Chicago
John Parris Frantz -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 2/1/2001
Rattan pillows are the rage, and they're available at the Square Nest, Chicago Merchandise Mart (CMM) 1511. Square Nest is the new division of New Creative Enterprises, a CMM 13th-floor company, which is the sister company of Aldik Floral, CMM 1515, under the parent company banner of Decorative Concepts Inc. Square Nest is a line of proprietary designs that are exclusively sold to the gift trade such as the Natural Elements collection of dyed and hand-woven rattan pillows developed by artist Renee Dubois, formerly of Dubois Design. Over 300 SKUs of table lamps, pillows, and terra-cotta vases and planters complete the initial offering of this new line. Educational examples of cross merchandising with about 50 SKUs of Aldik floral products will be an on-going theme in the 4,000-square-foot showroom, and will include spillover from Aldik next door.
A real dilly from Mariposa, CMM 1586, is Jilly Walsh, the serveware designer who dreamed up several new patterns, including Jilly Bird, Christmas Carol, and others. These new patterns are also offered on aluminum serveware and glassware. Also new at Mariposa is Ergo, a scented candle line that comes in either a tin-covered or an open-top jar. Exclusive Orlane French cosmetics come from Imaginez. The packaging is exquisite, such as hand-wrapped soaps and other sophisticated touches. The signature scent is Eau D'oolong. There are also scented ceramics for clothes drawers. Sybarite has 24 textile patterns in such fashionable colors as mustard, olive, and other earth tones. The plush towels have 700 grams of cotton per meter.
Give your shop a legacy. Legacy Candle features unusual jelly candles that can be squeezed out of clear toothpaste-sized tubes into a variety of candle jars and holders. Available from Candles Plus, CMM 1442a, Legacy offers a variety of other unconventional candle concepts such as the Sand Sable, with different colors of sand; or Rock Roche, with different colors of nuggets. Both the sand and rock can be used to fill bowls that hold votives and other candle styles. America The Beautiful is A.I. Root's new layered candle collection. Each jar has three layered colors and two scents. New scents include Apple Harvest, Fresh Air, and Sweet Grass. Candles Plus' Waxcessories line of ceramic candle jars now has its spring collection available.
More than 100 rice paper stems now make up a new handmade artificial flower collection at Regenboog, CMM 1534. Regenboog has carried rice paper stems in various other collections, but has never had this broad an offering. Another new collection features accent balls in 2", 4", and 6" sizes. Also new from Regenboog is a hydrangea specialty collection with wreaths, accent balls, topiaries, and arrangements. New colors for 2001 are soft yellow, light lavender, and other trendy hues. Also new is a wedding collection with bouquets, wreaths, and Biedermeier arrangements.
Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus is the new hot theme from Roman Inc., CMM 1465. This holiday collection features dozens of SKUs of trim, historical Santas, painted tins, mini resin figures, Glitterdome snow globes, dolls, and some new designs from artist D. Morgan. American Collectibles is a new Christmas 2001 introduction with Americana items such as replicas of classic of salt-and-pepper shakers, fly-fishing flies, tin toys, wooden tops, and more nostalgic items. Also new at Roman is the King Wenceslas ornament collection of eight jewelry-inspired crystal ornaments from the Czech Republic.
See the new old look. Items that are new but look like antiques are arriving from High Point at Decorative Crafts, CMM 1589. There are several Italian side tables in carved wood with inlaid olive or rosewood accents, plus antique walnut finishes with gold leaf accents. DC also has new wooden boxes in square or rectangular shapes, and new antique brass lamps. DC is adding three new tole patterns to its other accessories such as boxes, vases, planters, and jars.
