10/29/2014
The Art of Giving
Jennifer Polanz
It’s almost that time. You know, that time where you board an airplane or steer your car toward the nearest gift show, preparing to be overwhelmed with gifts of all types, shapes, colors and styles. It’s a daunting task to buy gift products and one that can make or break an entire department for the better part of a year.
However, when done well, a gift department that includes holiday décor can help buoy a traditionally seasonal garden center business. The key, however, is the done-well part. It’s vital that buyers know their customers’ buying habits and understand just what their customers want (which, perhaps, is different than what the owner wants). Good buyers talk frequently with their customers, even visiting their homes to understand design preferences. Then they take those preferences to market, armed with the ability to make key decisions quickly when faced with showroom after showroom of products.
And let’s get to those products, shall we? We’ve talked to a couple of key people at gift markets to see what trends they’ve observed for the 2015 gift season. Here’s what they told us.
Key Trends
The Dallas Market Center caters to buyers in the South, as well as sections of the Midwest. The market, which houses permanent showrooms year-round along with temporaries during seasonal shows, has grown considerably in the last 10 years. Jim Lugannani, vice president of leasing, is primarily responsible for the permanent exhibitors on the gift side and he’s seeing a shift in color trends for spring 2015.
“What we’re seeing are more blues and purples to cool off the landscape,” he notes. “Early indications are we’re moving away from bright colors to more muted colors; neutral colors for that organic feel. We’re returning from this past year to the gold and brass, with that feeling of luxury continuing. We expect to see more of that in 2015 also.”
On the seasonal gift side with the Christmas holidays Jim says that the gold and brass look continues, as well as the more muted color palette.
Meanwhile, at AmericasMart in Atlanta, where one of the largest gift shows in the country takes place each year in January, the color trends are a bit different. Jill Ford, who’s the vice president of leasing in the Gardens section (formally called Living. Outdoor/Indoor. The Gardens), says she is seeing Vintage Palm Beach colors reminiscent of ocean towns with bright colors and playful patterns, as well as sun-bleached shades that compliment clay, tile and terra cotta.
Another trend Jim noticed is one in which homeowners and retailers are pulling together an eclectic look with multi-media textures—combinations of wood, wicker, textured stone and natural rock to create a handcrafted feel. Vintage is still big as well, particularly in apparel, jewelry and furniture. But now it’s mixed with other types of product, as well.
Jill says garden retailers can find opportunities with products featuring reclaimed and repurposed materials, something that’s trending heavily right now. She adds living walls have been growing in popularity over the past few years with both commercial and residential projects.
Companies with new introductions to watch at AmericasMart in Atlanta include the new Jamie Durie Signature collection of garden products, as well as Studio M by Magnet Works, Goldcrest, Seaside Casual, Plants on Walls, Marchioro, Songbird Essentials and Steel Heart, says Jill.
As for types of products, she still sees some trends continuing into 2015. “With the casual and outdoor living category, I would say BBQ/smokers/outdoor pizza ovens and firepit accessories are big. In the general category, I think personalization has become more popular,” she notes, adding keepsakes with initials, locations and other items that inspire memories are hot. “Garden centers can really grow their profits by introducing gift items that appeal to outdoor/garden enthusiasts like books about gardening, bird-themed stationary or outdoor entertaining items.”
Back at Dallas Market Center, buyers will be able to find not only gift and home décor products at this year’s January Total Home & Gift market, but also green goods as it’s partnering for the first time with the Texas Nursery & Landscape Association (TNLA) for its Winter Showcase. So far there are nearly 40 exhibitors on board for green lines, hard goods, irrigation, nursery and landscape.
“They’re going to be on the first floor of the World Trade Center connecting point to the International Trade Plaza that has our Christmas products,” Jim says. “They will be bringing new buyers to Dallas with a range of nursery and landscape products.”
Trends from the Runways
The New York and Paris fashion shows are done for another season and the trends are set for spring 2015. Fashion trickles down from apparel to virtually all aspects of design, including home décor. It may be a year or more for these trends to show up in the outdoor décor segment. Here’s just a taste of what experts from the fashion industry saw this fall:
• Yellows of all types were prevalent on the runways, making it a color to watch in apparel for 2015.
• Military greens and khakis made appearances in multiple collections.
• Feathers and fringing, as well as the bohemian look, were trending in collections.
• Black and white, as well as blue and white, brought back some classic design elements.
• Bold reds highlighted outrageous color.
Gift Show Rundown
This year’s gift shows from across the country:
AmericasMart Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market
Permanent: January 6 – 13
Temporaries: January 8 – 12
Dallas Total Home & Gift Market, Dallas Market Center
Permanent: January 14 – 20
Temporaries: January 15 – 18
Seattle Gift Show, Washington State Convention Center (temporaries) in conjunction with Pacific Market Center (permanent)
Permanent: January 14 – 20
Temporaries: January 16 – 19
Philadelphia Gift Show, Greater Philadelphia Expo Center
January 17 – 20
Las Vegas Furniture, Home Decor & Gift Market
January 18 - 22
LA Winter Market, LA Mart
January 21 – 26
Minneapolis Gift, Home & Accessory Show, Minneapolis Mart
January 23 – 27
Windy City Gift Show, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois
January 24 – 27
Toronto Gift Fair, The International Centre & Congress Centre
January 25 – 29
New York NOW (previously NYIGF), Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
January 31 – February 4
Orlando Gift Show, Orange County Convention Center
January 31 – February 2
San Francisco International Gift Fair, Moscone Center
February 21 – 24
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