Forty One Madison Expecting Strong Showing for 2015 Winter Market

More than 40 brands with permanent showrooms at Forty One Madison – Hermès, L'Objet, Puiforcat, Ralph Lauren Home, Richard Ginori, Riedel, Rosenthal, Saint Louis and Wedgwood, among them – will be meeting with leading gift retailers and buyers Saturday, January 31 through Wednesday, February 4 when the NYNOW gift market is held. Mottahedeh, another whose doors will be open during that period, will tease up the occasion with a special display in the Lobby. Forty One Madison will be helping show-goers make the cross-town trek by offering complimentary mini-coach shuttle service between its Madison and Street location and Javits Convention Center. The schedule of operation is daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, and until 2 p.m. Wednesday. And, with free high speed Wi-Fi now fully accessible throughout the building, guests can avail themselves of the Buyers' Lounge on Level A knowing that it is a convenient meeting or touchdown spot between appointments.

Denver Gift, Home, Jewelry & Resort Show has new name

New name, same great show. The Denver Gift, Home, Jewelry & Resort Show has changed its name to the Rocky Mountain Gift Show. For more than 40 years this event has been recognized as the regional leader in lodge, resort and souvenirs. It has become the top destination for museum, Native American, rustic, high end furniture and western products, while also offering the largest showing of imprinted sportswear in the country. Buyers from the 11 surrounding states and beyond, will be in attendance including: National Parks, ski resorts, mountain shops, museums, hotels, souvenir shops, airports, zoos, spas, boutiques and "mom & pop shops." The show features more than 400 permanent showrooms in addition to hundreds of temporary exhibitors representing 2,500 lines of merchandise.

Attendees can look forward to sourcing and shopping our fantastic brands, which showcase a large assortment of gift, home, lodge, decor, resort, apparel, and jewelry products. In addition, the show will offer a Friday night Happy Hour where Buyers and Exhibitors can enjoy cocktails during extended shopping hours. Once again we will hold our biannual Buyer appreciation party on Saturday night. Those attending will enjoy live music, dancing, complimentary dinner, and featured fashion presentations. During this event we will hold our Gift Show Silent Auction, benefiting the Wounded Warrior Project. Last year more than $3,500 was raised for the Colorado Flood Relief Project.
All participants will have the opportunity to engage in our seven educational seminars offered throughout the show. Seminars are chosen to highlight different areas of the industry. This year topics include: employee training, financial management, visual merchandising, adding the floral touch to your retail store, e-commerce, as well as buying tips.

The Rocky Mountain Gift Show will return Feb. 25 – March 2, 2015. Pre-Show will begin on Feb. 25 – 26 in the Main Mart Building. The Expo Building and Main Mart Building will be open Feb. 27 – March 2. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date about events happening at the show. Join the Denver Mart in celebrating 50 years by experiencing the Rocky Mountain Region's best Gift Show.

FÜRSTENBERG News

FÜRSTENBERG goes on world tour with the design exhibition "Handmade in Germany" of the Direktorenhaus Berlin. The world tour starts in St. Petersburg on 19 September before heading off to its next 15 stations such as Moscow, Hong Kong, Taipei, Abu Dhabi, New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. With its unique craftsmanship and the entire Fürstenberg production site on the banks of the Weser River, FÜRSTENBERG perfectly represents the international seal of quality "Made in Germany"

"Handmade in Germany" is an exhibition of German manufacturers that will tour the world for several years. The collection will exhibit high-quality design objects and manufactured products from across all disciplines, all handcrafted in Germany.

With a great deal of passion and skilled craftsmanship, FÜRSTENBERG has reinterpreted the more than 1,000-year-old technique of crystal glass, thus transforming every object in the SOLITAIRE series into fascinating one-of-a-kind items

Don't Miss out on a Wealth of Information by two Industry veterans at NYNOW next week - Sponsored By Giftware News and Baby & Kids Magazines!

Saturday, August 16, 1:00 – 2:00PM, Pier 94; Sunday, August 17, 8:30 - 9:30AM, Javits Center Whether jump-starting a new business or revitalizing an existing one, preparation is the key to success! Join two industry veterans – Helen Overly, NY NOW's buyer services representative, and Susan Tucker of Giftware News and Baby & Kids – for a lively discussion that will help improve your retail business expertise and increase your profitability, while also creating an inviting atmosphere for your clientele. As an added benefit, participants will receive a free tote bag, free magazine subscriptions and other materials to help you shop the show! 

Tickets still available. 

Register at www.nynow.com/programs Advance pricing ends August 12, at 11:59pm (ET)

Surge of American-Made Resources Showcased in NY NOW "Made in the USA" Exhibit

Reflecting growth in the demand and availability of American-made home and lifestyle resources, a record 314 products will be showcased in the "Made in the USA" product display at NY NOW, the Market for Home+ Lifestyle (formerly NYIGF), August 16-20, 2014 at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. 

"We experienced a surge of product applications for the 'Made in the USA' exhibit this summer – nearly double last summer's total," said Christian Falkenberg, NY NOW director and senior vice president. "American-made is a cornerstone of the craft community, and there is remarkable growth in this category, as mainstream manufacturers have begun to understand, and embrace, the advantages of domestic production." 

Products accepted for the display represent all four NY NOW collections, and nearly 20% of NY NOW's more than 2,800 exhibitors have identified themselves as suppliers of American-made products. Special "Made in USA" logos will appear on booth signs and in relevant company listings in the NY NOW Market directory.

Special Atlanta Market Report

Summer Atlanta International Home and Gift Market Live Report

The Atlanta International Home and Gift Market is wrapping up tomorrow. The show was a success, with some wholesalers reporting more traffic and sales on opening day than usual. Trends—both new and recycled—were seen across the market as exhibitors showcased new gift and home décor items.

1. Men's items are increasingly popular and kitchen items for men were especially prevalent. "More men are ditching the concept of upgrading their car during a midlife crisis," says Debra Gold, representative of Totally Bamboo. "Men are building these elaborate outdoor kitchen areas allowing them to showcase their culinary skills, and it's creating a new market for buyers."

Wild Hare

Totally Bamboo

2. Disney's Frozen debuted in 2013, but buyers and customers love the theme and won't "let it go." Kurt Adler created a line inspired by the movie for this market season. Arctic blues and greens were also visible across the show, perhaps indicating just how far pop cultural influences reach throughout the industry.

Kurt Adler

Inge-Glas of Germany

3. Unique textures were prevalent. Burlap continues to be popular, although it's becoming more feminine with pops of color, metallics and delicate touches. Burton + Burton, Mud Pie and Gallerie II all had several good examples of this. Wholesalers also featured items made of materials one wouldn't normally expect. Dekorasyon Gifts & Décor used sunflower stalks to create decorative Christmas trees.

Mud Pie

Gallerie II

Dekorasyon Gifts & Décor

4. Mixed metals continue to be widespread in both jewelry and décor. Connie Post introduced a new line, Celebrate, to her Essentials by Connie Post line for IMAX Worldwide. It is almost entirely compromised of gold and silver with neutral backdrops. IMAX also hosted a launch party for celebrity designer Nikki Chu's new line. Her line consisted of many bold, neutral patterns with gold and silver accents.

Designers Nikki Chu and Connie Post attended the IMAX Worldwide launch of Chu's new line

Jacqueline Kent

5. Many companies introduced new lines or new pieces for casual entertaining. Most of these pieces sell at a relatively reasonable pricepoint, and work both indoors, outdoors and are oven-, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, making entertaining and cleaning up both relaxing and easy for the host.

Abigails

G! 

6. Neon isn't just for lights anymore. Soft colors with a touch of neon are growing in popularity, like Oilily's computer bags, set to launch in the U.S. next year. Incorporating subtle neon yellows and pinks aren't overwhelming, and gives products a nice pop for the eye.

7. It sounds strange that innovation would be a trend, but companies like Misogi Naturals, who developed a patented luffa and soap combination using all recycled materials, are proving innovation is in style. Creative Energy has developed a line of candles, where the hot wax is actually lotion. Light it up and soak it in, they're dual-utilizing, and virtually reinventing the candle.

Wholesalers in the Gourmet Section of Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market Bring Home the Bacon

The gourmet food section of AmericasMart this year was exceptional. Some great companies—both wildly popular and virtually unknown—were showcasing their latest and greatest products. After sampling several sweets, it was easy to spot some common themes in flavors across the board. Sea salt caramel chocolate was incorporated into nearly every sweet company's repertoire in one way or another; brownie crisps, toffee, brittle and more. A newer item tasted at multiple booths was pumpkin-flavored pretzels, just in time for fall. Whether larger companies or smaller wholesalers like Nancy's Candy, some amazing fudge recipes were on display. Gourmet du Village and Wind & Willow had their party-ready dips available and Shark Tank participant, Southern Culture's Shortstacks were (quite literally) selling like hotcakes. Bungalow 23was selling their premium cocktail mixers in three mouth-watering flavors. At such a large show that's so centrally focused on gifts, it was impressive to see the turnout of the gourmet section. After all, the best way to someone's heart, is through their stomach.

Wholesalers awarded at the 2014 ICON HONORS

The 2014 ICON HONORS were a smashing success with winners taking home awards in nine different categories. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Heart rocked the show.

Heart

Surya (for Technology Innovations) and Leftbank Art (for Product Innovations) took home awards in the Innovation Honors section.

Up Country Gardens/Home (for Community Influence) and Mud Pie(for Industry Influence) were the winners in the 2014 Contribution Honors category.

J Banks Design Group won the Branding/Identity Honor. and Annie Selke of Pine Cone Hill won the Career Achiever award.

Catstudio took home the AmericasMart Medal of Excellence Honor. The company started out by creating embroidered pillows and has been growing ever since.

Barbara Bradley Baekgaard, co-founder of Vera Bradley, won the Lifetime Achievement Honor for 30 years of work creating unique handbags and luggage pieces.

The late Albert Maslia was honored with the Gift and Home Trade Association/Gift for Life Honor of Excellence. During his life, Maslia worked through the ranks at Rich's department store and created two successful retail chains, one of which he sold to American Greetings. Eventually, he became the Managing Director of Retail Services for AmericasMart, an instructor at Emory University and a consultant of many organizations. His wife, Lucy, accepted the award on his behalf.

Lucy Maslia

Summer Markets Are in Full Swing - See the Latest in GWN's July GGD Digital Issue

Don't miss the latest digital Look Book Insider issue: NOW VIEWABLE ON all devices...

To start reading, please click HERE.

Make sure you sign up for your complimentary subscription of GWN's Look Book Insider, which is delivered directly into your inbox each & every month.

Did you miss an issue? Catch back up with our digital archives.

Giftware News' July Digital Insider Look Book is Now Available for Viewing

Don't miss the latest digital Look Book Insider issue: NOW VIEWABLE ON all devices...

To start reading, please click HERE.

Make sure you sign up for your complimentary subscription of GWN's Look Book Insider, which is delivered directly into your inbox each & every month.

Did you miss an issue? Catch back up with our digital archives.

Wild, Wild, West: Dallas Market Edition

One of the most comprehensive wholesale merchandise resources in the world, the Dallas Market Center hosted the Dallas Total Home & Gift Market this past week, from June 18-24, a major success in the eyes of buyers, exhibitors and media alike. Highlights from the June market included more than 20,000 gift and home décor lines from furnishings, home accents, gifts, lighting, gourmet items, textiles, holiday and more. The extraordinary depth and visual presentation of showrooms and temporary exhibitors made the easy-to-shop environment an attractive and productive space for guests.

Throughout the market, dozens of special guests and speakers also made appearances, offering demonstrations, showcases, conferences and insight into retail strategies. Headliner Jason Dorsey, a leading generational speaker, also known as the Gen Y Guy spoke to a large audience on Thursday, lending his expertise in solving tough generational challenges for companies and retail leaders present. Gen Y is the most likely generation to recommend people and services to their friends, says Dorsey. Additionally, they're the fastest growing population in the workforce. Dorsey also suggested that for the first time ever, five generations are working together, selling and marketing to five entirely different generations. Other speakers included author and star of The Bachelorette, Trista Sutter; Kellie Fitzpatrick of Portico Collection, and many more.

The Dallas Market Center also recently announced the winners of the June Total Home & Gift Market Best Visual Presentation Awards, and we could not agree more in celebrating the outstanding showroom displays. Judging for the awards takes place twice a year during the January and June markets, and here, visual design experts recognize the exhibitors with fresh, innovative and creative displays. Winners included Donald McEvoy Ltd., Park Hill Collections, LLC; McManemin Companies; CODARUS; Global Views; Primrose Collections; Button Up!; J. Mackie & Associates; Aidan Gray Home; Contempo Designs and many others.

It was no surprise that the Dallas Market Center was stirring with guests. With refreshing product launches, design introductions and more, the brands represented at the June market blended contemporary gifting and décor with traditional style. Trending throughout the market were leather and canvas goods, from up-cycled messenger bags to Dopp cases and overnight travel staples. Bohemian accents and bright, bold embroidered pillows and home pieces were woven throughout showroom displays as well. And weathered coastal and down-home décor, nautical themed gifts and many other cottage chic pieces were also on hand. Read on below for a more in-depth market trend report.

Weathered Leather
Ruggedly rustic bags are accented with rich hardware and sturdy canvas in these weathered leather accessories. In the pursuit of a weekend getaway? Canoe Bags just launched their distressed leather and calf hair overnight bag, the unique beautiful hide making it one of a kind. Gifting the man in your life? The Model A Briefcases fromW Durable Goods gifts a little piece of history. Made from deconstructed 1950's military surplus transport bags, the briefcases are each given a unique serial number. Other high-end leather product lines are making their way from Texas and accented by artisan materials. Additional Companies to Check Out: Stag Designsand White Wing Label.

Bohemian Rhapsody
Traditional Indian fabrics melded with bold, vibrant embroidered prints throughout the market showrooms. Quilts and pillows were lined with bright orange pom-poms, and meditation cushions and poufs were hand stitched with bright patterns. At Modelli Creation's temp booth, gorgeous throws and rich textiles added character, texture and color—lots of color—to the space. In Midwest-CBK's showroom, designer and illustrator Zoe Ingram's lush, playful and organic prints were featured across products. Additional Companies to Check Out: Imax Corp., Abigails, Silk Route International.

FANatics
From licensed collegiate apparel to color-coordinated tailgating goods, we're smelling the smoke of a barbecue and feeling the heightened spirit of college football season. And Dallas exhibitors were on that same page. Popular as ever are tumblers, napkins and tailgating accessories that speak the language of college football fans. In the Portico Collection Showroom, Slant Collection featured their Double-Wall Mason Jars with favorite team colors, states and phrases. Also available is their Foam College Town Collection, with sayings like "I Miss Tuscaloosa" and "I Miss Columbia." Dish towels, scarves and other accessories from The Royal Standard Collectionfeatured chevron prints with college colors and phrases like "Geaux!" for LSU. Additional Companies to Check Out: The Round Top Collection and Mainstreet Collection.

Tis The Season
Another fantastic feature of June's Dallas Market is their Christmas HQ at the Holiday and Home Expo. Extravagant displays, inspirational products and red and green holiday merchandise stole the show. Burton + BURTON's Christmas showcases included everything from tree trimmings and outdoor décor to exquisitely detailed ornaments. Additional Companies to Check Out: Raz Imports, The Round Top Collection, and Zodax.

Hometown Pride
Don't mess with Texas—or any other state for that matter. Products featuring hometown symbolism, maps and sayings sparked pride among buyers, (and their media counterparts!) A favorite of ours,catstudio, showcased their highly collectable, hand-embroidered pillows with original and copyrighted art based on geographical locations. Pillows, dish towels, glasses and more pay tribute to the hometowns, states and countries you grew up in. Showcased jewelry also reflected a bit of hometown pride. Hammered bronze bangles from Chickee Boom feature states and state symbols, giving a standard stack of bracelets a deeper meaning. From Kate Winston is the American State of Mind Pillow Wrap: for every set sold, the Georgia-based company will send a care package to a deployed soldier.

Going Coastal
From anchors and whales to seaside paraphernalia, distressed coastal accents are sticking around for another season. Buyers atThe Mix Showroom got a taste of exceptional lighting fixtures from Light & Living accented with beech wood and other seaside fixes. Additional Companies to Check Out: Midwest CBK and HomArt.

Nominate your Choice for the 26th ARTS Awards

Click HERE to nominate your choice for the 26th ARTS Awards. Visit Dallas Market Center for more information.

The 68th Annual signature mix Marketplace was Stirring with Attendees

From Sunday, May 18 through Wednesday, May 21, New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was stirring with attendees for the 68th Annual signature mix marketplace, the nation's leading market for the social stationery industry and related lifestyle gifting. The tangible, savable, giftable pieces that were on display here bring meaning through words and design, and some of these brands are truly on the cutting edge of design. In an era of online communication and detached conversations, the stationery and greeting card industry is thriving, and you can look no further than the signature mix marketplace for proof.

Through three sections — Creative & Lifestyle Arts: tool , kits, embellishments and supplies for every creative pursuit; Gift>it: design-driven gift and lifestyle accessories, decorative objects, toys and more; and the National Stationery Show: greeting cards, invitations, paper products, and prints — the signature mix marketplace brought exciting change, including a partnership with Etsy Wholesale. It's the perfect marriage, really. Etsy represents the idea that a gift, an item, a piece of stationery becomes that much more special when establishing a relationship with the artist crafting it. The Etsy Wholesalers were sprinkled across the show floor and were some of my favorite booths.

At first glance, it was no surprise that the show was experiencing a refreshing revival, with experimental introductions, product rollouts, and beautifully designed booth layouts. The Javits Center was a buzz. In fact, the National Stationery Show experienced a 31 percent increase in attending stores for the event and featured nearly 800 exhibitors and some 11,000 attendees.

Trending throughout the show were bespoke desktop items, greeting cards with a Southern charm, Design-It-Yourself packs, travel-themed accessories and prints that are taking a cue from interior décor, elevating the home to a place of text-heavy design. Take a look back at our Market Trend Report we produced for readers following Day 1 of the show. In that report, we also mentioned a renaissance born from Pinterest and Etsy, inspiring buyers to take a step back from the modern commercialism and carefully select products with a homemade, arts-and-crafts feel.

Another incredible piece of the signature-mix-marketplace puzzle was their 18th Annual Best New Products Awards. Along with other industry specialists, we had the opportunity to judge nearly 500 exhibitor entries in various categories based on the innovation of product design or concept, how the product answers a specific industry need, the aesthetic appeal, the creative use of materials and the innovative packaging. Eight signature mix marketplace exhibitors were honored with the Best New Product Awards, and we were thrilled to take part in awarding such deserving companies.

Best of Show: Party Partners for their Mini Cake Decorating Kits — each kit made of paper, twine and wood picks, contains 5 cake toppers and mini flag bunting.

Luxury: Someday Designs. Their Gold Foil Luxury Stationery Set, available in several designs/color choices, as well as special order hand calligraphy for personalization, really impressed the judges.

All Things Wedding: Galison/Mudpuppy for their Wedding Party Photo Props, a personal favorite of mine. Keeping up with all wedding photo booth needs, these props are entertaining, adorable, and bring art into an everyday item.

Celebrations: Party Partners (again!) for their Mini Cake Decorating Kits.

Eco Chic: Thimblepress for their Eco-Friendly Push-Pop Confetti, a festive way to celebrate while being environmentally responsible. Not only is Thimblepress a letterpress studio, it's also an art studio, a woodworking studio, a sewing studio, a design studio, and anything these Jackson, Miss.-based girls want to try their hand at next.

Lifestyle: Twigg's Bindery for their In Rainbows Box Set, a dramatic façade of the box set, which captures the eye and imagination, making them an exceptional addition to any shelf.

The Desktop: Emily Ley. A personal favorite, Emily Ley's The Simplified Planner was designed by Ley to intentionally bring joy and simplicity to the lives of busy women. And does it ever.

Do It Yourself: Little B's Designer Cutting Dies allow the user to mix and match shapes and inserts to create endless possibilities, made especially for the DIY audience.

Paper Love: Pink Orchid Press for their Connect the Dots Collection — letterpress printed on fluffy cotton paper in scarlet red and midnight black inks.

These brands, products and companies all represent the heart of what the stationery industry strives for. Constantly producing fresh designs with the efficiency and functionality that consumers look for, these products embody the best of what was new this year, and from our editors' eyes to yours, we believe these are sure to fly off the shelves.

Check out NY Now's most recent Newsletter to get the latest information from them.

Giftware News' May GGD Digital Issue is Now Available

May Digital Issue

 

 

May Features:

Personal Style: These gifts go beyond the simple monogram. 
Homespun and Fun: It's all about country prim and proper. 
Making the Grade: Dorm decorating that would make any parent proud. 
Living the American Dream: We highlight made-in-America gifts that fit every room. 
The Great Record Revival: A spotlight on chart-topping gifts inspired by music. 
Cheers: Top-shelf barware to complete any home bar. 
It's a Wrap: From wrapping paper to cards, these items are the complete package. 
The Modern Man Cave: How to create the perfect grownup treehouse. 
The Art of Pop: An ode to the PopArt era. 
Black(out) and Orange: Halloween gifts that will send your sales soaring. 
Colorful Kitchen: Add a splash of color with products that enhance every kitchen.
Plus Much More!