's what his mother did next
It started as a regular day for a mother in Lexington, Kentucky, until she found her front porch filled with boxes upon boxes of lollipops. What looked like a strange delivery error turned out to be something else entirely. Her 8-year-old son, using her phone, had accidentally placed a massive Amazon order worth nearly Rs 3.55 lakh (around $4,200). 70,000 lollipops and one big surprise Liam, a young boy living with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), usually uses his mom, Holly LaFavers' phone while she watches. But this time, things took an unexpected turn. Without her knowing, Liam ordered 30 cases of DumDum lollipops– nearly 70,000 candies– because he wanted to use them as prizes for a carnival he was planning for his friends, USA Today reported. Operation Sindoor India foils Pakistan's attack on Jammu airport: What we know so far How India used 'Sudarshan Chakra' to take down Pak drones, missiles Operation Sindoor: Several airports in India closed - check full list The unexpected charge caught LaFavers off guard. 'I contacted Amazon as soon as I realised what had happened. They originally told me to reject the delivery, and they would refund my money. The driver never knocked or rang the doorbell, so now they will not take them back,' she said. undefined Even after Amazon told her to refuse the delivery, 22 boxes still showed up at her doorstep. Not sure what to do, LaFavers turned to Facebook to ask her local community for help. 'Hi, everyone! Liam ordered 30 cases of Dum-Dums, and Amazon will not let me return them,' she wrote. The post quickly gained attention. Friends, neighbours, local businesses, and even banks offered to help by buying the lollipops. Her update later confirmed the overwhelming response: 'Thank you to everyone who has offered to buy a box (or two) or shared the post. I believe they are all sold!! I will get them to Somerset as quickly as I can.' Amazon issues a refund after media coverage After the story gained attention online and in the news, Amazon eventually gave a full refund. The company also said they were happy with how things worked out in the end. In the meantime, LaFavers and Liam made sure the extra candy didn't go to waste. They donated some of the lollipops to local groups, including a church and a school. What started as an unexpected and expensive mistake turned into a heartwarming moment of community support , with neighbours stepping in and everything finally falling into place after days of stress.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Business
- USA Today
The Daily Money: The US has its first trade deal
The Daily Money: The US has its first trade deal Good morning. This is Betty Lin-Fisher with today's edition of The Daily Money. President Donald Trump has announced a trade deal with the United Kingdom. It is the first trade pact since he paused reciprocal tariffs and began negotiating with countries to lower trade barriers. Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs on a number of countries April 2 but later paused most of them for 90 days, saying those nations' leaders were eager to negotiate trade deals. Since then administration officials repeatedly have said they are close to making deals, reports Zac Anderson. The UK wasn't hit with a reciprocal tariff but faces a 10% universal tariff and 25% tariffs Trump imposed on foreign automobiles, steel and aluminum. More details of the trade deal will be released this morning during a press conference. Defaulted student loan borrowers face threat More than 5 million student loan borrowers who are behind on their payments could soon face serious benefit consequences by the end of the summer. The U.S. Department of Education announced on May 5 that by the end of summer, 5.3 million defaulted student loan borrowers will receive a 30-day notice from the U.S. Department of Treasury, notifying them that they could lose federal benefits. Find out the latest information. 📰 Consumer stories you shouldn't miss 📰 🍔 Today's Menu 🍔 What happens when your 8-year-old orders nearly 70,000 Dum Dum lollipops to be delivered to your house? A Kentucky mom couldn't believe it when her son yelled: 'Mom, my suckers are here!' About The Daily Money Each weekday, The Daily Money delivers the best consumer and financial news from USA TODAY, breaking down complex events, providing the TLDR version, and explaining how everything from Fed rate changes to bankruptcies impacts you.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Yahoo
Owner of malnourished horses, pony would lick sick horse's eyes, spit out its mucus: affidavit
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (WFLA) — The owner of several malnourished animals who would caress her sick horses and lick away mucus in their eyes was arrested for felony animal cruelty, an arrest affidavit said. On March 1, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office received a complaint from Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control involving sick and 'emaciated' horses at a home. A veterinarian had visited the home on Feb. 23 for a sick horse who was lying in its stall and couldn't get up. FWC identifies woman killed in alligator attack at Lake Kissimmee State Park The vet told deputies that the horse was covered in feces and urine, and had superficial abrasions above its head, likely from hitting the nearby walls in an attempt to get up, the report said. The horse showed signs of dehydration, was hemodynamic and in 'some degree of shock.' The doctor met with the animal's owner, 74-year-old Pamela Beres, and recommended euthanasia, as the horse's labored and shallow breathing and distended abdomen led him to believe it would not make it through the night. 'This horse is living, and it will live because I say it will,' Beres yelled to the doctor. After propping the horse upright with hay bales, Beres told the doctor she had to do something. That's when she began caressing the horse's head, telling it 'I know you like this, this is some kind of sex [inaudible],' the affidavit said. Lollipop lesson: Family's $4K Dum Dum nightmare ends with a sweet twist The doctor told deputies Beres opened the horse's eyes, licked them with her tongue, licked away the mucus and spit it out in the stall, before continuing. When a deputy arrived on March 1 to the home, she saw four horses that appeared emaciated, with their ribs, hip bones and spine sticking out, and another horse 'clearly in poor condition' with its hip bones protruding from its body, the affidavit said. A total of six horses and one pony were found on the property. The horse that the doctor had responded to in February had died. None of the horses had access to water and had minimal food. The animals, including the pony, were all underweight in various degrees and 'severely malnourished,' as some horses were on the brink of starvation. Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control seized the animals and said that they are receiving basic care of proper nutrition, dental work and deworming. It was also reported that parasitism may have contributed to their lower weights. Beres was arrested on Tuesday and charged with seven counts of felony animal cruelty and seven counts of confinement without food, water or exercise, the affidavit said. has reached out to the animal care center for additional information. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
