Let’s Talk Textiles
As you explore Paris on your free days during our Paris 2010 trip don’t overlook the fabulous fabric shops near the Montmartre and Sentier.
If you are heading for Montmartre and Sacré Coeur leave the Metro at Anvers, and walk through a maze of little streets towards the Basilica. Here you can do a little shopping in the many discount fabric stores in the area. The fabric district in Paris is called Marche St. Pierre, and is at the foot of Montmartre (below the Sacre Coeur Basilica). The textile stores are marked on the map, and their names appear below – I’ll be printing this page and taking it with me on our trip to Paris.
The Marché St. Pierre is housed in a building at the foot of Sacré Coeur gardens on rue Charles Nodier and is devoted entirely to fabrics. Closed all day Sunday and on Mondays until 2 pm, there are apparently some real bargains to be had. The Marche itself is an experience, a bustle that reminds one of the Halles when they were still in Paris, something straight out of a Balzac novel. For a more sedate experience with still a lot of choices, try Reine across the street, which is particularly good for a leisurely perusal of all the good European patterns. Be aware that these stores run entirely on fabric closeouts – what you see is the last of what anyone can get, so don’t come back the next day having made up your mind and expect to find anything you saw before, half the stock can rotate in an afternoon.
The smaller stores that crowd the neighborhood also have great bargains, but come armed with matches and be prepared for extensive burn tests, because nobody will be held to any labeling, much less any oral description. Some bargaining might however be possible, depending on the circumstances.
A Tissus Reine
5, Place St Pierre, 75018 Paris, France
La Mercerie : Haberdashery : buttons etc
A Anvers Tissus
6, Rue Steinkerque, 75018 Paris, France
C Tissus d’Orsel
25, Rue Orsel, 75018 Paris, France
D Marché Saint Pierre (Dreyfus Déballage)
2 rue Charles Nodier, 75018 Paris, France
Category: Magasins de vente au détail – Tissus et fournitures de couture
E Tissus Lionel
5, Rue Seveste, 75018 Paris, France
F Tassangoro Africa Tissus
39, Rue Doudeauville, 75018 Paris, France
G Tissus Charles SARL
8, Rue Pierre Picard, 75018 Paris, France
H Tissus Butte Montmartre SARL
5, Rue Pierre Picard, 75018 Paris, France
I Sarl Tissus
10, Rue Seveste, 75018 Paris, France
J Tissus Jef
9, Rue Seveste, 75018 Paris, France
Tissus Moline
1, Place Saint-Pierre 75018 Paris, France – and
1-3-5-7 et 2-4-6 rue Livingstone 75018 Paris
Sentier is the oldest textile district in Paris where abundant fabric shops and clothing stores line rue du Sentier and rue St-Denis.
Within easy walking distance of Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Centre Pompidou and the Marais, is the Sentier. Le sentier is the oldest textile neighborhood in Paris, north of the 3e near Reaumur-Sebastopol. le-sentier-paris.com Most of the stores do wholesale only (‘vente en gros’), and aren’t kidding about it. But a smattering indicate in the window that they do retail (‘vente au detail’), and you’ll get some of the most fashionable items on the planet, hot off the press. In any case, it’s worth strolling through for both the historical value and the fashion preview combined. It’s definitely one of the best places for shoe fetishists. It’s also right next to the oldest Jewish neighborhood in Paris (rue des Rosiers), and the newest gay one (rue St Croix de la Bretonnerie), so you can roll several interests into one afternoon. We recommend the rue des Rosiers for the mandatory post-shopping pastry.
Take care not to stray too far north into the 10th Arrondissement where the Boulevard St. Martin and parts of rue du Faubourg-St Denis can be unsafe at any time of day
2 comments 6 December 2009
Helser Brothers Announces Paris Trip Winner
One lucky designer is joining us in Paris! Jay and Mark Helser announced the winner on their essay contest on November 30, 2009. Rebecca Deming Rumpf of Custom Interiors by Rebecca wowed Jay and Mark with her submission, telling them why she should go to Paris and be their eyes and ears. Rebecca will be blogging and videologging during the seven-day trip ; covering the show, her experiences and commenting on what she think the design future will be like . Watch for her blogs here and at Why Helser.
Congrats Rebecca!
Add comment 6 December 2009
Win a Trip to Paris
Opportunité Fantastique!
(Just a little French lingo to announce a spectacular opportunity for one lucky and talented design professional!)
Jay and Mark of Helser Brothers are offering a trip to the City of Lights, PARIS! As in France! The winner will join Industry Experts Deb Barrett and Susan Schultz as one of a select group of 12 at the Maison et Objet show January 19-27, 2010. The trip includes a Cruise on the Seine and a visit to the Louvre among many other delights. It is truly the trip of a lifetime. There are a few qualifications, a passport, an engaging personality, and the ability to share the journey as you blog for us through 7 days of non-stop Francophile fun. You will get to be our eyes and ears on this trip, submitting daily posts about the products you see and your ongoing adventure.See the fine print below for details on just what is included in this offer and apply today! The trip is coming fast so we need to choose a winner on November 30th. Just send an e-mail to sendmetoparis@helserbrothers.com explaining why you are the perfect person for the job, then keep an eye on why helser for the big announcement. Ooh la la! (Wow in French – start practicing!)
The Fine Print:
Paris 2010 includes:
- 7 days /7 nights, January 19 – January 27, 2010, in the City of Lights
- Airfare to/from JFK or Chicago. (Winner is responsible for getting to JFK or Chicago.)
- Hotel d’ Aubusson, Four-star, double-occupancy Superior room in the heart of St. Germain (Super-convenient location and we’ve stayed in this hotel and love it!) Five minute walk to the subway, direct line to the show. Walking distance of the Louvre, Orsay, Notre Dame, Sorbonne; surrounded by art galleries, restaurants and shops.
- Daily Breakfast at the hotel. Value of $140.00
- Airport transfers Value of $80.00
- All zone metro passes/carnets for 7 days. Value of $85.00
- Admission to Maison&Objet and Planet Mueble trade shows. Value of $78.00
- Welcome reception at M&O from show management
- Exclusive M&O trend presentation with Q&A opportunity Priceless!
- As-you-wish meet-ups for cocktails or dinner to review the day, compare notes, share stories, etc.
- Pre-travel web session(s) with Deb and Susan to preview locations, M&O planning, travel details, our Paris faves and more
- Cruise on the river Seine. Value of $80.00
- Free entrance to the Louvre or Orsay. Value of $26.00
- High Tea one afternoon in the Aubusson’s Grand Salon. Value of $25.00
- All taxes and service included.
{via why helser}
Add comment 11 November 2009
Extras, Extras From IMM Cologne
The show team at IMM Cologne just announced a great tour that will introduce English-speaking visitors to some of the off-site “mini design centers” that have sprung up around the city in recent years. The tour is arranged so that in a half-day, you’ll get to see three of the locations, multiple showrooms at each, have lunch and still end up across the street from the main show by mid-afternoon, leaving you plenty of time to explore the vast halls of IMM Cologne for even more design goodies!
The stops on the tour include: Rheinauhafen, Spicherhoefe and ending up at Design Post which is a year-round showroom destination right next to IMM. Some of the many showrooms you’ll be able to visit on this tour include: Boffi, B&B Italia, Moroso, Kvadrat, Nya Nordiska and many others.
For more information on the tour, contact the U.S. office of IMM Cologne.
Hope to see you there!
Add comment 7 November 2009
10 Questions to Ask When Specing GREEN
With the skyrocketing demand for all things green, designers are having to ride the Eco wave whether they like it or not. The market for sustainable products is so fluid; most designers don’t have time to keep up with all the new developments. That coupled with what seems like a daunting task to understand certifications, programs and accreditation we sometimes don’t have a clue where to start or what to choose.
Here are some basic questions all design pros can ask their suppliers to help them choose wisely.
1. Does your company have an internal environmental policy? If so, what is it?
2. Is the finished product tested or certified by any third-party certifiers or environmental agencies? If so which one(s)?
Recent posts on Window Pro have highlighted the confusion in this area. There are mixed legal opinions and confusing data out there regarding window coverings and what qualifies as energy efficient for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act tax credits. Imagine the confusion about sustainability or LEED.
3. What is the product’s life expectancy? Does your company accept items back for recycling or reuse?
4.Does the product contain recycled content? If so is it post-consumer and/or post-industrial?
5. Is the scrap material from the manufacturing process reused or recycled? Does your company have programs in place to reduce other manufacturing waste and pollution?
6. Does the product negatively impact indoor air quality upon installation? Have efforts been taken to reduce toxic emissions in the manufacturing process?
7. How is the product packaged? Is any of the packaging reused and if so, does your company have a system for collection?
AltUse.com recently ran a promotion asking their users to submit alternative uses for packaging materials. The contest included all types of packing materials from boxes, plastic bottles, glass, bubble wrap, etc.
8. How are the product’s orignal materials transported to the factory? How far do they travel? Are you using efficient shipping methods?
9. If the product consumes energy while functioning can you provide its performance stats?
10. Does your company foresee innovations in the product that will lead to a lowering of its environmental impact?
Think metal headrails, parts, fiberglass wands.
Add comment 22 October 2009
Europe January 2010
Join Susan and I in Europe in January for the first round of design shows. This is the perfect antidote to get out of the blue business funk some of us seem to be in. For more details visit our sister site. Check out the basics below:
Paris in January 2010
Based on your feedback, we have decided on a longer, Paris-Only trip for this main group. We’ve decided to keep this limited to 12 PEOPLE ONLY, to keep the low-key, non-tour-group approach that most of you have requested.*** We felt that adding a few extra days in Paris will allow everyone to both get the most out of the show(s), which are both very large and very engaging, as well as have enough time to really enjoy Paris.
7 days/7 nights in Paris, January 18-January 26, 2010 includes:
*Airfare to/from JFK or Chicago
*Hotel d’ Aubusson, Four-star, double-occupancy in the heart of St. Germain (Super-convenient location and we’ve stayed in this hotel and love it!) Five minute walk to the subway, direct line to the show. Walking distance of the Louvre, Orsay, Notre Dame, Sorbonne; surrounded by art galleries, restaurants and shops.
*Daily Breakfast at the hotel. Value of $140.00
*Airport transfers Value of $80.00
*7 day all zone metro pass Value of $85.00
*Admission to Maison&Objet and Planet Mueble trade shows. Value of $78.00
*Welcome reception at M&O from show management
*Exclusive M&O trend presentation with Q&A opportunity
*As-you-wish meet-ups for cocktails or dinner to review the day, compare notes, share stories, etc.
*Pre-travel web session(s) with Deb and Susan to preview locations, M&O planning, travel details, our Paris faves and more
*Cruise on the river Seine. Value of $80.00
*Free entrance to the Louvre or Orsay. Value of $26.00
* High Tea one afternoon in the Aubusson’s Grand Salon Value of
* All taxes and service included.
Price per person, air and land, double occupancy based on exchange rates as of September 15, 2009: $2800.00
Guarantee your reservation with a non refundable $150 deposit.
The balance is due as follows:
$1400.00 due October 15, 2009 and $1250.00 is due December 1, 2009
For more info and reservations- email Deb or Susan
Tour does NOT include:
*Any meals except breakfast at the hotel as noted
*Any admissions or fees except for the M&O and Meuble Paris shows and museums as noted
*Any additional transportation fees outside of those listed above (i.e., we’re not bussing you to/from the shows at a specific time, you get there when you want and leave when you want, courtesy of those all-zone transit passes)
When the spots are filled, we’ll present a couple of extremely interesting optional tours to choose from if you’re so inclined…
Again, strictly limited to 12 should this be 16? people for this PARIS ONLY option.
***If you are looking for a slightly shorter, more structured trip to Paris for M&O this January, don’t worry, we’ve got that covered too! Get in touch with us and we’ll hook you up with that option.
Add comment 22 September 2009
More Money, Less Pain
The June edition of Psychological Science published the results from six experiments conducted by psychologists and a marketing professor that tested the power of money in relation to social interaction. In one of the most startling results, they found that merely touching money or thinking about expenses affected participants both physically and emotionally.
In one experiment volunteers were asked to take a “finger-dexterity” test, one group counted stacks of $100 bills, while the other group counted paper. Afterwards both groups were but into a social interaction simulation where they were meant to feel snubbed and isolated. The group that counted out the money before the simulation rated their level of social distress much lower than the group that counted paper.
In another experiment, the same “finger-dexterity” test was taken and then the volunteers were asked to dip a finger in very hot (122 degree) water. Those who counted the money rated their pain as lower than those who counted paper.
The pain test was then repeated but with the volunteers now writing about either their expenses the previous month, or the weather. After the finger dip, those who wrote about spending their money rated their pain as higher than those who wrote about the weather!
“These effects speak to the power of money, even as a symbol, to change perceptions of very real feelings,” like pain, said Kathleen Vohs, a marketing professor at the University of Minnesota and co-author of the study.
What does this mean for the designer? It’s just one more thing to consider when presenting the project costs. Clients need to feel comfortable enough with the potential of your work to transform their lives and their interiors to offset the real and psychological pain of letting go some of their hard-earned money! It’s about making sure the client understands the value–both immediate and long term–of investing in their home décor; so that the experiential satisfaction they get from the process and the results more than offsets the purchasing pain.
See more about this on Live Science. Within that article are also links that discuss the value of “experiential” purchases vs. “product” purchases.
Add comment 7 August 2009
What Makes “Couture” Couture?
The Paris couture shows for Winter 2010 are taking place right now, inspiring oooohs and aaahs of envy and inspiration for both Deb and myself. But as Deb often mentions, the descriptive phrase “couture” is too often tossed off to describe something without have a true understanding of what separates couture from something well-built, well-made, well-crafted.
Take a look at this video, where a Karl Lagerfeld sketch is transformed into a finished Chanel dress and jacket. Each pattern is made and cut by hand, each sequin hand-sewn, each seam hand-pinned…
Lagerfeld is known for his dedication to the petites mains, the specialty seamstresses, milliners, button-makers and other decorative artisans whose elaborate handiwork transforms a design into a showpiece, this video is a clear example of why they deserve his high praise.
Add comment 10 July 2009
Get on The Web
Susan and I have been encouraging pros to get a web presence for some time in our seminars and discussions at IWCE, Showtime and NeoCon. Well, if you don’t think you need one or “you are working with a web designer and we should be up and running by September” – read this.
This study by Marketing to Moms Coalition found that American Moms with kids under 18, log an average of three hours a day on the internet and that their school age kids log only 2 hours. What’s interesting is that women (your target market) spend nearly half (49%) of their time on the web- that’s 1-1/2 hours a day -researching and comparing prices. So if you’re not on the web they don’t know you exist!
Run, don’t walk to your computer and do one or all of these things:
Build a blog ( WordPress is our blog platform of choice)
Join LinkedIn
Create your Facebook profile.
You can add content whenever you like without having to know a bit of HTML. You can show your work. You can tell your customers what you’re up to. You can establish you self as the expert pro you are.
When you get on the web or if you are already; send us your address and we’ll link up.
Add comment 28 June 2009
The Future of Marketing: Part 2
8. Infinite number of channels today you can own your own channel- whether it’s a blog, podcast, You Tube or Facebook. You need to understand that you need to be where people want to go; not demand them to go where you are.
9. Consumer to Consumer Transactions Sales transactions are cutting out the middle man. Think about sites like threadless.com, Paypal, E bay or KIVA.org. It’s about getting out of way and connecting people to each other.
10. Scarcity + Abundance There has been a flip from what is scarce and what is abundant. What was once scarce is now abundant and what was once abundant is now scarce. What is an example in your industry? How can you capitalize on that opportunity? Smart brands are taking advantage of that flip and figuring out how to take advantage of it
11. Big Ideas used to be advertising ideas and had little to do with the product- Alka Seltzer, Squeeze the Charmin, etc. are examples. Now the big idea is a product idea. Like iphone.
12. Who vs. How Many What used to be most important was how many people you reached, how many times did you send your message; how many people heard it; how many people bought it. Not anymore it’s about who- who gives permission to open your email or read your postcard; who are they; what are they looking for .
13. The new gatekeepers are bloggers and viral media. It’s about people telling people. We are all looking for a tribe to follow and we are looking for leaders to connect us to a tribe
14. Scarcity vs. Ubiquity- Scarcity is what is rare and worth paying for. Ubiquity is being everywhere (especially with digital products) – the most viewed on YouTube, most downloads. Godin calls it the Seinfeld Curve. You can win by being everywhere or you can win by being rare- especially for digital goods. You just need to decide which direction you want to take. It is happening on either end and the middle falls apart.
Finally, I will leave you with a question from Seth: Are you looking for consumers for your products or products for consumers?
1 comment 30 April 2009
