"Hello,
I just wanted to let you know about a new direction that OffTheShelf will be taking soon.
On 31st August of this year, OffTheShelf and Payot Chantepoulet will merge and OffTheShelf will no longer exist as a separate entity - we will integrate our books and our ordering setup into Chantepoulet’s English Department. By combining our strengths in this way, OffTheShelf’s knowledge and experience with Payot’s size and infrastructure, we feel we can better serve the English book needs of Geneva.
I, Lisa, and other members of OffTheShelf’s staff will be moving there too. The idea is to recreate OffTheShelf within Chantepoulet as much as possible - the same book knowledge, the same English-speaking welcome, the same service with a smile, and the same ordering capabilities - so that hopefully our customers will continue to feel as at home with us over there as here. (We’ll even be keeping the same telephone number and e-mail address for quite a while, so you can carry on contacting us that way, and any calls or messages will come through to us automatically over there).
A new exhibition showcasing the work of local female entrepreneurs and artists has just been launched in Nyon.
Taking place from 9h00 to 19h00 on Saturday, 6 September, the La Côte Women's Fair will provide visitors with the opportunity to find out more about local businesses offering products and services ranging from language tuition, personalized photos on canvas, and Swiss pearl jewelry, through to quality tea, fashion, home security, life style advice, interior decoration, and homemade chocolates and cakes.
At 11h30 and 14h30 there will be a special presentation about ikebana flower arranging by event organizer, Yoshiko Luebke. Yoshiko told knowitall.ch,
“I am really pleased to be involved in such an exciting project, which brings together the work of so many talented women living in this region. We have chosen the Beau Rivage Hotel as the venue for this event, as we wanted to create a friendly atmosphere where women, both English- and French-speaking, can share their work with the local community in a small, but intimate location, reputed for its high quality of service. I am also planning a conference by a language coaching specialist, and hopefully classical music to animate the day.”
Complementary bracelet for knowitall.ch readers who order before 15 August, 2014 (see below)
Local entrepreneurs, Barbara Traulsen and Selene Folkesson, have just launched an exciting new fashion accessory, which is suitable for all ages and has appeal to both genders, no matter what the season, or time of day. Called brappz, the brightly colored cords were developed initially as a trendy alternative to bra straps, but have also been gaining popularity as stylish bracelets, anklets, cool-looking hair braids and even practical shoelaces!
The new line of silky smooth brappz straps were launched officially at the beginning of July and will be available for purchase online, as well as at local retailers including SB Sport in Gland, A Cause Des Garcons in Nyon, Boutique Ateapic in Geneva, and Sport 137 in Versoix. While the standard size will be available in 14 different colors, there will also be an extra large size, ideal for shoelaces, cross back bras and halter tops, available in 5 colors of their own.
If you are looking for some good books to read over the holidays this summer, then now is the time to cash in on OffTheShelf’s great summer offer.
For just Fr. 20.- you can buy one of their special Summer Passes, which entitles you to 20% off in-stock book purchases in the bookstore until 31 August. So, why not bring the family along and browse the bookshelves to see what the shop has to offer? It's so much more enjoyable than internet shopping, and you don’t need to worry about whether the books will arrive in time for your holidays!
To get you in the mood for shopping, take a look at the OffTheShelf website to see the latest arrivals in store. These include the long awaited conclusion to the best selling Mortal Instruments series, City of Heavenly Fire, as well as Hilary Clinton’s candid reflections on her time as Secretary of State: Hard Choices. You can also buy the current Hardbook Bestseller, China Dolls as well as the Paperback Bestseller, The Quantum Age.
New regulations have been announced concerning the amount of merchandise that you can bring over the border from France into Switzerland.
From 1July, anyone traveling through customs, will be able to bring up to Fr. 300.- of goods per day for their own personal consumption, or as a gift to someone else, duty free. Any goods over this amount will be subject to 8% TVA, or 2.5% TVA for goods such as books and non-alcoholic drinks.
As before, there will also be limits on the quantity of goods brought through customs. However, there are some changes. Notably you can bring:
- 1kg of meat (Includes meat and meat products derived from all animal species, excluding wild animals, fish, crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates.)
- 1 kg/l or butter and cream
- 5kg/l or oils, fats and margarine
- 5l of alcoholic drinks up to 18% volume (Min age 17)
- 1l of alcoholic drinks over 18% volume (Min age 17)
- 250 cigarettes / cigars (Min age 17)
- 250g of other manufactured tobacco (Min age 17)
The following taxes will apply to any goods, which exceed the limits above:
- Meat: Fr. 17.- per kg
- Butter and cream: Fr. 16.- per kg/l
- Oils, fats, and margarine: Fr. 2.- per kg/l
- Alcoholic drinks up to 18% volume: Fr. 2.- per l
- Alcoholic drinks over 18% volume: Fr. 15.- per l
- Cigarettes or cigars: Fr. 0.25 per item
- Other manufactured tobacco: Fr. 0.10 per g
It is worth noting that there are no longer any limits on the amount of milk, eggs or cut flowers you bring over the border. However, there is a change in the amount of meat you can bring as this has now all been grouped together under one category, with a total limit of 1kg.
