Market Report — High Point
By Bessie Nestoras and Maria Weiskott -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 5/1/2006 11:55:00 AM
High Point, NC — Springtime, and the weather is unpredictable. From the cold, rainy opening day of the International Home Furnishings Market, we could easily have mistaken this even for one of the winter shows! Yet by late afternoon, the clouds had rolled away and the sun shone brightly on High Point.
Still, the bad weather didn’t stop buyers from shopping, though — or partying, as we saw in many showrooms. Inclement conditions may have kept buyers in one building for most of the day (as some exhibitors told us), but vendors were definitely writing orders.
By evening, the party moved outdoors for the annual Home Accents Today (sister pub to Gifts & Decorative Accessories) event, featuring a lively band, tasty food and a decidedly upbeat mood. Indeed, the optimistic atmosphere that underlined the market tone in January seemed to have carried through the dank winter months intact; it’s a mood that bodes well for upcoming markets.
If there was any cloud over High Point — besides the one that poured buckets that first morning — it was discussion about the growing Las Vegas market. In showroom after showroom the question being asked was: “Will Las Vegas take over as the furniture market leader?” Even hotel and parking lot personnel voiced concerns about the possibility of a growing Vegas market. And for good reason: the International Home Furnishings Market is essential to the High Point economy.
Still, some admitted that competition — which High Point has never had — would bring needed innovation and renewal to the North Carolina market. Only time will tell.
Not Just For Kids Anymore
One of the biggest pieces of market news came from Drexel Heritage, which introduced the Walt Disney Signature collection of furniture. But make no mistake: this is one Disney line that’s not for children. The collection draws inspiration from the design studio of Walt Disney himself, and has the “blessing” of the Disney family.
There are 12 pieces in the line, including a leather sofa and club chair, sofa table, cocktail table and a desk made of rich wood with marble and nickel finishes in Art Moderne style. The collection is expected to ship in late fall.
Additional pieces are in the works, as is a line of accessories including lamps and rugs, expected to be ready for the fall market. The company will also be replicating Mr. Disney’s own chair — a seat his staff knew never to sit in when meetings were called.
Meanwhile, gift retailers will welcome news that the Swarovski line of Disney jewelry will be extended in 2007 to include fairies. The line will feature the best known of all Disney fairies, TinkerBell, coinciding with the first of a trilogy of Disney fairy movies based on books by Gail Carson Levine.
Jeannine D’Addario, director of marketing home and infant furnishings at Disney Consumer Products, told G&DA that the company will also add products to its jewelry line, including pieces inspired by Winnie the Pooh. The collection will feature jewelry, as well as gift items such as boxes, vanity trays and more. Retailers should also be on the lookout for a collection of Disney crystal and enamel jewelry, currently flying off the shelves in Japan, according to D’Addario.
Tickled Pink
Is pink the new black? Well, not yet — but it just might be, one of these days. Sometimes soft, other times brilliant, pink was spotted throughout the showrooms in a variety of product treatments.
In a throwback to the early sixties, Counterpoint by Interlude featured combinations of pink and gray, while Abigail’s showcased the color along with green. Pink was also seen in splashes around The Phillips Collection and Emissary Home and Garden.
In general, the colors of home accessories seemed to be toned down a notch, more muted compared with previous markets. Green — in a variety of shades including green wash and celadon — and turquoise could be seen everywhere. Lazy Susan grouped a selection of vases, glass bowls and frames in a verdant table display, and the green theme was seen in a vast array of products at Global Views, Arteriors Home and Andrea by Sadek.
But the big color story at Sadek was the emergence of black and white, with the company introducing a dinnerware pattern called Midnight, as well as a collection of accessories featuring a floral toile pattern. Both Abigail’s and DK Living told us that they will be introducing the popular color (or should we say, non-color) combination at upcoming markets.
Of course, shades of chocolate, cream and coffee showed up delectably in many showrooms. But bronze and copper tones also appeared to be trending up. Another metal, mercury — actually “antiqued mercury” — was featured by Arteriors Home. While standard silver and gold remain in fashion, the warmer metallic tones are finding fans among manufacturers.
Showstoppers
Global Views’ new drapes made of interlocking glass links are an expansion of the company’s successful C chandelier. The unique drapes make a dramatic statement, suitable for a modern home. They’ll be sold in 3’x8’ panels. Each panel is made up of 360 pieces of glass links — but will ship with 400 — and be sold for approximately $2,600.
Arteriors Home certainly impressed with its chandelier collection, which was introduced two markets ago. The company has expanded the line with a wide selection of crystal; the large black crystal chandelier hanging at the showroom entrance featured strands of black crystals with a single, yellow, quarter moon-shaped crystal.
Andrea by Sadek expanded its lamp collection with 13 new pieces in its Vera Bradley line, as well as five lamps in its Sadek collection. The porcelain lamps feature traditional silhouettes with elegant patterns. Each is topped with a white shade, keeping the look simple while making it a bit more contemporary.
