Recordable photo albums are ideal gifts

Prinz introduced more album styles to its Recordables collection. The company introduced the new albums at the winter markets and they are available for shipping March 30. New titles include Live Love Laugh, Grandchildren, Mom, Family and Holiday. Easy-to-understand instructions are included.

Consumers can record and save a personal, 10-second greeting. Inside pages of the 40-photo capacity albums feature coordinating interior designs and include a memo-write area. Three AG10 button cell batteries are included. For merchandising ease, a six-piece album counter display is included with each retailer order.

Handcrafted glass for entertaining, for gifting

Annieglass is from Ann Morhauser, a leader in the tabletop industry. Morhauser designs and produces all of her luxury, handcrafted glass table in Santa Cruz, Calif. The products are durable and dishwasher safe.  The company offers pieces for entertaining as well as gifts for Mother's Day or graduation.  Below are some of the company's new and most popular items

'The Guest' by Lladro coming to Chicago

The Guest has been called "the most ground-breaking Lladró character." It was conceived by Jaime Hayon for the Spanish artistic porcelain brand. It is traveling to Chicago for a special exhibition at the design showroom Haute Living. The opening will be celebrated on Wednesday, March 14, and will be attended by Rosa Lladró, president of Lladró. The exhibition will be on view there for three months and will also include additional pieces from The Fantasy by Jaime Hayon, his first collection for Lladró.

 

As with all Lladró works, the Guests are handcrafted at its workshops in Valencia, following an entirely artisan process. The profound knowledge of porcelain, the specialized technique of the decorating team and the close collaboration with the artists resulted in the creation of pieces unexpectedly amusing and ground-breaking.

The Haute Living showroom is located across from the Merchandise Mart in the heart of Chicago's River North Design District. It carries furniture lines from emerging designers and progressive brands. 

Handturned wood cups are great gifts

Beechwood boxes

Lidded beechwood containers are fastened securely by magnets on embedded on the top and bottom.  The are designed by Teroforma Studio and handturned by Drevotvar in Czech Republic. They are great for the kitchen, night stand, home office and bath.
Search this blog for other stylish home accents from Teroforma.

Great gift for that hard-to-buy-for man.

For the office

As a candy dish

Jewelry storage

Small household items

Keep pills and vitamins handy

 

Las Vegas Market honors 3 exhibitors

Press release

Three gift and home décor exhibitors were recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Visual Merchandising at Gift+Home at the 2012 Winter Las Vegas Market.

Celebrity designer Monica Pedersen of HGTV and home products and trends editor Julie Smith Vincenti evaluated spaces on innovation, creativity, technique and aesthetic. Three awards were given, based on booth size, to spaces that excelled in delivering beautifully merchandised displays with the Las Vegas Market buyers’ retail showroom in mind.

Heavenly Hostess, Twelve Timbers and Collins Painting and Design all took home awards as well as a celebration of champagne and flowers for their excellent spaces. By telling a story with their products, as well as allowing buyers to visualize how they could be displayed in a retail environment, these companies were able to attract strong traffic to their spaces.

“We were very surprised and pleased at receiving this award,” said Connie Nielson of Twelve Timbers. “We work very hard at putting together our display and it means a lot to be recognized. We notice people are drawn in by the sparkle and color, and that has attracted a lot of visitors into the space. It’s been a great show for us and we will definitely be back for Summer Market.”

Gift+Home at Las Vegas Market is widely regarded as the must-attend gift and home décor show in the west, by providing the industry with a large-scale trade event that fuses the best gift resources for buyers on the west coast in an unrivaled market destination.

Winter 2012 Gift+Home at Las Vegas Market featured a strong variety of dynamic gift products and lines. Gift+Home temporaries, located on the 5th floor of Building C, joined the hundreds of permanent showrooms featuring top gift and décor lines. This Market consistently generates added value to both attending exhibitors and buyers by allowing for vast crossover potential among the gift, furniture, home décor and accessory industries.

For more information, visit GiftandHomeLV.com.

About World Market Center
Las Vegas 
World Market Center Las Vegas is an integrated home and hospitality contract furnishings showroom and trade complex. The campus showcases furniture, decorative accessories, gift, lighting, area rugs, home textiles and related segments, as well as the Las Vegas Design Center open daily to consumers and designers. For more information on World Market Center Las Vegas and its trade shows including the bi-annual Las Vegas Market and Gift+Home, visit www.wmclv.com. Find us on Facebook and Twitter.

World Market Center Las Vegas is a property of International Market Centers, L.P. (IMC), the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. International Market Centers owns and operates 11.5 million square feet of world-class exhibition space in High Point, N.C. and Las Vegas. IMC’s mission is to build and operate an innovative, sustainable, profitable and scalable platform for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries. For more information on IMC, visit imcenters.com.

Best of Show from Dallas market

Dallas Market Center announced the winners of the 2012 January Total Home & Gift Market Best of Show Awards. Judging for Best of Show takes place twice a year during the January and June Total Home & Gift Markets. Industry and visual/design experts judged and recognized booths and showrooms whose displays were innovative, fresh and creative. The winners are:

World Trade Center

• 2ndfloor — K & K Interiors 
• 3rdfloor — Park Hill Collections 
• 4thfloor — Sage & Co. 
• 5thfloor — CODARUS 
• 6thfloor — Global Views
• 7thfloor — Kenze Panne 
• 8thfloor — Rosalina Baby Collections 
• 9thfloor — Woodard Outdoor Furniture 
• 10thfloor — Stylecraft Home Collection 
• 11thfloor — Design Directions 

 Shared Showrooms 

• The Gourmet Market — Dallas Chocolates 
• Outdoor Living — Jackson Pottery 
• KidsWorld Studio — Baby Elephant Ears 
• Hemisphere Design Gallery — Woodbridge Lighting/Doug Frates Glass 

 Trade Mart 

• 1stfloor — DEMDACO 
• 2ndfloor — Two’s Company 
• 3rdfloor — Philips Consumer Luminaries 
• 4thfloor — VaraluzInternational 

 Trade Plaza 

• 1stfloor — Craig Bachman Imports 
• 2ndfloor — American Best 

 FINDS

• Vintage Home — The Seed Box 
• Furniture — New Rustics Furniture Co.
• Cash & Carry — Texas Trash & Treasures 
• Design — Niven Morgan 
• Home — Old World Antieks 
• Hill Country — Patricia Wolf 
• Gift — East of India 
• Kid — TY, Inc. 
• Party & Paper — City Paper Company 
• Christmas & Floral — Ragon House Collection 
• Garden & Outdoor — Fairy Gardening 
• Collegiate — Gameday Boots 
• Souvenir — Smith-Southwestern, Inc. 
• Fashion — Logosagogo 
• Red Haute — Boot Tapas by Angelina Danette 
• Bath & Body — Farm House Fresh 
• Handmade & Vintage — Gleeful Peacock

Las Vegas souvenir show reports 21+% increase in traffic

SEPTEMBER 2011 LAS VEGAS SOUVENIR & RESORT GIFT SHOW RECORDS 21.4% ATTENDANCE INCREASE; ATTRACTS INDUSTRY'S PREMIER RETAILERS 

The National Souvenir Show's Expanded Selection, Extended Date Pattern,$15.99 Hotel Rates Attract Increasing Numbers Of Buyers From Around Country 

Press release

ATLANTA (September 28, 2011) - The September 20-23, 2011 edition of the Las Vegas Souvenir and Resort Gift Show recorded a 21.4 % increase in attendance over the 2010 edition. Drawn by the show's extensive, targeted product selection, show-sponsored hotel rates starting as low as $15.99, and a growing reputation as the "must-attend" national industry event, souvenir and resort buyers from casinos, theme parks, museums, zoos, aquariums and premier tourist destinations flocked to the sixth annual edition at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

"This marks the show's third straight year of significant attendance increases and I attribute this growth to the wonderful feedback we continue to receive from our exhibitors and buyers," explains Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. "When we launched this show six years ago, our goal was to create a national event that truly catered to the specialized business needs of the souvenir and resort industry. From requests to extend the show dates, to input on ways to fine-tine and enhance the show floor selection, we have worked hard to act upon industry suggestions to ensure that we are offering the very best possible business and networking event."

More than 20% larger than the 2010 edition, the 2011 Las Vegas Souvenir & Resort Gift Show was extended from three to four days to give buyers the extra time needed to explore new resources after completing long appointments and detailed product development meetings with vendors. Bringing together more than 1000 booths, the show highlighted the newest designs and introductions from top-name brands and innovative newcomers in destination, resort and tourist merchandise, souvenirs, t-shirts, beach items, coastal and nautical, lake, mountain and lodge, ski-themed products, logo products, shell items, giftware, jewelry/fashion accessories, toys/games and more.

The additional time and expanded selection received rave reviews from attending retailers.

"We love working this show and the extra day has been a tremendous benefit," explained Terri Scheunemann, Como Zoo & Conservatory, St . Paul, MN.

"The show's timing is also perfect in that it gives us time for product development for the next season.""This is the only show that can get us to leave our stores during our busy season," added Dave Coates, Skagway Mining, Ketchikan, AK. "This is simply the show you must attend."

"This has become the show I do the majority of my buying from, " agreed Lisa Racutt, M&K Enterprises, Las Vegas. "This year was the best ever."

"I loved exploring the expanded selection. This show brings together the top notch people at the top of the game," noted Lorraine Massey, Multnomah Falls Lodge, Troutdale, OR.

Exhibitors reports of brisk order-writing and new business added to the buzz on the show floor.

"This show, by far, has the best qualified buyers in the industry," explained Pablo Merlo Flores, Pampeana. "It's one of the least expensive shows to attend with the highest quality of buyer orders ..always."

"We've had great traffic at this show," added John Potts, Duck Company. "It's been an excellent show and we've seen a good mix of buyers from everywhere."

"The show improves by leaps and bounds every year," said Bruce Miller, Karol Western. "No souvenir buyer should miss it!"

Further strengthening the growing buyer base, Urban Expositions worked with leading industry associations like the National Association of Retail Buyers (NARB), the Zoo & Aquarium Buyers Group (ZAG) and others to host seminars, hospitality and networking events for their members during the show.

The next edition will be held September 11-14, 2012 in Hall C of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Urban Expositions management team is already working on programs and promotions to ensure the show's continued growth. Urban will continue to invest a significant part of the show's marketing budget to buy down hotel rates at quality properties to once again offer rates starting in the $15.99 range.

In addition to maintaining the four-day date pattern, Urban will also work to continue enhancing the show's product depth in a number of categories identified by the show's retail advisory board, including more gourmet food products, books/publishers and other souvenir/resort niche items. Exhibitor/Attendee Information

For exhibitor information, contact Lisa Glosson, Urban Expositions, 1690 Roberts Blvd, NW, Suite 111, Kennesaw, GA 30144. Phone: 678.370.0334, e-mail: lglosson@urban-expo.com.

For buyer information or to register, attendees can contact Briana Mackey at bmackey@urban-expo.com or Jhana Jordan at jjordan@urban-expo.com or call 800.318.2238 or visit www.lvsouvenirshow.com.

Manual Woodworkers & Weavers celebrates 80 years

Manual Woodworkers & Weavers will celebrate 80 years of American design in 2012. Four generations of the Oates family have produced made-in-America home accessories, including rugs, throws and gifts. The family-owned business, which began as a small souvenir store in Bat Cave, N.C., today occupies over 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution space in the mountains of western North Carolina.
The company will celebrate its anniversary with customers at the Atlanta International Gift Show (showroom in Building 2, West Wing, Suite 697) and at its new location at the Dallas Home & Gift Show (Trade Mart, Suite 1355).

Calypso Studios offers a variety of pink-ribbon-themed items in October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Lightweight, 100% porcelain dinnerware

Tammy Polatsek is a veteran of the event planning and catering industry. She applied her expertise in hospitality to fashion a fine line of dishware for Carmona New York. All of the dishes are made from 100% porcelain, giving them a smooth texture and clean look. They are also 65% lighter than a common ceramic dish. Carmona offers over 250 designs. Each piece is manufactured in the same shade of clean bone. Since each piece is fully customizable, the company says it can create anything to cater to one's specific needs.

High-tech garden gives everyone a green thumb

A Tech Rescue for the Gardening Impaired 

Click and Grow automated flowerbeds announce full-scale production. 

By Click and Grow
(MMD Newswire) - - Click and Grow brings casual gardeners a touch of tech, allowing plants to grow on their own without outside help. The gardener adds only batteries and a two months' supply of water - the planter's sensors, processor and software do the rest. Click and Grow literally empowers gardening in absentia.

In August 2011, Click and Grow appealed to consumers to test our product, and the response was literally overwhelming. More than 20,000 consumers from around the globe signed up, but we were only able to accommodate several thousand. Now, with large-scale production underway, Click and Grow is available to consumers everywhere.

Our technology uses no soil, and plants are grown from cartridges which retail from two to eight euros. Six cartridges are currently available with another 50 soon to follow. Click and Grow's software measures all parameters affecting plant growth and knows exactly what each plant needs, enabling even the most inept gardener to grow plants with more complex needs--roses, basil, tomato, orchids.

Click and Grow's automated planter pot requires no soil and water is placed into the pot's reservoir every other month. The automated pot retails for €59 in Europe (£49 in the UK, and $79 in the US).

All Click and Grow plant cartridges fit this planter pot, though each pot may grow only one plant at a time, as plants cannot be replanted outside the Click and Grow system.

"Every year, more than 30 billion euros in houseplants are thrown away," says Click and Grow CEO Mattias Lepp. "No one can single-handedly save all those plants, but wouldn't it be nice if the average houseplant could be around longer than its current two-month average?"

Click and Grow is for sale via the web at www.clickandgrow.com and high-end gardening and design shops the world over.

Self-watering ceramic planters

Marduk Productions LLC has a new brand of unique self-watering ceramic planters, the vision of Kourosh Hessam, a graduate from San Francisco State University with a degree in Industrial Design. He decided to pursue his love of ceramics, but also recognized the need for an innovative product design that was attractive, useful, and provided a real benefit to consumers who love plants,but don’t necessarily have a “green thumb.”
In November of 2009, Hessam partnered with longtime friend David Sharma to continue in their extensive research and development. They self-funded the project, one step at a time, buying materials, tools and equipment, building molds and creating new designs. After successfully building the working prototypes, they filed for a patent and in November of 2010, founded Marduk Productions, LLC. The company is now receiving substantial funding interest from investors that will allow the full launch of its initial two product lines this Fall. 
Clay’s natural porosity combined with a unique, double-walled design allows water to pass through the planter at a perfectly regulated level, hydrating the plant for up to 30 days. These hand-made molds are completely biodegradable, use only natural materials so they are 100% “Green” and allow plants to automatically absorb the right amount of water through the lining of the interior wall of the planter. This enables people who are plant lovers, but don’t necessarily have the time or knowledge to care for a plant’s daily needs, as well as the elderly and even children to experience the delight of growing even the most sensitive plants in a flourishing, nurturing environment.

California gift show wrap-up

JULY 2011 CALIFORNIA GIFT SHOW® CULMINATES IN A STRONG MARKET PERFORMANCE

Refreshed, California-centric positioning along with increased traffic, healthy order-writing, innovative product concepts and authoritative presentations set stage for 2012 expectations.






By the California Gift Show

LOS ANGELES, CA (August 15, 2011) - MMPI and California Gift Show® (CGS) report a robust Market experience with positive indicators on multiple fronts defining an encouraging CGS trajectory. The show's California-centric focus delivered, in a uniquely L.A experiential manner, a broad array of new and on-trend merchandise across all of the most popular, volume generating categories. More than 10,000 lines from over 1,200 temporary exhibitors and permanent showrooms, at two dynamic venues, provided buyers a myriad of product offerings, with emphasis on the region's emerging product designers, artists and craftsmen.

"We are extremely pleased with the performance of this July Market," said Jeff Sampson, vice president marketing L.A. Mart/CGS/L.A. Mart Design Center. "Placing greater import on California as our brand position differentiated the overall show experience, emphasizing the significance of this region to the gift industry and beyond. Redefining CGS as a celebration of California style and innovation supports our permanent showrooms and temporary exhibitors as they continue to present innovative concepts in the most sought-after categories with the modern retailer in-mind."

A 24% increase in traffic over July 2010 reinforced the strength of CGS and the California marketplace as a unique and highly desirous resource destination among buyers from across the country and around the globe. Attendees from as far east as New York and Boston in the Northeast, to Atlanta and Miami in the South, joined buyers from New Orleans, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas and more, representing 42 U.S. states seeking what only CGS can offer.International attendees in search of California's mystique were also present in force. North American neighbors in Canada and Mexico shopped side-by-side Pacific Rim buyers from Hawaii, Auckland, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul, as well as Middle East retailers from Dubai and Kuwait.

From high-end corporate brands to boutique independent retail shops, CGS served as a must-stop Market for such best-in-class retailers as Forever 21, Fred Segal, Hallmark Corp., Knott's Berry Farm, Vons, Whole Foods Market, Williams Sonoma Home, Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Bloomingdale's, Firefly, Harvard Museum Of Natural History, Kaiser Permanente, Kitson, Ritz Carlton Hotel, University Of Southern California, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Universal Studios, Warner Bros Studios, Bel Air Country Club, Disney Consumer Products, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Four Seasons Hotel, H&M Enterprises, Paramount Pictures, Ross Stores, San Diego Zoo, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Target.Com, TJ Max Companies, Vroman's/Book Soup and Wynn Resorts among others.

"This vigorous uptick in traffic and vitality of buyer, in light of continued economic challenges, further demonstrate the value of California Gift Show as a Market of strategic importance to the buying trade," said Mark Furlet, vice president of Gift & Home, MMPI. "As consumers become ever-more informed and discriminating in their purchasing habits, retailers are sourcing unique products with greater intelligence. CGS is their entrée to manufacturers known worldwide and to the innovations for which California is renowned." 

FOCUS ON CALIFORNIA + PRODUCTS + EDUCATION + EVENTS
California Bespoke - a gallery-inspired design showcase debuted one-of-a-kind, limited edition and new-to-market furnishings, home accessories, hand-crafted objects and original works of art from the region's next generation of design tastemakers. Curated by contributors from The Editor At Large ... Vanessa Kogevinas, Marisa Marcantonio, Jason Oliver Nixon and Jennie Nunn ... California Bespoke was brought to life against a sophisticated, three-dimensional backdrop inspired by the diverse natural terrain of the region as conceived by interior designer Christopher Gaona.

Destination L.A.: Pop-Up Case Studies - four conceptual exhibitions located in the main entry aisle of LACC's South Hall featured Los Angeles-based product artisans demonstrating how their innovative products are made and used. Hysteric Haus, SKULLASTIC, Dollhouse Republic/Better Than Naked, and Velvet Rope Bake Shop represented show categories (home décor, stationery, fashion accessories and gourmet), offering buyers the opportunity to experience and source their offerings in a fresh, compelling format.

Extreme Art Challenge, presented by L.A. Art Machine - Located in LACC's atrium, Los Angeles' urban artists Hans Haveron, John Park, Mear One and Abcnt competed in a dynamic performance-art challenge where large scale art installations were painted to reflect California culture as attendees made their arrival to South Hall Gift and Kentia Global Marketplace.

Fred Segal: A California Success Story - Owner/designer of Fred Segal Originals, Annie Segal presented to a captivated audience how the family-owned, multi-generational business grew from a Los Angeles concept emporium to international retail icon. According to Segal, "having great product" is key to success. Segal followed-up " ... that when times are bad, it's the perfect opportunity to create something new."


Editors' Panel: Retailer Business Review - Editors-in-Chiefs Caroline Kennedy of Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Jenny-Heinzen York of Home Accents Today and Design & Style Editor Krissa Rossbund of Traditional Home engaged in a dynamic dialogue moderated by Marisa Marcantonio of Editor-at-Large and Stylebeat.com. The powerhouse panel addressed the new generation of empowered consumers, offering insights on fresh, relevant products, marketing, and merchandising, helping the modern retailer stay ahead of the curve.

Styled for Success: Perfecting the Accessorized Space - Traditional Home's Krissa Rossbund shared fresh merchandising and accessorizing tips that captivate and sell, including space planning and vignetting that integrate accessories, table-top, wall art, florals, textiles, and more. A reception with Ms. Rossbund celebrating the debut of L.A. Mart Design Center's new Designer Lounge followed.

World Style Stories - A special presentation recognizing five inspirational exhibitor essays recalling the journey each Kentia Global Marketplace exhibitor traveled in creating the products they've made, as well as the positive impact on the people and communities served by these international craftsmen. The honored list included SPIRAL Foundation | Healing the Wounded Heart Project, Project Have Hope, Good Paper, Heavenly Treasures and Dunitz & Company, Inc.

Two's Company Celebration - A ribbon-cutting ceremony and reception for the industry titan celebrating their long-term lease renewal and showroom redesign. Tom Zimmerman, vice president marketing and sales, welcomed buyers for a champagne reception. For nearly 30 years, Two's Company has served the West Coast gift and design communities from its L.A. Mart address.


HEARD AT MARKET

Tom Zimmerman, vice president sales & marketing for Two's Company made the L.A./California connection clear. "Our day-to-day business is stronger in Los Angeles than anywhere else in the country," said Zimmerman, on the heels of the brand's recent multi-year re-commitment to L.A. Mart.

"The success we have experienced thanks to L.A. Mart's ability to drive trade traffic substantiates our recommitment to MMPI and the marketplace."Stephen Young, principal of his eponymously named showroom, shared, "I've seen a nice, healthy jump in traffic. Every day has been busy. We had a lot to talk to buyers about, keeping them in the showroom longer."

Daniele Semeraro of Sempli enthusiastically expressed, "This show is our worldwide debut! We just started the business in January and decided to launch at L.A. Mart's Beckman's Handcrafted Show. The traffic has been steady and we are getting a great response from the buyers, designers and media who have stopped by."

Kevin Ebert, assistant director of operations for Harvard Museum of National History furthered the California advantage. "This is our fifth year coming to L.A. Five years ago we found our best-selling product ever at the L.A. Mart. We continue to buy it and it continues to sell very well. We don't even bother with the shows on the East Coast anymore, everything is the same. We see different, fresh and unique merchandise here at the California Gift Show."

For a complete listing of CGS show information, please visit: www.californiagiftshow.com.

ABOUT L.A. MART and CALIFORNIA GIFT SHOW
L.A. Mart® is a registered trademark of MMPI. The California Gift Show® is a registered trademark of MMPI. Beckman's Handcrafted Show(TM) L.A. is a registered trademark of MMPI. L.A. Mart is home to nearly 200 permanent year-round, residential, decorative accessory and gift showrooms serving the retail and interior design industries.

The California Gift Show Temporaries feature over 800 temporary exhibitors of lifestyle merchandise, home décor and furnishings, in the newly enhanced and expanded Temporaries at L.A. Mart and Los Angeles Convention Center, making the California Gift Show the preeminent market for gift and home furnishings products on the West Coast. L.A. Mart is located at 1933 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007.

For more information call 213-763-5800 or visit www.californiagiftshow.com or www.lamart.com.MMPI is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space.

MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.

MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 W. Mart Center in Chicago; Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; Boston Design Center in Boston; L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.

Vornado Realty Trust, owner of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust. Vornado's common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.

NY gift show honors four exhibitors

Four companies exhibiting in Accent on Design at the New York International Gift Fair were recognized for excellence, innovation and creativity in product design. Accent on Design runs through Thursday, Aug. 18, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.

“Across product categories, these Accent on Design participants have incorporated superlative design qualities which stand above an already impressive collection,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “These products combine form and function with exemplary design.”

The following Accent on Design Awards were presented for Excellence in Product Design, Best Booth Presentation and Best Collection.

Excellence in Product Design:Flux (Amsterdam, Netherlands) for Flux Chair, weighing less than 10 pounds and available in eight colors, the Flux Chair supports 300 pounds and takes furniture to the 21st century with a clever combination of the practical advantages of foldable furniture and the looks of a classic design chair.  


Excellence in Product Design:Alessi (New York, NY) for Tèo, an innovation on the typology of the tea spoon, in addition to its normal function, the 18/10 stainless steel Tèo makes it possible, after tea is ready, to remove the bag from the cup and gently squeeze it, pulling it up through the hollow handle. 

Best Booth Presentation:Mio (Philadelphia, PA) for its wall to ceiling booth presentation made of its own environmentally and socially sustainable products including Paperforms, modular 3D wallpaper tiles made from recycled paper; Crystal Drop Ceiling modules made from recycled cardboard that provide a cost effective and dramatic solution for spaces that require suspended ceilings; and Nomad System, a modular architectural system made from recycled, double-wall cardboard that can be assembled into freestanding, temporary partitions without hardware, tools or damage to existing structures.  


Best Collection:Urban Butik (Montreal, Quebec) for the Born in Sweden collection which combines highly innovative design with simple product solutions. The collection includes a minimalist coat rack crafted from a single piece of rigid, powder coated steel; a streamlined, lockable mailbox in molded fiberglass features a separation lid inside that can be removed to increase storage capacity; and functional, practical and aesthetically pleasing watering cans made of 18-0 stainless steel.

The Accent on Design Summer 2011 Selection Committee members are: Miguel Calvo of Calvo.co; Ilene Shaw of Shaw + Co! Productions; Kathy Thornton-Bias of MoMA; Wilma Wabnitz of Wabnitz Editions; and Laura Young of Areaware. 

Meanwhile, back at the NY gift show

Colorful dinnerware collections from Rosanna

Les Fleurs En Rouge

Les Fleurs En Rouge is a new collection from Rosanna Inc. It features refined botanical prints in a vibrant combination of red and green, making it a fresh approach toholiday entertaining. The company states the "botanicals’ contemporary look makes it easy to grace spring and summer tablescapes as well." The collection is comprised of baroque mugs, dipping dishes, appetizer plates, a rectangular tray, a French pitcher, and a teapot. Each item is made of porcelain and comes in Rosanna’s signature decorated gift box.

A new decoupage collections of moderately priced gifts includes round, square and rectangular trays made of pressed glass. The felt back makes them suitable for jewelry, makeup or soaps.

The Chocolaterie collection

The Chocolaterie collection is comprised of porcelain mugs, dessert plates, a pitcher, and a two-tiered tray with antique label prints of famous European chocolate makers.

Search "Rosanna" in this blog to see the company's winter 2011 collection.

NY gift show is up and running

Stacking wood votive set for holiday gift giving

Teroforma has partnered with Rhode Island independent designer Ayako Takase to offer a whimsical way to sleekly store numerous small votive holders. Inspired by the traditional Japanese children’s game daruma otoshi (whose rounded pieces stack on an accompanying mallet), they conceived a system of pierced votives to store totemlike on the internally embedded handle of a complementary snuffer.  

The Avva style (top photo) consists of 3 flare-in votives and 2 flare-out. It is 9 3/4” tall stacked. The Ekke style (above) is cylindrical in shape and also measures 9 3/4” tall when stacked. The company is exhibiting at the New York International Gift Fair this month.

Dishes and serveware for the winter holidays

Rosanna Bowles, the so-called Diva of Dishes, is showing her fall/winter collection from Rosanna Inc. at the New York gift show this month. Also, her lifestyle book, "Coming Home: A Seasonal Guide to Creating Family Traditions" following a successful printing, is available for download as an e-book.

The Happy Christmas Collection (above) features prints inspired by vintage wrappings from Rosanna’s grandmother. The collection is comprised of mugs, large and small trays, dessert plates, a two-tiered tray, and a canvas tote.

The 12 Days of Christmas returns to the collection. The set of 12 square scalloped plates are made of refined porcelain and come in a decorated gift box.

Cute gifts and apparel for babies, tots