Music Feeding the Soul

I had dinner with my 20-something niece the other evening.  She mentioned that she bought a turntable and was now collecting LPs.  (I still have mine from the day and told her to come rifle through them.)  Our conversation reminded me of how much I enjoy listening to music and playing DJ in my own home. I put one song on my turntable and another ready to go on the CD player. Sometimes I listen to the same song 5 times before I move on.  Note to self: Play DJ more often.

Dunitz & Company is getting ready to exhibit at the Boston Gift Show, April 2-5.  As I was doing some last minute prep work, I started thinking about songs that remind me of Boston. Two immediately came to mind. Please Come to Boston by Dave Loggins (1974) and Dirty Water from the Standells (1966). [I remember my older sister playing and singing along to this '45' when I was a tot.]  And then there is Rock and Roll Band from, yes, Boston and Massachusetts, an oldie but goody from the Bee Gees. Dare I ask? What songs remind you of Boston? - ND

We Have That Look

I read what seems like zillions of fashion magazines.  I watch the fashionistas on Instagram. Trust me, I'm on top of the fashion pages in print and online.  So often I see something and think "We have that look."  And then the thought disappears. It dawned on my this week that I SHOULD be make the comparisons for our customers.  So, here is a new beginning.
While browsing Instagram this weekend, I noticed that Alexa Chung , actress, model and Vogue editor donned a huge flower on her blazer at London Fashion Week. Voila. Dunitz has that look in all sorts of colors with our jumbo #fairtrade Peruvian flowers (SKU: JO-P5).  We're on trend with this!

On Sunday, it was hard to miss a story highlighting various earrings in the Image section of the Los Angeles Times.  Staring back at me were beaded & wire earrings from Thai importer, Nakomol.  The article mentioned that their earrings are selling at Neiman Marcus.  You betcha. Dunitz has the look. We're showing ours (SKU: ARW82) in twelve different colors this season. I already knew they were winners. This just confirms the look is right on the mark. - ND

Good Things Come in Small Packages

Good things come in small packages. It seems this adage applies to the Dunitz jewelry line as well.  Every season we design what I believe to be new spectacular necklaces and earrings.  Our customers ooooo and ahhhhhh.  And then, what to do they buy in huge volume?  The smallest earrings we have to offer.  Is this a never-ending design trend?  Now my challenge each season is what can we design - that is smaller than last season.  Spring 2016 results.  Our super tiny JoanieM glass studs (SKU: JM-ER35) and our tiny Dunitz beaded flower earrings (SKU: ARduoflor1).  Very inexpensive - & yes, flying off our shelves.  Based on history, these small items will be a success for our customers as well.   Any thoughts on this trend?  When will "big" earrings return with a vengeance? -ND

Legal Gambling

I'm soon heading off to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Market.  Dunitz & Company will be located in Pavilion 1 - Booth 2615, otherwise noted as "The Temps".  Whenever I'm heading off to Vegas, friends & customers always ask if I'll 'hit the tables'.  Truth is, I NEVER win at black jack. And I certain don't win money hanging out with the one arm bandits.  My response usually is - exhibiting at trade shows is my legal gambling.  And it is.  We all prepare endlessly for the shows.  And it costs a whole lot of money to set them up. Dunitz exhibited last season at Las Vegas Market and it was a very disappointing show.  The heating & cooling had not been figured out in the new Pavilion space and we were all sweltering. The buyers didn't want to enter and/or stay in the building.  Even free ice cream couldn't persuade them to 'work the room.'  Even with the, ok, bad show, I still saw potential with this market.  Some of the few buyers that did walk the temps, were quality buyers. I saw several museum buyers.  In fact, Stuart Hata, the buyer from the deYoung Fine Arts Museum brought his colleagues by our booth on a Museum Store Association tour of the hall. (He chose 9 booths to highlight and we were one of them.) Show attendees came from all over the country.   Bottom line. We're rolling the dice again. We'll be in Vegas this weekend - doing our legal gambling at Las Vegas Market. - ND

360° Fair Trade - Fair Trade Federation Messaging

Dunitz is a proud member of the Fair Trade Federation.  We are part of a this group where each member company is deeply committed to fair trade.  Each company is rigorously screened from top to bottom before admittance.
It is awesome that more and more people are cognizant of how and where things are made or at least have an interest in how and where things are made. The phrase "fair trade" sound good.  I've found that at the wholesale trade shows just about every company importing form third world countries is now describing themselves as "fair trade."  I'm not even sure if many of these people spouting the term even know what it means.  In a competitive world, this has been challenging for Fair Trade Federation members who want to differentiate themselves from those that have not been screened for their business practices.
Fair Trade Federation has new messaging we hope will communicate to our customers (whether they be stores or end users of our offerings) our strong desire to build meaningful, trusting relationships with our producers and to act as good global citizens through all of our work - socially, economically and environmentally.  The concept of 360° (degrees) Fair Trade is meant to express our desire to go beyond fair trade basics. We practice 360° Fair Trade which means we take a more holistic approach than only looking at wages and work conditions.  We partner with artisans (and farmers) and make long-term commitments to help grow businesses and strengthen communities. (Dunitz has worked with the same community of beaders for over 25 years!) 
Next time someone tells you they run a fair trade business, question them.  Ask them if they are a member of Fair Trade Federation.  Ask them to tell you about their 360 Fair Trade practices.  I'm certain any of my FTF colleagues would be happy to share stories of their work and the artisans (and farmers) they support. - ND

When You See What I Don't See...

Dream Catcher Necklace - SKU: CL7SP

When you see what I don't see, I learn all sorts of things.  When designing the Fall 2015 collections, I took into account that many clothing designers were using lots of fringe EVERYWHERE.  Fringe Skirts. Fringe Vests. Fringe Handbags.  Of course I've designed many things with fringe in the past.  But, it had been some time.  So, for this season, I specifically set out to create some necklaces and lots of earrings with fringe.  When I 'm working on new designs, I go into a bit of a trance mode.  So, in this case - the result was...well spiritual.  I didn't see what all of my customers saw.  I didn't see it until over and over and over everyone repeated the same thing.  This new necklace looks like a "dream catcher".  Those new earrings look like a "dream catcher".   The result has been spectacular.  It seems our customers have been mesmerized by these designs. Thank you all. -ND

Sharing Beauty

We recently staged a photo shoot with several of our artisans. Many of the women wore their favorite huipils (traditional blouses.)  These blouses are quite expensive and although they differ from town to town, they are created with beautiful weaving and embroidery.  These pieces of clothing far exceed our simply colored collared shirts and sweaters.

For this particular exercise, the women modeled some of my favorite pieces which are designed in sophisticated colors with vintage buttons and coins.  Here in the US,  women typically don these pieces on neutral black and beige. I was surprised just how stunning these pieces look on bright traditional Guatemala clothing.  What do you think?  Does seeing these on vibrant clothing make you rethink how you might put together your own wardrobe? - ND