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Giftware News eWeekly, March 6, 2008
• SFIGF Donates $22,000 in Merchandise To Charity
• Burton + Burton is Named a Georgia Family Business Winner
• Radko Countersues Raunch Industries
• Rachael Hale Partners With Typhoon Plus
• KLG Partners with Retailbuyers.com
• GlobalShop 2008 to Offer Special Retailer Program
• Cash & Carry in NYC this April
• NSS Gets Green in The Product Competition
• Surtex Plans to Educate
• Winter CHA A Success!
SFIGF Donates $22,000 in Merchandise To Charity
During the San Francisco International Gift Fair (SFIGF), show producers and the Moscone Center's recycling program collected 15 pallet loads of donated goods—valued at $22,000— and donated them to Bay area non-profit organization Under One Roof in support of Under One Roof's HIV/AIDS initiatives. Under One Roof staff and volunteers, supported by the Gift Fair, its contractors and Moscone Center staff, collected materials from exhibiting companies and facilitated delivery to Under One Roof's retail store. The mission of Under One Roof is to generate unrestricted funds for agencies that provide HIV/AIDS education and support services. Under One Roof's retail gift store raises hundreds of thousands of dollars annually for HIV and AIDS service organizations.
"We continue to be deeply appreciative of GLM and the San Francisco International Gift Fair vendors who contribute so generously to help us in our mission," said Mark Burns, executive director, Under One Roof. "These donations enable us to increase our support of AIDS organizations throughout the Bay area. The program is a great opportunity for us and an excellent example of a great social enterprise - Moscone, the Gift Fair and Under One Roof, all working together for mutual benefit."
Burton + Burton is Named a Georgia Family Business Winner
The Cox Family Enterprise Center, based at the Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University, has named the winners of its 2008 Georgia Family Business of the Year Awards and gift company Burton + Burton is the winner in the category of Large Business (250+ employees). The Cox Family Enterprise Center has honored the best in Georgia-based family businesses since 1991, and honors the businesses that, as Joe Astrachan, Ph.D., executive director of the center, says "withstood the test of time, flourished due to their strong values and savvy business sense and made an impact as community leaders and innovators."
Burton + Burton began in the early 1980s by Maxine and Bob Burton as an extension of Bob's floral business. Today, the company has grown to be a leader in the gift industry and is one of the largest suppliers of balloons and related gift items in the world, employing three generations of their family.
A special ceremony honoring the winners will be held May 19th at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta. The other winners include Pull-A-Part, LLC for Medium Business (50-250 employees); Parker's Heating & Air Conditioning for Small Business (less than 50 employees); and Harris Ace Hardware & Building Supply as the recipient of the Cox Century Award.
Radko Countersues Raunch Industries
Christopher Radko, Christmas keepsake, gift, and home décor designer countersues Rauch Industries Inc., the North Carolina company that bought Radko's Christmas ornament firm, Starad, in March 2005, and filed a suit against Radko last year.
The countersuit alleges numerous violations including securities fraud, fraudulent concealment, breach of contract, and conversion of Radko's personal assets, wrongful termination, and unjust enrichment. Says a spokesman for Radko: "Mr. Radko accuses Rauch of gross incompetence in managing their business in general and their manufactured-ornament division specifically (which) has caused substantial financial losses at Rauch and a devastating and ongoing diminution in the value of Radko's stock in Rauch."
Rauch is owned principally by Blackstreet Capital Partners, a private equity firm formerly known as Milestone Capital Partners.
Rachael Hale Partners With Typhoon Plus
This spring, global housewares brand distributor, Typhoon Plus will be launching an exclusive Rachael Hale collection—featuring the Hales' lovable animals. Typhoon Plus will be offering the Rachael Hale collection of lunch boxes, trolley bags, back packs, bags, and drinks sleeves in the US market. The collection will be launched at the 2008 International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago. In line with their strategy of brand positioning Typhoon Plus says it's delighted to have secured the Rachael Hale license and sees it as strengthening their product assortment to appeal to wider channels of distribution. Says David Todd, CEO of Dissero Brands, the company responsible for Rachael Hale, "Typhoon Plus and Rachael Hale are a great brand fit - sharing a similar ethos around the value of design to differentiate and elevate the brand experience. This forms a solid platform from which to develop a long-term, profitable relationship"
KLG Partners with Retailbuyers.com
The King Leadership Group (KLG), a gift industry growth consulting company, formed a partnership with Retailbuyers.com, a Canadian based B2B marketplace website that offers retailers the opportunity to shop for overstocked products at huge savings from a wide variety of suppliers. Says Denny King from KLG, "In today's challenging retail environment, Retailbuyers.com provides a great service to both the retailer and the supplier. The retailer gets a one-stop shopping experience on 1000's of products at 50%-75% off wholesale prices. The supplier gets an additional distribution channel to move its overstocked products at a profit. Everybody Wins."
KLG will be responsible for adding new US suppliers to the site and will also oversea the marketing of the site to US retailers.
GlobalShop 2008 to Offer Special Retailer Program
During GlobalShop 2008, taking place March 18 – 20 at McCormick Place West in Chicago, the annual retail design and in-store marketing show will offer a 32-session conference program focusing on topics such as going green, digital signage and a new industry metric that promises to change the face of retailing. "This year's exciting line up of conference sessions is one reason why GlobalShop is the "must-attend" industry event of 2008," said Doug Hope, founder of GlobalShop. "From the second annual Digital Signage Day to sessions on going green and the future of retailing, GlobalShop 2008's conference program will provide attendees the latest information on retail design trends, digital technology and in-store marketing."
In addition to its comprehensive educational component, GlobalShop will feature more than 900 exhibitors and over 8,000 new products and services. Its six shows, encompassed under one roof, cover all facets of retail design and in-store marketing. More than 15,000 visitors from around the globe are expected to attend the show.
For complete information on the events or to register for GlobalShop 2008, visit www.globalshop.org.
Cash & Carry in NYC this April
George Little Management (GLM) will be producing the first of two Cash & Carry events this April 3-5 in New York City at the Jacob K. Javits Center. The Cash & Carry Shows are devoted to product lines such as fashion accessories, general gift, stationery, aromatherapy, personal care products, decorative home accents, food products, apparel, fragrances and find and costume jewelry. The second Cash & Carry Show is also held at Javits and runs November 20-22.
Currently GLM is accepting applications for vendors to exhibit at one or both shows and notes that these shows are the only shows in which they allow vendors to deliver product right at the show. To exhibit, visit www.nygiftcashandcarry.com.
NSS Gets Green in The Product Competition
The Best New Product Awards competition at the National Stationery Show (NSS) will expand for the next edition of the show to include an eco-friendly Think Green counterpart to each of the six defined categories. The Think Green equivalent to the desk accessories, lifestyle/specialty gift, luxury, paper craft/scrapbooking, party and social stationery categories will recognize exhibiting companies that exemplify ingenuity with earth-friendly products.
A total of 13 Awards—including the coveted Delegates' Choice Award—will be presented during the show, which will be held May 18-21 at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Editors from leading industry trade publications and Show Delegates—a select group of social stationery retailers—will review submissions and select outstanding new products based on innovative product design or concept, how the product answers an industry need, aesthetic appeal, creative use of materials and innovative packaging.
To submit a product for the competition visit the show website at www.nationalstationeryshow.com. The deadline to enter is April 18.
Surtex Plans to Educate
This May 18-20, Surtex is planning on offering numerous educational programs throughout its show to be held at New York City's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. Says show producers, George Little Management, (GLM), leading international trend forecasters Milou Ket Styling & Design of The Netherlands and Parisian-based Promostyl will headline the conference program titled "The Business of Art…Fundamental Strategies for Success."
Market highlights also include a total of nine seminars organized into three key tracks—business, licensing and trends—and will address the latest art and design developments. The Licensing Series, presenting topics to benefit both beginning and advanced participants, will address art licensing basics, licensing agreements, and copyright protection, the pros and cons of working with an agent, and how to get art noticed; the Business Series will provide an in-depth look at marketing and promotion, up-to-the-minute graphic technology and how to keep art fresh; the Trend Series will explore global lifestyle trends, and key colors, textures and patterns for 2009. There will also be a special sunset cruise event, Cruise and Connect, featuring dinner and dancing onboard a luxury yacht as it circles Manhattan Harbor.
Surtex is held concurrently with three other GLM-managed events, offering synergistic cross-market opportunities for exhibitors and attendees alike: The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF), the National Stationery Show, and The Supply Side.
For more information, or to register visit www.surtex.com.
The Craft & Hobby Association (CHA) Winter Convention & Trade Show, held last February in Anaheim, California was the second best attended show in CHA history, says show producers. The show attracted more than 14,820 attendees representing all industry categories—this was about 9% down from the record-breaking 2007 Winter Show. The 2008 CHA Winter Show welcomed 5,754 buyers from more than 61 different countries. The attendance figures reflect a new reporting methodology initiated in 2007. CHA is now reporting three categories of actual attendees: exhibitor personnel, buyers, and a new category, business networkers. Business networkers include attendees that, while not buying or exhibiting, contribute to the business done at the show. There were 1,528 business networkers in attendance that include designers, non-exhibiting manufacturers, manufacturer's representatives, teachers, publishers, service providers as well as 299 members of the press.
Exhibiting companies reported steady order writing and high quality booth traffic as highlights of the show.
During the show, CHA also celebrated the best of the best in original product design, creative communication tactics, and merchandising as part of the Innovations Showcase, Golden Press Kit, and Exhibiting With Excellence award competitions. Judged by CHA Staff, consultants, and members of the press, exhibiting companies were recognized for their outstanding efforts during special show awards presentation ceremonies.
The Best of Show winner in the category of Innovations Showcase went to Helix USA Ltd for The Paper Craft Station; the Golden Press Kit award went to Plaid Enterprises. In the category of Exhibiting with Excellence, awards are presented to companies whose dynamic displays and merchandising techniques enhanced the overall atmosphere of the show floor. Canvas Corp. was a winner in the Art Materials and Framing division; Kaleidoscope Collections in Digital Imaging division; Saleutions in Fabric/Quilting/Needlecraft division; BagWorks in General Crafts; Flower Soft in the International Pavilion; Debra Quartermain and Marie Browning Creates in License and Design; C-Thru Ruler (also known as Little Yellow Bicycle) in the Scrapbooking and Paper Crafts division; and ScrapOnizer in New Exhibitor.
For a full list of all winners and descriptions of their winning products and spaces, visit the CHA website at www.craftandhobby.org.
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