Aug 6, 2012

California Git Show Concludes With Strong Performance and High-Volume Order-Writing

Idyllic weather and robust optimism provided the perfect backdrop for an impressive and energized summer Market for California Gift Show®. Sustained attendance of new and returning buyers, highly-trafficked showrooms busy taking orders and exceptional merchandising presentations from distinctive, in-demand lines continue to prove Los Angeles is a must-shop destination for today’s modern retailer.

As consumers become ever-more informed and discriminating in their purchasing habits, retailers seeking unique products with greater intelligence look to L.A. Mart and Los Angeles as their entrée to manufacturers known worldwide and to the innovations for which California is renowned. Attendees stretching the Eastern seaboard including New York, Boston, Atlanta and Miami joined buyers from New Orleans, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas and more. More than 40 states were represented.

California’s mystique was also top-of-mind on the international front spanning North America, as Canadian and Mexican merchants shopped alongside Pacific Rim buyers from Hawaii, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Seoul, as well as Middle East retailers from Dubai and Kuwait.

From high-end corporate brands to boutique independent retail shops, Los Angeles was an important destination for best-in-class retailers, including Bloomingdales, Burke Williams Day Spa, Cedars Sinai Helping Hand, Crown Ace Hardware, Fairmont Kea Lani, FIDM Museum & Galleries, Fred Segal, Grand Del Mar, Hallmark, Huntington Library Bookstore, Knotts Berry Farms, Los Angeles Country Club, Marriott, Marshall Retail Group, Mission Inn Hotel & Spa, Montage Hotel, Museum Of New Mexico, Omni Hotels, Pasadena Museum of California Art, Riviera Resort & Spa, San Diego Zoo, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Skirball Cultural Center, Southwest Airlines Spirit Magazine, Ritz Carlton, and Tokyo Disneyland, among others.

Trends resonating this Market included “Made in America” and “Made in California,” reinforcing the gift show’s California-centric positioning and the overall sentiment to support American manufacturing. Also highly evident and in-demand were multi-functional, multi-purposed products. “This Market witnessed an increase in retailers supporting a ‘made-locally’ position,” said Jeff Sampson, vice president marketing, L.A. Mart/L.A. Mart Design Center/California Gift Show. “We are proud that nearly half of our permanent showrooms offer California designed/manufactured products year-round. Quite a few of those products fell into the multi-purpose category as consumers expect greater value which these multi-functional items deliver on.”

Nearly 20,000 square-feet of new/ expanded permanent resources debuted this July Market, including Western states rep group Keena; echo by Fine Lines, the new division of Fine Lines Company presenting boutique lifestyle brands; Design Center anchor PALECEK with an additional 6,500 square-feet of merchandise available for immediate purchase; Chow’s Oriental Fine Arts and Noir Trading rounded out the new year-round buyer resources.

MARKET PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS (a sampling)

Antonio Aguilar Home Artisanal hand-crafted modern accessories for the home are inspired by the designer’s fashion career, includes felted wool animals, each one a “little piece of art.”
echo by Fine Lines Company
L.A. Mart, Suite 405

Blue Planet Eyewear Eco-friendly, fashionable sunglasses and reading glasses made of recycled and reclaimed materials. All glasses are non-toxic, only lead free paints, dyes and colorings are used. All metals are nickel free and non-toxic. Southern California based.
GRACE by Catherine Sullivan/ Remembrance
L.A. Mart, Suite 330

Dazzler Flame flickering candles with magic technology offer a safe melted wax appearance featuring a timer with 5 hour on, 19 hour off feature.
Two’s Company
L.A. Mart, Lobby 2

GoodWork(s) Make A Difference® With every inspirational wrap bracelet sold, GoodWorks, a company created to promote lifestyles of optimism, goodwill and compassion through fashion, to inspire humanitarianism, will donate 25% of net profits to good causes. Los Angeles based.
Joanne & Company
L.A. Mart, Suite 340

MIXT Studio An eco-eclectic line of paper and gift goods that focuses on lifestyle as much as it does artistry, features re-usable wine bags made of tyvek. Each wine bag has been specially designed and crafted by hand to be shared among friends. Each bag comes with a nifty write-on gift tag stating “the more we share the more we have” with space for five giving opportunities. Southern California based. Made in America.
Lynn Mitchell Group
L.A. Mart, Suite 888

Santa Barbara Design Studio The “Pink Ribbon” wine glass by Lolita is re-introduced for summer 2012. The Southern California based company will make a donation from every wine glass sold to YSC, Young Survivors Coalition, younger women affected by breast cancer. Southern California based.
Sales Producers
L.A. Mart, Suite 444

Sempli Cupa-STAY laser-cut coasters are specifically designed for use with Sempli’s Cupa-Vino wine glasses, the hand-blown, aerating, spinning wine vessels that debuted during July 2011 CGS. Made from a blend of wool and felt acrylic, the set of four is available in four colors. In true Sempli fashion, the coasters are multi-functional and can be used for any other glass as well as doubling as a sleek napkin holder/ring. Made in Los Angeles.
Kregger
L.A. Mart, Suite 888

Simona V The Southern California-based jewelry designer uses natural stones and fossils in many of her unique designs. Due to the natural products used, shapes, sizes and colors may vary making many of the pieces one-of-a-kind. Southern California based.
Stephen Young
L.A. Mart, Suite 830

SO L.A. This sophisticated, modern and colorful gift collection (and acronym for Sisters of Los Angeles), debuting Summer 2012, is inspired by the beaches, canyons, neighborhoods and freeways of Southern California. It was conceived by celebrated architect Barbara Bestor, successful product development specialist and manufacturer’s rep Karen Alweil and fashion publicist Sara Stein. The collection includes ceramic mugs, trivets, coasters, playing cards, key chains and an embossed leather collection among other items. Los Angeles based.
Karen Alweil Studio
L.A. Mart, Suite 338

Urban Aid, Inc. Get organized and prepared for every day, travel, bridal and pure fun times with pre-packaged kits arranged by theme. Popular kits include “pack it up!” for travel, the original, sport and travel “on the go kit” and other useful and fun choices. Los Angeles based.
Keena
L.A. Mart, Suite 407

HEARD AT CGS

“We have had a very warm reception. Everyone we work with, our buyers, other showrooms and our vendors are very excited that we now have a permanent home here at L.A. Mart. Our definite style of well-made, well-designed American-made lines complements the offerings from the other showrooms in the building.”
… Robyn Kessel, design director, Keena

“echo by Fine Lines is a new division of Fine Lines Company. Our buyers are looking for well-made products at great value. This new division and showroom are our return to our roots, a showcase of smaller companies with hand-crafted products. I think we are launching at just the right time. This has been a rockin’ show; our Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were the best first few days of CGS ever.”
… Matt Katzenson, principal, Fine Lines Company and echo by Fine Lines

“We have been packed solid. We happily haven’t had a break since the show opened on Wednesday morning at 9 am Buyers are writing orders and the energy level is high.”
… Catherine Sullivan, principal, GRACE by Catherine Sullivan/Remembrance

“Our hottest category now is tech gadgets and related products. Anything that supports the iPad and iPhone is hot. Earbuds, cord wraps, decorative USB cables … well designed in imaginative shapes, colors and configurations are selling well. We even have a standard poodle design USB with four poodle feet that makes the category fun. The show has been very good, each day our attendance and our numbers are up.”
… Megan Gilmore, sales manager, Ann McGilvary

“We have been really busy with great customers since Tuesday, actually. The energy and flow are good and everyone is here. We are accomplishing a lot.”
… Karen Alweil, principal, Karen Alweil Studio

“This has been an incredibly busy show. The buyers were all positive and we are seeing a lot of people from out of state, Alaska, Florida and the Midwest. Many didn’t go to Atlanta, they opted to come to CGS and they are writing orders, we are seeing sell-through. They want made in America, they seem to really be appreciating the emphasis on local.”
… Joanne Rackow, principal, Joanne & Company

“We are thrilled with this Market. Our customers are excited to be here and their order writing is confirming their positive outlook. We help our retailers tell the story and we do it with hospitality. They appreciate that.”
… Gus Dallas, principal, Gus Dallas

“Buyers from all over the U.S are turning out for this market. It has been years since we have seen people traveling like this. L.A. is a resource for new and creative product and buyers are discovering that quickly here at the L.A. Mart. I am very thankful that we have been so swamped.”
… Lynn Mitchell, principal, Lynn Mitchell Group

“We have been very busy. Buyers are placing orders and this has been a very good show for us especially since we are relatively new. The support of the building has been very important to us in our early stages. L.A. Mart is professionally managed and we believe they are doing an excellent job bringing buyers here.”
… Nipa Vora, principal, Home & Beyond

“We have had another great show with our existing vendors as well as new discoveries. Fashion accessories, candles and soaps continue to be very strong sellers.”
… Lisa Elliott, co-owner, Stephen Young

“Everything has been good.The retailers of today have gotten stronger and are doing well, and our vendors are coming out with great new products. Probably our hottest categories are tech and fashion accessories. We have a few lines that marry tech and fashion together, and they are doing very well.”
… Bonnie Glushon, principal, Sales Producers

“This show has been great, the biggest thing is seeing so many buyers from out of state. Things are definitely getting better. This has been a fun show.”
… Cina Hodges, principal, Showroom 504

“The L.A. Mart is a really good source for style and design. This is Hollywood, everyone likes a little bling in their lives and everyone can have a designer home. The resources here at the L.A. Mart make this possible at good price points, even for furniture and home accents made in California.”
… Steven Cordrey, principal, Steven Cordrey Collection

“We have a lot of California-based and manufactured lines at surprisingly good price points and across all aesthetics at Bassman-Blaine, CFC/Noir. The addition of our new CFC/Noir showroom has been so well received. As is true with the Bassman-Blaine showroom, designers and buyers can buy single items off the floor, and this makes it easy financially to get into furniture and home accessories.”
… Roger Morton, showroom manager, Bassman-Blaine, CFC/Noir

“The new PALECEK showroom has become a true resource for our designers and for new retail buyers. Since we sell off the floor, and do have lovely home accessories like mirrors, occasional table and lighting, we are seeing retailers experimenting in this category which is new for them. We are thrilled to complement our existing designer showroom business with our new addition.”
… Steven Roche, showroom manager, PALECEK

2012 CALENDAR SCHEDULE

OCTOBER
L.A. Mart Fall Gift + Home Market
Sunday, October 7 – Tuesday, October 9 (NEW DATES)
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm

NOVEMBER
L.A. Mart Fall Gift + Home Sample Sale
Thursday, November 8 – Friday, November 9
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm

MARKET TUESDAYS
Each Tuesday of every month, L.A. Mart permanent showrooms will be opened and offer seasonal specials, sneak peeks at new products, meet & greets with manufacturers and reps, and much more.
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm

August 7, 14, 21, 28
September 4, 11, 18, 25
October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
November 6, 13, 20, 27
December 4, 11, 18, 25

For information on L.A. Mart Gift + Home, visit www.lamart/gift.com. Image downloads are available at: at www.facebook.com/lamartgifthome.

ABOUT L.A. MART and CALIFORNIA GIFT SHOW
L.A. Mart® is a registered trademark of PHR LLC. California Gift Show® is a registered trademark of Urban Expositions. L.A. Mart is home to nearly 200 permanent year-round, residential, decorative accessory and gift showrooms serving the retail and interior design industries. California Gift Show features nearly 800 temporary exhibitors of gift, home décor, furnishings and lifestyle merchandise at Los Angeles Convention Center, making the California Gift Show the preeminent market for gift and home furnishings products on the West Coast. L.A. Mart is located at 1933 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90007. For more information call 213-763-5800 or visit www.californiagiftshow.com orwww.lamart.com.