Flower Power and the Good Life
Quinn Halford -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 2/1/2001
Permanent florals are the subject of our cover story, "Flower Power," this month. It's been a number of years since those ghastly plastic creations (still found adorning some gravestones in cemeteries around the country) gave such a bad name to permanent florals. Today, the trend is toward "botanically correct" florals, complete with bug bites and missing petals-so true to life that they invite the observer to touch them for a reality check. To achieve these authentic looks, manufacturers have consigned plastic to the graveyards and replaced it with the same fabrics that are used in apparel (except for silk, however, which is seldom used in the new permanents). While the "look real" trend dominates permanent florals in the current market, there are also designers and manufacturers who are having fun with florals. We chose one, Swedish Accents, to provide fanciful blooms for our cover photo. Editor Bessie Nestoras delivers the permanent floral story in "Flower Power," beginning on page 42.
The mere mention of "Flower Power" evokes another era among those of us who came of age before MTV. And that era was in full flower (pardon the pun) at the 12th ARTS Awards black-tie dinner gala, held during the January Dallas Super Market. The theme of the evening was "The 1960s," and floral images and psychedelic colors dressed up the Grand Hall of the International Apparel Mart as 800 guests came together to honor retailers and manufacturers of decorative accessories. Nobody embodied the spirit of the evening more than master of ceremonies Mike Mullins, who kicked off the awards program dressed in an outfit (and wig) that surely had been in mothballs since the final performance of Hair. Among the thrilled ARTS Awards winners was designer Mark McDowell of Fine Art Lamps. Ira Phillips, president and CEO of lamp maker Quoizel Inc. was inducted into the ARTS Academy of Achievement. The complete list of winners is on page 14.
Point of Sale
Did you know that, according to Gifts & Dec's 2000 Retailer Comparison Survey, only 33 percent of you specialty retailers are using a point-of-sale (POS) system in your stores? Those who haven't invested in a POS system cite insufficient sales and the cost of installing a system as reasons for sticking with the old cash register and index-card inventory control method. Editor Eliza Gallo spoke with one Michigan retailer who feels that a store should have sales of $750,000 before the owners invest in a POS system. That may be true with regard to sophisticated systems, but there are many simpler, less expensive solutions for the smaller retailer. I recommend that, at your next trade show, you stop by the booth of one of the POS system vendors you'll find there. Let them educate you about the next step in technology you'll need to grow your business. It will also be your first step toward buying and reordering efficiently via the Web, something that is going to be an important part of your business future. Eliza's story, "The Hunt for a POS System," begins on page 38.
The Good Life
In light of the mad pace we have set for ourselves in modern America, it's refreshing to hear a story about a different way of life. I met up with Elizabeth and Flo Seal, sisters-in-law from McAllen, Texas, in their booth at the Dallas show. Their year-old business, Cuñadas, "bedding for your casa," specializes in embroidered cotton cushions, duvet covers, ruffles, and shams in startling, bright colors. It is taking time for these two entrepreneurs to build up sufficient inventory, which is handmade in Mexico. While the campesinos divide the labor between the sexes-the men do the looming, and the women the embroidering-all production stops when there are other things to do, such as tending crops or celebrating feast days. "They aren't interested in fame or riches," said the Seals. "They aren't really interested in money. They just want the simple life."
Sounds pretty fine about this time of year.
