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Understanding Twitter and other social media
New York gift show winners
Chicago gift show winners
A product I like
Rep report--LamanBlu
The reading list: social media
"Since many of today’s Moms are online and blogging, you need to make an effort, using some sort of social media, to become part of their network of trust," writes Leslie Carothers in "Can Your Customers Trust You On Twitter?" for Furniture World magazine. Carothers explains what social media are, and how home furnishings retailers use Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other sites. I recommend you check out the entire article. Follow her on Twitter at @tkpleslie.
Winning textile products
In the Best New Product Awards competition at Home Textiles Market Week in New York, a panel of editors named the green bamboo outdoor pillow from V Rugs & Home (Miami, 305-754-9626) the Best of Market. Other winners were: Bed category--Plover Organic (Portland, OR) for its organic cotton hand-quilted Cartouche Quilt. Bath category--Libeco Lagae (New York) for its 100% linen Vence Bed Set. Dining category--Lintex (New York) for its Golden Jubilee tablecloth and napkin. Home accessories category--Dash & Albert (Pittsfield, MA) for its wool hand-woven Zipper Rug.
The winners were selected from among 115 entries. Judges were: Jennifer Marks, Home Textiles Today; Wanda Jankowski, LDB; David Gill, HFN; Jenny Heinzen York, Home Accents Today; Pamela Graves, Home Fashion & Furniture Trends; and Katherine Nelson, Metropolitan Home.
New York gift show names Accent on Design winners
The New York International Gift Fair recognized three exhibitors and products "for standout creativity and ingenuity in product design" in the Accent on Design section. The categories and winners are (with commentary by the show): Excellence in Product Design--Desu Design (Brooklyn, N.Y.) for its Pendulum Door Knocker, which "unlike traditional door knockers, is minimalist and often not recognized as an object but as sculpture." Excellence in Product Design--Design House Stockholm (Stockholm, Sweden) for Family Chairs, "a ubiquitous foursome of traditional Swedish stickback chairs made novel and beautiful at a price point suited for this economy." Best Overall Collection--neo-utility (Brooklyn, N.Y.) for its "excellence in curatorial choices offering a diverse range of utilitarian categories with an uplifting approach. neo-utility promotes products that are inherently useful but also approach design in a new and dynamic way."
Chicago gift show names its winning exhibitors
The Chicago Market: Living and Giving announced its Best In Show Awards for exhibitors in temporary sections and permanent showrooms. An internal committee judged the winners on innovation, design and creativity. Temporary-exhibit winners are:
Gourmet. La Crema Coffee Co., flavorful coffee and editable stirrers.
Beckman. fairytale inc., treasure boxes, pillows, sock monsters and stools.
Gift. goody goody, luxury slippers and apparel, whimsical travel accessories and sophisticated handbags.
What A Girl Wants. Spartina, high-quality, colorful handbags and accessories are inspired by the Daufuski Island in South Carolina.
Home. Euroline, Eurpoean home décor, from wine accessories, to candles and ceramics.
And Eangee, lifestyle living accessories, lighting and ceramics that are sustainable and dedicated to fair-trade practices.
Showroom Award Winners
A & B Home. "One of the premier suppliers in both the artificial floral and home décor industries," judges said.
Imax, lamps, wall art, accent furniture, ceramics, decorative plates and garden accessories.
K & K Interiors, Inc., "a leading wholesale supplier of everyday and seasonal home décor" with an "amazing selection of glassware, floral, ceramics, candles, garden, colonial/Americana, tin, pewter, Easter, Halloween, Autumn and Christmas."
Saro Trading Company, "traditional home textiles in delicate laces of the European tradition" and "contemporary textiles ranging from table throws to bedcovers."
A product I like
Global Views will be launching this compact workstation in the year 2010. It matches the company's French Key Collection. The mirror portion folds down for a complete inner desk. The tabletop is covered in ivory leather with matching drawers within. It is also available in light wood (with orange on the inside leather and drawers).
Rep report
Children's apparel maker LamanBlu hired sales reps in two new territories to expand its presence in the South and Southwest. Button Up! (Beth Button) will rep the company in the World Trade Center, Dallas. Lace and Denim (Terrie Phillips) is LamanBlu’s rep at AmericasMart, Atlanta.
That's it for this week.
Bye-bye and Buy-buy.
Jim Carper
Keep up with the latest in gift and home décor at my Gift and Home Today blog, where there is a new product every day.
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