 |
 feature
story
anything goes:
container styles for 2007
Choose everything from natural materials
and an earthy aesthetic to ornate, antique-inspired elements.
by AMY BAUER
Containers are making a strong statement alongside the flowers they are
designed to hold. “Florists are incorporating the vase into the
arrangement more than ever,” observes Marla O’Dell, director of products
and purchasing for Syndicate Sales, Inc. “Oftentimes it is the focal
point, and a few stems are used as accent.”
| |
top container trends
|
|
| |
• Mixing and matching “Having more of an eclectic, unique and
personal touch is the trend,” says Carla Meehan, marketing
coordinator for burton + BURTON
• Color collections that revolve around a central theme but
incorporate containers in a variety of shapes, sizes and
materials
• Containers that accommodate oversized arrangements and
centerpieces, for banquets and weddings especially
• Subtle shimmer, with glitter, gem and sequin accents becoming
more understated and transitioning to simple shine
• Traditional with a twist, such as incorporating multiple
surface treatments and media on containers
|
|
As we gaze into 2007, container options
abound, in styles and price points to fit all tastes. Shoppers also
covet containers for their multiple uses as decorative accessories. And
florists are looking beyond the traditional, turning anything that can
hold a water source into a potential showpiece. “With this new trend,”
notes Carla Meehan, marketing coordinator for burton + BURTON, “almost
anything can be a floral container—from plates, cups and goblets to
buckets, tubs and test tubes.” Organic shapes and materials are finding
favor with consumers, notes Tara Meier, who is in marketing for Eighteen
Karat International Product Sourcing Inc.
|
 |
Suppliers say continued higher fuel prices
have squeezed their operations, forcing them to work even harder to keep
their costs down in order to remain affordable for florists and
consumers. Fuel prices are affecting not only the cost to transport
containers to their destination but also the cost to create the vessels
in some cases, such as plastics, which have petroleum products as their
base.
| |
colors to watch
|
|
| |
• Bright lime green, which Kandi DiFiore, marketing product
manager for The John Henry Company, describes as the “new
neutral” and sees being used in many color pairings
• Browns, including in dual-color combinations such as soft
green and brown, blue and brown, red and brown, and black and
brown
• Vintage red, which also will combine with sage, cream and
taupe
• Black and white
• Turquoise
• Soft, coastal blues
• Silver accents
• Gold, which Victoria Chester, vice president of Vacuum
Orna-Metal Company, Inc., says is gaining on silver in
popularity
• Paler shades of pink, green, blue and lavender
• Monochromatic combinations, such as fuchsia and pastel pink,
aqua and pastel blue, lime and mint green, and purple and lilac
• Orange, including combined with pastel pink, fuchsia, aqua,
lilac, lime green and mint green
|
|
Containers are in highest demand at the peak
holiday seasons, but they remain a staple year-round. Kandi DiFiore,
marketing product manager for The John Henry Company, says she sees a
trend toward more everyday designs and motifs and colors that can cross
from season to season seamlessly, helping florists turn excess
inventory.
| |
most sought materials
|
|
| |
• Galvanized metals
• Tin, particularly textured and punched tin
• Rope
• Straw
• Glass, especially in “art glass” forms
• Ceramic
• Stoneware, including terra-cotta
• Eco-friendly and organic materials
• Wood, including whitewashed, weathered and distressed
• Canvas
|
|
Let these handy trend watches help guide
your buying for 2007. “As in home décor or clothing, anything goes,”
sums up Victoria Chester, vice president of Vacuum Orna-Metal Company,
Inc.
| |
favorite shapes and accents
|
|
| |
• Antique-inspired, such as pedestal bases, claw feet and scroll
accenting
• Flared, angular and bulbous-shaped vases
• Pails and buckets
• Wine-bottle shapes
• Mint-julep cups
• Storage containers, such as baskets, benches and ottomans
|
|
Thanks to Tara Meier, marketing, with
Eighteen Karat International Product Sourcing Inc.; Carla Meehan,
marketing coordinator for burton + BURTON; Kandi DiFiore, marketing
product manager for The John Henry Company; Marla O’Dell, director of
products and purchasing for Syndicate Sales, Inc.; and Victoria Chester,
vice president of Vacuum Orna-Metal Company, Inc., for contributing to
this report.
You may contact Amy Bauer by e-mail at
abauer@floristsreview.com
or by phone at (800) 367-4708.
• To read and see more,
Click here
to purchase the current issue of Florist's Review. |
