Fun Fact Friday - I'm Back from Market!!!

This was my best market yet.  I found a renewed sense of excitement from my customers and looking forward to the future.

Colors and trends for me:

I think in uncertain times we naturally look to nature and familiar things to bring to their home.  Colors of the earth like minerals, spices, and plants.

The hits for me came from my 2 favorite primary colors, Red & Blue.

Red, like the shiny red apple you gave to your favorite teacher, and what girls doesn’t enjoy a new shade of red lipstick.  It just looks good on’ya! 

Blue, like the bright open sky, and the cool tranquil sea.  Perfect for the bath!

Red becomes tangerine and terracotta

Blue becomes indigo, teal and aqua.

And then they marry well in to eggplant.

Marissa tangerine

Poppies tangerine (this summer)

 

Tessa teal (this summer)

Avery eggplant

Fun Fact Friday: NY Home Fashions Market

As the name suggests, the "market" is located in New York City.  The Garment District to exact.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

The Garment District, also known as the Garment Center, or Fashion District, is the neighborhood that lies between Fifth Ave. and  Ninth Ave., from 34^th to 42^nd Street.  

This area has been known since the early 20th century as the center for textile manufacturing and design. In fact, in 1910, 70% of the nation's women's clothing and 40% of the men's were produced in this neighborhood.

Less than one square mile in area, the neighborhood is home to the majority of New York’s showrooms and to numerous major fashion labels.  

Encompassing all aspects of the fashion process – from design and production to wholesale selling.  

m.style showroom 2012

Twice a year (March and September) I have the opportunity to meet with new and existing customers “buyers” from all over the US, Canada and South America. 

m.style will be one of more than 400 “vendors” showing at this show. 

For new customers, this is a time to get to know each other, explain the brand and design philosophy, and see the “line” or product up close.  For existing customers, we discuss our current business together, any special projects or needs they many have, and I share all of the new patterns, color and trends for the upcoming season. 

At the conclusion of the meetings, the buyer will make a commitment to a pattern(s) for production or will ask for samples to be sent to their office for a larger review meeting called a “style out”.   I will touch upon the style out process in next weeks post.


Till then, keep style'n

m.style in the news 2-25-2013

m.style moves into another new category

Home Textiles Today Magazine: 2/25/2013

New York - m.style is introducing window panels at next month's New York Home Fashions Market, along with an expanded assortment of shower curtains and duvet covers.
Founded in 2009 by former Bed Bath & Beyond assistant buyer Monika Murray, m.style specializes in what she calls "fast and fearless decorating," with colorful, spirited prints. Starting with shower curtains (she did a term at Blonder Home Fashions after leaving BBB), Murray has carefully built out her assortment.
"I equate the time at Bed Bath & Beyond as college," she said. "I learned the jargon. I learned the expectations. I learned the challenges. It's a fantastic company, but I realized I was not as suited to be a buyer as I was a product developer."
With a big push from her husband - "He literally kicked my behind and said go and do this" - she got underway.
Shower curtains are custom-colored to match the best-selling towel shades of the moment, she said. The duvet covers, which debuted late last year, all feature concealed zippers and retail from $79.00 to $89.99.
"I always want my product to be better than you expected," said Murray.
m.style is now moving into to window treatments as a decorating solution. "What shower curtains do for the bathroom, window curtains do for other rooms," she said.
The company will offer four base cloths as well as grommets and tab tops. Curtains will be packaged as a pair of panels with an average retail target of $39.99, "if not less," said Murray.

m.style out and about 2/22/2013

You just never know where you'll find m.style!

 

This weeks sighting comes from Scott Shafranek.  While looking for homes in his area of Charlotte NC, he spotted the Full Bloom pattern in this video for "2023 Bay Street in Chantilly".


Thanks for your great eye Scott!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPCAnSzhx7M&feature=player_embedded (check out 1:07 of the video)


A special thanks to Savvy + Co Real Estate for the great video

Fun Fact Friday: Life cycle of a shower curtain part 3

Now we move on to price.  
How are the retail prices determined?

The fabrication and many times the "brand name" will dictate a price in the marketplace.  A heavier weight cloth will most times command a higher retail because of the "perceived" value.  

In many stores, where the shower curtain are only displayed in their vinyl bag packaging,. the weight and size of the shower curtain is key in its success.  

For the most part, shower curtains range in retail price from $19.99 to $49.99.  In today's world and economically challenging times, a retail higher than $49.99 is rare.

m.style is focused on bringing beautiful, high quality and affordable shower curtain to the market, to you!  m.style retails range from $29.99 to $39.99.

SO...think about it, for $30 to $40, you can instantly transform the look of your bath!  Got family coming for the holidays?  Need a decorating lift in the most used room in your home?  

A shower curtain is the way to go!

daisy dance orange $39.99

avery spa $29.99

first impressions lipstick $39.99

Here are a few of the new shower curtains I will be showing at the upcoming NY Home Fashions Week.  















I will be talking a bit more about this next week in Fun Fact Friday.

Your Blog Comments - I LOVE them!

Happy Tuesday!
A heartfelt thanks to all who let me know the comment portion of the Blog was not working as it should.  

The issue has been corrected and we're all better now.  Please comment...I LOVE to hear your feedback, suggestions, and ideas!

Fun Fact Friday: Let it snow

Like many of you on the East Coat, I am gearing up for the big snow. 
Fun Fact Friday will be seen on Tidbit Tuesday :-)

Be safe out there!
Monika