Here's a note I received a few weeks ago from my Left-Coast Pal Laura Havlek from Sign of the Bear in Sonoma. We caught up in Atlanta in mid-August both checking out what was new at AmericasMart. Now, the Havlek's are traveling Europe with their boys while my husband is finally headed to Napa with plans to check out their store...while of course cooking at Cakebread's 25th American Harvest .....Oh Sugar.....
Oh, Sugar...
There is no better education for anyone in retail than a trip to AmericasMart. Besides, it's such fun. I get up every morning with that sense of joy and anticipation that marked Christmases of my youth, eager and wondering what amazing things I will discover that day. Consistently, I come away with a renewed delight in and depth of knowledge about cookware, books, interiors, and tabletop; with all the fun and excitement of what's new, from great new companies and longstanding friends' companies, and able to filter and buy well for fall...
Fresh, lively colors and a sense of fun continue to drive the season, from Dr. Seuss' aprons to. And from the Zoku QuickPop to Le Creuset's fresh fennel. We continue to see color, texture, and authenticity as driving forces in successful visual merchandising...and Atlanta
Life has few finer moments than the joy of watching friends succeed and evolve, and there's something remarkable about the sheer grit that goes into every new company... watching that wingspan unfurl is just magical.
And as is so often the case, some of the lessons I get are not the ones I thought but they are so the ones I needed. Walking with a longstanding friend, on the escalators, the hem of my slacks caught, and I fought for propriety "Oh, Shhhhhhhhh.... " ; and she so nicely finished for me, "here in the South, we sometimes say, 'Oh, Shhugar...' "
And the market AmericasMart has that quality of delightful, soft-pedaled humor, and education..
Thank you Atlanta
