Nov 16, 2007

Eco-Friendly, Natural Products Among Top Trends at Beckman’s this January

Chicago – As eco-friendly and natural products grow in demand among shoppers, exhibitors at the Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show are poised to meet the market’s needs for this enduring trend. The trend-forward merchandise found at the show has the added value of being unique, one-of-a-kind items, providing an important element to the success of many independent retailers.

Beckman’s offers a forum to “Meet the Artist,” allowing independent retailers to understand how products are made and who the artist is, helping them explain the work’s story when selling to their customers. Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show, the renowned brand of shows for handcrafted and artisan products, runs exclusively during The Chicago Market: Living and Giving(tm) at Chicago’s Merchandise Mart from Saturday, January 19 through Tuesday, January 22.

“Organic products are definitely trendy right now,” said Heather King, co-owner of Turning Green and exhibitor at the Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show. “People from all demographics and income levels are seeking green products, and our focus is to meet those various levels of demand.” Turning Green is a maker of wooden art that utilizes sustainable woods and natural finishes. According to King, the company’s line of picture frames has been selling incredibly well, and she credits the natural, gender-neutral designs that make the eco-friendly products ideal gifts for all occasions.

Jonathan Shuff, owner of his self-titled photography studio and also an exhibitor, says that simplicity in product design is another emerging trend. “People are trying to de-clutter their lives right now, and looking for art that mimics this trend,” said Shuff. “They want clean lines and a simple, contemporary look, and you can see these basic elements in my photography. At this market, I’m also introducing products that make art very functional – a line of magnets where my art is printed directly onto ceramic tile in full detail.” Shuff also noted that American-made products are in high demand right now, as shoppers seek out rare products that distinguish their decor from neighbors’.

Beckman’s exhibitor Jennifer Felke also notices that shoppers are paying more attention to the origins and quality of product materials. Her company, Honey Beeder Designs, creates jewelry using natural stones, metal and leather. “We’ve noticed a trend toward natural materials, so we’ve been using a lot of turquoise, rose quartz and mother of pearl, along with all natural – never plated – precious metals,” said Felke. “We also try to maintain an affordable price point for our jewelry, but we’ve been combating the rising prices of gold and silver. Rather than increasing our prices, we’ve been incorporating a lot of natural greek leather into our designs, to achieve the look of raw materials, but not the expense.”

Felke also pointed out that one of the benefits of the handcrafted market is the ability to more easily create custom products. “We do quite a bit of sizing for our customers, because one size does not fit all,” she said. “The trend is to customize for the shopper, especially in the handcrafted industry.”

For more information, please visit beckmans.com.

The Chicago Market: Living and Giving is a trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI). Beckman’s Handcrafted Gift Show is a registered trademark of MMPI.

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (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 West Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.

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