PARIS — Retailers who made the rounds at the Premiere Classe trade show that ran from Jan. 22 to 25 here were on the lookout for unique accessories.
“We’re just trying to find something that no one else has,” said Chad Harris, who was buying for Relish, a 2,000-square-foot store in Metairie, La., where accessories generate at least 18 percent of revenues. “We’re looking at everything from an everyday bag to jewelry to shoes.”
He earmarked a budget about 20 percent higher for the upcoming fall season than for the current one. Harris said Relish’s business is growing by double digits and that jewelry sells best among accessories categories.
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Sue Elster and Sue Tusder trolled Premiere Classe for an accessories store they plan to open in north or west London, possibly by yearend. “We’re looking for something that’s very different or something that’s very high quality,” said Elster. Among the resources they particularly liked were Sophie Digard’s scarves in merino wool or linen with wholesale prices from 85 euros to 130 euros, or $115 to $176 at current exchange.
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Catherine Lupis Thomas was on the hunt for leather gloves and hard hats for her Paris-based, 577-square-foot store, called 1962. Its best-selling accessories are leather bags.
“Normally, we only buy Orla Kiely bags,” said Thomas.
Kiely herself was at the show. Her signature brand is selling more leather accessories than before, and pieces mixing print and leather “are also doing extremely well,” said Dermott Rowan, Orla Kiely’s managing director.
Villemoustaussou, France-based brand Nicole de Rivals displayed its cowhide bags. Samuel Coraux, of Paris, featured his brightly colored jewelry design in Murano glass and in plastic, while Corrine Philippon, also of Paris, showed upscale headbands. L’Atelier des Dames, from Capbreton, France, had delicate necklaces, and Céline Robert, from Le Mans, France, offered up a range of hats for women and men. The attendee level at Premiere Classe and its adjoining trade show Who’s Next gained 4 percent year-over-year to 54,182 buyers. There was a 6.7 percent uptick of non-French attendees and a 2.1 percent increase of domestic buyers.
Meanwhile, at the Eclat de Mode trade show nearby, which ran from Jan. 21 to 24, brands said the jewelry business has held its ground despite hikes in gold and silver prices.
“People seek things that are a bit lighter to be in the market but significant pieces work also — it all depends on the clientele,” said Annie Busson, president of Paris-based Clio Blue, who thinks 2011 “will be a good year.”
AC Creation, of Nice, France, recently diversified its coral-based jewelry line with models such as cameos and used less gold and more silver, too.