Accessory vendors optimistic for 2008
By Lisa Casinger -- Kids Today, 11/1/2007 12:00:00 AM
Accessories, often called the jewelry of room decor, are the products parents use to create the overall ambiance in their nurseries and kids' rooms.
We spoke to vendors from several accessory categories; some say business has been flat while others have had a fairly successful 2007. All of them are optimistic for 2008.
In general it seems that while retailers and vendors typically show product in themed vignettes to wow consumers, consumers themselves are picking and choosing items from these themes so as not to overwhelm their rooms.
Joy Phillips, owner of wall decor company Creative Images, says business has been about the same, flat; however, she tempers that by saying "at least we have not lost ground as many have done in the youth furnishings category."
Creative Images exhibits at the High Point and Las Vegas markets, having closed its Atlanta showroom this year, forgoing the lease renewal.
"We closed the Atlanta showroom because more and more of our designer buyers whom we saw in Atlanta are attending the Vegas markets, which are back-to-back with the Atlanta markets," Phillips said.
The company sells through specialty stores for infant/toddler, full line furniture stores for the older child and teens and catalog and Internet for mixed age groups.
Trends in the wall decor category have changed, Phillips said. Her sales for infants and toddlers, for example, have switched during the past three to four years from moms buying one or two larger pieces to them buying smaller collections that can be grouped or placed on opposite walls.
"It took the birth of our grandson, Jack, for this trend to finally hit home," Phillips said. "Many young thirty-something couples are moving into rehabbed older homes in metropolitan areas and these homes built in the 1950s and 60s have smaller bedrooms than our current crop of McMansions. With the arrival of child number two or three, the young family moves to a larger home, where they can spread out and use larger pieces of art for the older children."
Themes selling well at Creative Images include retro 1950s and 60s styles, which probably relates to the older homes the young couples are buying, Phillips said. She often gets product inspiration from retailers as well.
For example, a collection of winter sports images evolved when a ski-area retailer suggested a couple of pieces. Phillips also watches color trends in adult home furnishings and youth fashion to "make sure we're hitting the right colors." This also leads to recoloring existing proprietary images to update their look and appeal.
Despite the flat economy and youth market, Phillips is optimistic for 2008.
"The housing market is supposed to pick up, which should drive sales in home furnishings," she said. "Also, the fact that we are a U.S. manufacturer is of growing importance. The imported product scares have moms really thinking about where their children's products are made."
Barbara Laiken-Adams, president of Lambs & Ivy, a manufacturer of room decor and bedding, said 2007 has been a challenging year.
"However, for the second half of this year we have experienced strong sales growth over the previous year," she said.
Lambs & Ivy exhibited at JPMA and ABC this year and plans to add the Atlanta gift show to its 2008 schedule. Its products are distributed through national retailers and specialty stores. The company, known mainly for bedding, ventured into the room decor category as it was a natural extension of its product line.
Laiken-Adams says rich jewel tones, earth tones and bright hues, along with more upscale textures like velvets, faux fur, ribbed velour, boa and crushed velvets are in demand and the company is expanding its accessory line to include a baby gift collection and a luxury blanket collection. Its ceiling sculptures recently won the IParenting Award for excellence.
Inspiration comes from a variety of sources, Laiken-Adams said — from retailer input to travel.
"For example, last year when I was on the Papagayo peninsula in Costa Rica, enjoying the scenery and wild life, our Papagayo collection, which is one of our best sellers, was born," Laiken-Adams said. "Another example was the birth of my grandson. With the inspiration from my children we created a magical celestial collection with inspirational words called Star Baby."
Laiken-Adams says that after 28 years in this business, regardless of the day-to-day challenges, "I can truly say I love this industry and love producing products for babies."
Doodlefish, manufacturer of bedding, lighting and wall decor, has seen significant growth this year, according to Regina Nouvel. She attributes this to the fact that they've introduced a lot of new product that has been well received.
Nouvel, who is not only the co-owner but also the wall decor and lighting designer, tries to "incorporate colors and styles popular in adult decor while staying true to the tastes of the real customer, the child" when she's working on art and lighting.
"I think many of the products on the market are too mature for small children," Nouvel said. "I try to put myself into the minds of my own children and what they would choose or create. My ultimate goal is a product that makes a child smile."
Doodlefish has a permanent showroom in Children's World in Atlanta and it exhibits at the ABC Kids Expo. Nouvel says having the Atlanta showroom allows the company to market to clothing, home decor and gift buyers nine times a year. Doodlefish has a mix of brick-and-mortar and Internet customers. And Nouvel says that while a growing number of consumers like to shop from home, "many people still want to touch and see products."
Trends Nouvel is seeing more earth tones for babies and more sophisticated but colorful looks for tweens; pink is still a top seller for girls.
"I think most consumers do not want a completely themed space, but they do want everything to coordinate and flow," she said.
Since Doodlefish has seen steady growth during the its first five years, even more so in the past 12 months, the company anticipates it will continue this momentum.
Joel K. Kent, director of marketing for Lite Source, says the company has seen "moderate sales strength with continued steady growth" in 2007 and the outlook for 2008 is one of "renewed confidence in the lighting/accessory market."
"We do understand the need for cautious optimism as the furniture, accessory and lighting industries continue to evolve," Kent said. "We are celebrating our 25th year in business in 2008 with tremendous confidence and enthusiasm for the coming year. All indicators lead us to believe that we will have a stellar year."
Lite Source has permanent showrooms in Atlanta, Dallas, High Point and Las Vegas and its products are sold to children's furniture stores, lighting stores and specialty home decor retailers. All products continue to be distributed through the company's corporate facility in Chino, Calif.
Kent says when it comes to designs, Lite Source offers products for children as well as the pre-teen and teen market. Trends include lamps with removable plush pieces, primary-colored ceramic contemporary looks as well as jewel toned pieces.
"Inspiration for our products comes in many forms. Often it may be something as simple as an unusually shaped piece of wood, a building, a child's toy, sports equipment, even a brightly colored ceramic vase," Kent said. "Basically anything with a fun theme. The style is born from function and need in the market place. We find ourselves looking at a niche that hasn't been filled, whether (it's) in-office overhead eco-friendly lighting to desktop task to true light artist lighting. Inspiration is all around us every single day."
| Products and price ranges | |||||||
| lamps/chandeliers | wall hangings | wall art | frames | clocks | other | Products | |
| L=Low, M=Medium, H=High | |||||||
| A is for Art , Larchmont, N.Y., 914-380-6413 | M | Sophisticated, fun and original artwork for children. Premium quality canvas prints are stretched by hand and arrive ready to display. Carries a variety extraordinary and exclusive wall art and personalized artwork. Made in the United States. | |||||
| Adesso Inc. , New York, 212-736-4440 | M | Produces contemporary table and floor lamps and clocks with tween/teen appeal. | |||||
| Alena Hennessy , Asheville, N.C., 828-350-7704 | M | M | M | M | Birds, baby deer, bunnies and horses in magical forest scenes adorn prints, tapestries, paintings and hanging mobiles. Work is designed to evoke a feeling of sweetness and stillness, with a touch of modern elegance. | ||
| Baby Boom , New York, 212-686-4666 | LM | LM | LM | LM | LM | Product offerings include crib bedding, room decor and diaper bags featuring favorite children's properties and brands such as Carter's, Jeep, Care Bears and more. | |
| Bananafish , Northridge, Calif., 800-899-8689 | MH | MH | MH | MH | Dedicated to supplying upscale and stylish contemporary baby bedding and accessories that delight and enchant. Newest licenses include Skip Hop and Zutano. | ||
| Blonder Home Accents , Cleveland, Ohio, 216-431-3560 | M | Easy Accent Peel & Stick appliques are removable and reusable. | |||||
| Bristol Gift Co. , Washingtonville, N.Y., 800-225-8234 | H | Quality solid wood frames provide the foundation for company's wall art. Most of the prints are created by in-house designers and many are enhanced by precision-cut beveled mats. Made in the United States. | |||||
| Burton + Burton , Bogart, Ga., 800-241-2094 | L | L | LM | Provides a broad line of fun and whimsical children's decor including plush photo frames, organizational containers and decorative accessories. | |||
| Carla Sonheim , Salida, Colo., 719-221-3041 | H | Tooth fairy pillows and art prints. | |||||
| CoCaLo , Costa Mesa, Calif., 714-434-7200 | H | H | H | H | L | H | Baby bedding and room decor accessories. |
| Creative Images , St. Augustine, Fla., 800-784-5415 | LMH | Publisher and manufacturer of fresh, original art for children with more than 800 images available in eight presentation formats. The Art4Kids brand is the largest single source for youth wall decor. | |||||
| Dean Miller Surf Bedding , Monarch Beach, Calif., 949-545-6730 | M | H | H | L | H | L | |
| Dish and Spoon Productions , Pleasanton, Calif., 925-846-1773 | MH | MH | Products include canvas wall hangings, framed creative canvas, unframed lithographs, pint-size prints and growth charts. Each work of art features the renderings of award-winning children's artist Janet White. | ||||
| Doodlefish , Cumming, Ga., 877-678-4576 | M | M | M | M | Artwork features stretched and mounted canvas giclees. Frames are hand painted and many of the pieces feature jewel and glitter accents. Offers six frame colors for 16″ × 20″ stretched canvases and the larger 12″ × 36″ and 24″ × 36″ artwork. Lamp bases are hand painted and the shades feature fabrics and trims that coordinate with the bedding line. The lighting line also includes night lights and chandelier/sconce shades. | ||
| Ethnic Inspirations by Marshae , Atlanta, 888-626-0520 | M | M | Produces artistic wallpaper borders, murals and prints featuring children of various ethnic/cultural backgrounds. All borders and murals are printed on prepasted strippable wallpaper. Each border spool is 6″ high by 15′ long (5 yards) and murals are standard size of 3′ × 5′. Custom sized murals are also available. Art print sizes are 8″ × 10″, 11″ × 14″, and 16″ × 20″. Each art print comes with a pre-cut double mat. | ||||
| F. is for frank , Dallas, 214-749-0709 | H | Hand-made collections of hardware and accessories that have a nostalgic quality yet are fresh and relevant. Hand-made knobs, pulls and door knobs are made in company's Dallas studio using pewter and resin. | |||||
| Fireside Comforts , Cleveland, Ohio, 216-271-8056 | M | M | M | M | M | Product line includes memory books and boxes, photo albums, picture frames and lamp shade covers that are offered in more than 150 fabric options. Made in United States. | |
| For Tha Wittle Ones , Plymouth, Mass., 508-747-8877 | MH | MH | MH | MH | MH | Hand-painted items include bookends, picture frames, organizers, jewelry boxes, name plaques, memory boxes, wastebaskets and more. Items are available in 14 designs or can be customized to coordinate with the client's decor. | |
| Funhouse , New York, 212-686-4666 | LM | LM | LM | LM | Vast product portfolio includes colorful and innovative bedding, furniture and room decor for toddlers, tweens and teens. Acclaimed children's properties include High School Musical, Thomas & Friends, Dora the Explorer and more. | ||
| Green Frog Art , Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., 800-833-5024 | M | M | M | Designs and manufactures a full range of infant and children's furniture and accessories. The line includes cribs, changing tables, cradles, bedding, lighting, artwork, toy chests, step stools and table and chair sets. | |||
| Groovy Holidays , Orford, N.H., 212-625-1301 | M | Kids wall art and room decor such as felt door hangings and banners. | |||||
| I Lite 4 U , Santa Ana, Calif., 714-554-5909 | MH | Custom made-to-order lighting fixtures include mini and full-size chandeliers, sconces, lamps, shades, pendants and ceiling medallions. All made with metal, brass and crystal parts. Produced in the United States. | |||||
| Jack and Jill Furniture , Sunland, Calif., 818-919-0672 | M | M | M | USA-made line includes shelves, wall plaques, art, wastebaskets, mirrors, chalkboards, bookracks, toy boxes, bookends and more in a variety of colors, finishes and designs. | |||
| Jamie's Painting & Design , Foster City, Calif., 650-372-0233 | M | M | M | Using original hand-painted designs, each 6″ × 8″ tile is personalized and individually hand-finished with the child's name. This artwork is heat-sealed into each tile, ensuring a high-quality finish and a long-lasting keepsake. The tile comes with a coordinating ribbon, already assembled and ready to hang. | |||
| Jubilee , Farmers Branch, Texas, 972-244-2425 | MH | Line includes chandeliers, shades, bases, wall sconces and more. Fixtures and shades can be purchased separately and cover a range of styles from whimsical to sophisticated. | |||||
| Kelly B. Rightsell Designs , Greensboro, N.C., 336-274-5227 | M | MH | MH | Pieces include framed art in custom moldings, gallery wrapped canvas prints, miniprints and framed giclee prints. | |||
| Knobelties by Clark & Lee Design , San Marino, Calif., 626-301-0881 | H | M | MH | Drawer pulls and decorative accessories are individually hand painted in the USA for nurseries and kid's rooms. Extensive line of kids' knobs with more than 150 styles and 77 color options. Will custom match paint colors and create custom styles. All artwork is painted by hand and is available with personalization. | |||
| Kootie Bug Designs , Raleigh, N.C., 919-833-8863 | M | Whimsical, fun giclees offered in sizes 9″ × 12″ and 16″ × 20.″ | |||||
| Lambs & Ivy , El Segundo, Calif., 800-345-2627 | M | M | M | M | M | Manufactures designer bedding, accessories and gifts; 2008 introductions include nautical, princess ballerina, teddy bears and modern retro themes. Newest textured fabrics include washable velvet, crushed velvet, ribbed velours, two-toned denim, boa and faux fur. | |
| Lisa B. Studios , Camden, S.C., 803-432-0311 | MH | Pendant lamps are made of museum quality paperboard that is hand painted in an array of designs that add a painterly glow to any space. Each lamp comes with a 15' switched cord and accessories for hardwire. | |||||
| Lite Source , Chino, Calif., 909-597-8892 | M | L | M | Youth table and floor lamps in a variety of sports themes, kid-friendly colors. | |||
| LumiSource , Elk Grove Village, Ill., 847-699-8988 | L | L | L | Specializes in contemporary kids' decor such as lighting, mirror and furniture that are designed to be fun and functional. | |||
| Mari Robeson , Arroyo Grande, Calif., 805-453-0728 | H | Artwork is produced using the highest quality of canvas available. All items can be hand painted and personalized. | |||||
| Mary Jack Studios , Dallas, 972-834-6560 | MH | Giclee prints on canvas that are gallery wrapped on 2″ deep wood stretcher bars. Each piece is then embellished with hand-sewn sequins and beads and dusted with an iridescent shimmer powder. Available in sizes 16″ × 20″ – 24″ × 30.″ | |||||
| Mimi's Collection by Paula, Prass Designs , Carmel, Ind., 317-844-7884 | M | M | M | Upscale children and home accessories. Offers a new twist to classic patterns in crisp colors on a variety of products, with a goal of becoming a lifestyle brand by 2010. | |||
| Mobi Technologies , Burbank, Calif., 877-662-4462 | L | The Mobi TykeLight is a plastic mobile nightlight that children can hold because it emits no heat. The device has three light modes, including a 15-minute dimmer that automatically switches off. Runs on rechargeable batteries or AC power. | |||||
| Ms. Dee & Molly 'N Me , Minnetonka, Minn., 952-938-8066 | M | M | M | M | Ms. Dee, Inc. is a trendy company focused on creative, hip and stylish products for retail specialty stores across the globe. We are committed as industry leaders to inspire you with the spirit of our two unique product lines. | ||
| Mud Pie , Tucker, Ga., 800-998-1633 | L | Manufactures picture frames, banks, pillows and more | |||||
| Mudpuddle Designs , Little Rock, Ark., 501-663-4583 | H | Designs and produces line of handcrafted ceramic drawer knobs and switchplates for children's rooms. Includes more than 85 designs, all painted by hand to each customer's specifications. | |||||
| Murphy Smith Designs , Redmond, Wash., 425-376-0252 | M | M | Original giclee prints that are sealed and mounted on a white trimmed wood board and hung with ribbon. Designed so several pieces can hang together or individually. All art is designed by Roxane Murphy Smith and made in the U.S.A. | ||||
| Natural Life , Jacksonville, Fla., 800-884-3856 | L | L | L | L | Creates unique items with a hand-crafted look and nostalgic feel, made from felt, clay, ceramic, wood, tin and linen. Each gift has a special message and is affordably priced. | ||
| Nielsen Trading , Highland Village, Texas, 972-317-3054 | M | Hanging ceiling mobiles | |||||
| Oneworld , Salt Lake City, Utah, 801-521-8882 | M | M | M | All items handcrafted in the United States. Bright and colorful drawer pulls, frames, mirrors, cork boards, magnet boards, bookends and coat racks. Sold primarily to specialty and upscale stores. | |||
| Oopsy Daisy, Fine Art for Kids , San Diego, 619-640-6649 | MH | Artwork designed to engage and inspire children. More than 60 artists with varying styles create colorful stretched wall art, growth charts, place mats, mural banners and peel and place pieces. | |||||
| Renditions by Reesa , Lubbock, Texas, 800-897-1484 | MH | M | MH | Offers hand-painted accessories and wall decor in a variety of themes and styles. Latest product addition offers designs at a lower price point. | |||
| Ribbit-Ribbit , Wylie, Texas, 972-429-9324 | MH | Hand-painted wooden frames offered in three sizes and in brights and pastels. Many have hand-tied bows and phrases such as "The Gang," "Princess" and "Happily Ever After." | |||||
| Sandylion Sticker Designs , Markham, Ontario, Canada, 800-387-4215 | L | L | L | L | The wall decor program features four formats — decorative wall stickers, wall borders, mini wall stickers and growth charts. All feature the trademarked WonderStix 100% removable and repositionable adhesive technology and won't damage walls or any surface on which they are placed. Available in classic Sandylion themes and popular kid's licenses. Range also includes a line of more dimensional products — foam wall decorations, foam wall hooks and molded door name plates. | ||
| Squish , Charlotte, N.C., 704-376-8476 | LMH | Whimsical wall art designed by artist Nancy B. Westfall. | |||||
| Stephen Joseph , Lubbock, Texas, 806-791-2877 | M | L | L | L | Line of gifts with vibrant colors, high quality and attention to detail. | ||
| Thank You Baby , Kearney, Neb., 308-224-9018 | MH | MH | MH | Hand-painted letter art and custom canvas wall art available in themed groups. Collection also includes step stools and table and chair sets. | |||
| That's My Brat , Houston, 281-583-2728 | M | Three different and colorful wooden frame styles from its "First Collection". My First Word (boy/girl), My First Tooth (boy/girl) and My First Birthday (boy/girl). | |||||
| The Cates Co. , McKinney, Texas, 214-492-3262 | H | M | M | Makes custom decor items such as letters, wall plaques, magnet/chalkboards, mirrors, growth charts, door hangers and more. Each item is hand painted and produced entirely in the United States. | |||
| The Grandparent Gift Co. , Alpharetta, Ga., 770-619-3167 | M | Framed keepsake poems for baby's room available in a variety of sizes and frame finishes. Includes sentiments from parents and grandparents as well as for special occasions such as birthdays and christenings. Other keepsake items include frames for handprints, photographs and ultrasounds. | |||||
| Three Cheers for Girls , Florida, N.Y., 888-333-2260 | M | M | L | L | M | Lifestyle products for young girls. | |
| Trend Lab , Burnsville, Minn., 952-890-6700 | LM | LM | LM | Designed basic frames and clocks that go with almost any decor. Offers all frames as two-piece sets. They are available in pastels with chocolate brown and pastels with white. | |||
| Wallables Wall Decor , Los Angeles, 310-416-9999 | M | M | 3-D foam musical wall decor. Each Wallable is made from durable non-toxic urethane foam and has a sound chip embedded in the foam that plays a unique tune for each character, and when the lights go out each Wallable glows in the dark. Currently offers nine musical characters and coming soon is the Wallables Soft Speaking Alphabet. These soft foam letters say the name of the letter when the center is pressed. Educational and decorative. | ||||
| Wallies , New York, 800-255-2762 | LM | Makes wall murals, borders and peel and stick chalkboard pieces that are removable and repositionable. | |||||
| When I Was Your Age , Barrington, R.I., 866-801-1999 | H | LMH | Produces wall art, beadboard shelf with glass knobs, Summer Camp step stools and other cottage-style room accents, furniture and bedding. | ||||
| Whims n' Doodles , New Hartford, N.Y., 315-734-9639 | M | M | M | Hand-painted wall art, coordinating hooks, shelves and door hangers. All products are hand painted in the United States using non-toxic acrylic paints. Each piece can be personalized with a child's name or special phrase. | |||
Alena Hennessy's Little Gathering giclee print is offered in matted, $30, or framed, $60, options.
Lumisource's hot pink mirror compliments the ultra-frilly bedrooms that are popular with many little princesses, $30.
Stephen Joseph combines letters and three frames for a colorful look with tween appeal. Made of MDF, the piece retails for $21.99.
Easy Accent Peel & Stick appliqués from Blonder Home Accents add flair without damaging walls and furniture. Each package contains four 9″× 6″ sheets with stickers in various styles and themes, $13.
Fireside Comforts' memory boxes are offered in about 150 fabric choices and coordinate with the company's bedding options.
The Jungle Animals collection from Murphy Smith Designs features a trio of cheerful characters. The art is mounted to a white, trimmed wood board and hung with a coordinating ribbon. Offered in sizes 12″ × 12″ and 16″ × 16,″ pieces retail at $47–71.
Creative's Images' western-themed Got Some Growing To Do canvas print features authentic touches such as a cotton bandana fabric mat and an aromatic cedar frame, $300.
The Flourish table lamp fromMs. Dee & Molly 'N Me has a LED light in the base and a flocked shade for a cool, hip look, $49.
Lite-Source Kids' Allsport Table Lamp had a blue solid wood base and features an official league basebal and is topped with a fabric shade with blue trim.
Sandylion Sticker Designs' growth charts are die-cut very close to the edge of the image, which makes the design appear to be painted on the surface. The chart, made of WonderStix vinyl, is removable and can be repositioned, $13.99.
Wallies' Peel & Stick chalkboard features vinyl panels that can be affixed to a clean smooth surface and are removable. A pack of four 9″ × 12″ panels and chalk retails for $16.99.
Gentle Lamb is part of the eight-piece Captivating Creatures collection by Bristol Gift, $20.
Trend Lab's Dot clocks combine the ever-popular chocolate with either green, pink or blue for a mod but playful design, $15.
Adesso's Bling table lamp has a chrome finish and lattice die-cut cylinder shade for a sleek, edgy teen look.
The Popped Poppy pendant lamp from Lisa B. Studios features acrylic on back laminated museum quality paper and a mix of on-trend orange with a cool kiwi green, $250.
The rustic Summer Camp step stool from When I was Your Age is made to order and available in 50 colors, $80.
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