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Direct from Market: Atlanta

Meredith Schwartz and Bessie Nestoras -- Gifts and Dec, 7/16/2010 12:19:15 AM

The Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market has gotten off to a very good start. Although Wednesday was technically the first day of market, many showrooms opened their doors on Tuesday for key customers and special appointments, giving customers an opportunity to get a head start on their ordering, and giving showroom exhibitors an edge on taking the measure of the market. And that measure is a positive one based on early reports. Vendors almost universally reported increased sales, often substantially: Sceneweaver, for instance, is up by 50 percent. "It's been a very good start for Day 1," Brian Carder of Design Design happily noted on Wednesday, opening day of the show.

Giftcraft's showroom

Market momentum built on Thursday, with lines of buyers waiting at registration — and this was not just during the first rush of the morning but continuing later into the day. "It's busy! We've been hammered!" enthused Shannon Martin of Shannon Martin Girl Designer, who is repped in the Road Runners showroom, which was crowded and doing brisk business on Thursday afternoon. "Buyers are looking for practical gifts that give good value at affordable price points," she noted as she pointed out her new Button Mirrors as a perfect example.

Gift retailers interviewed in the aisles expressed guarded optimism about a consumer comeback on the store floor, with most reporting business up over last year but still saying shoppers are keeping a close eye on their budgets. One direct mail seller said sales remained "very sluggish," but noted that they are starting to see better product testing, so things are looking up.

And retailers are taking proactive steps to drive increased sales: SnapRetail, which helps retailers promote themselves through social media and email, signed up its 1,000th customer on Wednesday morning.

One new customer service feature noted sprinkled around at key locations on the floors of Building 2 and the West Wing are information stations manned by knowledgeable personnel able to field inquiries and help attendees find their way to showrooms, bridges, escalators, etc. This feature is especially helpful with the growth of the market center and the numerous expansions and relocations of showrooms.

Get the Message
Words are a big trend this market. Vendors are putting words on just about everything — from photo albums to decorative accessories. C.R. Gibson has a text message collection that features terms such as LOL, OMG and BFF.

Fringe Studio also featured a new collection of glass trays with letters of the alphabet. Words were also spotted in the Giftcraft showroom on a collection of vintage inspired accessories including jars, decorative balls, frames and more, as well as at Lot 26 Studio where words were used in the company's popular mirrored adhesive wall stickers.

Fashionable Gifts Wild Eye

Mud Pie continues to expand. The company's Bag Lady collection made its debut during the winter markets and was met with much success. The company believes that interest and need for beachwear does not end with Labor Day, so it added new fall colors to the line, including a paisley print and a black, taupe and red pattern. The company said it will continue to expand this line into jewelry and pajamas.

Lindsay Phillips has come a long way from flip flops. The company has expanded into several fashion accessory categories, including scarves and bags. This market, buyers can find new colors in the ballet flats, a new clog and shrug that can be worn several ways.

Houndstooth bags by
Toss Designs

In fact, shrugs are a popular fashion accessory this market as they've been spotted at Murval and Top it Off.

For something fresh and new in fashion jewelry, check out The Purple Door. The company features a wide selection of jewelry from dainty floral pieces to edgier items like a leather cuff.

Alexa's Angels' Emma Rose line continues to grow. New elastic cocktail rings, as well chains made from recycled aluminum in solid black or a zebra print, are just two of the company's several introductions.

Remember Swatch watches from the 1980s? Well, the creators of that brand have a new company called STAMPS. While the company isn't new, it's new to the One Coast showroom. The watches are unique in that a customer buys a band and can purchase various faces to give themselves a new watch. The watches can also be placed on chains and worn as a necklace. And when they've decided they don't want to wear it anymore, they can stick the face onto any surface simply by peeling off the sticker on the back.

Andrea by Sadek's Vera
Bradley Very Berry Paisley
pattern

Color and Pattern
Paisley prints are the pattern to watch. It was seen in several showrooms and a variety of products. Vietri featured it on textiles. Bungalow introduced the Elvis Paisley print this market. Andrea by Sadek featured the new Vera Bradley pattern Very Berry Paisley on a lamp, tea-for-one and other decorative accessories.

Another pattern to look out for this fall is houndstooth. It was seen at Toss Designs, Rowallan, Murval and Two's Company.

Purple is the hot new color trend, especially when shown with gray, according to Monica Loving, president of HomeStyle. The trend was previously spotted in the fashion apparel market and at the Frankfurt Fair Ambiente before making its way to the American living room. For subtle shades of purple, check out America Retold's new tabletop; Arty Imports Inc. offers a more exuberant take with bright inflatable accessories. It was also spotted at Peking Handicraft, Vietri's Melanzana dinnerware, and Torre & Tagus.

Notable Themes

Creative Co-Op launched over
100 items this market, including
Williamsburg-inspired pillows

Creative Co-Op introduced a new partnership with Williamsburg and this market launched more than 100 items, including textiles, wall décor and other decorative accessories. The pieces are not a reinterpretation of what can be found at Colonial Williamsburg. Rather, the designer found inspiration in the institution when creating the line.

Williamsburg also introduced a new partnership with Enesco this market, as well as with Department 56. Jim Shore has created a selection of figures inspired by Colonial Williamsburg, including an 18th century milliner, the first in a series of tradesmen (or women, as in this case!). Department 56 introduced three lighted houses that can be found in Colonial Williamsburg, as well as figurines to coordinate with them.

Two's Company has
gone equestrian

Equestrian is the theme at Two's Company this summer — and not just for the horsey set! The company is featuring a sophisticated collection of classic American styles in frames, wall décor, textiles and more. Houndstooth and neutral tones, and blue and white ceramics round out the line.

Also, shoes are hotter than ever and widely represented at market. Besides oka b., OneSole, which has a new showroom, and many more brands of actual, functional shoes, they continue to be hot as a motif on other products with a girl's night theme. One standout that mixes form with function is the high heeled pie server from Wild Eye Design s.

Ceramic heads by Napa
Home and Garden

Fire and Light
As we noted in the Direct from Market: Dallas report, firepots are continuing to gain popularity as manufacturers trend toward smaller sizes, more affordable price points, and looks that owe as much or more to home décor as they do to outdoor furnishings. Notable offerings include ceramic heads from Napa Home & Garden and art glass "Porch Torches" from Carson Home Accents.

Oversized wine goblets
with silver metallic accents
by Northern Lights Candles

In candles, the trends noted in Gifts & Decorative Accessories' July issue continue in strength, including metallic finishes and more complicated, decorated containers in materials other than glass. Notable offerings include Northern Lights Candles' oversized wine goblets with silver metallic accents, and Crabtree & Evelyn's unglazed ceramic white container candle in its holiday offerings, which echoes its ornate decoration on the glass lid and even on top of the wax. Also trending up in candles are wood and/or fire scents (possibly to complement the gel-burning firepots?) including new offerings from Illume and Aspen Bay Candles.

Crabtree-and-Evelynx

Crabtree & Evelyn debuted its new
Iris collection

Yankee Candle is extending its fragrance empire into more formats with lip balm, hand sanitizer, and new small and subtle car fresheners that attach to an air vent. Also notable among their accessories is a triple votive holder, which allows consumers to easily mix fragrances to create their own signature scent. Meanwhile, For Every Body is taking a page from the U.S. Mint's book, offering candles instead of quarters for each state.

That's not the only mint inspiration going around: Archipelago Botanicals is showcasing a refreshing new Morning Mint collection. Also in personal care, Crabtree & Evelyn debuted its new Iris collection, which includes scented drawer lining papers and sachets as well as fragrance, body care, soap and gift sets in high-end, reusable packaging.

This and That

Glitterville

Glitterville's popular melamine
plates have gotten a facelift

C.R. Gibson is expanding the Lolita collection and gearing it towards a more casual entertaining lifestyle collection with bowl sets, tumblers, coasters, gift bags and trays with spreaders. Lolita is also coming out with a book on entertaining — Martini Moments — that will be introduce at the New York International Gift Fair next month.

Glitterville's popular melamine plates that look like the plain white paper plates have gotten a facelift. The company has added illustrations for birthday celebrations featuring sayings like: "Hive Yourself a Hap-BEE Birthday."

Franz's new line of vases
are based on the artwork
of Vincent Van Gough.

Franz introduced a new collection of vases based on the artwork of Vincent Van Gogh.

Bungalow introduced a new collection of back to school items in its Scout collection. The line includes backpacks and storage items perfect for a dorm room.

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I bought a ceramic garden torch and cannot figure out how to put lamp oil into it. How do I open it Please help.
Jerry Russmann - 2011-09-29 13:21:31 EDT

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