Direct From Market: New York
by Caroline Kennedy, Bessie Nestoras, Meredith Schwartz -- Gifts and Dec, 2/1/2007 2:03:00 PM
February 1, 2007 — The 15th anniversary Gift for Life Gala capped off opening weekend events at the New York gift market with musical entertainment, lively auctions, moving tributes and a few surprises. The gala, held Sunday night at the Flatiron District nightclub Strata, was highlighted by a special performance by Christine Ebersole, who currently stars in the Broadway musical Grey Gardens. (The show is rumored to be a strong Tony Award contender.) Though feeling a little under the weather, Ms. Ebersole wowed the GFL audience with a moving number from the show.
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| A toast to Peer Baekgaard |
In addition to Ms. Ebersole’s performance, the evening featured award-winning poet, writer and activist River Huston, whose very personal story of living with AIDS reinforced the reality of the disease and need for continuing to fund AIDS research and education.
The program also honored members of the gift industry. Peer Baekgaard of Baekgaard Ltd. was presented with Chuck Yancy Lifetime Achievement Award for his more than 50 years of service to the industry. Rick Ruffner of Avanti Press and Jeff Sampson of the LA Mart were each honored with the Bert Tonkin Gift of Giving Award. Ruffner and his company have generously provided design and printing services to GFL for many years; Sampson has worked tirelessly creating and running successful events in LA on behalf of GFL.
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| Rick Ruffner of Avanti Press |
Upon receiving his award, honoree Rick Ruffner turned the tables and presented Gift for Life a check for $25,000 from him and Avanti Press. And in another surprise move, Norman Glassberg, president of TAG, presented another $25,000 donation. Both donations received long and loud rounds of applause.
Bidding was lively on both live and silent auction items, and all in attendance enjoyed the buffet dinner and dance music that closed out the evening’s activities. Although the final tally is not in, this fund-raising event was deemed a success by all in attendance.
Pets, Health, Beach Hit Holidays
Meanwhile, on the show floor general gift trends are showing strong in Christmas merchandise, particularly pet products for the pets themselves to use — not just pet-themed items, such as costumes for dogs at Katherine’s Collection (at Javits). Midwest (new to 7West) brings fashion-forward silhouettes in Christmas and Halloween shapes. Midwest president Fredric Contino said silhouettes were all over the European shows. The coastal look is entering the holiday category as well, in items such as the Department 56 (7 West) warm weather Christmas collection.
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| Yoga Santa from Kurt Adler |
Another trend, possibly spurred by concerns about childhood obesity, combines fitness themes with Christmas product. Kurt S. Adler (7West) boasts a yoga Santa and even a moving one that lifts weights (albeit with a pile of treats at his feet).
In Christmas colors, look for a Tuscan palette, heavy on the earthy reds, turquoise blues, and lots of gold, as well as a blue-and-white story at Aldik, 7West, and pure winter whites — plus lots of glitter!
Smelling Sweet
Silhouettes also appeared on candles — including selections from D.L. & Co. at the Richard Cohen Collection in 7West — and many companies, including Zodax and Mor (at the Javits Center), have gone for metallics on packaging, as well as the candles themselves. Silver is the color of choice, but copper gets a look-in, too.
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| From Ilio |
Reed diffusers are more popular than ever. In an increasingly crowded category, manufacturers are getting away from the classic jar + sticks look with saturated color in fragrance liquids and unusual shapes and designs on containers. But the most unusual diffuser we saw was from Culti, in the Accent on Design section at the Javits Center. In essence, Culti presents a ball of dense fabric perched atop what looks to be an aluminum stick; the material can be saturated with scent, eliminating the need for a container altogether. The topper looked like felt to us, but we were corrected: “Not felt, cashmere,” a sales associate told us. (We saw felt many other places, however, not only on pillows and fashion accessories but turned into modern shaped bowls, and even a memo clip!)
7West: Coastal and Co-Branding
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| 7West ribbon cutting |
Midwest celebrated the grand opening of its 7West showroom with a week’s worth of festivities, including a ribbon cutting celemony and a series of artist signings and educational seminars, attended by more than 400 visitors on Friday and Saturday. “We are excited to be back in the heart of New York, offering Midwest customers another outstanding location to share out Sparkle program and out more than 3,500 exclusive new products,” said Midwest President Frederic Contino.
Midwest’s 7,800-square-foot showroom is located on the fifth floor of 7West New York.
By all accounts, 7West was packed on Saturday. It was “phenomenal,” according to Dennis Lindsay, president of Vann Lindsay & Associates Inc., who cited the scheduling change that closed the Piers and Crystal Palace temps (historically open on Saturday) as one reason more buyers might have chosen that day to shop the permanent showrooms. . “It’s very busy here. I’m writing more orders than last year. I’m thrilled,” said Suzanne O’Hearn, Fetco showroom manager.
We did overhear one buyer say, “We’re the only ones here, and we have been all day,” on Monday afternoon. But all that changed on Monday night when an elevator-straining crowd of buyers came to the building’s party to write orders, drink pomegranate margaritas and pose for the paparazzi on their very own red carpet in the lobby.
Chris Collins, vice president and general manager of 7W New York, said that the show producer’s big story for this market was an increased emphasis on co-branded marketing with its tenants, rather than marketing the building alone, including 7West/tenant co-branded billboards outside the Javits Center.
And there was no shortage of new product. Fetco introduced a number of frame styles, including the Bedford collection of wrought iron frames and wall decor; showroom manager O’Hearn said it was a very popular look.
Coastal continues to be a hot seller. The look could be seen at a number of vendors, including Danica Now Designs, which features a sea-inspired collection of textiles and dinnerware. The look could also be found at Vietri, Mariposa and Creative Co-Op.
Vietri alone introduced three dinnerware collections with a seaside motif. Sabbia, made up of pastel colored plates with shell accessories; Sorrento, which features Sorrento Pesce — fish accent pieces; and Portofino, which has coral and seashell motifs.
Over at Creative Co-Op executive vice president Lee Wang told us that their coastal collection was really popular. But the company’s biggest hit was La Maison, a collection of feminine accessories with pink as its main color. “It’s an extension of shabby chic,” explained Wang.
Arte Italica impressed us with new collections. Etrusca features large accessories made in the Etruscan style; the pieces look as though they were just excavated from an archaeological dig. Moderno takes on a more modern approach with black pieces that feature a raw, earthy look.
Baby was big at Majestic. Jill Rosenwald’s collection of baby accessories took center stage with ceramic dish sets; banks of lion, hedgehog and pig; and soft goods including blankets, socks, onesies, hats and bibs.
One showstopper was a collection of decoupage pieces from Cindy Avroch Studios. Designer Avroch uses all original art, including her own photography, to create vases, lamps, plates and more. Avroch takes the photos and “paints” over them on the computer to create painterly designs.
Although it wasn’t open for this show, 7 West’s third floor is now completed, which means the building’s showrooms are now all available — and according to Collins, 75 percent leased. Tenants include American Century Home, which took 11,000 square feet on the third floor. American Century Home will open in time for the Home Textiles Market, February 12–16.
Javits: Greens and Coffees
Javits looked poised for a powerhouse show on Sunday, with extra long lines at registration. On Monday, and exhibitors were happy with the crowds. “People are here to spend money. Opening day was the best we’ve had in New York,” said Joe Kim of Design Ideas. “I’m having a good show and I’ve picked up new business,” agreed Donna Territo of Abbiamo Tutto.
But by Tuesday reports were more mixed, with some exhibitors continuing to express satisfaction with strong results and others complaining of too many personal shoppers on Sunday and too few shoppers of any kind by Tuesday morning. Still, several of the latter were reserving judgment. “It’s an afternoon show,” they said.
In products, Leonardo proves that it is easy being green. The company introduced Just Green, a collection of (naturally) green vases, candleholders and more. But the biggest news at the booth was the fact that for the first time American buyers can now buy everything available in Europe — and the buyers love that as Alex Wittkowski told G&DA: “The orders are so diverse because there is so much more they can order.”
At ASA Selection, it was all about nature. New dinnerware collections have natural influences, so the colors are more muted and serene, such as brown and cream. The plates and accessories feature organic shapes. The company also offers fun gift sets, including the Multi Cup and Spoon, which comes in three sizes and can be used for espresso, dessert, cereal or other foods. Hot + Fresh is a set of cups that can be used for drinking, baking or planting; available in two sizes, espresso and coffee, and 12 different colors.
Alessi has many fun introductions, including a collection of white porcelain, flower-shaped teacups and espresso cups; new pens by Hani Rashid and Asian characters as a kitchen timer, spice and pepper grinder and egg cup.
If you can’t get to the French countryside, visit Comptoir de Famille. “This is a retail concept. It’s inspired by a grandparents’ home in the French country,” explained CEO, Ludovic Grandchamp des Raux. The dinnerware, decorative accents and accent furniture pieces have a warm,inviting quality. The company has 30 stores throughout Europe, mainly France and Belgium, and two months ago opened its first American store in Boston.
ExTracts: Shiny, Sexy Bath, Body
Glitter is big at ExTracts, where the trend was shine. Hints of shimmer were added to everything from lip gloss to body lotion to eye shadow, and several companies, including Piaffe Beauty, offered products specifically for adding shimmer anywhere it’s wanted — on face or body. Lit Cosmetics features entire line devoted to colorful glitter that can be used as anything from eyeliner to temporary body art!
Other notable introductions at ExTracts include the Microplane Foot File, which removes so much dead skin it needs an extra compartment to catch the results. The trend towards mainstream, upscale lines of sexy products continues with including kits from The Kama Sutra Co. and Booty Parlor. A continuing trend toward fine fragrance in the gift market includes scents from The Pink Room and Matthew Williamson via Jen USA Inc.; Parfums des Beaux Arts combines fine fragrance with special packaging in limited editions of 500. And lest we forget that pets are big business, there is Sexy Beast Style, offering fragrance for dogs in a bottle shaped like an abstract, upscale bone.
ExTracts at the Metropolitan Pavilion seemed to have higher traffic than last time out, as more buyers get the word about the new location. While one exhibitor still felt that being part of the show’s growth curve was painful, Jimmy Belasco of Jimmy Belasco Lifestyle reported very strong sales on Sunday. The show may also have benefited from a redesign of the exhibit layout, which took ExTracts’ exhibitors out of the basement and put them on floors four and five to take maximum advantage of the venue’s natural light.
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| ExTracts winners |
ExTracts gave Sexy Beast Style’s Fluffing Powder for dogs the “Best of Show” honor in its Best New Product Awards (G&DA editor Meredith Schwartz served as one of the judges). In addition, Kingsbridge Crossing won in the Bath & Body category for its retro pin-up girl-themed “Saucy Girl” line and Microplane Personal Care won Best Beauty Accessory for the Foot File. Sexy Beast Style won again in Cosmetic & Fragrance for its Sexy Beast Signature Fragrance. Savannah Bee won in the Natural/Organic category for its Royal Jelly Body Butter, and in Packaging, The Balm won for its ‘Pick-Up Liners’ with a pencil sharpener built in to the package.
Overheard in the halls
“The ‘’60s are back — they’re everywhere!”
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