Direct from Market: Atlanta
GDA Staff -- Gifts and Dec, 1/19/2011 1:37:29 PM
"There's no business like show business," sang Ethel Merman. And that sentiment holds true for the gift show business. Adhering to the theatrical motto "The Show Must Go On," the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market did go on ... and very successfully so, in spite of some weather conditions that made it difficult for samples and attendees to get to Atlanta. But just like theater people, the gift and home industry proved that they are troopers when faced with difficult situation — appointments were rescheduled, additional late shopping hours added and displays creatively arranged to mask missing samples. By the weekend, the market was in full swing as usual, attendance was high and the mood was very upbeat.
A Passion for Fashion
Many gift companies are shifting their focus to fashion accessories. For instance, Mud Pie is expanding its fashion 
Toss Designs
collection. What started out with a few cover ups and totes has grown into a large collection of beachwear, pajamas — which were modeled by young ladies — and now a jewelry collection called Charm Life.
Toss Designs, best known for its collection of bags and other small accessories, is also adding more jewelry, as well as some beachwear to its line. The company's tunics are of particular interest, featuring beaded accents in trend-forward colors.
Iota continues to expand its offerings beyond it paper roots and introduced its new collection of fashion accessories at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market. The Iota Chic line includes jewelry pouches, double-sided eyeglass cases and many items for tech gear, like iPad cases. In fact, several companies are focusing on tech gear, among them Cinda B and Murval. Murval is also branching out more into fashion with a selection of clothing, as well as leatherette wedge sandals available in two colors - black and cognac.
Grace Management's new 8 Petals collection is a handcrafted line of glass jewelry by creator and designer Toni Chirico, who gets help from an unlikely pair — her nine- and six-year-old sons who help her cut the glass.
Made It! Collection is a new company that produces jewelry based on consumer votes. The company offers an intriguing new business model: Designer-maker meets American Idol. The company will post three jewelry designers on its website and people can vote for their favorite. The most popular designer is the one whose line gets produced.
Beth Lang owner of Alexa's Angels is taking her Positivity campaign a step further: She is now offering Gratitude bracelets which encourages you to count the ten things you are grateful for everyday.
Nature Inspired
Andrea by Sadek
Coastal looks continue to be an important trend. Andrea by Sadek's new coastal collection is done in soft shades of coral, yellow and white. The line includes dinnerware, serveware, spreaders, salt and pepper shakers and more.
Other coastal looks spotted around market were reminiscent of the East Coast beaches, with lobsters, crabs and anchor motifs. Pomegranate offered an apron in blue and white with crab accents and Murval showed a tote bag in blue and white with blue sequined anchor. Other seaside motifs included sea turtles and octopi.
More rustic looks are making their way into the home this season. Sadek's Rustic Summer is geared for the summer lake home, with pine cones and woodland creatures make up this collection.
Arteriors Home had several pieces that look like they were gathered up from the forest and brought right into the home, like the Nantucket wood and glass side table. It's rustic, but chic at the same time.
Foreside has come back into the industry after a brief absence. Retailers flocked to the showr
Two's Company
oom to see the new offerings. The company is offering a wide selection of gift and home accessories with a down-to-earth feel. There are eight new collections including a coastal collection, a Boho collection and Market Stand, which is the most true to the original Foreside designs. This collection is colorful and features fun and whimsical designs of farm animals.
London Calling
There has been a long love affair with the French, but Britain seems to finding its way into Americans' hearts. Blissliving Home's collection is inspired by London. With collections featuring traditional British designs, such as Trafalgar's houndstooth or the London bedding that highlights Big Ben, the new British inspired accessories are a nice pairing with the French-inspired looks.
Vera Bradley has also introduced a new collection called English Garden and Murval also featured some patterns based on old English Rose prints. Two's Company's Chelsea Garden collection features a small floral print in both pink and blue versions.
Well Scripted
Aidan Gray
Many companies are using writing on decorative accessories. HomArt's votive holders, Aidan Gray's, Peking Handicraft's bird pillows, Creative Co-Op's accessories, Best Slip Covers' chair, wall decor from Paragon, Napa Home & Garden's lantern, as well as Mary Carol Home Collection's tablecloth all featured scripting. The Old World look is a nice complement to traditional decor, as well as the French and now British looks that have been strong in the market.
Exotic Motifs
Beatriz Ball, who is best known for her classic metal serveware has expanded the collection to include frames. The oversized frames are wonderful statement pieces, but look for smaller sizes in the future. Ball also designed a more global collection — Antik has a more ethnic feel and is meant for a younger customer who will have and use these pieces forever. The line is timeless, just as Beatriz Ball's other styles are.
Tickle Your Fancy
Feathers and peacock motifs were spotted around the market. Global Views offered a selection of turquoise pillows with a peacock motif, Andrea by Sadek's feather collection includes salad servers and stationery items, and Creative Co-Op's wood book box features a feather on the cover.
Global Views
Table Wares
Abodo, based in Johannesburg, offers a collection of tabletop items of flatware, serveware and decor, by designer Pamela Schroeder. She combines her life in Africa and her experience in Europe to find inspiration for her designs.
Simon Pearce is now offering its textiles to the wholesale market. The collection was always offered in the company stores, but has now decided to bring it to the independents. The company is also focusing on its bridal registry program with a couple of promotions. Couples who register for Simon Pearce at any retailer will be automatically entered into a national contest to win a trip to t
Under Stella's Umbrella
he Woodstock Inn in Vermont, in addition the store will also win a trip.
Under Stella's Umbrella is getting even more crowded. The company is expanding into the home accessories market with a small introduction of table and chair covers, perfect for entertaining, as well as candelabras. It is also touching on the holiday category with a new advent calendar that owner Stella Martin says is based on the type she grew up with, the type where a goodie is placed in each day's pocket.
Of particular note in the Homestyle showroom was the new Merry Go Round collection from Gorham — affordably priced giftable tabletop inspired by nursery rhymes. Lenox, owner of the brand, is partnering with Homestyle to focus on the gift market. Also striking was the new-to-the-showroom Arda collection of metallic glassware, which is handmade in Turkey.
KidStyle
Monkey Toes
is a new line of animal and insect themed shoes for children. The shoes are hand-painted with a variety of critters and feature curly shoelaces that never have to be tied.
Mogo is expanding its magnetic charm bracelet line to include flip flops for women and little girls.
Iota is offering an extensive baby line that includes gifts for baby and gifts for mom. Among the new introductions are booties, bib and burp cloth sets, a diaper bag, a crumb catcher bib, pacifier clips, photo clutch and more. The retail prices are at an affordable $5-$55.
New to the market and discovered in the children's world temps are Mad Pax, spiky backpacks that come in a variety of sizes and in plain colored leather, 
Mad Pax
for a more modern, geometric look, or in a reptilian print that makes the packs reminiscent of dinosaur defenses. Either way, the packs are a cool, fun way to stand up for personal space, and make sure kids never grab the wrong bag by mistake.
Also found in children's world, but equally suitable to stationery stores, are 
Pencil Dolls
. The interchangeable dressable creatures are functional pencils with faces and outfits. Made from recycled matierals in the USA.
Holiday Looks
We continued to note blue as an accent color in holiday, as well as natural themes and the emergence of plaid. Novelty party hats were hot at Demdaco ‘s Silvestri, Midwest, Gallerie II and Glitterville, for Halloween especially, but also carrying over into Christmas. Retro Christmas also continued at Midwest in several collections, and in One Hundred 80 Degrees‘ Tinseltown. Halloween ornaments
Silvestri by Demdaco
are also continuing in popularity. One eye-catching (literally!) offering was eye balls from Arty Imports Inc.
Also hot at One Hundred 80 Degrees is the new Open Me First line of over-the-top wrap kits, completely with doll or pom-pom embellishments.
Clean and Healthy
While Grace Management Group's biggest news this market is the launch of the 8 Petals glass jewelry line, the market also saw Votivo's debut into the personal care market, with lotion, body wash, and a metal tube of cream complete with a clever key to get every last drop.
Continuing the wool and felt trend, one unusual find in the Body & Soul temps was Pacabella: organic soaps surrounded 
Pacabella
by felted alpaca wool. In High Design, children's brand cate + levi collection launched 
Cate and Levi
Peek A Boo puppets made of reclaimed wool. The adorable floppy ears are operated with the pinky and index finger.
Count Me Healthy is a jewelry health journal for women. The bangle features 12 beads and each represents a health goal. For each goal you accomplish that day, you just move the bead over. The line is geared for all aspects of health: emotional, wellness, as well as for new moms and even one for golfers. The bracelets come in sterling silver, 14-kt. and 18-kt. gold, as well as a rose gold version.
New and Noteworthy
Lazy Susan is expanding its crystal collection with several introductions, including candleholders, frames and centerpieces. The company's new Ginger Spike urns were originally commissioned by HBO for its Emmy Awards after-party this past summer. They were such a hit, the company has brought them into the line.
Peking Handicraft introduced the Mary Jane Farm collection, which takes on a more Midwestern look, with florals and quilting.
HomArt's new Bone China Bottles and Jars were cast from antique and vintage pieces that staff found at flea 
HomArt
markets and antique shops.
Demdaco has added The Paula Prass Collection to its extensive gift line. Prass is a fabric designer, who once had her own independent collection. Demdaco is also adding a lot of pillows, made in India, to its line, as well as making its own holiday picks (floral, but also paper) for the first time. Also retro-inspired collections, most notably Leading Ladies, which is likely to appeal to fans of anything from Anne Taintor to Mad Men. And of course hats — the fun novelty party hats have been joined by more substantive Halloween offerings with a steampunk flavor.
Midwest-CBK has added a bridal collection which includes frames, as well as signs that say "Reception."
Bellocq is a new tea line that made its U.S. debut at the Atlanta market. The company offers traditional teas, as well as their own blends. The packaging is quite nice — a yellow box — perfecting for gifting.
Europe 2 You has opened a new showroom in AmericasMart and offers a wide variety of antique goods from 
Europe 2 You
Europe. One of the highlights this market is a vintage flower bulb tray that is used on a coffee table. There are several sizes of the tray pieced together on like a puzzle that make up the top of the table, which are perfect for storing magazines, toys, remotes and other objects that create clutter.
Keep an Eye Out For...
Tie-dyed accessories. It's big in fashion and slowly finding its way into gift and home. Both Two's Company and Roost featured tie-dyed textiles.
Social Bees and Butterflies
Friday was buzzing late into the night as weather-delayed market goers made up for lost time. Shoppers mingled with partygoers at Foreside, the GHTA reception, and too many more to list.
Online marketing company SnapRetail presented its first Snappy awards Friday night; winning retailers included Starfish, Surf City, NC; Noel's Fine Gifts, Leawood, KS; Accent Interiors, Wichita, KS; Traditions of Thomastown, Thomastown, GA and Sunny Hearts, Angleton, TX. In addition, vendors Midwest-CBK, Evergreen and Mud Pie were honored. Also new from SnapRetail is the company's online photo gallery feature. The feature plays off the company's existing Snap in the Box feature, which allows retailers to announce (and pre-sell) their latest shipments from a single vendor. The new feature, created by customer request, allows stores to mix multiple vendors, including those 
Louis van Amstel celebrates at
Tervis Tumbler (photo courtesy of Tervis)
who are not participating in SnapRetail's program. The company is also offering a limited test drive to new customers: 3 campaigns in 30 days.
Musical siblings The Lennon Sisters appeared to sign in the Enesco showroom with design heavyweight Jim Shore, who had created the clothing for their latest Best Pals rag dolls.
On Saturday evening, Professional ballroom dancer and star of "Dancing with the Stars" Louis van Amstel drew a huge crowd of fans at the Tervis Tumbler showroom. Louis was on hand to help Tervis celebrate its 65th anniversary. He graciously signed tumblers, posed for pictures and chatted with buyers.
On a more somber note, a brief memorial sponsored by the GHTA was held in honor of Todd Figi, the founder of Figi Graphics, who passed away recently. George Kacic of Ganz made a brief eulogy.
And on Sunday, Occasionally Made, perhaps best known for its cowboy-style rainboots, hosted a hoe down, complete with barbecue pork sliders and sweet tea.
Expansions and New Showrooms
There were many ribbon-cuttings throughout the AmericasMart, marking the opening of new and expanded showrooms. Among those excited to be making their debut at AmericasMart were the Dutch holiday ornament company Kaemingk Intl., toy reps Diverse Marketing, The Roundtop Collection and greeting card and stationery manufacturers Pumpernickel Press and Legacy Publishing.
 Kaemingk Intl. USA |
 Diverse Marketing |
|
 Pumpernickel Press |
 Legacy Publishing |
The Roundtop Collection
It is unfortunate that the Atlanta show book does not list all guest appearances. I would have appreciated a printed supplement listing these. I would have loved to have met Tony Curtis last year & the Lennon Sisters this year. However, I did not know about their appearances until after the fact. Is this intentional, to avoid too many visits from those who are not regular customers? Last year, I met Marie Osmond, which resulted in my purchasing her jewelry line for my shop.
Patrice Pallone - 2011-01-19 20:38:44 ESTI so love the items listed. Wish I could've seen them in person. I know as a child I would have loved the spiky backpack.
B.R.Kuhlman - 2011-01-19 19:52:00 ESTGreat show and everyone worked through the disaster mother nature caused. I found so much great stuff. For a couple of years everything felt very restrained and few innovative jumps in design but not this time. Energy, excitement and everything else.
This is my 5th year at the Atlanta show and there really isn't anything like it.
Barbara Mooney - 2011-01-19 18:14:57 EST
-
Direct From Market- Atlanta
Jan 13, 2012 -
Direct from Market: Dallas
Jan 27, 2012 -
Direct from Market: Atlanta, part 2
Jan 19, 2012 -
Direct from Market: Atlanta
Jan 13, 2010 -
Direct from Market: New York
Feb 4, 2011
Featured Company
-
FurnitureCore.com
FurnitureCore.com is a dynamic web application aimed at the furniture industry. Retailers and manufacturers alike will find our deep reserve of tools to be exactly what their furniture business needs.www.furniturecore.com... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
