With much of the UK having been stricken with floods during early 2014, it may be hard to imagine summer in full-swing but the weather is on the upturn. Spring is here and its time to get out there!
I’ve been getting more daring, even attempted a walk in the woods for an Easter egg hunt, but I’ve have been thinking what a battering the garden’s taken over the winter months.
Glastonbury mud
The dash across the ‘lawn’ which had become a Glastonbury style mud fest, to dive in the shed to grab materials had to be done in about five, trousers rolled up, tip toe like steps, in a monster like fashion. Then back one final leap back to the safety of the astro turf. Such a good alternative to homegrown turf.
Well fingers crossed, I’m not exclaiming its warm enough to take your overcoat off but I do believe Spring has definitely sprung! Here’s some images showing the signs of spring.
Gnome catching a droplet under a flower in Spring
‘First Drop of Spring’ – Jacqueline Hammond 2014Â drawing, pencils on paperÂ
‘First Drop of Spring’ – Jacqueline Hammond 2014 drawing, pencils on paper
Poppy bags by Jacqueline Hammond selected by retail experts to represent a key trend for 2014 at Spring Fair Gift Box Hall 5
Poppy Bags selected as on-trend theme by retail experts and featured in Gift Box display at Spring Fair 2014
Poppy bags by Jacqueline Hammond for SmartDeco at Spring Fair Gift Box Hall 5
Smartdeco on trend for 2014 Poppy Bags ‘on trend’ and in retail display For this year and into 2015,
Home and gift retail experts have identified three key themes: ‘A New Industrial Age’, ‘Folklore and Storytelling’ and the blurred lines between ‘Digital and Reality’. Read the Buyer’s Guide
Before the trade show, SmartDeco was approached by retail experts from Metamorphosis, who identified our range as representing a key retail and style trend for 2014. They highlighted the Poppy Upcycled Denim Cross-Body Bag for use in their presentations to the show audience.
The Poppy Bag was selected for a display of on-trend items set inside larger than life size 3D books, each representing a key theme, in a prominent location of Spring Fair – the Hall 5 Gift Box area. This display presented key on-trend exhibitor products for 2014, which the speakers Ellie Kidson and Eve Reid of Metamorphosis discussed in their talks.
76% of shoppers never speak to sales assistant – that means good visual merchandising is not just important, it’s your life-line.
The display looked stunning. We feel we too could benefit from their advice after seeing the Poppy Bags displayed like this and will be featuring a few visual merchandising tips soon.
Poppy Bags by Jacqueline Hammond featured in the Gift Box at Spring Fair – retail trend for 2014/15Poppy Bags by Jacqueline Hammond featured in the Gift Box at Spring Fair – retail trend for 2014/15Poppy bags by Jacqueline Hammond selected by retail experts to represent a key trend for 2014 at Spring Fair Gift Box Hall 5
SmartDeco's 'Life's a Beach' Deckchair and Seaside Lampshade chosen for exhibition in the entrance to Hall 7 (Contemporary Home and Gifts) at Spring Fair International 2014
SmartDeco exhibited at Spring Fair International 2014 in Birmingham, where all kinds of retailers – department store chains, boutiques, gift shops, distributors and agents from all around the UK and the world come to meet suppliers and manufacturers.
.SmartDeco’s ‘Life’s a Beach’ Deckchair displayed in a product showcase at Spring Fair International 2014 in the entrance to Hall 7 (Contemporary Home and Gifts)
The Life’s a Beach Deckchair was the first thing visitors saw when entering the hall
SmartDeco’s ‘Life’s a Beach’ Deckchair and Seaside Lampshade in the entrance to Hall 6 and 7 (Contemporary Home and Gifts) at Spring Fair International 2014
Spring Fair is “the largest trade exhibition in the UK and Europe’s biggest presentation of trend driven new products” so  it was fantastic to have my designs featured in such a prominent position, great to know that every visitor coming into Hall 6 and 7 would have seen the deckchair. Although I’m not sure it was so easy to find the Smart Deco stand at Spring Fair! It is a vast show and we were tucked away rather than on a corner like last year, so if you were at Spring Fair and were looking for that beach deckchair you saw on the way in we were here on Stand 6R43!
Get in touch by email to info@jacquelinehammond.co.uk
Smart Deco beach painting deckchair at Spring Fair 2014
Blowing Poppies collection from British artist and designer Jacqueline Hammond
Part 2: The SmartDeco range
SmartDeco contemporary art inspired home and giftware brand from British artist and designer Jacqueline Hammond was at Spring Fair International Trade Show, Birmingham NEC from 2-6th Feb 2014. The range was exhibited in the Contemporary Gift and Home sector, Hall 6, Stand 6R43
Combining beauty with functionality, SmartDeco translates Jacqueline’s vibrant paintings into richly detailed design pieces for the home and garden. Showcasing designer deckchairs, chic cushion covers, beautiful bed linens, and scenic look-at-me lampshades.
Blowing Poppies collection from British artist and designer Jacqueline Hammond
Bold, witty, elegant, the range brings art off the gallery wall and into the heart of the home, bringing some on-trend painterly style to your interior. Key pieces include the evocative ‘Seaside’ lampshade, vibrant poppy print cushions, and the unique ‘Life’s a Beach’ deckchair – a bestseller that has caused a huge splash in the style press.
SmartDeco’s ‘Life’s a Beach’ Deckchair featured in the Sunday Telegraph. Also pictured here – Country Lane Deckchair and Poppy Deckchair by Jacqueline Hammond
Would you like to become a stockist? If you are a retailer and would like to enquire about selling our products, please do get in touch by email to info@jacquelinehammond.co.uk and request a trade catalogue and price list.
Here’s some photos of the SmartDeco range on the stand at this year’s Spring Fair
SmartDeco’s contemporary art inspired home and giftware range from British artist and designer Jacqueline Hammond. Exhibitor at Spring Fair International Trade Show, Birmingham NEC 2-6th Feb 2014. SmartDeco – Stand 6R43. Contemporary Gift and Home, Hall 6,SmartDeco is a collection of contemporary art-led home and giftware from British artist Jacqueline Hammond.
SmartDeco’s contemporary art inspired home and giftware range from British artist and designer Jacqueline Hammond. Exhibitor at Spring Fair International Trade Show, Birmingham NEC 2-6th Feb 2014. SmartDeco – Stand 6R43. Contemporary Gift and Home, Hall 6
Would you like to buy something you’ve seen in this blog? As well as our websites SmartDeco and Jacqueline Hammond, the range is available to purchase from various independent retailers internationally and we recently got invited to open a store on notonthehighstreet.com – check it out !
SmartDeco's contemporary art inspired home and giftware range from British artist and designer Jacqueline Hammond. Exhibitor at Spring Fair International Trade Show, Birmingham NEC 2-6th Feb 2014.
SmartDeco - Stand 6R43. Contemporary Gift and Home, Hall 6,
SmartDeco‘s contemporary art inspired home and giftware range from British artist and designer Jacqueline Hammond was exhibited in Contemporary Gift and Home, Hall 6, Stand 6R43.
Here’s a photo of Jacqueline on the stand.
SmartDeco is the brand of British artist and designer Jacqueline Hammond – exhibitor at Spring Fair International 2014 at the NEC, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Found this in The Sunday Times Style Magazine at the weekend (24th Feb 2013). The model’s eye make up bears an uncanny resemblance to my ‘Love’ painting as pictured here in my brochure. Ironically the article uses this as an example of how ‘not’ to do your make up!!
Uncanny similarity to my Love painting in a beauty feature in Style magazine at the weekend.
Article in Sunday Times Style magazine
Smartdeco must be ‘bang on trend’ as the parallels didn’t stop there. In fact a very similar palette is used throughout the magazine as well as a fashion feature that recreates a beach scene. Just soooo trendy, yah!!!
Sunday Times Style magazine using the Smartdeco colours
Sunday Times Style magazine beach scene fashion feature, in February!
Sunday Times Style magazine fashion feature
Okay they’re shades of the primary colours but us artists can’t help but see these things and make the connections. Like feeds like. I’d certainly like to own that blue bag to carry all my clobber around. Pity I can’t afford the price tag so I’ll stick to my cheerful, roomy ‘Love and Hate Tote Bag’
