Red Ribbon for AIDS by Brenda Elvey

Number three in our line up of nine finalists vying for awards in the first GFL “Make Change” design competition:

The Red Ribbon for Aids sock bank was handmade by Brenda Elvey, a craftsperson in Missoula, MT, who specializes in personal accessories and jewelry. This bank is made with stretch fabric to hold the change, topped by a face and ribbon shaped of polymer clay and covered with resin. It can be hung by the ribbon on any hook, door knob or hanger.

Finalists’ designs will be displayed in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s Crystal Palace lobby during the summer 2010 NYIGF. Two awards (a “Peoples’ Choice Award” based on voting by market participants, and a “Designer Distinction Award” as determined by a panel of professional designers – Mark Blackwell, Sandy Chilewich and Evette Rios) will be presented.

Proceeds from the competition will benefit the charitable efforts of Gift For Life and its sole beneficiary, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the resources of the design communities to provide more than $38 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. For more info about DIFFA, click the “About GFL” tab at the top of this page.

Le Cochon Tote by Bradley Stephens

Part two in a series of nine, featuring our nine “Make Change” finalists…

The Le Cochon Tote from the Bradley Stephens design firm in New York symbolizes a troubled economy’s effect on the retail and service industries. The faux leather handbag is suitable for those who hold tightly onto their purse strings, with a tiny zipper on top just wide enough to insert dollar bills. A mother-of-pearl encrusted pocket knife is integrated into the design as a special accessory for “breaking the bank.”

Finalists’ designs will be displayed in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s Crystal Palace lobby during the summer 2010 NYIGF. Two awards (a “Peoples’ Choice Award” based on voting by market participants, and a “Designer Distinction Award” as determined by a panel of professional designers – Mark Blackwell, Sandy Chilewich and Evette Rios) will be presented.

Proceeds from the competition will benefit the charitable efforts of Gift For Life and its sole beneficiary, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the resources of the design communities to provide more than $38 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. For more info about DIFFA, click the “About GFL” tab at the top of this page.

Coffee Joe Banks by Akira Yoshimura

Here you go—the first of nine finalists in the Gift for Life “Make Change” competition, inviting designers to re-imagine the iconic piggy bank in new and creative ways:

The Coffee Joe Banks series by Japanese product designer Akira Yoshimura is a collection of flat, precision-cut paper cards meticulously engineered to transform into whimsical three-dimensional change collectors. The petite size accommodates just enough change for a cup of “joe.” Banks are available in two sizes, and in two characters, a bunny and a lion. Akira, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, is a freelance designer in New York City.

Finalists’ designs will be displayed in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s Crystal Palace lobby during the summer 2010 NYIGF. Two awards (a “Peoples’ Choice Award” based on voting by market participants, and a “Designer Distinction Award” as determined by a panel of professional designers – Mark Blackwell, Sandy Chilewich and Evette Rios) will be presented.

Proceeds from the competition will benefit the charitable efforts of Gift For Life and its sole beneficiary, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the resources of the design communities to provide more than $38 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. For more info about DIFFA, click the “About GFL” tab at the top of this page.

This just in on the news wire:

Finalists have been selected in the first Gift For Life / New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) Product Design Competition, with nine prototypes vying for “Peoples’ Choice” and “Designer Distinction” Awards at the New York International Gift Fair, August 14-19, 2010.

Themed “Make Change,” the inaugural design competition required established and emerging designers to reinvent the iconic piggy bank with unique and innovative elements. While banks could be dramatically re-imagined, they had to retain their functional aspect and be a repository for money in order to be considered.

“From card stock to gold plate, the materials were as diverse as the concepts and the designers behind them,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “The designers’ personal interpretations of the piggy bank were refreshingly unique and different.”

Competition finalists will be featured here on the GFL website over the next week and a half.

Finalists’ designs will be displayed in the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center’s Crystal Palace lobby during the summer 2010 NYIGF. Two awards (a “Peoples’ Choice Award” based on voting by market participants, and a “Designer Distinction Award” as determined by a panel of professional designers – Mark Blackwell, Sandy Chilewich and Evette Rios) will be presented. Winners of both Awards will receive one complimentary exhibition space (valued at $3,700) for the winter 2011 NYIGF.

Proceeds from the competition will benefit the charitable efforts of Gift For Life and its sole beneficiary, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS, one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the U.S. Since its founding in 1984, DIFFA has mobilized the resources of the design communities to provide more than $38 million to hundreds of AIDS organizations nationwide. For more info about DIFFA, click the “About GFL” tab at the top of this page.

NYIGF is the nation’s premier gift, home and lifestyle marketplace, with 2,800 exhibiting companies featuring an extraordinary breadth and depth of design-driven home fashion products and complementary giftware. The summer market takes place Saturday, August 14 through Thursday, August 19, 2010, at the Javits Center and Passenger Ship Terminal Piers 92 and 94 in New York City. Some 35,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 85 countries worldwide are expected. Information and registration is available online at www.nyigf.com.

Each year, the centerpiece in Gift for Life’s fund raising crown is a party held during the New York International Gift Fair. While Casino Night’s been a lot of fun the past couple of years, this time, we’re shaking things up a bit. Welcome to the New York Experience, everyone!

Join us for fabulous food, divine drinks, and a little spotlight time for this year’s honorees, including winners of the Design for Life Award, the Bert Tonkin Gift of Giving Award, and the Trail Blazer Award.

As GFL Chair, Jenny Hammons, put it when interviewed by Gifts and Decorative Accessories Magazine, “Only in New York can we bring together the entire industry to have fun, honor our innovative leaders, and raise money for a terrific cause. The Gift for Life anniversary event offers a chance to entertain guests and network with industry associates.”

Not to mention have a whole lotta fun. Here’s the skinny, so you don’t miss out:

Date Sunday, January 30, 2011
Time From 6:30 ‘til 10:00 p.m.
Location Central Park Boathouse
Tickets See that link at the top of the screen? Yeah. That one. Click it, please.

Sponsorships Available at various levels, from $500-$25,000. For details, click here to contact Steven Williams, or call him at 212.727.3100. (Note: DIFFA processes all financial transactions as our sole charitable beneficiary, so don’t be surprised when he answers the phone that way.)

We really like bragging up our sponsors—especially now that we have social media and marketing buzz engines revved up—so think long and hard about how great your competitors will look on that list. You just might want to be on there too.

For info about DIFFA, click the “About GFL” tab at the top of the page.

See you in January!

Headed off to one of the summer gift shows? Home shows? Want to use that time to do some good in the world? Cool. Here’s a little reminder that you have a way to do that, and it won’t cost you an extra nickle.

Change for Life, that fan-tab-u-lous fund raiser we announced a few weeks ago is in high swing. The way it works is this: You write an order. The vendor or showroom who wrote it makes a donation to Gift for Life as a result.

Yup. That simple.

To learn more, click here. To make a difference, buy here:

OneCoast
Two’s Company
Global Views
Lazy Susan
Evergreen
Uttermost
Appleman Schauben
Mud Pie
Lindsay Phillips
CR Gibson
Alexa’s Angels
Imax

As a little noodge, here’s how the money moves around: The vendors or showroom donates to Gift for Life. Gift for Life passes it through to our charitable partner, DIFFA: Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS. DIFFA then uses it to proactively combat HIV/AIDS through preventive education for those at risk, plus fund direct care for people living with HIV/AIDS. They’re one of the largest supporters of this work in the country.

Translated, they really know what they’re doing.

There. Now go do this thing, will ya? It’s important.

Are you a vendor or sales agency that feels like a heel for not being part of this? That’s okay; we can help you rectify that. Just get in touch with Stu Teller, our Change for Life Chair, by clicking here.

Peter Schauben, one of the original Gift For Life founders and current board member, will receive, by unanimous election of the ICON HONORS executive committee, a special Industry Stewardship Award at the inaugural HONORS celebration scheduled for Saturday, July 17, 2010 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.

Schauben’s honor comes with the full endorsement of ICON partners Gift & Home Trade Association (GHTA), HFN and AmericasMart Atlanta.

The award recognizes the selfless contributions of an individual known and respected across the gift industry landscape, notes Jeffrey L. Portman, Sr., AmericasMart president and chief operating officer. “Peter’s industry contributions are both Herculean and humble. He has given of himself tirelessly for many years, pressing toward the goal of doing greater good through his Gift For Life mission while building a significant business presence in his Appelman-Schauben enterprise.  To acknowledge these achievements with the ICON 2010 Stewardship Award is a privilege and pleasure,” adds Portman.

Schauben’s career spans almost four decades, beginning with retail entities in California and continuing with wholesale business ventures, culminating in the 1994 founding of Appelman-Schauben with partner Louise Appelman.  The firm today occupies more than 20,000 square feet of AmericasMart Atlanta space housing 30 lines in two divisions.

The 2010 Industry Stewardship Award takes its place among a series of honors to be conferred upon retailers, product manufactures, sales agencies and service providers at the inaugural ICON HONORS dinner gala, which also will feature a keynote address by celebrated retailer, Stew Leonard, Jr., and a special performance by the iconic singer, Michael McDonald.

To purchase tickets, please click here.

Congrats, Peter!

Pull up a chair, make yourself comfy. Welcome to Tabletop by Design, a celebration of all things tabletop and home entertaining organized by the Pacific Market Center.

PMC decided to launch the event to complement their Summer Gift and Home Accessories Show, taking place August 18-24 in Seattle.  Each design participant will showcase inventive tabletop designs on 48” or 60” round tables, which will then be judged by buyers attending the show.  The coolest part? Buyers will vote with donations to Gift For Life, all proceeds benefiting DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS.

Sounds like a pretty tasty desert.

According to Lisa Goodman, Director of Marketing for the Pacific Market Center, the aim is to create dazzling and memorable tabletop displays that will inspire show attendees while raising funds for Gift for Life/DIFFA.  “Times are challenging, but we continue to see encouraging support for inspirational events and charitable giving,” said Goodman. “We look forward to wide participation and the opportunity to showcase unique creativity for charitable good.”

In the words of Jenny Hammons, Gift for Life Chair, “We are delighted to work with the Pacific Market Center to develop a new Gift For Life activity in Seattle. What a wonderful way to blend design inspiration and industry giving.”

Absolutely.

We all know half the battle in supporting a non-profit is getting the word out about what the group does and why it makes a difference. Thanks to John Saxton, editor of Gift and Home Interactive e-magazine, Gift for Life is front and center on the stage this month. His interview with Jenny Hammons (Chair, Gift for Life) gives readers a greater understanding of who we are and what we’re up to…and why it’s important the gift, home, and stationery industries continue to support our cause.

To read the article, click here.

AIDS isn’t gone, folks; it’s still banging away and we need to bang back. Hard. Please join us.

Click the image above to download the flyer

Retailers, here’s your chance to help Gift for Life. And it won’t cost you an extra dime.

For each order placed during the markets after June 1, 2010, a donation will be made by our generous partners, shown below. Proceeds benefit Gift for Life’s sole charity partner, DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS—one of the largest funders of HIV/AIDS service and education programs in the United States.

So, that order you think is gonna rock your store? Well, it just helped rock someone’s life, in a very real, very positive way. You just did a good thing, twice over.

Check ‘em out. Write an order.
Make a difference.

Alexa’s Angels
Appelman Schauben
CR Gibson
Evergreen
Global Views
Imax
Lazy Susan
Lindsay Phillips
Mud Pie
OneCoast
Two’s Company
Uttermost

Are you a vendor, sales organization, or showroom principal who wants to help? Fabulous; we’d love to add your name to the list. Please contact Stu Teller asap. The sooner you jump in, the bigger the impact your company will have.