NICHE magazine » Retail Details

Exotic Materials, Big Winners

Karol V. Menzie — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:17:35 +0000

: Todd Reed won Best of Show for his palladium, 22kt gold, moonstone, diamond, sapphire and moldavite locket. Credit: Robert & Orasa Weldon for AGTA

Unusual metals such as palladium, rhodium and oxidized sterling silver, and strikingly unusual gemstones such as Brazilian tourmalines and moldavites join the more familiar gold and silver, diamonds and pearls in winning the 2012 AGTA Spectrum Awards hosted by the American Gem Trade Association.

Todd Reed, a self-taught goldsmith from Boulder, Colo., won Best of Show for his palladium and 22kt yellow gold locket. Shaped like an elongated teardrop, it is paved with blue moonstones, gray and white diamonds and blue sapphires, and opens to reveal a tiny moldavite Buddha.

The Fashion Forward award went to Belle Brooke Barer, Belle Brooke Designs, Inc. of Los Angeles, for her oxidized sterling necklace with a 30ct chalcedony cabochon accented with diamonds. Best Use of Color winner is Deirdre Featherstone, of Featherstone Design, New York, who combines platinum with opals, blue zircons, tanzanites, Paraiba tourmalines and diamonds in a pair of earrings. Dennis deJonghe of deJonghe Original Jewelry, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., won for Best Use of Palladium and Color for his necklace of palladium, aquamarine, moonstone, diamonds and pearls.

The competition, now in its 25th year, honors and promotes designers who use colored gemstones and cultured pearls in their work. This year’s judges were goldsmith Klaus Burgel, Sylvain Chervin of Carvin French, Cindy Edelstein of the Jeweler’s Resource Bureau, Patricia Faber of Aaron Faber Gallery and Clay Zava of Zava Master Cuts. The awards will be presented at the 2012 AGTA GemFair Tucson, Jan. 31-Feb. 5. For a complete list of winners, click here.

Rosen Group Announces 2012 Show Dates

Karol V. Menzie — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:16:46 +0000

Retailers will find a wide-ranging selection of work from new and best-selling artists at the winter Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia in February and NICHE: The Show in Las Vegas in June, the two wholesale trade shows scheduled by The Rosen Group for 2012.

Seminars, networking and camaraderie, as well as the best in jewelry, home decor, accessories and gifts, will be offered at the Buyers Market, Feb. 18-20 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. A Jewelry Preview, including work by more than 200 contemporary jewelers, kicks off on Friday from 4-7 p.m. The Buyer’s Market opens officially the following day. Added to this year’s mix of events is a 30th anniversary celebration on Sunday evening, as well as inclusion of the BMAC’s Merit Award program winners and guild booths, previously presented at BMAC summer shows, on the selling floor.

“Our goal this year is to consolidate and focus our resources and attention on making the February and June events bigger and better,“ said Wendy Rosen, president and CEO of The Rosen Group, in releasing the new show dates. The company will not produce a summer Buyers Market in 2012.

NICHE: The Show, now going into its third consecutive year, will be held June 1-3, during Jewelry Week, at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.

Market Calendar

The Niche Magazine Staff — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:16:03 +0000

JANUARY 2012
Jan. 21-23
American Craft Retailers Expo
Orlando, Fla.
888-427-2381

Jan. 31-Feb. 5
AGTA GemFair Tucson
Tucson, Ariz.
800-972-1162

FEBRUARY 2012
Feb. 2-6
Atlanta Apparel
Atlanta, Ga.
800-285-6278

Feb. 4-6
Atlantic Craft Trade Show
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
902-492-2773

Feb. 5-6
The Buyers Cast & Carry Valley Forge
Oaks, Pa.
717-796-2377

Feb. 5-7
Edison Furniture & Accessory Market
Edison, N.J.
305-792-9990

Feb. 11-13
Memphis Gift & Jewelry Show
Memphis, Tenn.
630-241-9865

Feb. 18-20
BUYERS MARKET OF AMERICAN CRAFT
Philadelphia, Pa.
800-432-7238

Feb. 18-20
globalDESIGN
Philadelphia, Pa.
914-738-8485

Feb. 19-21
Columbus MarketPlace
Dublin, Ohio
888-332-8979

Feb. 19-22
Alberta Gift Show
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
416-679-0170

Feb. 22-26
American Craft Council Show
Baltimore, Md.
800-836-3470

Feb. 23-28
Denver Gift, Home, Jewelry & Resort Show
Denver, Colo.
800-289-6278

Feb. 26-27
Louisville Gift Show
Shepherdsville, Ky.
513-861-1139

Feb. 28-March 2
GlobalShop
Las Vegas, Nev.
800-933-8735

MARCH 2012
March 2-6
Minneapolis Mart Gift, Home & Accessory Show
Minneapolis, Min.
800-626-1298

March 3-5
Portland Gift & Accessories Show
Portland, Ore.
800-346-1212

March 3-5
The Norton Shows
Gatlinburg, Tenn.
865-436-6151

March 4-7
Montreal Gift Show
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
800-611-6100

March 11-13
MJSA Expo New York
New York, N.Y.
401-274-3840

March 16-18
Atlanta Spring Gift, Home Furnishings & Holiday Market
Atlanta, Ga.
404-220-3000

March 16-20
Columbus MarketPlace
Columbus, Ohio
888-332-8979

March 17
Offinger’s Handcrafted Marketplace
Columbus, Ohio
888-878-4438

March 17-19
New England Products Trade Show
Portland, Maine
800-638-6787

March 20-22
Spring Gift & Home Market
Los Angeles, Calif.
800-677-6278

March 22-25
Dallas Apparel & Accessories Market
Dallas, Texas
800-325-6587

March 22-25
Dallas Total Home & Gift Market
Dallas, Texas
800-325-6587

March 24-27
Boston Gift Show
Boston, Mass.
678-285-3976

March 28
The Buyers Cash & Carry Madison
Madison, Wis.
717-796-2377

APRIL 2012
April 12-16
Atlanta Apparel
Atlanta, Ga.
800-285-6278

April 17-20
7 W New York Tabletop Week
New York, N.Y.
800-677-6278

April 22
The Buyers Cash & Carry Marlborough
Marlborough, Mass.
717-796-2377

April 22-24
Minneapolis Mart Gift, Home & Accessory Show
Minneapolis, Minn.
800-626-1298

Calendar dates were accurate at press time, but last-minute changes do occur. If you plan to attend any of the listed events, call to reconfirm dates and times before making travel plans. If you would like to be included in the next wholesale trade show calendar, send listings information to: Market Calendar, NICHE magazine, 3000 Chestnut Ave., Suite 300, Baltimore MD 21211; fax: 410-243-7089.

Impulse Buy

Caitlin Fultz — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 16:24:01 +0000

Need the perfect little something to give your shop some added whimsy this holiday season? Then Nicole Golden’s playful holiday ornaments deserve a spot on your counter. A part of her Ligonier, Pa.-based, Pea Soup collection, the wool felt creations are hand-stitched and wholesale for $10 or less. Each is thoughtfully packaged for a gift that is sure to make anyone smile.