Direct from Market: Atlanta
Market Has Healthy Vibe
Meredith Schwartz, Caroline Kennedy and Bessie Nestoras -- Gifts and Dec, 1/15/2011 8:50:49 AM
When it comes to attending an important gift and home market such as the Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market that neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays our intrepid buyers and exhibitors from their appointed rounds. But they may have to make adjustments to their schedules, and that they did.
On Thursday, we spotted a big crowd in the new Noelle Enterprises showroom, checking out the versatile Riverton Wrap
The recent spate of adverse weather — bad snow and ice conditions in and around Atlanta as well as up the East Coast — definitely produced a host of irritations and many challenges for market-goers trying to make their way to Atlanta, from icy roads to delayed and cancelled flights to missing samples and trouble finding enough food to entertain the multitudes. However the mood in the halls is optimistic, despite dodging late arriving shipments of boxes, with everyone predicting good traffic and sales as soon as the waylaid multitudes finish making their way to market.
Big crowds at registration Thursday and Friday mornings indicated that they're well on their way to a successful market. And by midday Friday, AmericasMart was pleased to note that attendance had exceeded previous numbers.
Shop Way Late
In response to conditions preventing buyers from getting market as usual, AmericasMart extended its opening hours from Thursday through Sunday until 8 p.m. to help buyers make up for lost time and to accommodate rescheduled appointments. Other individual showrooms are making further accommodations for their customers: The OneCoast showroom has extended its hours until midnight each market day; Ohio Wholesale Inc. and Kennedy's Country Collection extended their hours to 9 p.m. through Sunday, and Blossom Bucket notified customers, "We're here for you as long as you need us!" Many other showrooms are also following suit and remaining open longer than usual echoing the sentiment of Blossom Bucket.
And showrooms are also pulling out the stops in other ways. OneCoast is recording videos of the activities in the showroom and posting them on Facebook. Midwest-CBK has added a last minute guest appearance:Cinda Baxter, the founder of the 3/50 Project, will be in to meet and talk with retailers in Midwest-CBK'S AmericasMart Atlanta showroom on Sunday, January 16, from 1 to 2 p.m. The Midwest-CBK showroom is located in Building 1, Suite 16-A-7. The strategy seems to be working as many of the showrooms and hallways, especially in Building 2, the Gift Mart, bustled with activity late into the evenings on Thursday and Friday nights.
Surprisingly, the travel travails have not affected all business as much as one might expect. Beth Lang of Alexa's Angels reported that they had a record day on Thursday. Ganz, OneCoast and Katherine's Collection also reported being very busy with good sales. Not all early reports were quite as glowing, but even those admitted they were hopeful that business would improve as the travel situation did. And as market has progressed and traffic has grown, the reports are more positive.
Woodwick's Gallerie collection, based on vintage wrapping paper
Candles in the Market Winds
Yankee Candle's big introduction at this market is Quick Scent, a new technology that melts a special candle fast to throw scent ASAP, and burns completely in three hours, at an affordable price point. Also notable in candles are Woodwick's Escape line, which is exclusively for independent and specialty retailers. Woodwick also presents retro holiday offerings in the new Gallerie collection, based on vintage wrapping paper.
Enesco's new Britto plush line
Soft Touches
Enesco's Gund division has big news in plush: The company now has the Disney license for all characters, something it's launching with Pooh, Mickey and Cars offerings. Enesco also has a completely new look in plush based on the artist Britto, featuring 60 different patterns. Some pieces feature up to 15 different materials on a single SKU.
Also new in plush, Lubies from RocketUSA has blown up its ball-shaped plush offerings to giant size. And Mary Meyer has brought the changeable fashion trend to the tween set with Purse Switchables, soft pocketbook covers that kids can change out in a snap.
Douglas Toys Furry Couture
Douglas Toys has introduced Furry Couture, a collection of plush puppy purses. The plush purses make up the bodies to which heads, tails and legs are attached. They are done in bright colors and patterns for a fun tween look.
Happy Holidays
In Christmas, Enesco's Department 56 is extending its Snowbabies brand into a home décor collection called Dream, in a sparkling silver and white palette with pastel colored accents. According to an Enesco spokesperson, a major retailer told them that non-traditional colors in Christmas trim are "first off the shelf."
Katherine's Collection is a line for those who want a different look in their holiday displays - one that is almost over the top, but fun and fanciful. Instead of being displayed in the traditional way on trees, ornaments are hung from the ceiling in a cascade of color and texture. "We take display to a different level," notes Wayne Kleski, the chief designer. "Movement is the inspiration." This season's key direction is monochromatic. That's not to say there is no color. There's lots of color and lots of texture. It's just variations on the same color. "Crimson Rhapsody" is one of the new collections and it is all done in shades of red: Chinese red, merlot, burgundy... with lots of lace, sequins, sparkle, velvet, satin, taffeta and more. It's rich and lush looking.
Also in holiday, Kaemingk made its debut at this market. Though new to AmericasMart (and America), the line is the biggest Christmas supplier in Europe, and they have a unique business proposition to prove it - the company will fly qualified buyers to Holland at its own expense, and put them up in a 12th century castle, so they can visit the company's 40,000-square-foot showroom and see the complete line, instead of the 10 percent or less on display here so far. As a result, Kaemingk told Gifts & Decorative Accessories, they are focusing on larger accounts, but still independents only.
Tech Candy covers for the iPad
Twists on Tradition
Sometimes nothing is newer than a twist on tradition, such as Enesco's Vatican Observatory collection. Firmly rooted in the classic Catholic art aesthetic, the made-in-Italy figurines are unique because each includes soil from the Vatican grounds. (Wood components are made in Montana of reclaimed barn wood.)
On the other end of the spectrum is Tech Candy, a fun and functional new offering from Alabama which combines a colorful soft case with a patterned hard outer case through which the color can be glimpsed. Each hard case comes with a choice of colored interiors so users can change up their look. Right now available only for Apple iPhones and laptops, more gadgets are under consideration.
Ganz' new Tail Towns collectibles
And straddling both sides of the coin is Ganz, which is moving collectibles into the 21st century. Ganz introduced Tail Towns, a new series of collectible woodland creature figurines that have their own virtual world. The Tail Towns world is a social site, primarily designed for female collector/players aged 13 and up. Once registered — each figurine includes a code that permits the purchaser to become a member of the community — they can interact with other players, earn rewards, socialize and more.
New and Cool
October Hill, from Boston Intl. is offering felt cutout coasters, placemats, wine holders and more in brilliant colors as well as spring holiday designs, building on the success of last year's Christmas offerings. And for some superfruit to put on those coasters, check out Wine-A-Rita, which has added Berry Pom-A-Rita to its selection.
Alexa's Angels Gratitude wall
Alexa's Angels is engaging customers with its new Gratitudes Bracelet. The bracelet has 10 beads, one for each letter in the word Gratitudes; to start each day the wearer is encouraged to name 10 things for which they are grateful. In the showroom, buyers are encouraged to write something they are grateful for on the wall above the display. It is a great display idea for retailers to take home and employ in their store!
Creative Coop's Williamsburg garden collection
Colonial Williamsburg is blooming all around the market through its licensees. Williamsburg gardens and folk art are among the inspirations finding their way onto new products.by Creative Co-op, C&F Enterprises/Gallerie II and Byer's Choice. The Creative Co-op Garden Story collection of home accessories brings the garden indoors for enjoyment year-round. Particularly popular with buyers are the watering cans and bird houses that feature collages of archival images. In the holiday area at Creative Co-op is the Christmas Remembered collection of ornaments and home décor that draw on the folk art collections. A decorative box with magnolia artwork is part of the Christmas collection but can be kept out year-round. Artist Kate McRostie looked to the gardens as well as needlework designs for her Reembroidered Garden collection of home textiles, dinnerware, fused glassware and other accessories for C&F/Gallerie II. And at Byers Choice, a spring gardening family is a new caroling family designed by Joyce Byers.
We'll bring you more in a few days. In the meantime, stay healthy, warm and travel safely.
Because I am reading this while still at the market you should post the room numbers.
m - 2011-01-15 22:05:50 EST-
Direct From Market- Atlanta
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