Back from Atlanta January 2009
Thank goodness I didn’t have to spend much time outside ~ it was cold! (Well, at least for a Florida girl like me)
It was a busy show meeting with clients, networking & visiting with fellow artist friends, researching new clients & making new contacts, trying to figure out where the heck I was half the time…
I realized that this was my 9th trip to the Mart (!) and even so, I have to reorient myself each time. What made navigating this year more difficult was the grand opening of Building 2’s West Wing (so now there are 4 buildings instead of 3 to get lost in). Much grumbling was heard about moved showrooms, getting lost, etc., but I predict by next year everyone will be seamlessly navigating the new building as part of the old. The Gardens floors, now in the new wing, are particularly nice.
It was a kick to see my ceramic Home Tweet Home giftware collection on display in the Westland Giftware showroom. There are frames, candle holders, candy dishes and salt & pepper shakers. Westland did a great job with interpreting my designs and I couldn’t be more pleased. Here are a few snaps:
Stay tuned in the near future I will post a from sketch-to-reality on one of these products.
Overall, when asked “How’s the show been?”, most replied brightly, “Better than expected! Traffic has been good as have orders.” I felt much optimism from everyone and I look forward to this mood continuing and growing throughout 2009! As for trends, since everyone is staying conservative and sticking with the tried & true in these times, nothing new was strongly emerging for the most part.
The new Licensing & Design section on the 3rd floor of Building 2 was rather sparsely exhibited (about 10 exhibitors), but of the ones I talked to, they said that it had been a good show for them as well. The area itself looked rather temporary with pipe & drape booths rather than hard walls (like at Surtex) and large open spaces where more exhibitors should have been. In my opinion, it would have looked better to at least have put up a couple false walls to close off those wide open spaces. All in all, the new L&D show has potential to become a good show at which to exhibit.
I apologize for the lack of photos ~ for some reason, I seemed to forget I had a camera this year! I wish I’d gotten a shot at dinner with my art buddy Gina Rivas and the next night with Lynnea Washburn, Martha Collins & her sassy sister Betsy (who is a botanist and somehow knows more about art licensing than all of us). Or at lunch with Tara Reed as we shared stories from the licensing trenches. Or visiting with Anna Maria Horner as she signed cute frames she just released with C.R. Gibson. Or catching up with my cat-loving show-friend, Tim Mikkelsen from MikWright (if you’ve never checked them out, you MUST!!). Or checking out Susan from Leanin’ Tree’s shoes. I told her I would dress entirely different if I could walk further than across the room in heels like those! Anyway, I know I am likely forgetting somebody here, but I am not actually awake yet :-))
Here’s hoping for a creative, productive & profitable 2009!
January 12th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Hi BJ!!!
wow…sounds like a wonderful trip….I love the ceramic pieces in your collection…the colours are wonderful….I learn so much with each and every visit here…I love popping in to see what you’re up to…I also can’t wait to see the piece from sketch to finished product…that will be cool!
I have to also check out all the great links you posted!!
Have a wonderful day and glad you’re back!!!!
Hugs
Diana
January 12th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
The ceramic pieces look fantastic. Congratulations! It sounds like you had a terrific trip! Hope you have a very busy and successful 2009!
January 12th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
BJ — It was so great to meet you in person — thank you for taking time to have lunch and chat with me. Your collection looks amazing — may it bring smiles to many and nice royalty checks to you! :)
Tara
TaraReedDesigns.com
January 12th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Many Kudos, my friend! The collection looks fabulous. I’m glad you are happy with the products. It’s always so much fun to see it all in the showroom. Looking forward to hearing all about your trip over lunch some day.
XO! Joyce
January 13th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
ooh it looks like they did a beautiful job with your work, how fun is that?!
It’s nice to hear there was an optimistic vibe about the place too, I’m glad it sounds like people are looking ahead!
January 13th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
your line looks great, I think you showed me some of these sketches one time….you must be pleased with how they all came out. I have heard mixed reviews about Atlanta from various attendees and exhibitors. One of the Art and design exhibitors said that the show was dead for them, not a lot of traffic and didn’t like the pipe and drape look, not professional enough.
One of my clients said the traffic for the whole show was off by large amounts from last year, but some good orders came in from the sales he did make. He said that his expectations were so low that anything that he got seemed good. so, there may be hope yet. I am off to NYC for 4 days of fun and business early Friday am. I am bundling up for what is expected to be a frigid weekend all over the North East…going to a great show at the Met on Love (think Renaissance Italy) and we are going see “South Pacific” with friends on Sunday after brunch in NY which is always fun. Meetings on Monday. Should be good.
talk soon,
carol
January 15th, 2009 at 9:49 am
Hi BJ,
I had a fantastic time at the Atlanta Mart…I am disappointed that I didn’t remember that your line “Home Tweet Home” was to debue at the show, I would have loved to check it out. I too had a camera and only used it once…too much was going on. I am a very optimistic person anyways but I got a very good vibe from buyers as well as manufactors at the show so I will continue on the positive path for 2009!
Keep in touch,
Gina
January 15th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Hi BJ sorry I missed you in Atlanta, but for me it made perfect sense not to go this time with the economy in a rut and today they showed retail was down more than expected 2.7 %. so I am glad to save my cash and just work from here. I will be in NYC for Stationery since I can drive there.
I love your collection, very nice.. I hope it does really well for you!! I might be going to Quilt Market this Oct so if you go we should hook up. I just recently signed on with a new fabric company which is great!
okay back to work! By the way are you on Facebook??
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Hi BJ,
I’m so impressed with your collection! I loved hearing about how it is done from sketch to the finished piece. I’ve done the same with a line buttons I’ve designed.. and it is a long process. You should be proud. Love the whimsy and colors!
Hope to meet you some day. I also belong to the art of licensing yahoo group.
Denise
January 26th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
I am so delighted that you commented on my blog. At first I had a mini freak because I know another B Lantz who has been a direct competitor of mine and only falsely kind, at best. I did decide to Google you and was so relieved that you are a much nicer B Lantz than the one I know.
I can’t wait to dig into your scrumpious blog. My daughter/partner was already reading things off your blog to me while I was working on a project (she was also curious about who B Lantz was). We are also friends with Anna Maria! Don’t you just want to squeeze the stuffin’s out of her? So special. Also, we were at the Houston Quilt Show together and never met.
Would love to keep in touch!
January 30th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
We need a Web directory for all Atlanta pages and websites.
March 12th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
The collection looks fantastic! Thanks for the run down on the show.
April 20th, 2010 at 11:23 pm
I am in love with this collection. Where can i find and buy it?? I want a whole dish set of this collection, does one exist? If not, is it something you would consider creating? please, please, please, please!!! i have one of the mugs from this collection, and it makes me sooooooo happy to drink out of it. i looooove it, and i want more. please email me, and let me know where i can get more and if there is any chance of a whole dish set in the future. annasophiaosorio@yahoo.com