Las Vegas Market moves to September date pattern in '09
The Las Vegas Market has pushed back the dates for its second 2009 show until September, and will shorten the market to a four-day event — Sept. 14-17. Dates for next year's winter show in Las Vegas, a five-day event beginning Feb. 9, remain unchanged. “Our research clearly shows that buyers and exhibitors don't want more days in a market; rather they want to focus on a market th...
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Garden vendors work to keep their businesses growing
Garden products vendors are keeping busy this fall, despite the dismal economic mood. The vendors interviewed for Home Accents Today said they are able to stay competitive by staying within their niche, emphasizing the trend for people to stay home, and playing up the ecological and psychological benefits to having a pleasant outdoor space.
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PTM adds Walt Disney Signature line
PTM Images debuted its new licensed Walt Disney Signature Collection last month during the Las Vegas Market. The collection is not character-driven, and uses imagery and motifs from archival and original Disney art, re-cast in contemporary palettes and framing treatments. “The Walt Disney Signature brand collaboration with PTM Images celebrates the archival art from classic films that ha...
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ICA Home Decor rebrands, opens Atlanta showroom
Intercontinental Art has rebranded itself as ICA Home Decor and opened its first showroom in Americasmart last month. The company was founded in 1976 as a framed graphics producer, and now is expanding into more home categories and building itself into a lifestyle brand for independent home and gift retailers, as well as furniture chains.
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Napp Deady closes Americasmart, High Point showrooms
Longtime sales and rep agency Napp Deady has closed its showrooms in Atlanta's Americasmart and High Point's International Home Furnishings Center. “I do not intend at this point to continue at this time as a rep agency,” Carol Deady, owner and president, told Home Accents Today. The agency had occupied a 21,000-sq.
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Wall decor producers hanging tough
This year continues to bring negative economic news and the fallout of all the troubles is making its way directly into the home accents business. But wall decor producers interviewed this month said they are confronting the issues, making changes where necessary, and most of all, aggressively working on product development to stay ahead of the competition.
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Lawrence Unlimited acquired
After 40 years in the wall decor business, Lawrence Unlimited has been sold, and its owners, Larry and Renee Anenberg, have retired. The company, including name, inventory, designs, machinery and some employees was acquired by Double Decor and its owner Doug Nagy in December of last year. Double Decor is also a wall decor company, but one that has focused on the hospitality market.
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A different world: Vendors expand reach with contract and hospitality
With recent slowdowns in the overall economy and in the home furnishings industry, more vendors are looking to the contract and hospitality niche as a new venue for marketing and selling their products, while others have worked in that realm for years. According to Nestor Pineda, director of contract sales for The Phillips Collection, it was a natural niche for his company to pursue, given the...
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Internet offers host of opportunities for vendors
The Internet is a powerful force in the world and, increasingly, in this industry. Though different companies approach the issue in different ways, nearly everyone agrees that e-commerce and online business are valuable tools and evidently the wave of the future. According to Home Accents Today's Internet Survey 2007, 90% of vendors have a Web site.
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Internet offers host of opportunities for vendors
The Internet is a powerful force in the world and, increasingly, in this industry. Though different companies approach the issue in different ways, nearly everyone agrees that e-commerce and online business are valuable tools and evidently the wave of the future. According to Home Accents Today's Internet Survey 2007, 90% of vendors have a Web site.
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World Market Center names Maricich president, CEO, unveils more building plans
Industry veteran and former president of Century Furniture Bob Maricich has been named the new president and CEO of the Las Vegas World Market Center. “This is a point in my career where winning is important to me but making a difference in the industry is really, really important to me,” Maricich said.
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AmericasMart tops off Building Two West Wing
AmericasMart's Building Two West Wing is nearly completed, as the external structure was finished in January just prior to the gift and home market. Phase 1 of the new structure is slated to open in January 2009, with 10 floors connecting directly to the existing Building 2 Gift Mart. The building will be completed just prior to the July 2008 show, and there may be a soft opening at that time...
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Crazy Mountain licenses with Jim Shore for home line
Giftware giant Crazy Mountain is readying its first home decor line, licensed with celebrated artist Jim Shore. Shore, known best for his work with Enesco and appearances on QVC, will put his mark on about 300 pieces of home decor, including accent furniture, lamps, wall decor, candleholders and more.
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GHTA hosts California conference
The Gift and Home Trade Association hosted its fifth annual conference in La Jolla, Calif., last month, with more than 300 attendees at the event. The organization includes sales reps, sales agency owners, vendors and retailers in the gift and home businesses. During a series of break-out sessions, attendees delved into such topics as marketing, dealing with the media, negotiating contracts and...
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MMPI to add temps to 7W
Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. announced last week that 7 W New York will open its first temporary space, Market Suites @ 7 W, in time for the April tabletop market.
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MMPI to add 7 W temps
Merchandise Mart Properties Inc. announced late last month that 7 W New York will open its first temporary space, Market Suites @ 7 W, in time for the April tabletop market. Located at 7 W 34th St. in Manhattan, the 18,000-sq.-ft. exhibit space will be open for a variety of events throughout the year, MMPI officials told Home Accents Today.
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Manila F.A.M.E. exhibition shows off best of Philippine design
The Philippines' home furnishings industry is most proud of two things — its innovative use of natural, indigenous materials, and its design sensibility. Both of these were on display during last month's Manila F.A.M.E., a showcase of about 400 exporters of home decor, furniture, holiday and fashion accessories looking to expand their reach into more international markets.
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PROMOSEDIA: Quality remains show's focus
Last month's Promosedia exhibition in Northeast Italy offered a look at some of the cutting-edge chair designs from the European residential and contract markets. The show, which has struggled over the last few years, is still working to define itself in a business environment where there are fewer buyers and the ongoing weakness of the dollar is hurting all European exporters.
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Surya adds wall decor, Cabana Joe collection
Surya Rugs entered the wall decor category at the Las Vegas Market, offering 50 SKUs of framed, limited edition prints. According to Satya Tiwari, president, the company decided to pursue this category because it offers a logical extension for the company's extensive color palette research. "Once we have developed the palette, we will look for other products that we can strategically build in t...
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