SURTEX 2013

Surtex starts in about three weeks. It's always a hectic time getting ready and a crap shoot trying to decide what art to show on the booth walls. It's also stressful wondering what buyers and art directors will show to take a peek and if they are in the mood to talk about the new art and take some on with new licenses. Very difficult for the Artists as its the premiere show of the year. I dont think its a tell tale of any of their talent but it can make your year if you leave with a good feeling that the buyers liked something or better yet, the majority of it. The show is not only all business, but it's a good time for the Agents to share war stories of the past year and to catch up on personal lives. I always enjoy the visits no matter how short the time may be as many have become very good friends.

Atlanta Gift Show was productive on all fronts. Buyers were there buying although the numbers seemed down. A few people I've spoken to may disagree disagree. They thought it was packed. Wondering if, with four buildings now, they travel in packs and certain areas get lots of traffic at once while others are sparse. I left Saturday so missed the majority of local traffic focused on the temps. Some great product and art based licensing seems to be on the rebound from the color and geometrics that have dominated for the past several years. With the election year behind us, regardless of anyones politics, business needs to get back on track.

At right is Julie Ueland previewing her Seabreeze Collection at the C&F Enterprises Showroom. Here's hoping for a fantastic 2013 for everyone!

SURTEX 2012 Show finished with a great upbeat note. Generally good praise from other exhibitors and Attendees. Not a lot of newbies wasting time in booths. Survival of the fitest looks like its weeding out the companies not able to adjust with the changing economy both domestically and abroad. Lots of flat fee deal requests which is bothersome, but expect to see many more of them as the nex few years come and go. Lots of follow up to get on top of. Looking for a big percentage of the contacts to pan out into good deals for our great group of talent! Always great to see friends and catch up with both personal and professional lives. Life is short, enjoy it and the people whos paths you cross. I am blessed to have made so many friends in this business and although you dont want time to go any faster than it already does, I can't wait for another SURTEX to show up on the calendar.

Jaclyn Nicole

Image Connection Artist Jaclyn Nicole introduced a new collection of rooster illustraions and backgrounds for the month of March. A recent graduate of The Academy of Art, she is jumping into the art licensing arena full bore.

New Calendar from Lang

Lang, a division of Perfect Timing, Inc. has introduced an Abundant Friendship 2013 calendar illustrated by Image Connection Artist, Diane Knott. The calendar rolled out at the Atlanta Gift Show in January and is now being offered for sale online at http://www.lang.com/calendars/wall_calendars/1001545.
The calendar retails for $15.95

Farida Zaman

Image Connection is proud to introduce Farida Zaman to it roster of talented Artists and Designers. Farida resides in Toronto with her family. She has a wonderful hand and great command of color and design. Ms. Zaman is an established Artist in the Industry with several partnerships with top drawer manufacturers.

SURTEX

Where are we going?  A big question asked by almost everyone this year. SURTEX grew in booth numbers.  Many new Agencies have popped up, and several individual Artists/Designers bit the bullet and rented space. At a dinner of peers and good friends the last night of the show, the consensus was B  to B- for the show quality.  Not bad, but definitely not great.

The Stationery Show is about 45% of what the size was when I first attended so many years ago. As with many trade shows, they keep shrinking in size and numbers. Less attendees as several top manufacturers only sent one  or did not send anyone to the Show. This appears to be a reflection of the overall economy. The cost to exhibit is exhorbanent and prohibitive for the potential return  and long term business it is suppose to generate. As with many companies we see in Atlanta and other Gift shows, many companies are expanding their product lines and encroaching into arenas never tested on their part.  They are morphing into the proverbial chatsky shop we have all experienced at every travel destination around the world. Or, as one famous Artist put it, producing crap for the highway truck stop.

Don't blame anyone for any of this. It is a morphing of the US retail business model, of which we are a part of the supply chain. As with the other parts of the chain, we are experiencing fast and furious change and need to analyze, decide and move to meet the demands and changes or we will be left behind. Technology, social media, computer graphics, bubbles, recession, double dips, wall street, on and on and on.  And we do it with less and less and less.

I, like many, love this industry. It's unique although people outside looking in, think we're crazy the way we do business. But the people, for the most part are great, honorable and in many cases, extended family.  Who doesn't want to work under those conditions? So we continue to work through the issues at hand and jump over the hurdles that pop up to throw us off course.

It's part of the cycle. It always changes.  Better times are ahead for sure. It's only a matter of when and how long one can stand the heat..

The best to All!
Alan