California Apparel News

The retail cloud seemed to have lifted at the recent Los Angeles gift markets, which ran concurrently Sept. 29–Oct. 1.

Officials with the California Market Center (CMC), which hosted the Stand Out! Gift and Home Accessories Market, and the L.A. Mart, which presented the Gift and Home Furnishings Market, said attendance increased at the shows and buyers were spending dollars.

“We had a 100 percent increase over April’s market, which was a comparable market for us, and that was beyond our expectations,” said Lorelyn Eaves, vice president of marketing for the CMC.

A plus from the show was the interest from some of the 50 temporary booths that planned to lease permanent showroom space in the center, Eaves said. To date, the building has five floors of 42 showrooms, with plans to open a total of seven floors by January and up to 10 floors by summer 2003.

Gerry Seibel, vice president and general manager of the 275-showroom L.A. Mart, said attendance increased by 3 percent from last September’s show.

“The majority of our tenants were pleased and said retailers were buying since many were low on inventory,” Seibel said.

Building officials also tried to create synergies between the centers with free shuttles and free parking but said the concept is still new to attendees.

“We didn’t notice any impact one way or another,” Seibel said.

The shows cater mostly to California drive-in traffic from Bakersfield to San Diego as well as buyers from Northern California, Arizona and Nevada. They were looking to fill in for immediate delivery and holiday goods, according to exhibitors.

At the Sullivan’s showroom on the ninth floor of the CMC, pre-made floral arrangements in containers and green foliage were top sellers.

“We saw more than 100 people on [Sept. 29] so we’re not unhappy,” said Larry Stoffer, Sullivan’s vice president of sales, who noted that traffic dropped off the following two days.

Dick Firestone, president of Firestone Associates, said buyers were no longer hesitant to place orders at his 12thfloor showrooms which occupy 14,000 square feet in the CMC.

“They seemed willing to buy because their season is coming up and they can’t sell from an empty wagon,” he said.

Jewelry, including sterling-silver Italian bracelets by Friends and Boxer, and Scottish-made travel bags were among the top customer favorites, Firestone said. Many of the items had crossover appeal to apparel buyers who were also attending the concurrent Urban Suburban show at the CMC.

“The crossover buying is new to us and is a win-win that we hope to continue,” said Firestone, who has worked with buyers from Charlotte Russe and Wet Seal at past gift shows this year. “We’re looking at lines that now fit both the gift and apparel customer base.”

At the Gifts to Go! temporary showroom space on the 13th floor, Larry Huset was trying to drum up excitement for his Flip N Flyer, an invention he created that’s a cross between a Frisbee and a yo-yo. With the help of his demonstrator, he had sold about 100 discs and had met potential distributors, but he hoped for better placement in the future.

“We’re in the midst of mostly jewelry booths,” Huset said. “It would be great to have more toy exhibitors here next time as well.”

Lamps by Vintage Verandah, wrought-iron pieces from Cape Craftsman and miniatures from Connoisseur Arts were buyer favorites at the Robert Snoddy & Associates showroom on the L.A. Mart’s ninth floor. Co-owner Julie Snoddy remained bullish on sales for the near-term.

“Our average orders are way up and our business is way up over the last year,” she said. “Our biggest venue is our road business— if we’re not out there visiting our customers, then they won’t come here.”

Business was also brisk at the Rosalie & Friends showroom on the L.A. Mart’s seventh floor.

“We’ve been busy,” said co-owner Rosalie Kaplan. “People were buying and re-buying table top items and home accents.”

Some L.A. Mart buyers still hadn’t crossed over to the CMC.

“We haven’t made the shift over there yet, because the shopping would be too spread out—we can find enough here,” said Los Angeles interior designer Joan Gillette.

Gillette and fellow designer Dori Anderson were picking up kitchen items, books and candles from the Stephen Young showroom on the L.A. Mart’s eighth floor.

The prospect of more showroom options is a boon for a new, small business such as the Gifted Sisters gift basket company in Stevenson Ranch, Calif. Partner Holly Prabhu, who was shopping at the CMC and planned to visit the L.A. Mart, said it helps her to shop competitively and find the best options.

“We can’t afford to go to New York or Dallas, so L.A. is all we have, so it’s great that’s there’s a variety of shopping options,” she said.