A Great Show in Atlanta

Hi there! It's been a while since I've posted here. Sorry if you've been checking back, looking for something new. It's been a very busy time here at TW!

Today's post was written by my first guest blogger- none other than Deborah Chapman, TW owner. Last week she returned from the AmericasMart show in Atlanta, and she has a lot to share with you! Keep reading for show info and lots of great links to fun things online.

-Jen

Wow! What a show!
Last week we launched our new Crosby & Taylor Collections (Baby Line and American Stoneware) at AmericasMart in Atlanta.



Rosella (my high-school aged daughter) and Malina (the daughter of my office mate from grad school days at the U of O) joined me in our booth. Everyone loved talking with the girls and it seemed like they were born to sell pewter. I rewarded them with some great restaurant meals at Nava, Murphy’s, and The Flying Biscuit.



Rosella (l) and Malina (r) enjoying a meal at Nava.

Although many people felt that there were fewer buyers at the show (than in past summers), our ads led them right to our booth. We hardly stopped writing orders or talking throughout the show.

Most popular items were our new toddler dishes, our new American stoneware, and our measuring cups. The SuperPosts were also a huge hit. Oddly enough, even though the news is full of doom and gloom about the economy, our highest priced items are still our top-sellers.

Buyers were excited to hear that our Vineyard Spoons and Cups – on individual posts – and on the SuperPost – have been selected as a Paula’s Pick for her Christmas magazine. We believe that this will hit the newsstands next month. AmericasMart is putting in a new demonstration kitchen and there was a rumor circulating that Paula will be the guest cook at the January show. We have our fingers crossed!

An added bonus to doing a trade show is seeing our booth neighbors. We loved the new colors in Glenn’s Royal Palm Botanicals products and his disco music, of course. (But we missed his dance moves.) Ricky and Lucy, of Diane Markin, are every bit as cute as Lucy and Ricky were on our favorite old T.V. show!

Sandra, of Bryson Studios, delighted us with the news that she is expecting her first child in November. And Bonnie, from Sunblossom Solar Gifts, told me all about her upcoming trip to Beijing to cheer on her amazing son-in-law, Paul Schulte.

We were on sabbatical this year from Buyers Market but look forward to returning there – and to AmericasMart – in early 2009.

-Deborah

Photo of Paula Deen courtesy of pauladeen.com. Photo of Paul Schulte courtesy of paulschulte.com.