Greeting cards reward and recycle kindness

Kindness Recycled cards are designed to convey simple sentiments of kindness. The first line of cards includes "compliment," "service" or "just because." The concept is that the card is delivered in person and then registered online (at www.kindnessrecycled.com), so participants can track the journey of the cards they’ve given or received. The card giver can track the journey the card takes from one person to the next, and comment on the circumstances under which one gave or received a card.

Yiesha Beamon created Kindness Recycled in response to a tragic incident that occurred at her place of employment several years ago.

“I received such an outpouring of love through cards and letters from people all over the world,” Beamon said. “I always wanted to thank each of these people for helping me to recover. But more important, I wanted to spread this kindness that was given to me. These cards can really change the way we look at giving, greeting, reducing waste, social networking, traditions, and even fashion,” she said.

Kindness Recycled cards can be purchased individually at retail shops, in groups of three or nine or in bulk orders, or by visiting www.kindnessrecycled.com. See the company at the Chicago gift show this month.

FINDS Dallas Temp Show Features Hundreds of New Lines

press release

FINDS Dallas Temp Show Features Hundreds of New Lines

– New product category, guest artists, dozens of special events, and more during June Market –

DALLAS – June 14, 2011 – Dallas Market Center, the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace, today announced that the FINDS Dallas Temp Show being held June 23-26 will feature hundreds of new lines showing during June for the first time. The June show will mark the debut of a brand new category, Handmade & Vintage FINDS. Also, one of the many highlights of the show will be artists from the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market Collection.

“We are amazed by the growth and success of the FINDS Dallas Temp Show market after market,” said Cindy Morris, COO, Dallas Market Center. “With the addition of Handmade & Vintage FINDS, The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market Collection and countless new lines, June is sure to be one of our best shows yet.”

During June, Design FINDS will relocate from the World Trade Center (WTC) 13th floor to the Trade Mart (TM) 1st floor atrium and include new lines such as: Aid to Artisans, Ann Gish, Cardboard Safari, Catstudio, JM Piers, Oxidos and Spaceform London.

Located on the WTC 13th floor, the new product category Handmade & Vintage FINDS will feature independent creators and designers including: Baabaazuzu, Farrah B, Global Handmade Hope, MPressions, Regina Lorraine, Saline River Diamonds, Sweet Talk and Vintage Rose Wraps.

The Santa Fe International Folk Art Market Collection will be located on the TM 1st floor atrium next to Design FINDS and feature more than a dozen artists from the International Folk Art Market in Santa Fe, New Mexico. For more information visit www.folkartmarket.org.

Highlights of new lines that will be shown at the FINDS Dallas Temp Show are:
WTC 6th Floor 
Home & Hill Country
Adagio Water Features, Bit of Santa Fe, Darzzi, EZ Designs, Fresco Fabrics, Lampworks, Lulu & Co., Moon Rein by Christi Proctor, Shine Handmade, Tiles Across Texas and White x White

WTC 12th Floor
Christmas & Floral
Crafty Innovations, Cross Tread Industries, Heeney Company, Holispheres and Karen Didion
Designs

Collegiate & Souvenir
All Star Dogs, Ariki New Zealand, Champion Treasures, Prints Charming, Prizes!, Randy Smith Limited, Smith-Southwestern, Sticker Universe and Team Sports America

Garden & Outdoor 
 A’Cero, Amedeo, Fullei and Star Imports

Gift
Bennett by Design, Clay Chick Ceramics, Dog Is Good, EM Designs, Epic Products, Inspired Generations, Rickshaw Trading and Scent Sationals

Kids 
Baby Legs, Bunnies by the Bay, Caden Lane, Elly La Rue, Moby Wrap, Mogo, My Buddy, Pick Your Pocket, Pop-In-Kins and SOZO

Paper & Party
Fair Earth Gifts & Paper, Lily For Hangables, Orange Circle Studio, Parc Packaging, Pumpernickel Press and Wexel Art

WTC 13th Floor 
Bath & Body
Bec and Chelle, BiNu Soap, Berjang USA, Dead Sea Spa Care, Do Not Disturb, Feeling Smitten, Instantly Ageless, Lovely Dorothy and Mojo Cosmetics

Fashion
Accessories by M, Apron Flings, Felicia, Jab-Wear, Peacock International, Pin & Tube, Primrose Accessory, Tangerine, Troo and Wenzhou Lookee Optical

Red Haute 
Barbosa Collection, Ciccia Bella, Elements Jill Schwartz, Good Works Make a Difference, Jillery, Judy P Apparel, Lori Bonn, Marigot, Novo and Scandolous

Market Hall
Cash & Carry (Open through June 27) 
Ace International, Hip Together, Joli Jewelry, Le Muse, Lisa Toland, My Mothers Buttons, Retro-E, Silver Spoon Jewelry, Unforgettable and Water Gems

Furniture 
Casa Bonita and Grandeur Couture

A complete list of all special events and seminars is available on the Dallas Market Center website. Also, to keep up-to-date on market information visit Dallas Market Center on Facebook and Twitter. Make plans now to attend the next Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, September 10-12.

Attendees may contact the Dallas Market Center’s in-house travel agency, Market Travel®, for substantial travel and hotel discounts by calling 1-800-DAL-MKTS.

About Dallas Market Center Founded in 1957, Dallas Market Center is the world’s most complete wholesale marketplace. Within its marketplace of more than five million square feet, retailers from around the globe source products ranging from home furnishings, gifts, decorative accessories and lighting to textiles, fashion accessories and men's, western, women's and children's apparel. With more than 50 markets each year attended by more than 200,000 retail buyers from all 50 states and 78 countries, Dallas Market Center offers hundreds of events and seminars geared toward
helping retailers expand business and increase profits. As a result, more than $8 billion in estimated wholesale transactions are conducted annually within the Dallas Market Center complex. The Dallas Market Center website is available at www.dallasmarketcenter.com.

SOURCE: Dallas Market Center

NY gift show adds "On Trend" section

press release

WHITE PLAINS, NY. The General Gift division at the summer 2011 New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) will increase its offerings for buyers with changes to two product neighborhoods – the new “On Trend” neighborhood will debut a collection of trend-driven, fashion-forward resources across a range of product categories and the existing “Stationery & Publishing” neighborhood will expand to include a greater number of suppliers of specialty paper, note cards, journals, writing instruments and publishing.

“With 750 exhibitors, General Gift is NYIGF’s largest division. Through creation and expansion of these product-specific neighborhoods, within the division, we can facilitate shopping and sourcing for buyers,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “These two areas are a wonderful complement to General Gift’s two existing neighborhoods - The Museum Source and Floral & Garden Accessories.”


The new On Trend neighborhood will group nearly 20 companies, showing trend-driven personal and home accessories, tableware, toys, apparel and more, at the entrance to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center ’s Hall 3E. Charter On Trend exhibitors include: Badge Bomb (art on buttons and magnets); Décor-Craft (contemporary lifestyle accessories); D.L. & Co (candles, objects and curiosities); Flair 360 (personalized rhinestone accessories); Fred & Friends (tabletop, kitchen gadgets and barware); GAMA-GO (whimsical kitchen and home accessories); Luvali (convertible/reversible purses, hats and personal accessories); Momiji (message dolls); Oré (organizational, pet and juvenile lifestyle products); Paper Media (paper wallets); Present Time (modern gifts, lifestyle and home accessories); Really Good (stationery and gifts); Skanz (web-enabled, “socialprint” accessories); Tokidoki (designer toys and gifts); and Wild & Wolf (licensed and in-house designed gift collections).

The Stationery & Publishing neighborhood, which debuted at the summer 2010 NYIGF, features some 40 companies in and near the 7500 aisle on Level One of the Javits Center. Newcomers for summer 2011 are: Deuxglass Productions (contemporary greeting cards printed with soy-based inks); Filofax (personal organizers and day planners); Madison Park Greetings (specialty stationery, gifts and accessories), Vigo (design led stationery); and Zagat (consumer based leisure publications).

These companies join leading social stationery suppliers and book publishers already in the neighborhood: Abrams, Anne Taintor, Chronicle Books, Found Image, Harper Collins, Ingram, Ink Media, International Arrivals, Knock Knock, Michael Roger Press, Mudlark, Nelson Line, Notes & Queries, Papaya, Pomegranate Communications, Random House, Rizzoli and Sterling Publishing.

NYIGF runs Saturday, August 13, through Thursday, August 18, at New York City’s Javits Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94. 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. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.

College students win "The Paper Runway" at Stationery Show

press release

NATIONAL STATIONERY SHOW AND KATE’S PAPERIE

NAME ‘THE PAPER RUNWAY’ WINNER AT NSS 2011

- Design to be Featured in Kate’s Paperie During Fashion Week -

WHITE PLAINS, NY, May 19, 2011…The National Stationery Show® (NSS) and Kate’s Paperie have named LIM College students Alexis Michaelides and Margaret Carroll as winners in ‘The Paper Runway’ competition, for “Feather Fantasy”. The paper fashion contest and exhibit was a feature of NSS 2011, offering some 11,000 attendees a unique demonstration of the paper-fashion relationship. The students will receive a $1,000 cash prize and window display at Kate’s Paperie during Fashion Week.

Runners up were “Orange Burst” by LIM College student Alexis Michaelides and “Golden Warrior” by LIM College student Gina Mercatili. Also participating in the exhibit was Kate’s Paperie, with several paper fashions from cutting-edge designers, as well as NSS exhibitor DCWV, Inc. and LIM College Associate Chair of Visual Merchandising Marjorie Lee Woo.

“We were thrilled to collaborate with the National Stationery Show and Kate’s Paperie on this innovative project,” said Elizabeth S. Marcuse, president of LIM College. “It provided a wonderful opportunity for our Visual Merchandising students to get hands-on experience that will strengthen their resumes – which is one of the cornerstones of an LIM College education.”

The 66th annual National Stationery Show, the comprehensive source for greeting cards, social stationery and related lifestyle products, will run Sunday, May 20, through Wednesday, May 23, 2012, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The Show features nearly 900 exhibiting companies and attracts some 11,000 buyers worldwide. The Show also presents excellent educational programming, product demonstrations, engaging events, roundtable discussions and networking opportunities throughout the market week.

The National Stationery Show is owned and managed by GLM. For exhibitor information, contact Kelly P. Bristol, sales manager, at GLM, 1133 Westchester Avenue, White Plains, NY 10604. Telephone (914) 421-3228. Fax (914) 948-2918. E-mail kbristol@glmshows.com. Attendee information is available by contacting GLM’s Customer Relations Department, at (800) 272-SHOW or (212) 204-1060, or by email, at customer_relations@glmshows.com. Additional information and registration is available online, at www.nationalstationeryshow.com.

About LIM College

LIM College is the nation’s only college focused exclusively on the study of business and fashion, offering a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree program with concentrations in Fashion Management and Entrepreneurship, Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degrees in Fashion Merchandising, Visual Merchandising, Marketing and Management, as well as Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in Fashion Merchandising, and Professional Certificates. Housed in four buildings in midtown Manhattan, LIM College provides a well-rounded education through the combination of in-class instruction and required fashion industry internships. LIM College was founded in 1939 and has been witness to every significant change in the retail and fashion industry for more than seven decades. Alumni have gone on to excel at top companies, including Coach, Jones Apparel, Kenneth Cole Productions, Liz Claiborne, Neiman Marcus and Nordstrom. www.limcollege.edu

Window stickers put flowers in every room

Flat Flowers Static Window Stickers from Made by Oots allow a homeowner to always have a fresh bunch of flowers on the windowsill. Dutch designer Suseela Gorter Flat Flowers, window stickers of bouquets of brightly colored flowers that are visible from both inside and outside. They are made of a static material, so no adhesives are needed. There are 15 images, measuring 11.8 x 11.8 inches and 11.8 x 14.5 inches.
The images are also available in 6 x 6 inch greeting cards consisting of 1 small Flat Flower, a silver colored envelope and a folded card (blank on inside).Dutch Holiday
Ornaments are also available. The product is designed and made in the Netherlands. The Special Edition Van Gogh Flat Flowers were made with permission of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Edgy greeting cards for springtime occasions

NobleWorks has introduced 31 new humorous greeting cards to celebrate all of the most popular springtime occasions, including Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day and Graduation.
These new spring cards feature cartoons from RUBES, Dan Reynolds, Andy Singer, Martin Bucella, McCoy Bros. and more, as well as additions to NobleWorks' "Talk Bubbles," "I'm Just Saying" and "Text" lines. The messages make fun of everything from mothers' nagging to graduates' employment prospects.

Inside greetings (clockwise from top left): "I'm only going to say it once. Happy Mother's Day." "Have a super Mother's Day." "Happy birthday. Call a doctor if it lasts more than four hours." "Hope your Father's Day is out of this world."

Greeting Card Industry “Oscars” Undergo Makeover

Press release

New York, NY (October 2010) – The Greeting Card Association is pleased to announce the planned changes to the LOUIE AWARDS program undertaken as part of a Strategic Initiative within the association to modernize the awards program and accurately reflect the role ofgreeting cards in today’s society.

Earlier this year a committee of industry veterans began meeting to review the purpose of the Awards and shape a new vision for the future. Led by Strategic Chair Andy Meehan and supported by Patti Stracher, Chip Owen and John Mavrakis, prominent members of the greeting card industry, the group carefully reviewed the past LOUIE program. Knowing that the Awards celebrate a category of consumer products that that carries with it over 100 years of history, and that cards are used by almost every American household, (around 7 billion cards per year) the Committee evaluated the original purpose of the LOUIE Awards, the changing landscape of communication and the incredible artistry and creativity that is involved in the production of greeting cards, to arrive at a new vision and mission statement for the LOUIE Awards: "The LOUIES celebrate the art, editorial and design of greeting cards and reinforce the relevance of creating, sending and receiving greeting cards."

Key changes in the LOUIE Awards Program for the coming years include the greater involvement of retailer judges, a streamlining of the awards categories, consumer outreach and greater PR attention (both trade and consumer press), all culminating at the National Stationery Show in New York City (May 15-18 2011) with a new prominent display of LOUIE nominee’s at the show, and at the prestigious LOUIE Awards ceremony on May 16th where the winners are celebrated and recognized.

Subsequent to the presentation of the LOUIE Awards, it is anticipated that LOUIE Award winners will receive additional publicity, as well as increased sales from our outreach to Greeting Card fans via press and social media tools.

Based on the refined vision for the Awards the committee has selected the theme for the 2011 Awards as CONNECTION – it’s in the Cards. This theme highlights the history of greeting card use, and also corresponds to today’s ‘connected’ society where, despite the prominence of the digital age, the category is vibrant and strong. With all the new electronic means of connecting, people still send cards when they want to “friend someone for real” because paper greeting cards stand out in the mailbox and in the mind, becoming treasured memories of important events and relationships in our lives.

The submission process for the 2011 LOUIE Awards will begin with a “call for Entries” on November 1, 2010, where any commercially manufactured card in the current calendar year can be entered for consideration in approximately 50 different categories. Further details and entry forms will be posted on 11/1/10 at www.greetingcard.org.

Judging will take place in New York at a time to be decided, between Jan 29- Feb 4 and corresponding to the timing of the New York Int’l Gift Fair, where key industry executives (retailers and creative and marketing professionals) rank each card independently on a 10 point system across the LOUIE Judging criteria of Imagination, Impact, Artistry, Harmony, Sendability and Value. After the scores are tabulated, the three nominees for each category are made public, with the actual scores and the winning entry for each category announced at the presentation ceremony at the National Stationery Show May 16, 2011.

For over 20 years the LOUIES have celebrated creativity in greeting cards, and the new vision for the LOUIE’s builds on the history with a renewed passion to remind us all that CONNECTION – It’s In The Cards!

About the Greeting Card Association
The Greeting Card Association (GCA) is the industry trade organization representing publishers of greeting cards and other stationery products, as well as suppliers to the industry. Founded in 1941, GCA serves as the industry’s collective voice in promoting the tradition and value of exchanging greetings cards. GCA also represents the industry before key governmental and regulatory bodies, and monitors trends and developments of interest. GCA-member publishers account for approximately 95 percent of the greeting cards sold in the U.S.


About Andy Meehan, LOUIE Awards “Strategic Chair”
A past judge at several LOUIE Awards programs and a 25+ year veteran of the greeting card industry Andy’s company sells cards and stationery under the Christian Inspirations and Studio Q Creations brands.


About Patti Stracher
For 20 years Patti has managed the National Stationery Show the central business event and exposition for the greeting card and social stationery industry.

About Chip Owen
As Executive VP Chip has been with Avanti Press for over 18 years and they have
been a consistent leader and innovator of upbeat and offbeat greeting cards.

About John Mavrakis
John has been involved in retail, selling and manufacturing within greeting card
industry for over 20 years, serving the past 4 ½ years as President/COO of Kathy Davis Studios. John has also served as a past judge and Chair for the LOUIE awards.

Vintage Easter and Valentine's Day greeting cards

Caspari's new Winterthur Easter and Valentine's Day cards are inspired by designs found in the extensive John and Carolyn Grossman Collection currently housed in Winterthur's library. Caspari's charming cards feature chicks and bunnies, daisies, kissing lovers, angels, roses, and more. The designs are taken straight from the originals, which represent just a small sample of the Grossman Collection, a wonderful resource for designs. The collection consists of more than 250,000 pieces of ephemera dating mostly to the 1800s.

Fair trade home decor, jewelry and stationery

World Shoppe works with several artisan cooperatives, non-governmental organizations and locally controlled small businesses in some 32 countries. The company is committed to:

• Providing work and income for the most economically disadvantaged artisans throughout the world;
• Promoting fair trade;
• Encouraging the empowerment of women and physically challenged individuals through raising their self-esteem, dignity and self-sufficiency;
• Creating a non-exploitive, supportive business environment in which women of different religions, ethnicities and ages can gain energy and learn to work together
• Protecting children's rights;
• And developing employment opportunities for many artisans, many of whom would not be employable in mainstream business.

See the World Shoppe website for greeting cards, jewelry, apparel, home decor, ethnic items, eco-friendly products and more.

Register for New Orleans conference

Monday, October 25 is the last date to get the special room rate at the Ritz Carlton hotel for the Gift and Home Trade Association conference in New Orleans. The conference runs Nov. 18 to 20. See the program and registration details here.

Earlier this month, Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home decor industries’ leading charitable organization, announced it will be a beneficiary of the charity golf tournament to be held at English Turn in New Orleans on Thursday, November 18, during the 8^th annual Gift and Home Trade Association conference.

This year’s GHTA conference, Jazz Up Your Business in the Big Easy, will be held from November 18-20 at the Ritz Carlton New Orleans and will feature several keynote speeches, breakout sessions, workshops, and a special presentation by NFL legend Archie Manning. 

“We invite everyone to enjoy golf in the Big Easy while helping our industry’s leading charity,” said Diane Carnevale Jones, executive director.  “We encourage everyone—no matter what skill level—to come out and have fun for a great cause.”  Proceeds from the GHTA Golf Outing will be split equally between Gift For Life and GHTA.

“We are honored to work with GHTA and to be the beneficiary from this event,” said Jenny Hammons, chair of the Gift For Life board.  “GHTA’s continuing commitment to the industry and supporting social causes are deeply appreciated.”  

The Gift and Home Trade Association is the gift and home industry’s only non-profit professional trade association formed to help vendors, sales agencies, industry affiliates and retailers work together to improve the industry.  GHTA's mission is to lead and transform the gift and home industry to ensure its long-term health and viability. GHTA hosts an annual conference and distributes monthly newsletters to inform and educate its members.

The primary mission of Gift for Life and DIFFA is to eradicate the AIDS pandemic in the U.S.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports an increased incidence of HIV infections in the United States in 2008.  Working together, Gift for Life and DIFFA will continue to raise funds for HIV/AIDS service and education programs.  

Tasty greeting cards coming from American Greetings

press release

PHILADELPHIA, PA – For 114 years, David Michael & Co. has innovated the way consumers experience food and beverages. This effort was transcended five years ago when the company aligned with First Flavor, Inc., creators of Peel n’ Taste® flavor strips, a tool that utilizes the sense of taste to enhance marketing campaigns. Together, David Michael & Co. and First Flavor utilize taste-matching technology to replicate a wide range of flavors in an even wider range of products.

For David Michael & Co, working with First Flavor illustrates how a valuable partnership with a technology-driven company can expand the use of flavors beyond the food and beverage market.

This tasteful partnership recently took an exciting turn with a rather unconventional application – greeting cards. First Flavor and David Michael & Co. were tapped by American Greetings Corporation to assist in development of its new line of cards called Tasties™, which enhance the traditional greeting card experience to include edible Peel n’ Taste strips of chocolate, glazed donut, cupcake and even margarita. Since its launch earlier this summer, Tasties have garnered a great deal of media coverage and consumer attention.

First Flavor has utilized David Michael’s flavors in a number of Peel n’ Taste campaigns, including print advertising, direct mail and point-of-sale sampling promotions, but this newest endeavor marks a new future for Peel n’ Taste strips, creating an interactive celebratory experience.

Seattle gift show supports Gift For Life

Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home décor industry's sole charitable organization, announced it will serve as the beneficiary of the first annual Tabletop by Design, a celebration of all things tabletop and home entertaining organized by the Pacific Market Center (PMC).
The program was initiated by PMC as a special event complementing its Summer Gift and Home Accessories Show, taking place August 18-24 in Seattle. Eleven PMC permanent showrooms--AKA, The Barron Collection LTD, Bulkley Associates, Grasslands Road/Amscan, Hazen and Associates, Jenny Hammons Northwest, Kolibaba & Associates, Kurt S. Adler, Penny Harrison & Company, RH Studio and Scarlett--have designed tabletop displays that will be on view daily during the Show in Suite 340.
Buyers are encouraged to vote for their favorite designs and make a donation to Gift For Life, with all proceeds benefiting DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.
Buyers are invited to a wine and cheese tasting on Monday, August 23, from 6:00-7:00pm in Suite 340 hosted by the Washington Wine and Cheese Commissions. A $10 suggestion donation is requested to benefit Gift for Life/DIFFA.

Greeting cards for birthdays

NobleWorks has added 20-plus designs to its line of humorous greeting cards, including new cartoons from Dan Reynolds, Stan Makowski and RUBES. The most recent introduction features numerous birthday cards, including three designs for celebrating 50th birthdays, as well as several geared specifically toward women.
Also new are cards featuring "text language" to help retailers attract a younger demographic, including a birthday card for a "BFF" (Best Friend Forever) and a graduation card that reads "Congr8tulations!"

---

Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Award-winning exhibits at Chicago gift show

Chicago Market: Living and Giving Best In Show Award Winners

BEST EXHIBIT DISPLAY AWARD WINNERS
Gourmet Winner
Rolf Glass, www.rolfglass.com
Rolf Glass is an American glass cutting and engraving manufacturer. They offer customers distinctive images and timeless icons on quality crystal and glassware.

What A Girl Wants Winner
W.I.N.O.S Inc., www.winoshavefun.com
W.I.N.O.S offer cookbooks, apparel and accessories with a sense of humor.

Home Winner
Amity Home, www.amityimports.com
Amity Home offers fine linens,Crib Beddings,Quilt Patterns that feature great quality and workmanship.

Beckman's Handcrafted Winner
Erin Smith Art, www.erinsmithart.com
Erin Smith offers fun and sassy mixed media artwork.

Beckman’s Handcrafted Winner
Printed Canvas, www.printedcanvas.com
Printed Canvas offers distinctive, artist-signed stationery and unique art.

Gift & Accessories Winner
Royal Green Enterprise, Ltd and Chit Chat Beauty, www.royalgreen.com and www.chitchatbeauty.com
Royal Green Enterprises Ltd is an importer and wholesaler that was founded in 1980. Their products include a wide range of Artificial Flowers, Trees, Fruits, Vegetables, Christmas Decorations, Vases, Containers, Furniture and more. Chit Chat Beauty is an inspirational bath and beauty line created for young girls.


BEST SHOWROOM DISPLAY AWARD WINNERS
Design Design, showroom 13-518, www.designdesign.us
Design Design’s product lines include paper tableware, humorous beverage napkins, ceramic and aluminum serving pieces, gift packaging, greeting cards, stationery, home décor, and gifts.

Daniel Richards, showroom 13-512, www.danielrichards.biz
Daniel Richards offers fine gift and stationery representatives, with products ranging from baby, home decor and general gift.

AND!Sales, showroom 14-109, www.andsales.com
And!Sales is a rep organization specializing in home lines and serving the Midwest territory. Their goal is to bring a broad range of products and style to Mid-America. Products range from home decor, indoor and outdoor, fashion and trend.

Saro Trading, showroom 14-105 http://www.saro.com
Saro Trading offers traditional home textiles in delicate laces in the European tradition as well as a multitude of contemporary textiles in varied textures, spanning the wide range from napkin rings to table throws to bedcovers, supplement the selection of textiles into full collections

Pink-ribbon gifts

Midwest-CBK has a new line of Pink Ribbon Sisterhood gifts designed by artist and author Suzy Toronto. The new collection features pink ribbon graphics symbolic for the fight against breast cancer in Toronto’s signature style, with copy that reads “Supporting Each Other in the Ultimate Fight of Our Lives.”
The Pink Ribbon Sisterhood collection includes four best-selling gift designs including a mug, nightshirt packaged in a tote bag, ceramic tile wall plaque and journal/notebook.
The new Suzy Toronto Collection also features desktop mugs, necklaces, coin purses, and tiles. Each item includes an uplifting, empowering or humorous message that speaks to women. Each item is also accompanied by a story or poem.

---

Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Stationery, sticky notes, home office supplies

Galison offers stationery, note cards, journals, guest books, home office accessories, puzzles, gifts and educational games. It has lines for holidays and everyday. Themes include vintage art from Good Housekeeping, Andy Warhol, Paris and gardening. See more from its catalog on the New York International Gift Fair website.

---

Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Soy candles in stylish containers

Soy-based candles from Aglow Eco Candle are available in eight fragrances, including the company's signature scent White Cotton. Burn time is 60 to 90 hours. When the candle is depleted, the containers become stylish vases, drinking glasses or desk accessories..

Diffusers and notecards are also available. See more candles on the New York International Gift Fair website.

---

Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Holiday paper goods from the Winterthur collection

Caspari has a new line of paper goods inspired by artwork in the Winterthur collection. Items include napkins, plates and greeting cards. In the Victorian era, trade cards served as advertisements that were often collected and pasted into scrapbooks. The turkey is inspired by a lithographed trade card in the Thelma Seeds Mendsen Collection housed in the Winterthur Library.

Serenading angels framed in gold are among the Christmas images on lithographed greeting cards in the John and Carolyn Grossman Collection housed in the Winterthur library. In the second half of the 1800s, the new art of chromolithography brought a vividness to paper objects enjoyed by people of all ages.

In the Victorian era, lithographed pictures of angels and Christmas trees heralded best wishes for the holiday. This angel lights the candles while decorating a tree by moonlight. The image is among the lithographed greeting cards in the John and Carolyn Grossman Collection housed in the Winterthur library.

Images of Christmas Trees laden with toys, sugarplums, and candles are among the lithographed scraps in the John and Carolyn Grossman Collection housed in the Winterthur Library. In the second half of the 1800s, the new art of chromolithography brought a vividness to paper objects enjoyed by people of all ages.

---

Retailers: Contact the manufacturer for prices and minimums.

Shoppers: Ask your favorite independent retailer to order this item for you.

Gift For Life to Benefit from Pacific Market Center’s Tabletop by Design

press release

Tablescape fundraiser to be held during August Gift and Home Accessories Show

June 15, 2010—Gift for Life, the gift, stationery and home décor industries' sole charitable organization, today announced it will serve as the beneficiary of the first annual Tabletop by Design, a celebration of all things tabletop and home entertaining organized by the Pacific Market Center.

The program was initiated by the Pacific Market Center as a special event complementing their Summer Gift and Home Accessories Show, taking place August 18-24 in Seattle. For the event each participant will showcase inventive tabletop designs on 48” or 60” round tables. Buyers attending the show will vote on their favorite designs by making donations to Gift For Life, with all proceeds benefiting DIFFA: Design Industries Foudnation Fighting AIDS.

According to Lisa Goodman, Director of Marketing for the Pacific Market Center, the aim is to create dazzling and memorable tabletop displays that will inspire show attendees while raising funds for Gift For Life/DIFFA. “Times are challenging, but we continue to see encouraging support for inspirational events and charitable giving,” said Goodman. “We look forward to wide participation and the opportunity to showcase unique creativity for charitable good.”

“We are delighted to work with the Pacific Market Center to develop a new Gift For Life activity in Seattle,” said Jenny Hammons, chair of the Gift For Life board and president of Jenny Hammons Company. “What a wonderful way to blend design inspiration and industry giving.”

Gift For Life presents its annual Industry Achievement Award each August as part of the Gifts & Decorative Accessories Retailer Excellence Awards. In addition, Gift For Life hosts regional events throughout the United States and a national fundraiser each winter in New York City during the New York International Gift Fair®. Funds benefit DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS. For additional information please visit www.giftforlife.org.

ABOUT GIFT FOR LIFE
Gift For Life, the gift and home décor industry’s volunteer group raising funds for AIDS assistance and research through DIFFA: Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS, was founded in 1992. Since then, Gift for Life has raised nearly $4 million through special events, cause-related marketing, promotions, and from corporate and individual donations. Information is available at www.giftforlife.org.

ABOUT DIFFA
DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the immense resources of the design communities to provide more than $38 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. Information is available at www.diffa.org

Saturday special: Stationery Show wrap up

This report was written by George Little Management, producer of the National Stationery Show.

WHITE PLAINS, NY, June 4, 2010…Optimism and a decisive need for face-to-face connection among some 900 social stationery manufacturers and nearly 10,000 buyers resonated throughout the aisles of the 64th annual National Stationery Show® (NSS), held May 16-19, 2010, at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The 900 exhibiting companies - an increase of more than 125 from the previous year - cited this year's NSS as critical to connect with new, prospective customers and to reconnect with current accounts, as the economy show signs of improvement.

"The 2010 NSS served the full spectrum of business interests in this sector - whether to buy, sell, license, collaborate creatively, develop rep and distribution deals, launch a business or new product release, source, brand and so forth," said Patti Stracher, show manager. "Its niche attracted an exhibit hall full of serious professionals with a shared interest in expanding their businesses. More apparent than ever was the importance placed on connection, networking and public relations as core to building sales."

Throughout the Show, exhibitors reported significant numbers of focused, serious buyers looking to increase inventory, as well as international buyers and consumer press, representing opportunities for growth and exposure to a worldwide audience.

"Clouds & Ink had a phenomenal debut at the National Stationery Show," said Amy Margalit, owner. "We received orders from around the world - from Switzerland and Australia to Brazil and Canada - and many countries in-between. We are thrilled that Clouds & Ink cards will be traveling around the globe."

"We were delighted with the buyer turnout at the Show," said Mary Clampett, vice president of sales for The Gift Wrap Company. "The buyers who came to the Show came to write. Our orders were up, and so was the confidence level of manufacturers, reps and buyers."

"At this year's NSS, iota experienced quite a bit of international traffic," said Kelly Alford, founder and vice president of design for iota. "We made contact with retailers and distributors from 13 different countries - including Brazil, Egypt, Finland, Japan, New Zealand, Sweden and others - some of which have never before carried iota. We find it an exciting opportunity not only to sell our products abroad, but to widen the visibility of the iota brand outside of the U.S.

"The 2010 NSS far surpassed our expectations, in terms of connecting with both big box retailers and media contacts," said Sarah Nicoli, vice president of sales for Dotmine Dayplanners. "Our discussions with visitors to our booth resulted in increased orders over past years, as well as great potential for future partnerships. Foot traffic was steady and the mood of the Show was extremely upbeat. We can't wait for next year's Show!"

"The 2010 NSS proved to be a tremendous opportunity for us," said Christian Fulghum, vice president of Midori. "We tripled last year's sales, doubled the number of orders, and more than doubled the number of new customers. Our success could not have been replicated anywhere else."

The need to connect and reconnect also resonated with retailers, with many noticing a resounding focus on networking, collaboration and unconventional methods of business-building.

"The energy at this year's show was great," said Jennifer Boyce Morgan, founder of A Fresh Bunch, a consortium of retailers and wholesale stationery designers. "What was most exciting to see was retailers and designers talking, collaborating and helping one another in ways that were unheard of a few years ago. The Show has become about so much more than sales, and is now more important from marketing and networking perspectives than anything else."

"The NSS has evolved, grown and contracted with the industry over its 64 years. There has been a paradigm shift in the way we transact business, with caution as a core value. Stores are sending fewer buyers to cover the Show and exhibitors are taking smaller booth spaces," Stracher commented. "While this year's NSS housed 125 more companies than in 2009, it did so in a more compact presentation. The bottom line is that we have to adjust our mindset to content rather than size and quality versus quantity."

In addition to opportunities on the Show floor, this year's NSS was highlighted by several events and special features that allowed exhibitors and retailers to meet and connect off the Show floor. The Opening Night Party at Battery Gardens provided a distinct New York City networking experience after a great opening day, while seminars addressing everything from trends and bridal to social media and merchandising added value for some 750 total participants. Daily Demos, celebrity book signings and in-booth exhibitor promotions further added to the buzz and enhanced the market experience. In addition, nearly 2,000 industry professionals took to Twitter and Facebook as a means of communicating, arranging meeting locations, and alerting colleagues to "must see" features.