Direct From Market: Tabletop
By Bessie Nestoras -- Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 4/27/2009 8:10:00 AM
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Other big changes include the acquisition of the assets of Royal Worcester and Spode, as well as Enesco’s purchase of Department 56 from Lenox.
Gift Focus
There were fewer dinnerware introductions this market, but many vendors are focusing on the gift side. Michael Wainwright has streamlined his collections from 1,200 to 300 SKUs and is focusing more on gifts. The
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Michael Wainwright |
Rosenthal is offering a selection if canapé dishes featuring existing Versace patterns. The little plates are gift-boxed and can be used as ring trays or as decor. The company also introduced a selection of ornaments, also featuring Versace patterns.
Christofle continues to add to its giftables this season with small desk clocks, a PAIX tray and bookmark – which features the word "peace" in several languages, key chains, as well as several jewelry introductions. This year the Eiffel Tower celebrates 120 years and the French silver maker created a tray and a set of espresso spoons featuring the Eiffel Tower in honor of the anniversary. Also new is Savane, a baby collection featuring animals.
Nambe introduced several frames for this market, as well as several additions to its baby line.
This year marks Lenox’s 120th anniversary and the company is bringing back several of its archival giftware.
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New zebras at Royal Crown Derby |
Riedel’s new Red + White “O” tumblers come packaged in a set of three in a triangular shaped box. The glasses can be used for water, mixed drinks or wine. The company is also offering the “O” Buy 8 Pay 6, a great value and a perfect gift. Many other manufacturers are focusing on value priced items to help the retailer.
Portmeirion is focusing on the entertaining category and offering value-priced items such as a chip-and-dip. Wedgwood is also highlighting promotional items.
Black and White
A number of tabletop manufacturers turned to black and white this market. Lalique introduced Le Noir Cristal.
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Black and white at Wedgwood |
Happy Holidays
With Christmas just eight months away, manufacturers have, as always, brought out the Christmas collections. Upon entering the Waterford showroom, buyers were greeted with a holiday display featuring the company’s many ornaments. The company continues with its 12 Days collection of flutes and has added this year’s editions – Nine Ladies Dancing and Ten Lords A-Leaping. Wedgwood introduced several new ornaments in its classic relief decorations, as well as a seasonal tidbit plate sets from Vera Wang featuring a dove, a snowflake, a tree and a reindeer.
Lenox introduced two holiday accent plates to its existing Butler’s Pantry line, as well as a new Merry Berry pattern. Reed & Barton introduced four snow globes and several ornaments for 2009. Versace’s Christmas plate for Rosenthal this year depicts the Three Kings. Annieglass introduced a new limited-edition Christmas plate and is also offering coordinating dessert plates in the same pattern. Vietri introduced two holiday patterns. Incanto Snowflake and Pinetta, which means pine cone in Italian. Pinetta is available in three colors: fox red, winter white and acorn brown. Tag also offered several holiday introductions this market. The company is focusing on classic colors, as well as a bohemian Christmas pattern with a peacock motif in jewel tones. Winter Wonderland features an embossed snowflake and reindeer motf; Alpine is a red and white collection that includes argyle sweater mug warmers, cocoa sets and more; a new owl series and a mushroom collection that takes on a European look.
Gorham has been creating an annual snowflake since 1970. This year the company introduced its 40th edition sterling silver Snowflake.
7W
La Villa Collections is a new company that debuted this market. The company, which can be found in 7W, features
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La Villa Collections |
New to the Isadora & Mizrahi showroom in 7W is Jeremie, a collection of home décor and gift items with a rustic flair. Also new is Pairfum, a collection of home fragrances, including fragranced waxed leaves. The rep showroom also added Le Patissier, a Japanese company that offers a selection of towels packaged to look like pastries.
The Zrike Company continues to find success in its licensed collections. New this market is a Coca Cola
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New Coca-Cola collection from The Zrike Company |
Grant Dawson Collections has added porcelain to its collection of pewter, glass and wood decorative accessories. The company introduced the Amur Leopard votive in black and white porcelain with 24-kt. gold spots, as well as the Mangrove porcelain tea pot also in black and white with platinum or gold accents. Also new is the Long Tailed Ground Roller bottle stopper in sterling silver or 24-kt. gold finishes.
For eco-friendly accessories, Eco Arts is one to check out. The company offers a wide selection of decorative accessories and tabletop items from various artists in Brazil with green in mind.
Pavone is a new collection from Arte Italica featuring a peacock. The company also plans on introducing a coordinating dinnerware collection. Also new is Medici, a classic Italian dinnerware pattern.
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Royal Stafford |
Royal Stafford in Gallery on Six introduced a fun breakfast set featuring a crown and the Union Jack. Also new to the showroom is 88 Decor an edgy collection of dinnerware featuring disco balls, disco divas and animal and python prints.
Two’s Company found inspiration in superheros for its new collection called Tweenster. The company also introduced a selection of recycled accessories made from paper, rubber, metal an fabric.
Future Designers
For the first time Wedgwood held The Josiah Wedgwood Design Award competition for university students. They were challenged to create a dinnerware pattern with the theme “Josiah Wedgwood…Innovation for the
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The winners of The Josiah Wedgwood Design Awards |
The first prize of $5,000 went to Yasemin Etikan from Rhode Island School of Design; the second prize of $3,000 went to Jason Pfaeffle from Pratt and the third prize of $2,000 went to Binh Dang also from Pratt. Ryan Coyle from Rhode Island School of Design was the honorable mention. Each of the winners designs will be taken to London for review and to determine which will be produced. The company was so pleased with the success of the competition that it plans to continue with it going forward. “It has been a great experience. You are the talent of tomorrow,” said Lisa Carroll-Archambault.
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