Once upon a time when I was a retail shop owner, I visited design & gift trade fairs throughout each year in Sydney, Melbourne and Hong Kong (which I only went to once, that was enough for one lifetime!). Each fair takes days to explore and after my third or fourth visit to a trade fair (i.e. year 2 of my business), I was over it. There was just too much stuff, too many people, the fluorescent lights hurt your eyes after a few hours (so you can imagine how they feel after a few days), and your feet hate you forever. I don’t know why I went in the first place, I suppose because everyone else was and apparently that was the thing to do and lets face it, I was only 21, fresh out of Uni – I had no idea. I soon realised that I didn’t want what everyone else had in their shops anyway, so I instead searched out local artisans, craftspeople, and designers + importers who cared about the environment and their artisans.
So today, when someone mentions the phrase ‘design fair’ to me, I shudder. And being here in Holland where design is ‘the thing’, there is a lot of peer pressure to go to the fairs. Well, forget it. I am just not interested. And these days, I am less likely to do what someone expects of me than when I was a 21 year old impressionable entrepreneur.
Having said all of that, I have thoroughly enjoyed perusing the recent blog posts of stylist Imke Klee and designer Kristina Klarin, who have both managed to capture the best during the recent Milan design fair with little or no explanation, just pictures: perfect! Granted, the stuff that I like looks as though it’s not even in the main fair but instead at spazio rossana orlandi. Which means if I ever want to go back to Milan (I lived in a little village not far from there when I was a teenager), then I will look this special place up and take a wander.
Above are a selection of Imke’s gorgeous images, take a look at her blog for even more beauty. And below are a few of Kristina’s, check out her inspiring blog for more…
It’s Monday! I have some great posts for you this week. Well I may even post all the great ones today, just because I’m feeling in a posty mood. Today is the day to be visiting the (blog)house, come one, come all!
xx
Dear Pia,
I am so with you on the fair business. It is so easy to get sucked into the big hype, and I admire you for sticking to your guns and realising that what you want is not what everyone else wants. The Milan fair is still one of the most exciting design events in the world, especially the installations and exhibitions that happen outside the actual fair ground. I was lucky enough to go myself this year and my body is still hating me for it. But I did have such a brilliant time, particularly at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi which was my absolutely favourite place in Milan. Here’s a link to the post I wrote about it – I thought you might like to see some more images…
http://yellowtrace.com.au/blog/2010/04/29/spazio-rossana-orlandi-milan-2010/
x dana
May 3rd, 2010 | #
hi pia,
it’s really interesting to hear your thoughts on big design fairs and trade fairs. We have the same feelings as you – we went to visit one of the really big trade fair shows in London a year or two ago as we were thinking about taking part. It was a mix of mainly very large established design companies and some smaller designer/makers too, who only had small stands and seemed to get a little lost in amongst all the larger stands. For us it felt really commercial with large companies mass-producing their designs and we felt like we just wouldn’t fit in there. We came away quite disolusioned and feeling very tiny.
Maybe we just chose the wrong show and there will be another that is more suited for us.
You mentioned pressure to go to these shows, as a retailer, and I think that pressure also exists if you are a designer/maker. Sometimes it feels like you have to do one of these huge expensive shows to get noticed – our views have definitely changed now though. We do a few smaller design shows, mainly locally to us and in London every now and again, but still aren’t sure about the huge trade fairs being right for us …. maybe one day.
But it’s nice to know that there are retailers out there that want to find local designer/makers, bespoke and eco-friendly pieces and something that every other shop doesn’t have.
May 3rd, 2010 | #
Oh, I can say I did trade fairs younger than that. My mother owned a nursery and gift store. Lovely thing – out the back of the historic house I grew up in and the two acres of heritage-inspired gardens. Our hols were to trail around gift and trade fairs. I would have been about 15-16. Maybe even younger. I do think of retail from time to time and then think back to those fairs. You’re right. The light hurts your eyes.
May 3rd, 2010 | #
Oh how I love a posty Pia day! : )
May 3rd, 2010 | #
haha, I’m glad Melissa! Thanks, I will get on to the next one pronto (I think you’re gonna love it!)
katiecrackernuts – nice to know you started early, got it over with! That’s the way to do it.
sammy & glenn – yes I feel the day of the trade fairs are changing. With the internet such a part of our daily lives and the ability to have online portfolios, you can reach alot of clientele online. But it’s true that you do get an audience at the fairs, but I’m not sure its so relevant for artisans like yourselves these days. I find the clientele that do go aren’t so interested in the fact that you make it by hand, they just want to know the bottom line: how much it costs and how much of a mark up they can put on it.
When I had my shop, I found great artisans at markets, by word of mouth (especially from customers and designers/wholesalers who always recommended great people as they knew my style!) and also by walk-ins. It’s also great for exclusivity! I’m sure you guys will find the right market, no problem, your pieces are incredible!
dana – beautiful post, thank you for letting me know! I’m glad you enjoyed it – I hope you gave your feet lots of pampering foot baths afterward!!
May 3rd, 2010 | #
well i must saythat i have been to many trade shows and quickly have felt the same way you have, from sore feet to too much going on and even not enough of the right things but i have from what i can see from imke klee photographes( which i have adored)i have never been to a show so beautifully put together, so organic in feel, very romantic and easy on the spirit of buers and sellers.
May 3rd, 2010 | #
oh nadia, I remember you had a store too! Yes don’t be fooled though by these gorgeous girls’ images – their shots are not from the main trade fair but actually a separate space which I think is open all throughout the year.
The main fair is no doubt like all the other trade fairs out there except with a backdrop of milan. x
May 3rd, 2010 | #