This year marks the 30th anniversary year of LEO Design. And—in all that time—we have never participated in an antiques show. I guess that I have always rationalized that, since I pay so much rent (and I lived in a city of 8.5 million people), why should I schlepp heavy and delicate merchandise miles away to set-up a folding table in a booth? What could I achieve in a weekend in a booth that I couldn't achieve over a weekend in my Greenwich Village shop?
Finally, a change! Today—in our Thirtieth Anniversary Year—I will exhibit in my first antique show ever!
Deciding what to bring was the first big task. Then, packing it—smartly and compactly—came next. I intended to only make one trip to the show; thus, everything must fit snuggly within my VW station wagon! Lastly, I had to sort-out the logistics of unloading, set-up, arrangement, and lighting of the merchandise. Receipts, petty cash (for change), credit card processing and carry-away packaging all had to be included in the car.
I'm an organized person. I pretty much anticipated every contingency which arose. Thirty years of shopkeeping prepared me for the technical logistics. And I think I set-up a handsome and sophisticated-looking booth. Sales were "respectable." And there remain a few pending transactions, still in-progress. Physically, it was a very heavy lift: packing, lugging, loading, transporting, unloading, lugging, unpacking, arranging—then re-packing, lugging, loading, transporting, unloading, lugging and unpacking.
Pittsburgh's local newspaper did a feature about the antique show, which was celebrating its 50th year. The paper interviewed me about the show and the story of LEO Design. If you'd like to see the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's article, please click here.
I took plenty of merchandise (and brought a little less home again). At top, a Pierrefonds French Art Nouveau two-handled "Bat Wings" vase with organic, dripping crystalline glazing. It was made in the 1910's. Directly above, a heavy pair of cast iron "Indian Chief" bookends by Judd (Wallingford, CT). Click on either photo to learn more about that item.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.