Oh So Delicious!

Ok, so let's be honest....it's always chocolate-eating time around here! But who knew matzah could taste so good? We're ready for the Passover seder here at Max's with a new shipment of Matzel Toff!, the delicious toffee and chocolate covered matzah sprinkled with sea salt. We're also ready for Easter, with lots of bunnies and eggs....some filled with coconut, some with hazelnut praline, and some with lots of very serious milk and dark chocolate ganache. Either way, Passover or Easter, there's one word to describe it --YUM!!!!!

Wearable Architecture

I'm so excited to announce that Max's is now representing Elements + Alloys (also known as EnA) jewelry! The look is contemporary, kinetic and clean and, no wonder....it is designed by two architects! I fell in love with this line as soon as I saw it as it really appeals to my sense of art as jewelry and jewelry as art. Whether it's a necklace or bracelet, or earring components that you can put together in different combinations of silver, 18k gold and stainless steel, the look is one that makes a strong statement. The World Gold Council awarded EnA the distinction of the "Best of New Gold Jewelry Design 2009" and, while I have never believed that we should like something just because the fashion world does, I think that it's noteworthy (as well as being well deserved) that EnA jewelry “walked the runway” on the fashion models showing the new collection by Carmen Marc Valvo in New York during Fashion Week in Times Square earlier this year. Welcome to Max's, EnA!

Max's 2010 Trunk Show Schedule!

Wow. It's been waaaaaayyyyyy too long since I've written anything and I apologize for that. Things have been crazy here at Max's (all in a good way, fortunately!) as we've gone from the whirlwind of Holiday '09 to Valentine's day 2010 and, in between, gone into the jewelry markets to select some new wonderful items to bring to the Twin Cities' market this year. I'm really excited about what we found and hope that you will be too. We've also been working on our 2010 jewelry artist trunk show schedule and it's now ready for prime-time. Of course, there will always be a posting on the blog prior to each show and, if you're on our customer (e)mailing list, you'll get an email or postcard notifying you of each show. For those of you who want to plan ahead, here's the line-up for the year....we can't wait!

April 30 - May 1; Jeanne Johngren
May 7 - 8; Jayne Redman
June 18 - 19; Stephanie Albertson
July 9 - 10; Suzy Landa
August 13 - 14; Pamela Froman
September 24 - 25; Janis Kerman
October 22 - 23; Sarah Graham
November 5 - 6; David Heston
December 4 - 5; Vicente Agor
December 17 - 19; Anne Sportun

A Picture Says A Thousand Words!

How do these look for starters? Valentine's Day is coming up and we're getting ready for it in a BIG way at Max's! We've been unpacking new chocolate shipments over the last three days and there's more coming next week. Truffles filled with port wine and figs, black current ganache, lemon marzipan, chocolate covered cherries infused with vodka, a big caramel heart, a big heart filled with individual caramels, chocolate covered potato chips, pretzels and popcorn....need we say any more more?

The Birds Do It, The Bees Do It

But what about all of the other animals in the zoo? They, of course, "do it" too, and now the Minnesota Zoo is going to share some of the “romantic rituals” of many of its residents...from courtship to breeding! If you’re looking for a fun and unique way to spend this Valentine’s Day, click here for a full description of the zoo’s “Love Tour” on February 14. The evening includes what promises to be a delicious dinner and, rumor has it, that there may be some chocolates from your favorite local chocolate boutique….hmmm, wonder who that might be!?!?!?!

Hibernation Begins Tomorrow!

That's right...it's that time of year again. Every winter, Max's goes into hibernation mode on Sundays (translation ~ closed on Sundays) for 6 months. Our hours from January - May will be:

Monday - Friday; 10am - 7pm
Saturday: 10am - 6pm

We hope this doesn't create any issues & thank you for your understanding!

Happy New Year and Thank You!

As we cross over into a new year and a new decade, I want to send a heartfelt thank you to all of our wonderful customers for your continued friendship and patronage. I truly appreciate your support and look forward to a great 2010. Peace to all.

Max's Semi-Annual Sale is On!!!!

Well it’s that time again and it only happens twice per year. Of course I’m talking about Max’s semi-annual sale! If you’re wondering what to do with those gift cards you received for the holiday, or you’re wondering whether that certain sparkling something that you’ve been admiring for the past few months is on sale, come on in and see what we’ve marked down to ring out 2009. You can enjoy savings of anywhere between 30-80% of select items and it’s not the holiday items. We have some great jewelry on sale, not to mention some wonderful things for the home. And because we want your New Year’s Eve celebration to sparkle as much as you do when you’re wearing your new jewelry, we’ve taken a temporary markdown on all of our champagne, wine, martini and port glasses. So stop by and check out the great savings during our semi-annual sale as we get ready to say goodbye to 2009 and ring in 2010 at Max’s!

We're Not Finished Partying Yet!

While "officially" we call them trunk shows, we like to think of our artist events as parties! And what better time to throw a party than the weekend before Christmas? You can come and enjoy some treats (chocolate, of course), sip on a sparkling beverage and try on some sparkling gems all in the same place. We're hosting one more artist "party" to wrap up 2009 on December 19 and 20 with jewelry from Anne Sportun. Many of you have become familiar with Anne's work in the store and, possibly, from the Sundance catalog, and we are thrilled to have her ENTIRE collection here for the weekend. And, because we really do love a party around here, we'll be previewing some of the work on Friday night, December 18, between 5 - 8pm. Don't worry though....there will be plenty of chocolates and beverages to last throughout the entire weekend!

You Better Watch Out ....Vicente is Coming to Town!

It's that time of year again! For the 4th year in a row, Max's is welcoming jewelry designer Vicente Agor for a trunk show to kick off your holiday shopping this December. Let's see....the first year he came to Minneapolis the mercury took a dip below zero. The second year -- a blizzard. It was a beautiful weekend last year while he was here and it seems like it's going to be the same this year. Even if it is snowing like crazy and cold outside, it's going to really warm here at Max's with the beautiful glow of his creations. Vicente continues to amaze us with his designs that have been inspired by his global travels and experiences….whether it’s his Antarctica collection that includes aquamarines surrounded by diamonds (pictured), his Moroccan collection of hand-cut 18k gold, or his fine silver work, his jewelry bears the mark of the exotic with a fresh modern interpretation.

As an extra holiday surprise, Vicente is bringing 5 pairs of white topaz earrings to be given away over the weekend (also pictured). We will be drawing 2 names on Saturday and 3 on Sunday to win these earrings, but you can only enter to win at the store during the trunk show. The show runs this Saturday, December 5, from 10 until 6, and again on Sunday, December 6, from noon until 5. I hope that you’ll stop by Max’s to meet Vicente and see his absolutely exquisite and unique work.

It's That Time Again - Silver and Gold Friday at Max's

Ok, so everyone in retail (as well as the media), refers to today as "Black Friday". Many of you may know that here at Max's, we prefer to think of it as "Silver and Gold Friday". Today is the official kick-off to the holiday shopping season and we think that calling it a silver and gold day is much more festive and better represents the sparkle that the holiday season brings -- not to mention all of the fabulous silver and gold jewelry we think that you'd love to give as your holiday presents this year (you might like to receive them as well, so don't forget that we have a "wish list" program here at Max's!). And, to add even more sparkle, you can use your Max's rewards points that you would earn on your purchases this weekend ON your purchases this weekend! What does this really mean? Our on-going reward points system is structured such that you can use the points you earn on any given sale (10% of the total pre-tax amount) on a future sale on another day. Today, tomorrow and Sunday, you can use the points that you earn that day on the current sale. Make sense? Bottom line is that you earn 10% off of everything you buy! Of course, if you still want to "bank" your points and keep building up your balance for something down the road, that's ok too! And, because we love a party around here, there will be lots of chocolates and tasty beverages (hot and cold!) to make your shopping that much more enjoyable!

What A Great Way to Explore Minnesota Theater!

Max's is proud to announce that it has partnered with SecretsofTheCity.com to sell Theater All Year packages! Theater All Year ticket vouchers offer an easy and affordable way to enjoy a huge variety of Twin Cities theater offerings throughout the season. Use the vouchers to reserve seats for any of the hundreds of designated performances by some three dozen theater groups. There’s no standing in rush lines, no hassles, just the opportunity to step out and sample new stages and theatrical experiences, at a savings. You get 6 ticket vouchers for $99 (plus tax, of course) that are honored by more than 35 theater companies for over 100 productions. Click here for more details and then come on over to Max's and buy your package of vouchers!

I Want Some Candy!

When you think about a bag of gumdrops, you think of brightly colored delicious treats -- right? Well, we think Stephanie Albertson got it right when she decided to call some of her earrings gumdrop earrings, and describe her rings as being made with candy colored gemstones! We are just in love with the new 18k gold/gemstone earrings and rings that we have added to the fine silver and gemstone pieces from Stephanie. Whether it's stack rings for everyday, or drop earrings to make that "wow" jewelry statement with this year's holiday party dress, we think her work is just beautiful in the way that the stones have been set to show off their color. Come take a look ....you just might find yourself craving some candy!

It's Time for the Excelsior & Grand Pre-Holiday Party!

Please join Max's on Thursday, November 5 from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. as The Shops at Excelsior & Grand host the premier pre-holiday party of the season!

Max's will be accessorizing the latest fashions from Shorty's Loft and OPM, including designers Sue Wong, Karamov and MEK Denim, with some of our newest jewelry arrivals from Vicente Agor, Stephanie Albertson, Janis Kerman and Anne Sportun....just to name a few! You'll also catch a glimpse of the season's hottest hairstyles for men and women from The Hair District and Supercuts, and be able to enjoy a chairmassage from RejoovMe.

If your're entertaining this holiday, there will be some holiday inspiration for food, too! You can sample some tasty treats from Laredo's Tex-West and McCoy's Public House, as well as enjoy some wonderful wines. And, of course, there will be lots of chocolate to sample from Max's!

So I hope that you'll be able to join us on Thursday night to kick the holiday party season off to a great start!

The Aloha Spirit Comes to Max's

A bit of Hawaii arrived at Max's yesterday just time time to warm us all up as the mercury takes a dip. Malie Kai Chocolates are made in Honolulu and are made with beans grown on the North Shore of Oahu. This is really special (and, of course, delicious) chocolate, as the cacao that is used is considered to be one of the rarest in the world as only 15,000 pounds are produced each year (not a lot if you're trying to make a lot of chocolate!). And here's another interesting factoid: Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. where cacao can grow. I first tasted Malie Kai 2 years ago at The Fancy Food Show, and I was so happy to receive word recently that it was ready for distribution on the mainland. I have a trip to Hawaii planned for next year, but I am so glad to be able to experience just a little bit of The Spirit of Aloha here and now!

Sarah Graham is Coming to Max's This Weekend!

You've made Sarah Graham one of your favorite jewelry designers here at Max's with her signature blackened steel pieces that are adorned with gold and diamonds, and we're looking forward to her trunk show this weekend! The inspiration for her work is grounded in nature as you can tell by the names of her collections, including Coral, Pebbles, Stepping Stones, Conifer and Bamboo. The trunk show runs Saturday, October 10 from 10am - 6pm and Sunday, October 11 from noon - 5pm. In addition to her wonderful jewelry for women, Sarah will introduce our customers to Mr. Graham, a new grouping of men’s jewelry. It's going to be cold outside this weekend, so why not head on over and join us for an afternoon of fun with this award-winning designer. And who knows...we may even break out the hot chocolate!

A Little Piece of Heaven Arrives at Max's!

Oh, how I love this! I have been admiring Jacob Albee's work since I first saw it a couple of years ago at the St. Paul American Craft Council Show, and I am really, really thrilled that he has agreed to have Max's represent him in the Twin Cities. Talk about unique....how does some meteorite (yep, you read that right...meteorite, as in the stuff that falls out of the sky and hits the earth every once in a while) sound? If that's not enough, when the meteorite is sprinkled with diamonds, it has the effect of looking like stars, as a customer pointed out to me the other day. Not all of Jacob's work involves meteorites though. The ring pictured here is one his collection that he calls "free diamonds" , and is made of oxidized silver, 18k gold and diamonds that are loose or "free" under the ring's crystal. We're happy to welcome Jacob to Max's collection of great artists, and truly believe that his work is something that is out of this world.

It's Time for the Janis Kerman Trunk Show!

I am a huge fan of Janis' work! Her designs are recognized for their extraordinary combination of colors and geometric shapes and sizes, and I particular love her “mismatched” earrings (in fact, I love them so much that I have a couple of pair in my personal collection!). In addition to her collection, Janis likes to work with a customer’s own jewelry pieces to completely remodel them by using existing elements of the jewelry to create a new design. This includes pearls, in which she often incorporates geometric shapes of gold with precious stones. If you have some jewelry at home that you’re not wearing because it’s not your style or you think it’s a bit outdated (don't we all have some...or a lot....of that?!?!), you can bring it in to Max’s during the trunk show and have Janis sketch some designs for. If you’re interested in spending some time with Janis and having her develop some designs for you, please give us a call so that we can schedule an appointment. I hope that you'll stop in this weekend and take a look...Janis will be in the store Jewelry artist on Friday, September 11 from 11am - 7pm and on Saturday, September 12 from 10am - 6pm.

Go Back to School With Max's!

If you're anything like me, back-to-school season was an exciting time, especially when my mom took me shopping for new clothes and school supplies. The biggest question I had to answer was what pattern I was going to pick for my notebooks...was it going to be the year of flowers, birds or bright colors? Unfortunately, many children today face much bigger and more difficult questions at this time of year, wondering where and how they will find the resources for necessities like backpacks and school supplies.

Richard Moody, founder of IamMoody (www.iammoody.com), a modeling, production, event planning and branding company, and all-around terrific human being, is coordinating Minneapolis Backpacks 4 Kids In Need, a grassroots effort to gather basic school supplies for kids who won’t have any at the start of this school year. Max's wants to help and we hope that you will join in the effort with us. We are donating 100% of the proceeds (pre-tax) of all of our sale chocolates and 5% of the proceeds (pre-tax) from regularly-priced chocolates sold between August 12 - August 30 to Minneapolis Backpacks 4 Kids in Need. I hope that you will be inspired to join us in support of this great cause, as we just don't think it's right for any child to begin the school year without the basic tools necessary for success.

Very Honored

Every year, NICHE magazine presents awards to retailers of American craft. Max's was fortunate to win an award in 2008, and I am honored, thrilled and humbled to be able to announce that we have won a Top Retailer Award again for 2009. The annual Top Retailer Awards program recognizes craft retailers who are committed to fair business practices and to growing and strengthening the North American craft community. “This awards program honors galleries and retailers for their commitment to supporting craft artists and the craft community,” said Wendy Rosen, publisher of NICHE magazine. “It’s not about the biggest sellers or fanciest shops. The ‘Top Retailers’ are often mentors who work hard to build and maintain good relationships with emerging and established artists.”

I have long believed that the relationships one has with its customers, suppliers and employees are critical to the long-term success of the business....ANY business. With that said, it is tremendously rewarding to be recognized within the industry for building and maintaining strong relationships with our artists. Thank you so much to all who recognized this core value from Max's and enabled us to be recognized so publicly for it.