7 W NEW YORK™
CELEBRATES OCTOBER TABLETOP MARKET
WITH THE NATION’S TOP BUYERS IN ATTENDANCE
NEW YORK (November 12, 2007) – The Fall Tabletop Week at 7 W New York™, which took place from October 27-31, was a huge success – attracting prominent national and international buyers as well as key members of the trade and shelter media. MMPI show management credit the venue’s growing lineup of premier brands along with targeted events and amenities with making 7 W a favorite destination for prominent industry professionals.
According to Chris Collins, vice president and general manager of 7 W, “This market was phenomenal. Our tabletop tenants enjoyed the best activity here to date. Our roster of buyer attendees reads like no other at any market in the world, as the most powerful and significant buyers converged on 7 W to preview 2008 offerings.”
TASTEMAKERS SET THE MOOD
The scene was set the moment attendees arrived. In the lobby, Keith Lowery, Two’s Company’s talented visual stylist, created a series of innovative table settings – packed with design ideas for entertaining throughout the day. The color palette on display celebrated the earthy colors of fall and was indicative of a trend throughout the building toward the color green. Shades from chartreuse to lime were seen in several spaces including tag, Vance Kitira International and BAUM Brothers. Brown was another popular tone that was swirled with cream and white by exhibitors such as VIETRI and Zak! Designs in new ceramic, plastic and melamine collections. Other color stories were black and white punctuated with touches of bold red. These cool colors dominated the Red Vanilla showroom, a three-year-old company known for bringing fashion forward designs to the marketplace.
7 W continued to offer a variety of events during the market that proved their strength as a trend-forward segment of the tabletop industry. Internationally renowned designer Karim Rashid personally autographed a number of his whimsical wares designed exclusively for Ritzenhoff, marking the trend towards impeccably crafted artistic pieces. Entertaining expert David Tutera discussed the latest trends in tabletop and party settings to a packed crowd. He then went on to sign one of his pieces in the bustling Zrike Company showroom for a crowd of buyers. For something completely different, author, cellist and the President of Menus and Music Productions, Sharon O’Connor explored the perfect pairings for the ultimate dining experience. Throughout the show, buyers enjoyed her fresh approach to music and entertaining.
The show featured a wide range of trend-setting products and inspiring ideas from top-tier designers and style experts. With floor upon floor of product launches, 7 W offered new and innovative merchandise for retailers of every size and focus.
Founder and CEO of eTabletop, Christina Norsig, commented, “7 W breathes fresh air into the industry; it breeds variety and creativity. There is something for everyone here, for every segment of the market, from small gift stores to large retailers. As a buyer, you can’t miss this.”
There was enough panache to go around as attendees explored the ten floors of the 7 W building to see the diversity of products that really sets 7 W apart.
According to Garry Schermann, of tag, “The trend is that people are looking for things that seem unique and handmade. We see a shift away from mass. Buyers are looking for vintage looks so that their customers can purchase the heirlooms of tomorrow. Our new products reflect this trend.”
This design direction was a common thread among many companies. Limited edition and custom-made pieces popped up in a variety of showrooms including Arte Italia and kkooll collections.
On the 7th Floor, a growing number of Italian companies exhibited products from the two ends of the design spectrum. First time exhibitor, Tessitura Pardi, showed exquisite linens for the table created in a traditional Italian artisanal manner using century-old patterns while down the hall, Guzzini and Ego Vietri Veneziano showed cutting edge technology and modern looks crafted in glass and plastics.
According to Fernando Salvo, US Account Manager of Guzzini, “This was a great show for us. What we really come away with is a sense of the real opportunities in this market. In addition to buyers, we met retailers that are interested in coming to Europe to develop collections together. These are the kinds of partnerships that we are looking for in the American market.”
The ever-popular VIETRI was buzzing throughout the show with word spreading about their new collection of stunning ceramic light fixtures. Cara Fratto, marketing manager for VIETRI commented, “Even before we got to market, we had more press appointments this year than ever before. This is great for us as we were introducing several exciting collections including our Rigato ceramic line as well as our new lighting which has already proven popular with both buyers and media.”
Organic shapes also figured into the design trends. At the Richard Cohen Collection, L’Objet’s new lux coral-covered tea sets were bold statements for a table. At Tozai Home, delicate coral and sea anemone shapes were on display as pure white sculptures and centerpieces. The Boston Warehouse playful line of Animalhouse kitchen gadgets designed by RISD students added colorful new hummingbirds and a plump turkey baster to their range. Magenta Inc. and Two’s Company also showed off fashionable faux bois (wood) looks. Godinger Silver launched new additions to their Shannon Dublin faceted crystal series of delicate glass flowers, which were a big hit with buyers.
Age matters…In Gallery On Six, new collections from 100-year-old design icon, Eva Zeisel, for Royal Stafford and from Hogri an almost 100-year old German stainless steel kitchen and bar accessories company (new to the American market) were hot items. Colored Glass is in…distinctive colored barware was on display at the Trading Cove and MoMo Panache. Ego Vietri Veneziano showed a quilted tumbler in unusual coned shapes and colors.
The offerings at 7 W just keep getting better as new showrooms join and others expand to exhibit growing collections. This market featured three ribbon cuttings as Now Designs moved into a new, larger showroom on the ninth floor (Suite 935) and Studio Silversmith (Suite 539) and Kay Dee Designs (Suite C108) launched showrooms in time for the show.
According to Donna Andonian, brand manager, April Cornell, Now Designs, “We do really appreciate the fact that we are in a larger space. It allows us to improve on our presentation. Moving to the 9th floor was also great for us. We are now near our competitors but we feel it is a friendly competition that helps us all. This first market in the new space proved we had made the right move. We had appointments with all of our major clients in addition to drop in traffic from some new buyers and members of the media.”
Chris Collins of 7 W continued, “All reports were overwhelmingly positive and the excitement over the future strategy for temporary suite offerings here at 7 W for the spring brought the buzz in the building to even greater levels.”
NOTE: Product and Event Images Available Upon Request.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Claire Weingarden Chris Abbate/Danielle De Vita
Public Relations Manager Novità Communications
Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. 718.783.3160/718.857.4806
Phone: 312.527.7790 info@novitapr.com
E-mail: cweingarden@mmart.com
7 W NEW YORK™ is a wholesale mart building, catering to the buyers of Home Décor, Table Top, Giftware, Textiles and Decorative Accessories. Its daily hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm with extended hours during special market weeks. 7 W New York is a trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI).
MERCHANDISE MART PROPERTIES, INC. (MMPI) is a trade show and property management firm, specializing in managing buildings devoted to wholesale showrooms and commercial office space. MMPI produces more than 300 trade shows, market events and conferences each year.
MMPI manages The Merchandise Mart and 350 West Mart Center in Chicago; Market Square, the Suites at Market Square, Hamilton Market, Plaza Suites, Furniture Plaza and the National Furniture Mart in High Point, N.C.; the Architects & Designers Building and 7 W New York in New York; the Boston Design Center in Boston; the L.A. Mart in Los Angeles; and the Washington Design Center and Federal Center Southwest in Washington D.C.
VORNADO REALTY TRUST, owners of MMPI, based in New York City, is a fully integrated equity real estate investment trust. Vornado’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and are traded under the symbol VNO.
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