2009 Industry Rising Star: Under Stella's Umbrella
Pamela Brill -- Gifts and Dec, 8/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
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A trusty umbrella provides ample coverage for weathering any storm, especially during tough economic times. How apropos, then, that the Atlanta-based Under Stella's Umbrella offers specialty gift buyers one-stop shopping — no matter the weather.
The corporate name was just announced this summer when CEO Stella Martin and her husband Tom decided to combine their four brands under one moniker. Her company originally began as a retail business with the Bellemonde brand of luggage. With the launch of Fine Whines in January 2006, Martin began the wholesale business. The brand debuted as 10–12 witty acronyms printed on cocktail napkins, aprons, memo pads and wine labels.
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Fine Whines was so well-received — the brand was selected for a High Design award at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market — that Martin decided to launch two additional lines: Pewter-a-Peel/Noble Initials, a line of self-adhesive pewter labels for embellishing and personalizing any surface, and the Gerard Puvis Collection featuring the work of a French wine artist. "He [Puvis] takes the foils from the finest French wines and sculpts them into three-dimensional figures and works of art that make you smile," describes Martin.
Such tremendous product variety appeals to Martin's client roster of high-end specialty stores, catering to men via Bellemonde and women with Fine Whines. She knows they relish quality, but also appreciate value. "I'm a bargain gal myself; I like to get a bargain and give a bargain," adds Martin.
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And if there was ever a time for good deals, she knows it's now. "We certainly did not design our products for a recession, but they are certainly selling well," she observes. The Bellemonde line of affordable luggage boasts a fitting logo: "First Class Style, Coach Fare."
In staying with the times, the company recently added to its Fine Whines line with a new napkin acronym, p.o.o.r. (Proudly Offering Only Rot-gut), that complements its r.i.c.h. (Relax It's Cocktail Hour) one. "I have told many a customer: In good times people love to laugh; in bad times, people need to laugh, and with Fine Whines you can afford to laugh," exclaims Martin.
Martin's positive energy is boundless — a plus for her burgeoning business. "...I love to create things and see ideas become reality," she remarks. "Life is good Under Stella's Umbrella," Martin concludes. "[There are] no rainy days here!"
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