Success only runs one direction....
If there’s anyone who throws a better party than AmericasMart, I want to know who it is.
Tonight, Kool and the Gang turned the atrium in Building 3 into a concert hall, complete with screaming women and floor-rumbling bass lines. Of course, those of us whose roots trace back to the 80′s were singing along while gyrating in the aisles (not as bad as it sounds). All in all, it was one heck of a fun night. [click here to continue…]
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Since I didn’t have a photo handy earlier here’s a shot of the Limes N Roses booth, complete with its wild pink fur floor. Kudos to Mike Oleskow (pictured, facing camera) for having the guts to go out on a limb and do something wildly unexpected.
Sorry not to have the lime green chairs in the shot, but I didn’t catch the omission until returning to my hotel room tonight.
Again, congrats to Mike for winning the award for booth display.
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Mike Oleskow decided I was a good luck charm yesterday afternoon as he was given an award from AmericasMart Atlanta for outstanding booth design. Hey, anyone willing to carpet their booth with flourescent pink fake fur accented with lime green chairs-—then pulls it off in style-—deserves props. His purse company, Lime N Roses, presented what Mike calls “the booth Barbie would have if she could.”
The comment came in response to the fact this was the third booth in a row I’d visited who received such a distinction. Moments earlier, I was in Lifeguard Press’ booth as Todd Ferrier won Best of Category, surrounded by their exclusive Lily Pulitzer line. 
Just before that, I’d been chatting with Kelly Oneal (Legacy Collection) about his Best of Show nod acknowledging the terrific environment he’s known for in High Design. Kelly’s won awards before, but Best of Show’s the big bell ringer.
These three lines are terrific, but better yet are the people behind them. Stop by. Take a peek. And know that while the environment’s an award winner, it’s surpassed by the customer service that comes with the package. Well done, guys. Enjoy the spotlight.
Lime N Roses: Building 3/4-1310
Lifeguard Press: Building 3/4-100
Design Legacy: Building 2WW/High Design 117
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It’s the start of day three at the Atlanta show; for the most part, it’s been a series of nice surprises.
Vendors are consistently reporting more buyers than expected, but just as quickly admit their expectations were pretty low, based on the results of 4Q. They also report that traffic seemed to drop a bit Saturday-—odd-—but that the average per-order total seemed to tick a bit higher. There are a lot of notes being jotted and “What’s your minimum?” discussions going on as buyers take a cautious approach to buying. Everyone recognizes that cash flow will determine if and when reorders are placed.
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I’m getting a lot of questions from vendors about what to expect at the Atlanta market this week. In a nutshell:
1. There are going to be a lot more lookers than takers this time. Retailers are taking notes then faxing orders from home. Means less paper written this week, but doesn’t mean the show’s been a flop. (Sound familiar? See my previous post here).
2. There will be a lot less traffic this time. Retailers that can make the trip are staying even fewer days than in July. Retailers that can’t make the trip are relying heavily on your road reps, catalogs, and websites. If any of those are out of sync, get them up to date, fast.
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Here we go. The start of the winter gift show season, which means I’m off to Atlanta for several days.
I’ll be there from Friday afternoon through Monday evening, so anyone not already on the schedule who’d like some one-on-one time, please email asap. It’s getting tight, but I’ll move heaven and earth to fit you in.
If you’re a current client, please feel free to call my cell.
Safe travels, everyone!
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There’s nothing as reaffirming as letting it all hang out with fellow retailers. Thanks to the RetailSpeaks members who made the haul to Atlanta; thanks to Debbie Dusenberry for inviting me to meet her roomful of friends too (shown above).
Of course, the Westin is probably thankful we’re all gone, since the volume got “up there” as our enthusiasm grew.
See? You really aren’t alone out there, folks. It’s simply a matter of connecting the right dots.
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How many of those little corrugated cup sleeves have you tossed in the trash over the years? And if you’re like me, how many times have you reached for your Starbucks card and realized it’s in the other purse/bag/briefcase?
Hip Grips from Seattle vendor Allie Walker Designs resolves both issues with funky fabric wraps that not only hold your cup, but also hold your card. The insulated hot-or-cold cup wraps are adjustable, reversible, washable, crushable, and functional. Available in Sport, Statements, and Everyday designs, the latter of the bunch was my favorite, offering the most latitude in colors and personalities (I already know which two I want, so if someone in Minneapolis picks this up, drop me a line).
Be sure to take a peek at the gift sets of four-—they really “pop” on the shelf. Countertop displays are also available.
To contact them, call (206) 729-4988 or visit their site.
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