The
New York International Gift Show: August 2004 Exhibitor
Round-Up
As
one buyer described the Gift Show (held August 14-19 in
the Jacob Javits Convention Center and Piers 92 and 94 on
Manhattan's West Side) during lunch, "I've died and gone
to giftware heaven." Aisle after block-long aisle was
lined with baby T-shirts hanging beside museum calendars;
Judaica pieces near Christmas ornaments; and bedding
displays fit for a queen cozied up to chandelier
earrings. Hats, bags, bath products, pottery, art,
candles, much of it carefully conceived and excellent
quality, made retailers happy.
As far as the show's appeal to
children's retailers/buyers, let's call it a
gift.
2 RED HENS
DESIGNER: Lori Burley
Wholesale prices: $11-$47 with
changing pad and burp cloth
2 Red Hens diaper bags are roomy,
waterproof and constructed from funky textile patches.
But 2 Red Hens' bags are about more than good looks. A
percentage from the sale of each bag is donated to
cervical cancer research.
Outstanding Piece: The big bag in
shades of pink with mixed plaids and florals. It's
feminine without being overly sweet.
A & J Sales and
Marketing
185 East 85th Street, Apt.
6K
NY, NY 10028
Tel: 212-369-8172
E-mail: babyteman@aol.com
www.2redhens.com
email:
info@2redhens.com
F.G. & CO.
Wholesale prices: Contact
manufacturer
F.G. & Co. specializes in all
manner of paper goods and signage. You'll be charmed by
their vintage images of flowers, animals and lovely
ladies.
Outstanding Piece: The
"Risqué Beauties," dressed in more layers than our
mothers wear to the beach, make unforgettable wrapping
paper.
177 Riverside Ave., Suite
F1131
Newport Beach, CA 92663
Tel: 949-252-7431
E-mail: customerservice@fgandcompany.com
www.fgandcompany.com
SPROUT
DESIGNER: MALINDA REICH
Wholesale prices:
$18-$198
Once in awhile an original designer
pops on the scene with a collection that shouts, "Buy
me!" Reich's pillows, blankets, quilts and bumpers are
beautifully colored, the imagery is playful and the
workmanship is impeccable.
Outstanding Pieces: The striped
"Luna" quilt possesses the austere beauty of an Amish
textile with happier colors. My photo doesn't do the
"Noe" quilt justice. The reversible quilt in either dusty
pink or pale blue (the underside is striped) is
hand-quilted in spirals with a small tie in each circle's
center. Either design would fit comfortably into a sweet
country or hip modern nursery.
32 Homestead Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
Tel: 415-401-8758
Email: malindareich@ix.netcom.com
www.sproutcollection.com
SUNFLOWER DESIGNS
DESIGNER: Karen Rubin and Kim
Leibowitz
Wholesale prices: $22
The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration ("NHTSA") recommends that parents forgo
heavy clothing or jackets when dressing their infants so
the straps of a car seat will fit snugly around baby's
body. The Precious CarGo Infant Car Seat Cover, made of
warm polyester fleece, has an opening for the baby's head
and elastic around the cover's hem so that it fits
tightly around the car seat. The baby stays warm,
comfortable and, most important, safe.
Outstanding Pieces: All three
styles - for girl, boy and unisex - are adorable and can
be purchased with a matching hat. What a gift!
9415 Michelle Place
Richmond, VA 23229
Tel: 804-741-4060
E-mail: sales@sunflowerdreams.com
www.sunflowerdreams.com
ART
GREEN FROG ART
DESIGNER: Aimee Matlock
The artists, who render the work in
Matlock's collection of prints for children, are
imaginative storytellers as well as fine
technicians.
Outstanding Piece: The plane flying
over the countryside captures a child's sense of
adventure. The print's colors are rich and a crackle-like
glaze over the image lends an old storybook feel.
5150 Palm Valley Road
#300
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
32082
Tel: 800-833-5024
E-mail: aimeegfa@bellsouth.net
www.greenfrogart.com
WALLCANDY ARTS
DESIGNERS: Allison Epstein and Dana
Berk
Wholesale prices:
$25-$75
Have commitment issues? Wallcandy
Arts, a collection of animal, space ships, cars and
Merimekko floral stick-ons, can be adhered to wall for a
cute mural. Get tired of it, and the images peel off with
no residue.
Outstanding Piece: Steering a space
ship around the whimsical galaxy of planets and stars
should keep a kid busy for at least 15 minutes.
9 Barrow Street, Suite
4A
NY, NY 10014
Tel: 212-367-8872
E-mail: hello@wallcandyarts.com
www.wallcandyarts.com
FOOTWEAR
LITTLE E.D.A.
DESIGNER: Eda Topur
Wholesale prices: $17.50-$18.50
booties
Mothers flip for Little E.D.A.'s
butter soft suede moccasins lined in fleece, and they'd
mortgage their homes for her adult sized mules in
one-of-a-kind vintage embroidered velvet.
Outstanding Pieces: For spring,
Topur offers pastel colored moccasins lined in flannel so
tiny feet won't overheat.
121 Lakeside Avenue,
#201
Seattle, WA 98122
Tel: 206-860-3100
E-mail: info@littleeda.com
www.littleeda.com
APPAREL
ZUTANO
DESIGNER: Uli Belenky
Sizes: 3-24 months; Wholesale
prices: $4-$10.75
Everyone loves Zutano's
coordinating knits. This season their wonderful prints
are topped with matching sunhats.
Outstanding Pieces: The pink print
and the hat. No need to explain.
1785 Coits Pond Road
Cabot, VT 05647
Tel: 800-287-5139
E-mail: zutano@zutano.com
www.zutano.com
BAGS AND
BACKPACKS
GROOVY HOLIDAYS
DESIGNER: Agnes Liptak
Wholesale prices:
$3-$4.50
Groovy Holidays felt bags, some
with pockets holding finger puppets, make unique gift
sacks for any occasion. For little girls, they double as
tiny purses mom will covet.
Outstanding Pieces: The richly
colored bags with animal finger puppets - carryall and
toy-in-one for the ultimate multitasking item.
324 Lafayette Street, 6th
Floor
NY, NY 10012
Tel: 212-625-1301
E-mail: sales@groovyholidays.com
www.groovyholidays.com
LITTLE PACKRATS
DESIGNER: Cathy
Berse-Hurley
Burse-Hurley's backpacks, with
their simple graphics and pop-up animal parts, are
elegant works of art. In addition to boutiques, they're
sold in museum gift shops throughout the USA.
Outstanding Piece: Burse-Hurley's
"Olivia's Fashion Pack," based on Ian Falconer's series
of Olivia the pig books, are as charming as the author's
porcine heroine.
315 Lost Lake Drive
Groton, MA 01450
Tel: 978-449-0222
E-mail: info@littlepackrats.com
www.littlepackrats.com
KREATIVE KIDS
DESIGNER: Kreative Kids design
team
Wholesale prices:
$5.50-$13
What kid doesn't want to bring
their pet to school? Kreative Kids animal backpacks let
them do it.
Outstanding Piece: The soft felt
lady bug and chubby bumblebee will keep kids buzzing.
161 Mercury Circle
Pomona, CA 91768
Tel: 1-800-786-2919
E-mail: sales@kreativekids.net
www.kreativekids.net
BEDDING
CHURCHILL WEAVERS
DESIGNER: Churchill Weaver's Design
Team
Wholesale prices:
$16-$54
Churchill Weavers baby blankets are
hand-woven from the finest cotton and chenille in classic
pastels. Every baby should have one.
Outstanding Pieces: The chenille
blankets with the crocheted lace trim. In apple green the
blanket makes a perfect unisex gift.
Churchill Baby
Tara Bellando
100 Churchill Drive
P.O. Box 39
Berea, KY 40403
Tel: 859-986-3126
Email: tbellando@churchillweavers.com
www.churchillweavers.com
HOUSE INC.
DESIGNER: Annette Tatum
Wholesale prices: Contact
manufacturer
House Inc.'s aesthetic is flowery
with a modern edge.
Outstanding Pieces: The bedding has
that Shabby Chic look but the textiles and workmanship
are luxurious.
2872 Colorado Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Tel: 310-449-1918
E-mail: sales@houseinc.com
www.houseinc.com
BIBS
KINDERWARE
Wholesale prices:
.50-$13.50
Kinderware specializes in tabletop
items and waterproof bibs in fresh, up market
patterns.
Outstanding Pieces: The dishes,
coordinating bibs and travel kit in the "Cute Baby
Animals" print offer infants a petty zoo of cozy
creatures.
Jenny Kraus
P.O. Box 76
NY, NY 10276
Tel: 212-982-2502
E-mail:
info@kinderwareonline.com
www.kinderwareonline.com
OH MY LULU
DESIGNER: Lulu Burt
Wholesale prices: $6-$7
All the fabrics Burt employs for
her waterproof bibs have a vintage spirit.
Outstanding Piece: Remember when
moms cooked dinner every night and families gathered
around the table for an evening meal? Burt's retro bib
recalls that time.
P.O. Box 54337
Phoenix, AZ 85078
Tel: 602-296-4921
E-mail: lulu@ohmylulu.com
www.ohmylulu.com
CARDS AND PAPER
GOODS
LAPIN ROUGE
DESIGNER: 100drine Collection
Paris
Wholesale prices: $4-$17
Tired of pop art daisies atop
notebooks? Look to Lapin Rouge's 100drine Collection for
childlike drawings with a naïve, outsider art
aesthetic.
Outstanding Pieces: The notebooks'
covers look like they were torn from the sketchpad of the
best artist in the third grade.
416 West 20th Street
NY, NY 10011
Tel: 212-255-9150
E-mail: lapinrouge@nyc.rr.com
www.lapin-rouge.com
JEWELRY AND
WATCHES
CAROLYN FORSMAN
DESIGNER: Carolyn
Forsman
Wholesale prices: Contact
manufacturer
Carolyn Forsman's 25-year old
company produces "flash 'n trash" as well museum quality
goods. New York's Museum of Modern Art (and other
museums) has carried her items since 1989.
Outstanding Piece: The "Ruffles
& Rhinestones" bracelet made of industrial ballchain
and crystal on a stretch cuff has a frothy look with a
high tech edge. Great with denim or diamonds.
441 West 44th Street
NY, NY 10036
Tel: 800-442-7621
E-mail: hello@carolynforsman.com
www.carolynforsman.com
ROOM
DÉCOR
BLUEDOGZ DESIGN
DESIGNER: Nadine Lerner
WHOLESALE PRICES:
$5-$28.50
Bluedogz Design's frames, mirrors,
memory boxes and other room accessories, painted in
cheerful gingham, cars, stars and flowers, ensure a sunny
environment.
Outstanding Pieces: The polka dot
and striped boxes. They're practical for storing all
sorts of odds and ends and they add color in all the
right places.
38 Oxford Road
Baie d'Urfe
Quebec Canada H9X 2T5
Tel: 866-806-blue
Email: nadine@bluedogzdesign.com
www.bluedogzdesign.com
ERCOLE
DESIGNER: Ornella Pisano
WHOLESALE PRICES: Contact
manufacturer
The shimmering glass and porcelain
mosaics on Pisano's Venetian inspired furniture bring
romance and sophistication to a child's room.
Outstanding Pieces: The heavily
patterned chest with its gorgeous floral motifs gives
parents an option besides country or modern.
Jack Kennedy
10 Jay Street, 8th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Tel: 718-797-4270
Email: ercoleinc@aol.com
MACBETH
COLLECTION
WHOLESALE PRICES: Contact
manufacturer
The MacBeth's Collection of
decoupage garbage pails, mail bins, lunch boxes and
picture frames, are hand done using the graphics you love
- vintage cards, wallpaper, textiles and even game
boxes.
Outstanding Piece: The bucket in
the Ouija board print reminds me of sleepover parties and
séances. I think that's a good thing?
6030 Monroe Place
West New York, NJ 07093
Tel: 201-662-8501
E-mail: sales@themacbethcollection.com
www.themacbethcollection.com
NEW ARRIVALS,
INC.
DESIGNER: Tori Swaim
Clean, country style furnishings
and bedding are Swaim's specialty.
Outstanding Piece: The three-panel
folding screen, available in a choice of antiquey looking
prints, makes it a snap to hide a changing table or messy
toy area.
725 Atlantic Blvd. #16
Atlantic Beach, FA 32233
Tell: 904-246-0687
E-mail: sales@newarrivalsinc.com
www.newarrivalsinc.com
TREE BY KERRI LEE
DESIGNER: Kerri
Lee-Sensiba
Wholesale prices:
$4.75-$34
Lee-Sensiba's collection of
hangers, blocks, doorknob signs and other nursery
must-haves recall an innocent time.
Outstanding Pieces: The music
boxes. A child turns the knob on the box's top to play
"Rockabye Baby," "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" and
other songs of a bygone era. The lyrics are printed on
the back of each box.
1 Depot Street
P.O. Box 186
Long Eddy, NY 12760
Tel: 845-887-6165
E-mail: info@treebykerrilee.com
www.treebykerrilee.com
WHEN I WAS YOUR
AGE
DESIGNER: RACHEL ASHWELL
Wholesale prices: Contact
manufacturer
Rachel Ashwell of Shabby Chic fame
brings her famous pastel country look to the nursery.
Outstanding Pieces: The bed frame
does double duty as a pretty bed and storage cabinet. The
lamps are covered with one-of-a-kind cotton prints in the
old-style posies Ashwell's fans love.
1544 Country Road 362
Melissa, TX 75454
Tel: 866-801-1999
E-mail: wheniwasyourage@earthlink.net
www.when-i-was-your-age.com
MISCELLANEOUS
COLORFLAME
CANDLES
Wholesale prices: $60 for a
24-piece display box
Each box contains six brightly
colored candles. When lit the flame is the color of the
candle - purple candle - purple flame. Talk about a
novelty item!
Glass Act Studio
3560 N.W. 53rd Street, Suite
2
Fort Lauderdale, FL
33309
Tel: 800-762-4007 /
954-486-5555
E-mail: mail@glassactstudio.com
www.glassactstudio.com
