May 14, 2008

Franz Collection Announces Grand Opening, Summer 2008 Introductions

San Francisco, CA – Nature’s beauty perfected in porcelain will be showcased, as Franz Collection, Inc. celebrates an important company milestone with a Monday, July 28th ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the firm’s new corporate showroom at the Las Vegas Market. The grand opening will include a champagne reception in the showroom, located at C601 in the Center’s newly-completed Building C. Items from the Franz Collection of exquisite porcelain tabletop, home decor and jewelry items, as well as trend forward home decor accessories from the Jean Boggio Collection, will be showcased.

Founder and president Francis Chen, who established Franz Collection in June 2002, will cut the ribbon at the July 28 event at 11 a.m. Chen says there were two compelling reasons for making the Las Vegas Market, the site of the company’s first permanent showroom. “We have always marketed our creations as pieces of art for the home,” he says. “The Las Vegas Market makes an ideal showcase for our elegant product lines, thanks to the Market’s strong emphasis on fine home decor accessories.”

Shonnie Bilin, vice president of sales and marketing, says she and Chen have also watched the Las Vegas Market become a destination location for retailers who offer art, gifts, furniture, decorative accessories and more. “We’ve seen how attendance has built each year since the market opened in July 2005,” Bilin says. “What’s more, the Market’s principals are making good on their promise to create the largest trade show complex in the world.”

Franz Collection
Franz Collection is renowned for its exceptional ability to blend the essence of Oriental culture with styling inspired by Western artistry. Franz introduces 59 new summer introductions and 10 new items in the jewelry category.

For summer 2008, the firm will extend its award-winning Kathy Ireland Home by Franz(tm) Collection to include the “Monkey Mischief” collection and the “Divinity” nativity set. “Kathy’s designs bring beauty, elegance and artistry to the home,” Chen says. “They are exquisite works of art that meet Kathy Ireland Home’s mission of ‘finding solutions for families, especially busy moms'”

The 9-piece “Monkey Mischief” collection depicts monkeys from the Amazon region of South America on an assortment of tabletop items and figurines. The birth of the Holy Child is celebrated with “Divinity,” a 10-piece collection of individual items that features a figurine of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus; figurines of the Three Wise Men; an angel, donkey, oxen and lamb; and a stable house backdrop, perfect for displaying the entire nativity set.

The majority of Franz Collection items take their inspirational cue from the beauty of nature. Two new distinctively stylish collections celebrate fabulous florals: the “Brilliant Blooms” tabletop collection captures the tropical allure of the Canna Lily in a palette of green and yellow. The “Holiday Classic” collection puts the Yuletide splendor of poinsettias on tabletop display in traditional shades of red and green.

New pieces have been added to the series of porcelain jewelry designed especially by Franz Collection’s talented artists. Each jewelry item is meticulously crafted of sculptured porcelain and set in rhodium plated brass. Summer introductions include the “Endless Beauty” collection of giraffe jewelry featuring a necklace, bracelet, pin and earrings. “This collection is a special treat for Franz Collection enthusiasts, who will be delighted to see that this is the same giraffe design from our “Endless Beauty” tabletop collection,” Bilin says.

The Jean Boggio Collection
Crossing the Atlantic after its successful introduction in Europe and Asia, the Jean Boggio for Franz Collection offers a fresh and unique alternative to porcelain tableware.

“I was intrigued by Jean’s highly-acclaimed designs, and he agreed to create a contemporary collection for us that would be a cross-cultural collaboration between the essence of French and Chinese culture,” Chen says. “The results are absolutely spectacular!”

Lines include “The Extraordinary Garden,” “Garden of Dreams,” “Dreams of China” and “China Circus,” all featuring furniture, tabletop and decorative accessories. Pieces showcase a variety of current and traditional color combinations, from the red “Dreams of China” tea service and the turquoise blue and orange on figurines in the “China Circus” Collection, to bright apple-green vases and the timeless juxtaposition of black and white on the mirrors, buffet and other items in “The Extraordinary Garden” line.

Franz Collection Goes Green
Franz Collection has taken active steps to ensure the protection of the environment now and in the future. “The beauty of nature is one of the many wonders of the world,” Chen says. “The changes we’ve instituted in our manufacturing process echo our corporate philosophy to ‘create our own value by creating that of others first.'”

Franz Collection uses lead free, high-quality porcelain glazes, saves energy and lowers emissions by firing pieces at lower temperatures, and uses electric kilns and natural gas to replace other high-emission energy sources. All Franz Collection tabletop items are FDA approved and food safe.

As Franz Collection looks forward to future product introductions, Bilin says she and Chen are thankful for the business the company has received from its loyal customers. “We appreciate their support of our mission to design porcelain masterpieces that are both lovely and functional,” Bilin says. “We’ll continue to forge ahead and bring our customers designs that illustrate the breathtaking beauty of nature.”

At the 2008 19th Annual ARTS Awards, the premier home decorative accessories industry award, Franz Collection was nominated twice in both the “Tabletop” and “Artist” categories.

Items from Franz Collection can be seen at all major and regional gift and home dÈcor markets. More than one dozen highly-respected sales organizations represent Franz Collection at these markets and in territories throughout the United States.

For more information about Franz Collection or the firm’s summer 2008 introductions, contact the company at 847.364.6540 or info@franzcollection.com, or visit the web site at www.franzcollection.com.