Showing posts with label Atlanta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Atlanta. Show all posts
The day is finally here!! I've been busily working on final details for our Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams party and I'm excited to see all of you tonight! If you're in the Atlanta area, it's still not too late for you to attend. Join us from 5-7pm tonight at the MGBW Atlanta showroom as we celebrate our success with our first Room Service Atlanta project and our new partnership with MGBW Atlanta!! We'll have bites, drinks, and after-work fun, so don't miss it--I'll see you there!
Join me this weekend...
I'm delighted to have been asked by AmericasMart Atlanta to be one of their "five hottest design bloggers" at a Pillow Talk & Cocktails event this weekend. Join me on Saturday as I present my transformed 18x18 pillow and talk about the inspiration behind my design. Hope to see you there!
Announcing...Room Service Atlanta!
Our site is finally live, so please go check it out and learn more about this amazing organization we've created and how we hope to help deserving families. And if you're here in Atlanta, we'd love to have your help! Click here for more info.
Our site is finally live, so please go check it out and learn more about this amazing organization we've created and how we hope to help deserving families. And if you're here in Atlanta, we'd love to have your help! Click here for more info.
Weekend highlights from Market...
A beautiful booth by Mr. Brown from Julian Chichester, a new line launched in October 2010. The booth was beautifully styled, the furniture was gorgeous, and the sales reps were as kind & helpful as could be (hey Palmer!!).
Fabulous wallpaper by Osbourne and Little
Mr. Brown will also be rolling out a new collection soon, so be on the lookout for it in April!
No Mas! Cantina had this ridiculously deep copper tub on display--yours for only $7600, but it was breathtaking. It's the thing I'd imagine would be perfect for a long soak on a chilly night, somewhere where you could watch the waves crash along the shore...
This interesting dose of rustic+modern+glam, available via Camilla House Imports.
The panel was great,
and a very special thank you to Katie Belveal & Tara King from AmericasMart Atlanta for all of their hospitality & care during the weekend!
Here's to a great week,
Erika Ward of Erika Ward Interiors and I are excited to announce...
We've got something up our sleeves
we're so excited to share
We're still working on details
the when and where
We hope you'll support us and do what you can
to help improve the lives of families
as we lend a helping hand
We're so thankful that some of your favorite bloggers & designers have joined us--more information to come soon!!
It's that time again! The 2011 Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market starts tomorrow and runs through January 19th, and I'm super excited to be in attendance again! You can read all about my first experience at Market here along with a few tips to know for those of you first timers who are planning to attend. This year I've been invited to attend as a VIP and am excited about the key events they've lined up for bloggers & designers including:
- Accents: Versatility & Vitality presented by the Ethan Allen Interior Design Affiliate Program,
- All About Home: Walk & Talk, A Guided Tour with Stan Topol, founder of award-winning Stan Topol & Associates,
- Blogging, Business and Bites, a business panel discussion and cocktail party featuring bloggers/designers Brian Patrick Flynn (my boss!) of Decor Demon, Claire Watkins of High Gloss Blue, Niki Papadopoulous of Yummy Scrumptious, and Jennifer Boles of The Peak of Chic
Sometimes I get jealous when I hear of these really great boutiques and outlets in other cites in which I don't live--places like Woodson & Rummerfield's House of Design in LA. I think about how lucky the people are who live in those cities (that they get to partake of the fabulousness as often as they like), meanwhile I'm furiously bookmarking and notetaking, adding said boutique to my never-ending Must Visit list. But before I get too down, I remember that Atlanta's a pretty stellar place to live in itself, because I have access to a handful of fabulous stores that most people have on their lists (think Pieces, Stanton Home Furnishings, South of Market). We're also home to great thrift, flea, and antique markets, and Saturday I took a jaunt down to one such place-- Scott Antique Market--which is a nationally-known flea market that draws vendors from all across the country.
Photo via: Sweeteyecandy.typepad.com
Aren't these some of the most beautiful napkin rings you've ever seen? They caught my eye as I walked past the booth of Carol O'Steen from the Unique Silver Store, and I remarked that it was odd to see monograms of first names on an item that the whole family would normally use, like napkin rings. Carol shared that the monogramming of first names dates back to times when people depended on wells as their primary water source. Since the water was hard(er) to come by, clothes and household textiles were not frequently washed which meant that family members had to reuse their table napkins. As such, napkin rings were monogrammed with a person's initials or first name so family members could identify their own napkin. What I love about these rings is that so many of them are truly unique, and the detail is something you don't often see anymore. They also make a thoughtful gift for the host or hostess who loves a well dressed table!
The thing about Scott's is that there are so many great items to look through and vendors to chose from. If you're like me and love an eclectic space filled with personal treasures that have stories to tell, you'll really love this place. It's a must see for all of my Atlanta-based readers, and worth the drive for those of you who are out-of-towners. Eddie Ross even talked about some of his great finds here! Being that it's an antique market, you never know what you'll find, but I can guarantee that you'll find something special. Here's a look at what I found this weekend:
kind of kicking myself for not buying this table...
If you live in Atlanta and have a great Scott's find, leave a comment and email me a photo! If you live in a city/town with a great market of its own, let me know about that too. I'm always down to travel in search of great vintage & antiques!
Emily Giffin is the author of 5 New York Times Best Selling novels (Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love The One You're With, Heart of the Matter) and Atlanta resident, so imagine my surprise when I unexpectedly ran into her a few weeks ago! I mentioned that I was planning to do a giveaway featuring 2 of her novels, and she offered to send me autographed copies to share with you! If you're someone who loves to read as much as I do, I hope you're familiar with Emily because if not, you're depriving yourself of some entertaining and conversation-stirring reading!
Emily was kind enough to autograph her debut novel, Something Borrowed, and her latest effort, Heart of the Matter. She also included 2 "Emily Giffin" Purple Sharpies in the package as well!
Something Borrowed was recently optioned as a film and is currently in production starring Kate Hudson, John Krazinski, and Ginnifer Goodwin. Rumor has it that the sequel, Something Blue, may also hit the big screen, too. :) I hate to call her books "Chick Lit" (it sounds so shallow), so I'll say that they explore the intricacies of relationships with honesty and comedy. If you haven't picked one up already, here's your chance to win a copy!!!
There will be two giveaways, one for each Sharpie/book, and you have up to 3 chances to win (those are some pretty good odds!). To enter, simply:
1. Become a follower of this blog! Click the button to the right to follow, and if you're already a follower, please indicate that in the comments.
2. Tweet about this giveaway for an additional chance to win (let me know you've tweeted about it in the comments).
3. Mention this giveaway in a blogpost for another chance to win. Please leave the link to your post so I know where to find you!
This giveaway will close on August 2nd, 2010. Good luck!
1. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL??
2. IT'S A PRIVATE CLUB (sort of).
Most gift markets are wholesale (meaning items are sold to other retailers, not general consumers) and therefore not open to the public. Entrance is only granted to established businesses, and a guest pass can be purchased by a business for an additional $50. Attendees are expected to wear badges at all times and identification must be visible upon entering the building, so it's not the kind of place where you can just plan to mix in with the crowd--security is tight and ever present. Unfortunately, attending Market is not as simple as providing a business license for entry; AmericasMart requires all of the following to register:
- Current retail business license or federal resale tax certificate
- Imprinted business check
- Corporate credit card or proof of merchant credit card ID #
- Photo ID or passport (one per buyer)
- Personalized business ID (business card or cancelled payroll check) – One per buyer required
- Internet businesses must provide proof of search engine with website and proof of URL registration
Plus one of these:
- White or yellow page business phone listing
- Current year executed sales tax return or sales tax coupon book
- Lease agreement for commercial space
- Photo of retail store front with company signage clearly displayed
- Current invoices showing you purchase Mart related merchandise in quantity for resale
Definitely serious business.
Because Market is technically for wholesalers, every showroom has an established minimum purchase requirement (or "open"/"opening"). Depending on the company/showroom, minimums can go as low as $500 (and maybe lower for certain goods) and as high as $3,000-$5,000. Higher-end showrooms set high minimums as a means of increasing demand and ensuring that their products lines don't become oversaturated in the marketplace. Most showrooms also have minimum purchase quantities on smaller items, meaning you can't buy just one of that cute little ginger jar you had your heart set on. These rules often keep the average consumer at bay, because there aren't too many non-retailers that would want to buy a lot of 75 iPhone cases or 25 Mother-of-Pearl jewelry boxes.
- Current year executed sales tax return or sales tax coupon book
- Lease agreement for commercial space
- Photo of retail store front with company signage clearly displayed
- Current invoices showing you purchase Mart related merchandise in quantity for resale
Definitely serious business.
3. YOU HAVE TO PAY TO PLAY.
Because Market is technically for wholesalers, every showroom has an established minimum purchase requirement (or "open"/"opening"). Depending on the company/showroom, minimums can go as low as $500 (and maybe lower for certain goods) and as high as $3,000-$5,000. Higher-end showrooms set high minimums as a means of increasing demand and ensuring that their products lines don't become oversaturated in the marketplace. Most showrooms also have minimum purchase quantities on smaller items, meaning you can't buy just one of that cute little ginger jar you had your heart set on. These rules often keep the average consumer at bay, because there aren't too many non-retailers that would want to buy a lot of 75 iPhone cases or 25 Mother-of-Pearl jewelry boxes.
4. TRENDS RULE!!!
People go to Market for one of 3 reasons--to purchase items for design clients, build store inventory, or get an early peak at the trends that will be hitting the design world in as few as 4 weeks. Certain companies are known to be the Market trendsetters, and buyers flock to those showrooms to see the newest trends, as well as their fabulous displays. Want to know the trends I spotted last week? Lots of ceramic/iron animal motifs (not just owls anymore!), big infusions of fresh color featuring a lot of orange & turquoise, and an abundance of organic elements.
5. NO PHOTOGRAPHY, PLEASE.
Because Market is really about spotting the latest trends (see #4), there's fierce competition among the showrooms--everyone wants to be the manufacturer (or wholesaler) of the latest and greatest product. As such, showroom/display photography is generally not allowed. While not every showroom has a posted "no photography" sign, company reps will often ask you to put your camera away if you whip it out and start snapping away. Sometimes asking helps, sometimes not. I have a bit of personal experience with this because I was actually asked by a security guard to stop photographing a display--they don't play around! Some of the showrooms are known for scouting out their more prestigious counterparts and then copying the popular items for the next Market (lesser quality at a lower price), so it's not uncommon to see similar items on different displays. Don't be immediately fooled by the big discrepancy in price--often times it's indicative of quality.
In addition to thousands of showrooms, each Market also features dozens of seminars by well-known personalities. This year's lineup included Lifestyle Designer Eddie Ross, Potter & Interior Designer Jonathan Adler, renowned Interior Designer Suzanne Kasler, Chef Tyler Florence, and Brand Strategist Olivier Blanchard. The seminars are a great way to round out your Market experience and promise to add to your repertoire, whatever your interests! In a nutshell, I'd describe the Atlanta Gift/Home Furnishings Market as one of the best places to go to spot the newest trends and color palettes for the upcoming season.
For those of you who attended, what were your thoughts??
People go to Market for one of 3 reasons--to purchase items for design clients, build store inventory, or get an early peak at the trends that will be hitting the design world in as few as 4 weeks. Certain companies are known to be the Market trendsetters, and buyers flock to those showrooms to see the newest trends, as well as their fabulous displays. Want to know the trends I spotted last week? Lots of ceramic/iron animal motifs (not just owls anymore!), big infusions of fresh color featuring a lot of orange & turquoise, and an abundance of organic elements.
5. NO PHOTOGRAPHY, PLEASE.
Because Market is really about spotting the latest trends (see #4), there's fierce competition among the showrooms--everyone wants to be the manufacturer (or wholesaler) of the latest and greatest product. As such, showroom/display photography is generally not allowed. While not every showroom has a posted "no photography" sign, company reps will often ask you to put your camera away if you whip it out and start snapping away. Sometimes asking helps, sometimes not. I have a bit of personal experience with this because I was actually asked by a security guard to stop photographing a display--they don't play around! Some of the showrooms are known for scouting out their more prestigious counterparts and then copying the popular items for the next Market (lesser quality at a lower price), so it's not uncommon to see similar items on different displays. Don't be immediately fooled by the big discrepancy in price--often times it's indicative of quality.
In addition to thousands of showrooms, each Market also features dozens of seminars by well-known personalities. This year's lineup included Lifestyle Designer Eddie Ross, Potter & Interior Designer Jonathan Adler, renowned Interior Designer Suzanne Kasler, Chef Tyler Florence, and Brand Strategist Olivier Blanchard. The seminars are a great way to round out your Market experience and promise to add to your repertoire, whatever your interests! In a nutshell, I'd describe the Atlanta Gift/Home Furnishings Market as one of the best places to go to spot the newest trends and color palettes for the upcoming season.
For those of you who attended, what were your thoughts??
