The Guild, a purveyor of artworks and artisan decor and jewelry, is taking its show on the road – literally. To allow shoppers to view artwork in person, the company will present The Artful Home Show from Nov. 16 through Nov. 18 at the Puck Building in New York.
The three-day event will present artist-made furniture, jewelry, and home accessories by more than 200 of The Guild’s most popular artists, says Michael Baum, president of the Madison, WI-based merchant. “We wanted to bring our artists’ work into a retail setting, but we still wanted to remain true to our “no inventory” business model,” he says.
The show will be set up with boutique areas with glass art, furniture and home accessories, jewelry, and gift items. The Artful Home Show will host educational events to provide attendees with home décor ideas and inspiration.
The November dates coincide with the prime holiday shopping period, Baum adds. Why in New York City? “To provide this opportunity to as many of our customers as possible, since a large percentage of our customer base is located in the Northeast,” he says.
Even though the initial foray into live art hasn’t occurred yet, Baum is thinking about next year. “We are already looking into repeating the New York show in 2008 and adding additional locations in the future as well,” he says. “We are expecting attendance in the thousands.”