The fall edition of the New York Tabletop Market at Forty One Madison is once again presenting Designer Day, this year in collaboration with Traditional Home, Sferra and EditorTV. From Tuesday, October 25th through Friday, October 28th, high-end tabletop manufacturers will be taking the wraps off of exciting new product designs and playing host to interior designers and editors.
As veteran New York Tabletop Show-goers know, the ambiance of the Forty One Madison Lobby, with imaginatively dressed tables lining the space, helps set the tone for each Market and can trigger inspirational juices as the hunt begins in the building for new merchandise, display concepts and other selling tools. Traditional Home senior style editor Krissa Rossbund is adding the “wow” as people enter, creating table settings that interpret each of the four seasons.
Rossbund also will be greeting interior designers on Thursday, October 27, as Traditional Home and Sferra, the luxury linens manufacturer, co-sponsor Interior Designer Day at Forty One Madison. This program, now in its third season, is aimed at acquainting interior designers, architects and other decorating professionals with the fabulous finds and superior resources in the building. More than 35 showrooms participate in the day’s activities.
“We’ve gotten incredibly positive feedback from designers,” said Laurie Burns, Forty One Madison’s Senior Vice President and Director. “Among what they appreciate most is the opportunity to see the full scope of a manufacturer’s line. And, it’s been a real eye-opener for the designers to learn that so many manufacturers are capable of and gladly willing to customize dinnerware patterns, glassware, lighting and cutlery—a preference that their most discerning clients are demanding,” Burns said.
The day will kick off with a mid-morning reception for designers where Rossbund will preview for them the best of the best to be found in the Forty One Madison showrooms. SFERRA president Paul Hooker will then introduce the audience to a fun new tool his company has developed that will help designers match their tabletop choices to the perfect linens. Designers may RSVP to designerday@vpcpartners.com.
“This really will be a special edition of Interior Designer Day,” said Burns. “We are especially excited and fortunate to have Sferra on board as a co-sponsor with Traditional Home. And Editor-At-Large will be with us again to chronicle it all with a video posting on its website.”
Former Target vice president and creative director, Minda Gralnek, will addresses Forty One Madison guests at the annual Breakfast Seminar, Wednesday, October 26. In her presentation, “Through the Lens of the Red Bull’s Eye: Market Trends in Home & Lifestyle,” Gralnek, who now heads her own namesake marketing firm, will examine what’s happening at the intersection of fashion and home, and what consumers are spending their money on in the tabletop and furnishings category. She also will focus on how to connect with consumers through design. It’s a program that promises to impart some valuable lessons in how to fine-tune marketing outreach and campaigns and how best to “target” today’s home furnishings purchaser.
“We bring together such a broad spectrum of manufacturers, retail buyers, architects, interior designers, restaurateurs, press and media, and our programming is intended to provide them with valuable insights, plenty of inspiration and helpful tools for their business," said Burns. " With all of the planned product introductions that I’m hearing about, the added new and high-profile showrooms debuting, and the variety of programs on the schedule, the fall show is going to deliver on all counts. For anyone in this industry, it’s not to be missed.”
Seating is limited for the morning event; reservations are recommended at swainberg@rudin.com, or 212-686-1203. Breakfast will be served 8:00 – 8:30 a.m. and Gralnek will speak from 8:30 – 9:15 a.m., allowing for questions from the audience, as well.
