NYIGF’S HANDMADE WELCOMES 30+ NEWCOMERS TO WINTER MARKET
Press release
WHITE PLAINS, NY, December 2, 2011... Based on their innovative design ideas, some 30+ craft artisans and global suppliers have been accepted to exhibit in the winter 2012 edition of Handmade® at New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®). The Fair showcases 475 artisans and suppliers of handcrafts in two distinct sections -- Handmade Designer Maker and Handmade Global Design – which are categorized by process and provenance.
“Inspired design is one of the main criteria for acceptance into Handmade, and these newest participants have all shown new and innovative ideas in form and function,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “Whether they work with metal, textiles or ceramics, these artisans are exploring exciting new boundaries.”
Handmade Designer Maker, located in Javits Center North, will showcase 340 limited-production makers across all categories and media resources from around the world. Newcomers to the winter 2012 edition of Handmade Designer Maker include 17 artisans newly accepted by the selection committee, along with several other artisans returning to Handmade following a hiatus from the New York market:
- AIDAI (felt and silk scarves);
- Atlantic Art Glass (jewelry and decorative accessories);
- Bonnie Neil (wood and textile home décor);
- CHART metalworks (metal jewelry);
- Chikahisa Studio (stone and metal jewelry);
- Ecka & Pecka (greeting cards);
- Feutre Couture (eco-friendly felt accessories);
- Fleet Objects (ceramics, lighting and home accessories);
- Frankie Slaughter (textile personal accessories);
- Heather Guidero Jewelry (metal jewelry);
- Jean-Pierre Weill Studio (framed wall art);
- Jeanine Payer (metal jewelry with inscribed poetry);
- Michael Vincent Michaud (metal jewelry);
- Myfriendroze (metal jewelry);
- Pretty Snappy Designs (aprons);
- Pyrrha Design Inc. (metal jewelry);
- Raging Bowl Pottery (porcelain serving ware);
- Peg & Awl (recycled leather, wood and paper home décor and gifts); S
- tick Candles (beeswax candles);
- Tasha McKelvey LLC (ceramic tableware); and
- The Candi Factory (apparel and undergarments).
Judges for Handmade Designer Maker included Elizabeth Garvin of Elizabeth Garvin; Ellen Corsell of the Heron American Craft Gallery; Gail Garcia of Dinner-ware.com; Justin Thomas of Ugone & Thomas; and Matt Jaros of The Glass Onion.
Handmade Global Design will welcome seven newcomers to its collection of 135 import resources with a focus on good design, traditional craftsmanship and community. Companies accepted to the winter NYIGF are:
- Africa Now! (product lines from several West African suppliers);
- Global Goods Partners (personal accessories, home décor and stationery from Asia, Africa and Americas);
- MAKAUA SA de CV (baskets made in Mexico);
- Modelli Creations (home accessories and furnishings from India); and
- Snow Leopard Trust (felt toys, accessories and home décor made in Central Asia ).
In addition, a contingent of Bolivian companies, featuring fine alpaca, leather and wood products, will be introduced by Fundacion Nuevo Norte-Walisuma during the winter 2012 market.
Judges for Handmade Global Design included Alden Smith of Aid to Artisans; Colvin English of ByHand Consulting; Ellen Dorsch of Creative Women; Jasperdean Kobes of Bamboula Ltd.; Leslie Mittelberg of Swahili Imports; and Phyllis Woods of Tribalinks.
Beyond exhibits, NYIGF will offer craft retailers numerous educational seminars and informal round table discussions on timely business topics. Bruce Baker, retail columnist for The Crafts Report, will present two sessions at the Javits Center on Saturday, January 28. During “Dynamic Sales & Customer Service,” retailers will learn how to increase customer loyalty and repeat business through the four phases of a sale. In his second session, “Show and Sell! Visual Merchandising & Display,” Baker will provide tips for increasing sales through in-store signage, product placement and visual merchandising. Tickets for these sessions are $20 in advance and $25 onsite, or $30 in advance and $40 onsite for both.
NYIGF also will continue its partnership with CRAFT (Craft Retailers and Artists for Tomorrow) to produce free “CRAFT Power Hour” roundtables for craft retailers on January 29, 30 and 31. The series of nine interactive sessions will be lead by veteran craft retailers and artists who will share their tips for business success. The topics will cover social media, websites and e-newsletters, public relations strategies and in-store events. Information and registration for these events is available online at www.nyigf.com/programs.
For more than 25 years, Handmade has offered buyers an extensive selection of handcrafted items across such categories as tabletop, ceramics, textiles, home décor, jewelry and apparel. Handmade at NYIGF features 475 artisans from 40 American states and 14 countries worldwide. The winter edition takes place Saturday, January 28, through Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center .NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800+ exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. The winter market takes place Saturday, January 28, through Thursday, February 2, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 80 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.
