Hi! I wanted to tell you a little about how NSS went this year for Gingiber.
We really tried to step up our game this year. We built our own booth walls and shipped them to NYC via a freight truck.
Set up was a BEAST! Our walls are sturdy but heavy. I don't think I will ever be able to set up the walls by myself. I will always need someone stronger to help. We painted the walls a great shade of blush, then began putting our Gingiber box of happiness together!
I was so thrilled with how our booth turned out. It felt so much more sophisticated than years past for us. I used our Leaping Bunnies Wallpaper designed for Chasing Paper NYC as a focal wall. We used IKEA furniture throughout the booth for our displays. This was the first year we offered gift wrap, and I think it was really a strong showing for us.
As usual, our calendars got most of the attention. Our Greeting Card game was strong, but our 2017 Calendars went over very well! We didn't bring our pillows this year, and we ALMOST didn't have any Tea Towels to display because I forgot them back home in Arkansas! Thankfully, we sell our products with a few NYC shops, and Pink Olive came to our rescue with some towels we were able to grab from them the day before NSS began.
My husband was such a trooper during the entire process. He is a quiet fellow, so to see his generosity of time and energy as he worked tirelessly to help get the booth set up really reminded me how lucky I am.
The show was definitely better for us than years past in terms of orders written. We were located in the FRESH section, and next year I hope to move our booth more central to where some of my other friend's booth are (because, let's face it, life is all about hanging with your friends!).
We made a lot of good contacts. This was the FIRST year that some major retailers actually came into our booth and looked interested. We haven't landed any major accounts yet, but I feel incredibly hopeful. Maybe too hopeful? SIGH!
Highlights of the trip included: Going to see Matilda on Broadway, hanging out with our Stationery BFF's Paper Bandit Press, hugging my friend Seana from The Land of Nod, & meeting Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co.
The show went from Sunday - Wednesday, with us flying out Thursday morning. It was a whirlwind of activity and nonstop work. I hope that people saw our booth and our growth and will begin to think of Gingiber as a brand to watch! I was so thrilled, BTW, to be named one of the Stationery Designers to Watch for 2016 by Stationery Trends Magazine! They threw all of the designers on this list an amazing dinner. It was so great to get to talk shop with so many like-minded business owners.
Until next time, NSS! I will try to write again soon about Quilt Market, which was the show that I went to directly after Stationery Show!
