Archives for 2011

The National Hardware Show has come and gone, leaving a trail of excitement and positive feedback. This year’s highly successful and sold-out show featured exhibitors from all over the world. Ranging from lawn and garden products, hardware and tools, outdoor living, paint and accessories, plumbing and electrical, the National Hardware Show had it all.

Before the show began, the ECPR team had the privilege of writing a “Sneak Peek” series for the show. Exhibitors were able to submit product information and photos to be featured on our blog and linked to nearly 200 media outlets. Now that the show is over, we are beginning the “Best of Show” series. Each product featured in the series has unique and innovative characteristics, earning them honorable mention. In addition, the series will include a look at several trends our team uncovered at the show, giving retailers, contractors, builders, and media members a chance to be informed about current product and buyer evolution.

The first of the “Best of Show” series features ErgoDig. Makers of high-quality ergonomic lawn and garden tools, the company has set a new standard in lawn and garden care. The company’s new collective line of Ash Wood handle tools was the talk of the show. Media members and retailers flocked to ErgoDig’s booth to test out the new products. Our team at ECPR was even able to obtain national television coverage of the brand, which was filmed by the producers of the DIY Network during the show. Each of the 40 garden tools in the line features a distinctive wooden handle with an angle at a degree consistent with the human arm. The angled handle is designed to relieve stress on the wrist and back, allowing a person to work in the garden pain-free. The launch of the collection encompasses a full line of tools utilized for pushing, pulling and lifting items such as soil, leaves, mulch, pine straw, debris, and other aspects of lawn and garden maintenance. Knowing that inventory of high-end tools with premium design and manufacturing is only part of reaching success for retailers, Rogers and his team have created a branding program to support the launch of the line. Beginning with brand standards to unify a stylish look for the collection, the ErgoDig logo is stamped in kelly green on every handle. The specific green color differentiates the products from others on the market and signifies the idea of grass, freshness, the environment, and ergonomics. ErgoDig has plans to become an all-inclusive lawn-and-garden product resource. As the brand grows during 2011 and beyond, the company will expand into other handle materials such as bamboo, fiberglass, and a variety of woods and metals. To learn more about ErgoDig, visit the company’s website at www.ergodig.com. 

The Juwel NovaPlus Rotary Clothes-line from Exaco Technologies aims to bring European ingenuity to the United States. Showcased at the National Hardware Show, the NovaPlus caught the attention of the ECPR team. The product stand is constructed from high-quality airplane aluminum, while the clothes-line is made from “Twaron” high-tension fiber, the same material used in bullet-proof vests. Needless to say, this product is durable and sturdy enough to hold 4-5 loads of laundry at one time. Most notably, this environmentally-friendly, energy- saving product, allows homeowners to cut down on extra costs due to fewer drying loads. The NovaPlus comes assembled and ready to use out of the box. This product is ideal for homeowners looking to bring a little European flare to the U.S. Retailers, market this item by informing consumers about energy-savings that can result from hanging clothes outside for a “fresh air” smell. For more information about the Juwel NovaPlus Rotary Clothes-line, visit www.exaco.com.

Click on the photos to enlarge them, and keep checking back to this blog for many more “Best of Show” features and trend insights we gathered from the show floor. 

* To vote for your favorite “Best of Show” product, add your “Comments” below. Be sure to indicate the name of the product in your comment. At the end of our article series, the product with the most comments will be awarded the top “Best of Show” status.

~ECPR

The room will be filled with everything from vintage and new furniture to artwork this weekend, and the sounds of hopeful prospectors vying for the best deal. Among the finds will be Brazilian terracotta pots and a mahogany 19th century secretary bookcase.

This Sunday, May 22, is Englishman’s Fine Furnishings European-style auction in Smyrna. The event celebrates the company’s U.S. business anniversary. Englishman’s Fine Furnishings has made high-quality European-style antique reproduction furniture and accessories available to customers in the U.S. for 30 years.

The ECPR team recently had a look at some of the roughly 500 items up for grabs: home furnishings, antiques, tapestries, terracotta urns and planters, water features, artwork, lighting, rugs, and decorative accessories are samples of the impressive selections appearing on the auction stand.

Whether you want to partake in the bidding action, or are curious to see one-of-a-kind items, mark this event in your calendar. The bidding starts at 11 a.m. and doors open at 9 a.m.

Find more details about the event below, and to see photos and descriptions of the items available, visit www.englishmansfurniture.com.

Atlanta European-style Auction hosted by Englishman’s Fine Furnishings   

What: European-style Auction
Where: Englishman’s Fine Furnishings, 4874 S. Atlanta Road, Smyrna, Ga. 30080.   
When:
Preview Days:
Monday, May 16 – Friday, May 20, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 21, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 
Preview Party:
Friday, May 20, 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. 
Auction:
Sunday, May 22, 11:00. Doors open at 9:00 a.m.   
Cost: FREE entrance and open to the public

J.T. Burke  – “Beautiful Landscape II – Homecoming” 2010

The Artist Project show ran concurrently during the New York Architectural Digest Home Design Show this past March. The Artist Project, otherwise known as TAP enables talented artists from all over the world to showcase extraordinary pieces of art. Whether you were a first time buyer or well established art collector, this year’s show offered a little taste of heaven to everyone.

Among many artists exhibiting at TAP was J.T. Burke. His compositions at the show attracted many show goers, the ECPR team included. His unique style captures intangible human desires and philosophies by creating fantastical compositions from unprecedented inanimate objects from the physical world deemed most important to the human soul. Using photographic and digital manipulation, Burke creates wildly erratic and colorful pieces.

Each composition begins with photographs of items Burke has collected. Despite having a general concept in mind before beginning a piece, Burke allows his intuition and instinct to guide him rather than working from a cookie-cutter layout. While influenced by artists and mediums such as Kandinsky, Bosch, medieval illuminations, contemporary pop surrealists and many more, J.T. Burke’s compositions are one of a kind.

As seen in this blog, Burke’s latest series of work, Beautiful Again, was showcased at the TAP show. Inspired by human’s obsessions with the concept of paradise, this series certainly made a lasting impression among show goers. To see more compositions from J.T Burke, visit his website at www.jtburke.com.

Photo courtesy of Veranda Magazine

Well known fashion designer Lisa Perry shares her North Haven, NY beach home with Veranda Magazine readers. Working with interior designers Tony Ingrao and Alexia Kondylis, Lisa’s beach home reflects her signature mod style. The interior decor incorporates minimalist geometric pieces infused with splashes of bright colors to create a modern and fun living environment. To see more photos from Lisa Perry’s beach house, visit Veranda Magazine’s website at www.veranda.com.

The sophistication and style synonymous with the name Esquire Magazine has come to life through furniture pieces. The Esquire Home Collection, which includes both furnishings and decorative accessories, debuted in Las Vegas last summer and is distributed by Four Hands, a global manufacturer and wholesaler of home furnishings. The collection extends Esquire Magazine’s philosophy of “man at his best” – a lifestyle focused on comfort, luxury and sophistication. Unique features in each piece reflect the same attention to detail as a custom-made suit. For example, the Triple Old Fashioned tufted sofa, which blends leather and linen, has antique brass stud detailing. 

The Spider Web bookcase is another stylish piece with a decidedly masculine feel. The bookcase features a complex stainless steel frame, with saddle black leather in the shelving and paneling of the bookcase. A unique seven-stage tanning and hand-finishing process gives the leather panels a distinctive depth of color and an ultra sleek, modern finish.

As expressed by Esquire, “A great club chair is like a great navy blazer: Every man needs one and it’ll never go out of style.” The Whiskey Collins Club Chair, with signature loden leather, is both comfortable and timeless. Four Hands also offers the Martini Strap Chair, with arms that resemble belts, complete with polished buckles.

Esquire Home is one of many collections from the Austin, Texas-based Four Hands, which celebrated its 15th year of business in 2010. The company, which offers a mix of design styles and price points for any budget, sells to hundreds of small and large retailers across the globe. To learn more about the Esquire Home Collection, visit www.fourhands.com.

Sansin Corporation, a company specializing in wood protection, is known for researching, developing and introducing environmentally friendly, water-borne interior and exterior wood products and technologies to the industry. The company’s newest product, Sansin Foundation™ will be on display at the National Hardware Show in just a few days. The concentrated, penetrating, water-borne primer is perfect for interior and exterior wood surfaces such as timbers, logs and dimensional lumber. Sansin Foundation stabilizes wood tissue and lignin to keep wood surfaces from weathering for up to 6 months during or after the construction phase. Additionally, Sansin Foundation safeguards wood’s natural resistance to moisture at the building site, while ensuring long lasting beauty and protection. Retailers, Sansin’s new product has the ability to prevent wood discoloration, repel water, support breathability, and delivers superior UV protection. Media members who are interested in learning more about the product, visit Sansin Corporation at booth #3331 or visit the company’s website at www.Sansin.com.

Conant Custom Brass, a Weems & Plath, Inc. company will be introducing the Grande View Thermometer in stainless steel at the National Hardware Show. Originally only available in brass, this outdoor window thermometer is made to last. Standing at 12 ¼ inches tall, the thermometer’s numbers are double the size compared to average thermometers in today’s market. The stainless steel Grande View Thermometer is rust free and features a crystal glass tube, ensuring years of unobstructed viewing. Two important factors for retailers selling it, this product comes with mounting hardware and a lifetime guarantee. Visit Conant Custom Brass’ website for additional information at www.conantcustombrass.com.

MPT series has developed a long-lasting synthetic lubricant without the use of harmful solvents, called MPT Twelve. This product is formulated to penetrate through metal, rather than just the surface. MPT Twelve contains special rust inhibitors and acts as a cleaning agent as well. Made from a proprietary blend of synthetic lubricants, this product contains no fish oils, fillers or petroleum, thus promoting a long-lasting and environmentally conscious product. This versatile product is ideal for lubricating precision bearings; nuts and bolts; indoor and outdoor locks, latches and hinges; power tools; small motors; computers and printers; lawn mower, snow blower, bicycle and motorcycle cables and more. Retailers and editors, you won’t want to leave the show without stopping by MPT Industries’ booth number 4030 at the National Hardware Show. For more information, visit www.mptindustries.com.

Organic Laboratories Veggie Maker Organic Grow Box Kit is sure to make a positive impression on National Hardware Show attendees. The kit includes a Grow Box, Koko Pro Soil and Organic Tomato Maker Fertilizer. The Grow Box has 12 grow ports on the sides and the top surface easily supports the planting of a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and spices, the growing combinations are endless! The Veggie Maker Organic Grow Box comes with Koko Soil, coconut fiber potting soil. This reusable soil allows for maximum aeration and drainage. Additionally, this product comes with the company’s Organic Tomato Maker Fertilizer with the ability to promote healthy growing from planting to harvest. Most notably, and organic garden can be planted in less than an hour by using this unique product! For more information about the Veggie Maker Organic Grow Box visit www.OrganicLabs.com.