Retailer Christina Van Blake said Candle Sand from Napa Home & Garden was her
favorite market discovery. A bag of wax sand + wicks lets
customers create a candle in any vessel.
(Photo courtesy of Napa Home & Garden)
Hello retailers! We made it. The holidays are behind us, the boxes are (mostly) broken down, and we’re officially stepping into a fresh new year. Hopefully you took time to note what flew off the shelves, lovingly packed away the keepers, aggressively clearanced the rest and maybe even found yourself wandering the aisles of Atlanta Market in January, buying beautiful new things.
January has been a little … dramatic here in New England. We were gifted nearly two feet of snow, which forced us to slow down and lean into what winter does best: reset. This is our season to reorganize, reassess, clean up, clean out and fine-tune our game plan for the year ahead.
In retail, momentum matters. Events, promotions, fresh inventory and thoughtful floor moves keep clients engaged and curious. Even familiar product feels brand new when it’s re-merchandised with intention:
• Champagne flutes styled with jewelry for Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day
• Mini terrariums of clover and shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day
• Spring basket fillers (think chic stocking stuffers) queued up for Easter
Everything is prepped, planned and waiting in the wings
I attended the Atlanta Seasonal, Gift & Decor Market in January — something I do every year in Atlanta and/or High Point. Market is essential for maintaining strong vendor relationships, seeing (and touching!) new product, soaking in showroom inspiration, snapping a ton of photos and confidently telling clients: “Yes, we go to the best markets to bring you what’s next, sourced from the trade, not the internet.”
I also care deeply about the ‘why’ behind the brands we carry. One standout this year was meeting Ari from Fishs Eddy in NYC. His philosophy centers on running a business that is genuinely connected to its customers — funny, community-focused, event-driven, determined and refreshingly honest. His take is bold, smart and hilarious. My spirit animal, confirmed.
My market rulebook
I walk into every showroom with a core set of questions:
• What are your show specials?
• What is your freight rate to my region?
• Do you offer dated shipping? (Order now, ship later — July and beyond)
• Do you sell third-party? (Yes, I mean Amazon.)
This year, I added a new one: “Do you sell on Faire — and do you match Faire market pricing?”
To my surprise, many of my favorite vendors do sell on Faire, often with equal or better pricing and free shipping through Faire Insider. I compared all of my market orders, followed up directly with vendors and had several orders price adjusted. Smart buying = better margins.
Market highlights & what we’re watching
New favorite discovery: Candle sand from Napa Home & Garden. A bag of wax sand + wicks lets customers create a candle in any vessel. Light it, let it melt, smooth it over — and it’s a brand-new candle again. This will anchor our first DIY event: choose a vessel, pour, wick and leave with something personal and fun.
Holiday décor: Vintage continues to reign — bold mercury glass, bristle trees, folding paper trees, retro Rudolph. Oversized ornaments are everywhere and bring instant drama. Park Hill Collection continues to deliver modern classics flawlessly.
Trend watch: We’ve officially moved on from toadstools. Swans are having a moment — art, prints, ornaments and décor across multiple showrooms.
High-gloss finishes: Still feeding into the Art Deco / traditional / moody aesthetic. Think classic forms with lacquered drama — stools, candle holders, benches, side tables and trays.
Vintage oil portraits: These are everywhere, styled both traditionally and with tongue-in-cheek contrast against modern décor.
Games are still big: Mahjong is everywhere, possibly overtaking pickleball.
Knowing how your clients spend their leisure time helps you merchandise in ways that feel relevant and personal.
In larger furniture showrooms, trends remain steady: Rich textures and solid fabrics dominate upholstery. Dark woods in classic case goods are holding strong, balanced evenly with light woods and whitewashed finishes. And yes, I always power through the temporaries, because their low minimums, fresh vendors and the occasional excellent free sample make it worth it.
What’s Landing In-Store
Our orders are intentionally staggered:
• Jewelry, candles, and stationery for Valentine’s Day are arriving now
• Spring greens and Easter décor are next
• Egg White soaps from Kalastyle
• Sweet, giftable basket stuffers from Maileg and Cuddle + Kind
From there, we roll seamlessly into Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, graduation and the Fourth of July. Here’s to a year of smart buying, inspired merchandising and stores that feel fresh, thoughtful and worth the visit. Let’s do this.
Van Blake is an interior designer and the founder of Home Design Furnishings Decor and House and Home in Dover, N.H.
