We are thrilled to say we had a fantastic show in Atlanta.  The traffic was up and the companies we met with indicated how sales are really outpacing last year's market sales.   Does this mean there is a glimmer of hope for the economony in 2012 and beyond!  Here are some pics of the booth! 

Jessie Steele had a great show launching kitchen stationery with CR Gibson, Gift products with Pavilion Gift Company and Tabletop with Magenta.

We were very excited to launch Shell Rummel at the show, an amazing artist on many levels and had a fantastic response with fabrics and wall art coming out later this year. 

Betsy Cameron, a new photographer we are working with had many inquiries at the show and rachaelhale continues to be our most successful Licensor! 

Happy New Year to everyone!  We are so looking forward to seeing you at the upcoming shows.  I hope everyone had a relaxing holiday.  Below are more sneak peaks of things to come this year. 

I am starting to get very excited for the January gift show in Atlanta.  We are getting sneak peaks from several of our artists and designers for what will be new next year and we can't wait to share it with you.  Every time I am just amazed at what my artists send through and I absolutely love their creativity and crazy ability to come up with new ideas.  We also have new artists we have just signed including Shell Rummel and Betsy Cameron! 

Be sure to check out the links!  In addition, we have so many product launches for January including tabletop, gift and kitchen stationery with Jessie Steele.  Robin Pickens is launching a new Christmas collection of ornaments, advent calendars and figurines with 180 degrees!  So, be sure to stop by and say hello at the show!

I was lucky enough to travel to Japan a few weeks ago to learn more about the retail stores and meet with existing licensees and potential new partners.  I also got to see retail placement for Izak and Jessie Steele.  Below is a special promotion we did with Collect Point for Jessie Steele.

I also went to Printemps de Ginza where Izak has been decorating their walls for several years. 

I visited several retailers all over Tokyo and really have a great understanding of the landscape for future licensing deals.  It was a whirlwind of a trip with us leaving on Friday and getting back on Wednesday.  My husband was nice enough to go along with me.  We certainly missed our kids but we had a great time!

We are so excited to launch our new web store featuring products from all of our artists!  All of us have been working feverishly the past 2 months to get artwork together, product formats, etc.!  The new website is www.LittleRedTulip.com.  Please check it out and let us know what you think.  We still have a limited product range, but don't worry we are adding new products daily!

We had a great time at both Surtex and Licensing where we met with a lot of existing licensees and new potential licensees.  We are so lucky to have the nicest group of artists and brands to work with!  See below picture of Tiffany and I standing outside our booth at Licensing Show.  

We also managed to have some fun outside of the shows which is a nice bonus for two hard working Moms! Here is a picture of a bunch of us girls out on the town in NYC. It's Tiffany, me, Amy Medhurst and my devoted sister, Jennifer. She is so nice to provide free labor and help me out at both shows with set up and take down and also help when the traffic at the booth got a little crazy which I am happy to say happened several times!

Every year, I ask my self is exhibiting worth the money and of course it always comes down to how many deals are signed after the shows, but so far I am happy with the response. 


I also add up the cost to go and visit each of the licensees we do business with and it would be astronomical and time consuming to go and visit with everyone we met with in 6 days over both shows. 

And every year after the shows, you always feel more connected and in tune with the industry and the opportunities after exhibiting. 


So, I have to say, even though I ask myself the same question each year, I always find the shows worthwhile, energizing and fun!

Yippee!  Target's new inline stationery program just hit shelves in late March and you can find four of Jewel's artists on the shelves!  Izak, Simon+Kabuki, Piddix and rachaelhale.