What a relief not to be exhibiting at either the Sydney or Auckland Gift trade shows someone really needs to check the calendar! 
 We are opened all days and even later than the tradeshows in the heart of Ponsonby. Which is about to explode with retail developments.


I get the feeling the industry is on the road to getting another slap. Over the last 30 years its done nothing but stagnate compared to the growth of other sectors ie music wine, food, fashion, design, technology.
Now its got to the point where it can be dominated by a few individuals at the expense of the viability of a whole industry. Step out of line and suddenly its very difficult to do business.
It wasn`t so long ago Eon Design store died at the expense of a huge number of suppliers, they dominated for over a decade if you weren`t in, you were not good enough was the unwritten byline for media, consumers, trade buyers to senior government officials, well it looks like its about to happen again.
Which leaves an export potential industry and the ability to employ thousands  without any major retail front representing (dominating)  NZ Design since Eon went belly up, add to that a lack of a sound Industry structure as would be expected of any other Sector in NZ leaves us all worse off.

We weren`t in Eon or any other store that required exclusivity to the Auckland region or who dithers for months trying to make up there minds whether they are coming or going.
Well I guess its gone wasn`t it?


As you will guess we haven`t been sitting around twiddling thumbs.
New products and directions and some big plans as well as alot of Art shows
Table lamps a reworking of the Waltz sculpture  as table lamps distinctive and each one unique

Retro Range  going back to the 50`s and 60's with new ceramic lamps, jewellery and some might say with an Australian touch hardly surprising as I discover my family connections in Melbourne from 1841!

Big Design Market  December last year for the first time, 170 Australian & NZ designers exhibited at the Royal exhibition hall in Melbourne, it was stunning! If you want unique products for your stores this is where you can find them. Life instyle never had this many designers exhibiting and most if not all are wholesale. ....more

White Night 59 Galleries and one Artist Studio -US! are open till midnight 16 March the Council has laid on several buses to help move people as well. For the first time ever we are opening up the back studio creating an outdoor gallery, we have invited other artists to show as well.  No fees  & No commission because we think some artists just need an opportunity to get started.....more

By the time of the next trade show a 200sqm metre space with rooms sets showing off a new range of exterior objects!
 
 
Only a couple of weeks out from The Big Design Market 7-9 December at Melbourne`s Royal Exhibition Hall. The exhibitor lineup is everything I could want in a show and is sure to become the leading source to buy Australian made and designed Objects plus of course New Zealand and a few other places.

No doubt it will also attract Store buyers  looking for the `latest you won`t see anywhere else`, as most don`t exhibit at existing Trade Shows in either Australia or New Zealand.

The Big Design Market website
I was asked to bring the ceramic anvil light and feather rings, then got  surprise when I realised they were first exhibited in 2005 in LA, Melbourne and Paris and almost forgot............ NZ Fashion week all in the same year.
So having a lot of fun relooking at the ideas and creating some new pieces. As always pushing it to the limit,  things will be finished and arrive just in time for the opening.
This trip is extra special  I`ll be meeting my Melbourne relatives for the first time and 171 years of family history to discover!


 
 
Just booked a space at the first The Big Design Market in Melbourne, 7,8,9 December. It is  a retail event with both established and emerging designers located in The Royal Exhibition Hall.
The format has huge potential to becoming the premium design show in Australia , especially considering the changes in retail and  wholesale as well as the location.
NZ designers could easily use this to test the Australian market. At this stage I`ll be taking art, waltz sculptures, lights and jewellery plus my son, its time he learnt what I have to do for a living.