So as I mentioned I went to the New York International Gift Fair last week to place orders for the store. I was prepared for it to be large; instead it was overwhelming!
It was spread across the Javitz Center, a pavillion outside and two piers. It was divided up into sections such as Tabletop, Accent on Design, Home, etc. My initial plan was to see every booth, decide what I liked best and then go back and place orders. Ha! By the end of day one I had barely made a dent in the show. I was acting like a shopper, not a buyer. I was stopping to explore every booth and to make sure I didn't miss anything. At the rate I was going, I would have never finished.
So day 2 I snapped into tv producer mode (my career I'm abandoning) which means very focused and super organized and started walking the show. You just walk up and down the aisles looking back and forth and only stopping at booths that fit into your vision of the store. It was easier on the second day. I was in some sort of section that sold to tourist shops and religious shops so I could exclude many booths. At the end of the day I started in on the home and tabletop sections of the show and started to spend. The fabulous booth above is Bella Cucina. I placed a large order and zoomed off to the next place.
And then it became fun. The store started to take shape, as I b0ught things I loved and hoped others would enjoy too. These vintage inspired lamps from Architects and Heroes made the cut. So did linens from Libeco, Moda Home and Pom Pom Maison. It was so crazy to spend such large quantities of money so fast. It was all on a credit card. That I'm paying off with a loan. Against my house. My heart was pounding with every transaction. Boom, boom, boom, buy! They don't even total up the orders because everyone is in such a rush to go, go, go. Every night on the train home I would add up the days receipts and make sure that I was staying on budget. And for the most part I did.
Mostly they don't let you take pictures. So I don't have that many to share. Most of the orders I placed will start shipping mid-September, so I will have lots to show then. I bought lovely letterpressed cards from Snow and Graham. And wonderful things from Cavallini papers.
I think I wound up with a lot of nice things for the home...sort of urban farmhouse or modern vintage....I'm struggling with a "tag line" that will describe the store's style. I went for high quality items with a timeless quality to them. Beeswax candles, gorgeous linens, farmhouse furniture, lots of mercury glass and cloches, garden accessories....
I'm still missing some things. Picture frames...flatware....There is a cash and carry show in Pennsylvania next month that I'm thinking of attending to fill in the gaps.
So there you go! A little glimpse into how a store gets stocked. (With new things at least.) I still have to show you how my antique merch is coming along!
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