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April's
Articles for Giftware News:
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January Atlanta
Gift Show
January 29, 2007
Atlanta was a show that was a high in every sense of the word
for me and my partners. It was three days of running from showroom
to showroom, meeting to meeting, dinner to dinner—it was
a busy time, but it was more than that.
What was this Atlanta show about—for me?
It was about feeling the strength of well chosen partners behind
me. It was about having a well chosen team beside me; it was talking
with my heart to new customers and old, through the venues of
my licensed partners. It was about telling the truth—about
what is important—and that that truth for me is all things
beautiful, all things female, all things compassionate and all
things complex. It was about creating what looks like a new career
with the best of old tools. It was about the joy of traveling
the show with a designer, whose young baby daughter was in tow
and feeling I had time for that adventure too. It was about admiring
the younger generation of designers, sales people, and buyers
and seeing the talent of their eyes,
It was about observing the changes in companies that were tenured
and respected, and seeing that though companies may change, talent
persists in individuals. It was about marveling at how many ways
business is created and how many unique approaches there are to
success.
I marveled at Evergreen—with a diversity of products and
a young couple at the helm—I felt the passion of Homefires
with the dynamic yet complex Edward Chu leading a team of professionals—a
man who takes his business very seriously and recognizes his successes
with charitable endeavors—and a man who collects honey—that's
the complexity that makes the difference. I admired the family
partnership at Manual Woodworkers and Weavers, a company that
manages to merge weaving tapestries in the USA and also designing
goods overseas. I grinned at the rejuvenation of Crazy Mountain
Imports—where a sales team wore printed headbands and ties
and belts to show their sense of team—I followed the chain
of change with Silvestri and Demdaco and thought—this is
a good thing—and I felt gratitude at my old customers finding
Jeremy Braude of Now designs and my table linens and thought—thank
you, God. I experienced the stirrings of familiarity when Martha
McEvoy found a place to show my nighties and thought—she's
a sticker. I felt pleased with C and F for interpreting my bedding
ideas with accuracy and beauty and was touched by the small touches,
like quotes scattered in their showroom.
I felt a little bit humble and a little bit proud at the Atlanta
show—but mostly I understood that the gifts that I have been
given—my art, my eye, my point of view, are my duty to share,
and sharing them can lead to a greater giving back. Strange as
it may be—I am a preacher of a certain sort. Through seeing
beauty, through touching nature, through understanding women and
loving men, I can share the basic messages about caring, about
duty and about taking a proud role in our world to do the best
possible, with the gifts I have. You know—when I think about
it, isn't it a good thing that I ended up in the Gift Industry?
Enjoy the show season—and be yourself—that's where your
talent is—and that is who the world needs you to be.
Philadelphia
And, As the Dali Lama says—Never, Ever, Ever Give Up. |
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