Charter Members

Flash back to 1983: three years before the opening of New York's Javits Center, a time when the New York International Gift Fair was held in the Coliseum and a nearby hotel. A few blocks away, the Passenger Ship Terminals on the Hudson River became available for exhibitions. Alan Steel, then in his second year with George Little Management, had been visiting trade shows in Europe, and was especially taken with a high-end show in Paris, called Moving. The City of Light turned on a light in Alan's mind. Back in the Big Apple, he convinced GLM president Jeff Little to create a special NYIGF division that would feature young companies focused on contemporary design. They would exhibit at the Piers, serving to draw buyers to the new location. In the summer of 1984, Accent on Design opened its doors with 161 exhibitors.

It was an instant success, according to Alan, who became a GLM partner shortly thereafter, and is currently the firm's executive vice president. Today, Accent on Design, now ensconced in the Javits Center, hosts some 200 exhibitors. As companies grow and develop, they are often encouraged to move to other sections of the Fair, opening spaces in Accent for the next generation of talented young companies.

Of the original exhibitors, ten are still with Accent on Design: Creative Candles, Eigen Arts, Projects/Markuse, Sassafras, Sarut, TAG, Textillery Weavers, Umbra, Walkerbags, and Zelco. For their contributions to our industry by providing creative, contemporary product, Gifts & Decorative Accessories chooses to honor the ten "charter members" of Accent on Design with its 2004 Industry Achievement Award. Their stories begin here, and will continue in the June issue.

JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY

It was 1977, in a loft in New York's SoHo district, when Barbara Eigen founded her eponymous company. Her specialty was ceramic tabletop products made on a potter's wheel and molded after real fruits and vegetables. In 1989, the company moved to a 10,000-square-foot facility in Jersey City, and today Barbara and her staff of ten produce their ceramic pieces using molds they create from handmade models. The artisans make their own glazes and hand dip and paint all the pieces. Over the years, Eigen Arts' product range expanded greatly to include vases, planters, and bath accessories, as well as linens. To serve larger customers, such as Crate & Barrel, Williams-Sonoma, and Pottery Barn, Eigen Arts designs and imports ceramic and glass products. The company's pottery is found in museum shops, catalogs, and specialty stores in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. Looking back, Barbara Eigen says, "It doesn't feel like 20 years since the first Accent on Design show at the piers. The show has been a key part of Eigen Arts' growth. We went from a 10'x10' booth to double the space on a corner, and sales took off."

BEDFORD, MASSACHUSETTS

For some 16 years, Jack Markuse was the exclusive U.S. distributor for the Italian home goods line Alessi, during which time he introduced the products of design masters such as Ettore Sottsass, Stanley Tigerman, and Philippe Starck to the American marketplace. Twenty years ago, he formed The Markuse Corporation, dedicated to celebrating the role that architecture and design play in our daily lives. In 1990, his Projects division began producing architect-designed weather vanes, mailboxes, and exterior house numbers. Two years later, the company began its "enduring romance" with timepieces by producing Michael Graves' OH Watch. Since then, they introduced Building Timepieces, collections of architect-designed watches and wall and alarm clocks. In 2001, the concept was extended to cookie jars with contributions from the likes of Cesar Pelli and Richard Meier. The Markuse Corp. operates from a 3,000-square-foot facility in Bedford, Massachusetts. Because its products are made in Switzerland and the Far East, outsourcing represents a significant part of the company's operations. Reflecting on the importance of Accent on Design, Jack Markuse says, "The show afforded both retailers and manufacturers the ability to market design in categories previously devoid of it … even timepieces."

CHICAGO

Did you know that until 1977, if you wanted to make a pizza at home you had to use a cake pan? Steven and Nancy Schwab solved the dilemma that year with the introduction of their Chicago-style deep dish pizza kit, the first to be marketed directly to consumers. Their home-based business has grown to include a wide range of pizza-related products, gourmet foods, and children's and pet items designed for the specialty market. Many retailers remember Sassafras merchandise such as Good Time Tubes, Framed, and Kids on the Go bags. Retailer feedback is vital to the company's success, say Steven and Nancy, and that feedback is reflected in the evolution of its line. Today, Chicago-based Sassafras places an emphasis on kids' in the kitchen, offering a variety of children's baking kits. Besides selling to specialty and department stores in the U.S., the company exports to Europe, Canada, South America, the Far East, and Australia. A lot of that success can be attributed to Sassafras' participation in Accent. "Congratulations Accent on Design," say the Schwabs, "We are proud to have been a part of this show since its inception."

CHICAGO

When Norman Glassberg founded his company, Trade Associates Group (TAG), in 1976, his vision was to "bring well-designed, stylish, and affordable products into the home of the average consumer." As a testament to TAG's success, its fall and holiday 2004 catalog presents more than 2000 SKUs of such stylish and affordable merchandise. In 1983, when TAG became the first exhibitor to sign up for Accent on Design, the Chicago-based company had about 20 employees. "Accent gave us a venue to display well-designed products where everybody was doing the same thing," says Norman. "It attracted a different kind of buyer. The kind that we were seeking." Today, there are 115 staffers in the TAG headquarters office and its new, 152,000-square-foot warehouse that sits on 14 acres in suburban Chicago. All TAG products are designed in-house and manufactured overseas, mostly in India ("great craftsmanship," says Norman) and China. The company started out serving specialty stores and still does 90 percent of its business with specialty retailers. "We believe in it," Norman affirms.

BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA

When John Rose gave his wife, Judith, a loom for her birthday in 1974, little did they know the company they would eventually weave. After exhibiting Judith's works at various craft shows — where they met with considerable success — the couple formed Textillery Weavers in 1979, working out of a studio they built next to their home in Bloomington, Indiana. During the ensuing years, their studio grew to 5,000 square feet, then to 10,000 square feet. In 1998, they built a 37,000-square-foot headquarters, where today more than 35 employees work to produce 600 styles in the Textillery line. The company's philosophy is to nurture craftsmanship in the U.S. by manufacturing high-quality, unique products in small quantities. This year, the company became the exclusive throw licensee for Sunbrella brand yarns, enabling Textillery to create outdoor throws that are mold- and fade-resistant, and machine-washable. Judith Rose notes, "Accent on Design has given us exposure to the entire industry over the years … attracting buyers specifically seeking design-driven products like ours."

The remaining five Accent on Design "charter members" will be featured in the June issue.