New Casual Showrooms Open In Chicago’s Merchandise Mart

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. has announced that Three Birds Casual and Ratana Home & Floral have opened showrooms. Three Birds Casual opened its showroom on the 17^th Floor for the ICFA July Pre Market, July 9-11, and will be open for the International Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, September 15-18. The company’s showroom, suite #1783, will open daily for members of the interior design trade.

Meanwhile, Ratana Home & Floral has also opened a showroom on the 17^th Floor in suite #1777. Like Three Birds, Ratana will also open for the September Casual Furniture & Accessories Market, and is open daily for the design trade.

American Craft Show Exhibit Application Deadline Approaching

The American Craft Council has announced that two weeks remain to apply for each of its six 2009 shows; the deadline to apply to exhibit is July 31^st, and forms may be downloaded at www.zapplication.org. For the first time, Canadian craft artists are now eligible to apply for the shows, which take place in Baltimore, Maryland (February 24-27); Atlanta, Georgia (March 12-15); St. Paul, Minnesota (April 17-19); San Francisco, California (August 14-16); Charlotte, North Carolina (November 6-8); and Sarasota, Florida (December 4-6).

For more information, call 800.836.3470 or e-mail shows@craftcouncil.org.

Replogle Globes Announces New Branding Materials

Replogle Globes has updated its logo and branding materials. The redesigned marketing tools, developed with Planet Propaganda, include a modified logo, a national and international stationery system, electronic templates for digital correspondence and a graphic standards guide to direct all future materials.

Reploge Globes’ new brand identity was developed in conjunction with Planet Propaganda.

Herend Announces 2008 Artist Event Schedule

Martin’s Herend Imports, importer and distributor of Herend porcelain, has announced the dates of its annual artist event series. In addition to painting demonstrations by a Herend artist and availability of an assortment of pieces rarely found in the United States, the 16-city tour will include the United States’ first Herend painting workshop, to be held at Martin’s Herend Imports in Sterling, Virginia.

Herend Artist Attila Keczer will demonstrate techniques used in painting various designs, including the signature fishnet pattern used on Herend figurines. He will also sign purchases of pieces personally painted by him as well as any others chosen for personalization. The company will also introduce limited edition figurines in The Mosaic Collection during the tour.

The event dates include:

• October 4-5: Neiman Marcus, Short Hills, New Jersey.
• October 8: Shreve, Crump & Low, Boston, Massachusetts.
• October 9: The Emporium, Kennebunkport, Maine.
• October 11-12: John Yeager, Manchester, Vermont.
• October 15 -16: Neiman Marcus, Washington, D.C.
• October 18: Painter Workshop, Martin’s Herend Imports, Sterling, Virginia
• October 22-23: New York Tabletop Market at 41 Madison, New York, New York.
• October 23-24: Scully & Scully, New York, New York.
• October 25-26: Belk, Charlotte, North Carolina.
• October 28-29: Neiman Marcus, Troy, Michigan.
• October 31-November 1: L.V. Harkness, Lexington, Kentucky.
• November 4-5: Gump’s, San Francisco, California.
• November 7-8: Nielsens, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• November 11-12: Halls Plaza, Kansas City, Missouri.
• November 14-15: Bering’s, Houston, Texas.
• November 17-18: Lawrens, Huntsville, Alabama.
• November 20-21: Charles Willis, Atlanta, Georgia.
• November 22-23: Consider It Done, Bethesda, Maryland.

Green To Be Featured At Philadelphia Buyers Market

The Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft, August 2-4 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, has created special signage indicating which exhibitors produce eco-friendly products. A map of the show floor will be updated to highlight these artists.

Retailers are invited to attend a breakfast seminar about successful “green” business practices, “The Color of Money,” featuring Lynn Switanowski of Creative Business Consulting; and a roundtable discussion, “Hopping on the Green Bandwagon.”

The Bike Chain Bowl is available from Resource Revival, an exhibitor at the Buyers Market of American Craft.

Pacific Market Center Sponsors Seminars, Buyer Amenities

Pacific Market Center (PMC), in Seattle, Washington, will host the Summer Gift & Home Accessories Show, August 13-19, and offer buyers a multitude of business-building seminars.

Throughout the week, PMC will host nationally recognized professionals from the retail, marketing and merchandising industries including Thompson Lange, the co-owner and buyer for Homescapes Carmel, and Kelley Moore, lifestyle and entertaining expert who has appeared on the “Ellen Degeneres Show,” “The Tyra Banks Show” and the “Today Show.” This year’s expert-led seminars include lessons on how to eliminate chaos in the office for optimal productivity, the do’s and don’ts of a competitive business, building a brand, developing long-term relationships with customers and online business marketing.

In addition, buyers can enjoy events and amenities including:

• Salsa Party featuring sangria, tapas and salsa dancing lessons, August 14, 6-7:30 p.m.
• Party in Margaritaville featuring margaritas, appetizers and music, August 18, 6-8 p.m.
• Ice cream in the afternoons.
• International teas and Northwest coffee service available daily.
• Scotty’s NW Bistro discounted breakfast treats.
• Buyers’ lounges with Wi-Fi access and Internet hook-up.
• Buyer Socials every afternoon with wines and microbrews.
• On-site market concierge.
• Touch-screen directories and product searches.
• Free parking.

To register, visit www.pacificmarketcenter.com.

Howard Miller Partners With Ty Pennington

Home furnishings and clock manufacturer Howard Miller has announced a new line of clocks and storage solutions designed with Ty Pennington, host of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. The new collections will be available during World Market Center’s Las Vegas Market, July 28-August 1, in suite #A-635.

The clock collection includes both floor and wall-mounted clocks, and the storage line, Home Storage Solutions by Ty Pennington, includes multi-purpose organizational systems for every room.

Howard Miller’s Glenwood Falls Gallery Wall Clock is finished in black satin with worn edges and includes Ty Pennington’s signature on the dial.

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