Market Report — New York
-- Gifts and Dec, 2/7/2008 8:13:00 AM
February 7, 2008 — Aside from the being tired, show attendees seemed pleased, overall, with this winter’s New York International Gift Fair. Traffic was steady at the Javits Center, and there were plenty of product introductions, including those from French tabletop manufacturer Jars. The company is celebrating 150 years in 2008, and launched two new dinnerware patterns for the occasion. Plume has a feathered pattern in the stoneware, and Tima features a matte outside and crackle glaze on the inside. This pattern is only available in black and white, while Plume comes in a variety of colors.
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| Klein Reid |
Klein Reid introduced a set of four limited edition prints, and more are expected in the fall. Also new are set of porcelain “books” that can be used as bookends, or as a fun way to merchandise product. The company also added a few new pieces to its jewelry line, which was introduced last year; there are tulip shapes, vessels and an acorn.
Twinkle Kids offers a variety of felt cakes and houses that you decorate. They come in a number of sizes and have been used at weddings to give the kiddie table something to do.
Jonathan Adler’s new Saturn Cylinders are inspired by his favorite place: Big Sur. The pieces, made in the designer’s workshop in Peru, have an earthy look, and come in dark blue or white with a tint of blue. Adler also introduced Ojai, his first dinnerware pattern. Like the Saturn collection, the ceramic Ojai collection has an earthy, organic look, and comes in orange, yellow and green with coordinating placemats and napkins. The new Druggist Collection is a tongue-in-cheek take on apothecary jars, with matte canisters and glazed mugs that feature the words Love, Hate, Anger and Joy. The line also includes hand sculptures of Peace, Love and Sin, each making a coordinating gesture. (Sin is a woman’s hand holding an apple with a snake coiled around her arm.) Adler’s Muse vase is such a success that the designer has created a Muse candle. Muse Blanc was introduced in October 2007, and at this market buyers were treated to Muse Noir. Once the candle is burned, the recipient is left with a small Muse vase.
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| RoomMates |
Vessel is now the U.S. distributor for RoomMates, a Danish company that offers a wide selection of T-shirts, bags, hats, dolls, beanbag chairs and tee-pees for kids. The line got a huge response a the show; while we were standing in the booth, one retailer loved the tee-pee so much she wanted to know if it was for sale or just a prop. She was ready to place an order.
With Dwell Studio’s new branding, the company also redesigned its booth, and is now in a much bigger space in the Accent on Design section at Javits. The company introduced two new bedding collections: Botany, which features French and English garden patterns and Hedro. Both designs find inspiration in nature, and Hedro features hidden insects within the graphic floral patterns.
New at Not Neutral are pillows based on the company’s successful Triton pattern, as well as new decal wall decor that can be peeled on and off to create your own pattern. In the city plate series, Not Neutral has added New York to its collection of cities that were once capitals.
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| Alessi |
Alessi introduced new sets by Stefano Giovanoni. The Banana Boys are collection of salt and pepper shakers, a children’s cereal bowl, a milk container and stoppers in the shape of little monkeys. Also new is a breakfast set of an egg cup, sugar, creamer and salt and pepper shakers in the shape of fish and birds. These pieces were designed in collaboration with the National Palace Museum in Taiwan. The company is also offering ten of its signature designs in miniature form. The collection grew from a promotional gig where Alessi re-created its tea kettle. It got such a good response, they decided to create a series. The company is quick to point out that miniatures are made in the same way the originals were made.
Jardins du Monde is a new ceramic collection from Juliska that is based on four boxwood gardens in Spain, Italy, France and England. The line includes topiaries, vases, tureens and more.
Rosanna introduced a collection of recycled Mexican glass in a number of new patterns, including Secret Garden, which is the number one seller at the New York show. It’s a porcelain dinnerware line that features a floral motif. Beach Cottage Blue is a new dessert pattern and includes plates, mugs and pitcher. The Portrait of a Young Artist is a new collection that was designed by Rosanna Bowles’ 10-year-old daughter. A portion of the sales from this collection will go towards the Seattle Public Schools Art program.
Spaceform London is exhibiting in New York for the first time. The British company offers a wide selection of giftware including frames, mirrors, compacts and glass blocks in small and large sizes, all featuring messages for moms, dads, friends and lovers. One of the biggest hits is a box of letters that spells out “Marry Me” with a space for the ring. The long box will certainly throw off any lady who’s expecting a proposal!
Eco Statements
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| Design Ideas |
Design Ideas created quite a buzz with the introduction of its EcoGen product line, made from a sugar-based polymer material that is durable yet biodegradable. These new injection-molded “plastics” can be composted to return to the earth. Scientist Jim Lunt was on-hand to help explain the science of the new material, and Hans Maeir Aichen, the product designer, explained the creative challenges and solutions. The first product grouping is a bath collection in four colorways: black, white, green and blue, featuring clean lines. Included are a lotion dispenser, covered boxes, a small waste bin, soap dish, cup and toothbrush holder. Simultaneous launches took place in Tokyo and London, and the line will be introduced in Frankfurt later this week. EcoGen is launching at retail exclusively through The Container Store in April, but will be available to other retailers starting in June.
Half the Sky Designs showed its new collection of ReBagz, eco-friendly purses and totes made from recycled rice bags. Some of the bags are limited edition patterns because those types of rice are no longer available. The company is particularly proud that one of its large totes made from recycled juice packs recently appeared on the television program Ugly Betty, carried by America Ferrara as Betty.
Color Poppin’
The personal accessories section of the show offered a lot of color, especially in the small leathergoods category (wallets, small purses, passport covers, etc.). At Vallavista Corp., the Taxi Wallet is once again available in a bright, color-blocked leather design. New under the Alicia Klein brand is a Slim Wallet style in two-color combinations.
Lug continues to expand on its brightly colored, fashionable travel accessories, bags and totes with a grouping of clear totes with quilted nylon accents that match its other accessories. These roomy totes are great for shopping, toting scrapbooking materials, or going to the beach and picnics and more.
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| Lavishy |
For the younger set and the young-at-heart, Lavishy has a number of new designs in leather wallets and a variety of small purses. Many are embroidered with floral designs, cherries, dragonflies and butterflies; others have whimsical leather appliqué designs of cool cats, Scottie dogs or other dogs and cats.
New to the U.S. gift market, mywallit.com usa generated a lot of buyer interest with soft Italian leather wallets, purses and other small accessories in fresh multicolor combinations.
And speaking of wallets…Dynomighty Design has new designs in its Mighty Wallets line. These slim wallets are made from Tyvek, a nearly indestructible material we all know from diehard mailing envelopes. One fun new designs features full color comic book art. Also made from Tyvek: Mighty Tags luggage tags in eye-catching designs such as Graffiti, passport stamps or airmail envelope pattern.
DB Clay, newly exhibiting the Accent of Design section, garnered a lot of interest from customers for its “pocket art” — a collection of wallets with screened art designs on leather exterior. The eye-catching, gallery-like presentation of the booth, with a finished wallet displayed along with the artwork that inspired its design, helped convey the concept behind the designs.
Table Toppers
When industrial materials meet fashion accessories and tabletop, what to you get? Fashion with an edge — and a very interesting look for the table. Andrea Valentini and Josh Jakus are two designers that use non-traditional industrial materials to create stylish, design-forward handbags. This market, each turned their creative attention to the table
Andrea Valentini introduced placemats and coasters made from the same sculptured foam material she uses to make her handbags — a simple, yet subtly textured background against which to stage a table setting. But there’s the practical side too: the mats and coasters protect the table top from scratches and moisture!
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| Josh Jakus |
For his new placemats and coasters, Josh Jakus turned from industrial felt to recycled rubber. Grabber placemats have a punch-out napkin ring built into the design. The 6-Pack coaster set is based on the classic beverage six-pack ring design. The coaster pop-out of the “six-pack ring” can be used and then put back in for storage, and the heavy duty rubber has the look of cork. Both the coasters and the mats come in a variety of colors.
A Different Cadence
On Monday afternoon, showroom building 7West was crowded enough to cause packed elevators and long waits, leading one attendee to mutter "it's just like Atlanta." As for how the change in the NYIGF's date pattern affected 7West, Su Hilty, director of marketing said. "There is just a different cadence to the show." She added that 7West had good early days on Wednesday though Friday, welcoming big numbers of new showrooms, as well as visitor The building opened 20 new suites for this market, including CBK and Demdaco.
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| Designers Guild |
Designers Guild introduced its new spring and summer collections of home textiles, pillows, bedding, stationery and accessories, which incorporate a lusher look with rich elements such as flocking, metallic finishes, embossed and embroidered details and textured fabrics. Patterns include baroque influences and wallpaper-like designs, stripes and large scale florals.
Ribbon cuttings were held to celebrate the opening of several new showrooms. Two buyers, Elizabeth and Erin Manwaring from St. Maine happened to walk into the Lamoon showroom just as the ribbon-cutting ceremony was about to take place; they were then cajoled into helping Lamoon’s director of sales and marketing Howard Marcus and 7W’s Chris Collins cut the ribbon and toast the opening with a glass of champagne. Other showrooms having their ceremonial opening honors were Macryl Crystal, Donna Sharp, InterDesign, Antiques & Interiors, and Creative Gifts International.
Isadora & Mizrahi added a number of new lines to its showroom, including Marta Mikey, which features sculptures, vases and other decorative accessories with a modern yet worldly look. Also new is Kenneth Jay Lane. The company offers frames, boxes, compacts and more adorned with crystals and florals, as well as Aquiesse, a new candle line. Bongenre is a new line for the rep showroom. The company offers a wide selection of melamine dinnerware in ornate patterns that range from classic to funky.
Arte Italica introduced a new Limoges dinnerware collection that is dishwasher- and microwave-safe. The pattern is inspired by the garden, and the plates and cups are formed in the shapes of various greens found in the garden. Its light, airy, white pattern is perfect for an afternoon lunch. The company also introduced pewter fruits that are copies of its already existing ceramic fruits, as well as a collection of decorative pewter seashells.
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| Tag |
In response to the Green movement, Tag introduced a line of organic dishtowels and grocery bags. Also new are a selection of storage baskets made from seagrass, palm and other natural materials. In the company’s more upscale dinnerware line, Almada is a new pattern manufactured in Portugal that features a terracotta hue that distinct to its region of origin. The company also introduced new art glass and accent furniture, as well as a new party collection called Party Animal. Featuring brightly colored animals, the line includes cake plates, ice cream bowls, serving platters and more. Because the collection takes on a more juvenile approach, Tag extended it to a cupcake pattern for an older crowd.
Flying Fig in Gallery on Six is now offering a selection of handbags made from ultrasuede, wool, denim and silk. The bags are embroidered just as the company’s runners, wraps and napkins are.
Rovere, also in Gallery on Six, introduced an embossed cowhide tray that is adjustable and can be used on an ottoman to organize all your remote controls, or to display fruit and other decorative accents. Also new: a leather tray featuring enamel handles shaped like tigers.
Gallery on Six also features a Vietnamese dinnerware company called Moinh Long, which offers a variety of patterns in both traditional and contemporary patterns. Tognana is a new Italian dinnerware line featuring modern shapes and patterns. Trinitate is a Mexican company that features a selection of oven to table serveware in more traditional motifs.
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| TIGA |
TIGA is a new company that offers a selection of hand-carved leather belts made in Indonesia. Designer Megan Wolfe, who creates the designs, was inspired by the Wayang Kulit — Indonesian shadow puppets — which she bought for a collector in New York. Production is very limited right now, and there are limited pieces available. The artist points out that this is a humanitarian effort, and says that she wants to maintain the craft for the people and the country. She also said that plans are in the works to grow the line into shoes and hand bags.
New York ’s Newest; EX•TRACTS
New York's Newest has expand to fill three floors of the Metropolitan Pavilion, the space formerly filled by EX•TRACTS, which has moved to downstairs at the Javits Center. Though the aisles at the Metropolitan Pavilion did not look especially crowded, several exhibitors we spoke to reported doing good business.
The section certainly presents a snapshot of current industry trends, with baby, Green, lifestyle, and whimsical design products (such as cardboard animal heads and sushi pillows) all represented. Some exhibitors took the "Newest" part of the name literally: Shagbags, stylish Tyvek alternatives to paper or plastic, was founded two months ago, inspired by the Christmas shopping season.
Also new to New York is the Studio lifestyle section at the Piers, an edited selection of everything from Caldrea personal care to recycled stationery from the Green Paper Co. to accessories and bedding from Suburban Silk. While the task of winnowing the chosen few must have been formidable, the result is a grouping of products that, diverse as they are, could fit in a single store.
Meanwhile, EX•TRACTS exhibitors seemed pleased with the move to Javits, which increased the traffic flow to the personal care products section. Though one vendor said that at the Metropolitan Pavilion you knew the (fewer) attendees were serious buyers, while at Javits more just walked through. Still, she said, it makes the day “more interesting" to see more faces.
Products at EX•TRACTS echoed the Green trend with a profusion of natural and organic products, many packaged in recyclable materials. Especially notable was the EX•TRACTS Best In Show winner Danielle & Co.'s Organic Soap Garden, which comes packaged in a biodegradable planter made from rice and grain byproducts. Even the paper made from a renewable resource; it contains seeds and can simply be planted in the soil included to produce wildflowers. (Full disclosure: Gifts & Dec editor Meredith Schwartz was one of the judges).
Though several exhibitors complained that a Super Bowl with not one but two Northeast teams playing had sapped attendance on Sunday, Monday traffic seemed strong, with lines at the Piers (and to get on the bus back to Javits), and capacity lunch crowds.
Nor did the Super Bowl sap attendance at Sunday night's Gift for Life gala at Strata — though it did cause partygoers to cluster around the big-screen TVs, and presenters to kindly announce the score at intervals through the evening. Gift For Life honored Will Little of George Little Management with the Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award, Sheila Charton of 7West New York with the Bert Tonkin Gift of Giving Award; and Paulette Cole of ABC Carpet & Home for her Outstanding Industry Contribution.
Awards and Recognitions
EX•TRACTS, Accent on Design and the Housewares Design Awards all presented awards during the New York International Gift Fair. Following is a list of the honorees:
Accent on Design
• Best New Product Design — Parametre by 3form, Salt Lake City, UT. For a 3-D textile system that redefines space, creating shade shadow and light with soft walls.
• Best Collection — Creative Danes, Encinitas, CA. For the Menu Collection, which presents unusual applications of materials and surprising solutions for everyday products.
• Best Booth Presentation — Working Class Studio/Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA. For creating an energetic, youthful environment to showcase its collection.
• Overall Excellence — Mizzonk, Maple Ridge, BC, Canada. For following a personal vision through to product, collection, presentation and booth.
EX•TRACTS
• Best of Show — Danielle and Company, Clarks Summit, PA. For its Organic Soap Garden (see above)
• Bath & Body — Honeycat Cosmetics, New York. For Chick of the Sea/Foaming Crystals.
• Beauty Accessory — Whats Hot! Inc., Woodbury, NY. For Tassi terry cloth headband
• Cosmetic & Fragrance — A Candle in Wind, New York. For Joya perfume in porcelain.
• Natural/Organic —European Soaps Ltd., Seattle. For Bite Be Gone mosquito repellent and balm.
• Packaging — The Balm, San Francisco. For Read My Lips lipstick.
Housewares Design Awards
Closing the show on a high note were the Housewares Design Awards, which recognize retailers for merchandising excellence in different housewares categories, as well as manufacturers for excellence in product design. Among retailers honored were Anthropologie in the tabletop category; Tags, a Cambridge, MA, Ace Hardware member store, in the Storage category
In the product design area, Casabella took honors for its Bamboo Broom; Metrokane took honors for its Flip-Top Cocktail Shaker; and Bambu took honors for its bamboo KIDS Baby Utensils.
For the first time this year, awards were presented to the Best of the Best. Bronze, Silver and Gold winners were selected from among the product category winners. Taking Home the Best of the Best honors were: Bronze — Zojirushi America Corp.’s rice cooker; Silver — Breville’s Die Cast Hemisphere Blender; and Gold — Cast iron skillet with stainless steel handles from Lodge Mfg.
— Bessie Nestoras, Caroline Kennedy and Meredith Schwartz
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