Highpoint Market, Meeting Maxwell Gillingham and beyond

 With Maxwell Gillingham after his "Rocket Fuel" 

 breakfast talk

Our showroom at Suites at Market Square, Highpoint

I have really toured the world this year. Debuting my designs in Paris, New York and Highpoint, the last two with my wonderful US distributor Interdecorations.
I came back from Highpoint last Saturday, tired but thrilled with all the positive responses. I have been trying to take some time off this week, spending time with my kids, Halloween, taking siestas, had my hair coloured, browsed for vintage books and in between just a little bit of work.

During Highpoint we have been totally consumed, mainly spending time in our showroom, talking to designers, boutique and department stores. The best experience outside the showroom was a short escape to hear Maxwell Gillingham founder of Apartment Therapy speak. OK one can build a perfectly popular and engaging site/platform but that doesn't always mean the person behind it reflects this as well. But after hearing Gillingham speak there is only one conclusion: Gillingham = Apartment Therapy (with the support of his fantastic team of course).
Gillingham is a natural speaker, he is genuine, entertaining and really knows how to open people's eyes and mind. Every word he says has value I especially loved "Your home is a path, not a place".
Gillingham's road has not been an easy one and with his "twisty and turny" but extremely inspiring journey he infuses confidence in others to follow their passion (and it made me extra proud of my AT showcase nomination in which I landed 7th).
So thank you Maxwell for your "Rocket Fuel" talk but also sponsors Withit (Women's Leadership Development Network) and IHFC for organizing this fantastic #Hpmkt event.

And what is up next for me? Working on new designs to show in Paris and New York in January 2012. My collection is growing slowly but steadily and so is our client base. One can not conquer the world overnight although my impatient character wishes otherwise of course. Building a brand takes time, never losing confidence in yourself is vital, my road is "twisty and turny" and I hope that you are willing to bear with me during my bumpy despite my little disappearing acts. I am not making promises but I will do my best to suprise you with more frequent postings in the coming months!

Have an inspiring and passionate weekend! xox

New York NYIGF Diaries (part 3 finally!)

Proudly debuting The Painted Peacock silk scarve

All smiles with the team of HGTV magazine

Painted Ikat linen  pillow on vintage chair

Hamptontoes' Lisa Ehrlich

The Decorista and Luxury Monograms's Melanie Duncan

With Parker Bowie of ELLEdecor

Timeout with Eva Uribe Roepers and Bobby Berk

You must be thinking WHAT HAPPENED! No posting and pictures of the booth at the NYIGF. Complete radio silence. Did something go wrong.....No we just did it. Our first paticipation at the NYIGF! It went really well but everything just happened so fast and there was so much follow up and work that there was no time to blog about it. We had great response from retailers, interior designers and (social) media. Guess who came in to our booth: ELLEdecor, Coastal Living, House Beautiful, Women's Day, HGTVmagazine, Hamptontoes, Diane James, The Buzz Blog, The Decorista, Neimann Marcus/Horchow, interior designer Meg Braff (who will be opening an exciting store soon!), Celerie Kemble's team, HD Buttercup, HB Home, Style Beat blog and many more! Thank you all for your enthousiasm and we will be back in January. Otherwise meet us in Paris at the Maison et Objet, Hall 5A booth D104 (9 to 13 September, Woonbeurs (RAI Amsterdam, 24 Sept- 2 October ) or Highpoint, Suites at Market Square (22 to 27 October).
Interested in my art and designs? For the US contact Eva Uribe Roepers of Interdecorations or send an email to info@mariskameijers.com

High Point Market: Early beginnings

  proudly presenting our modest first High Point Market showroom!

 In Bloom Green and Flamingo pillow featured in Home Accents Today

Delft Blue Teapot Tray in Home Accents Today

Purple Allium pillow in Home Accents Today

with Jesse Burkhart of Home Accents Today and Eva Roepers

 With the fab team of Bobby Berk Home

With stylish Olivia Sohn of One King's Lane

With the lovely Marisa Marcantonio of Stylebeat blog

Where to start? Just got back from my first US trade show. On the 31st of March I flew via New York to Charlotte. At the airport I teamed up with  Eva Uribe Roepers of Interdecorations who continues to do a fabulous job as the exclusive distribitor of my products in the US. Next day we had to build up our 10ft by 10ft showroom at suites at Market Square, a historic warehouse. Our first US trade show, what an excitement and oh boy what a steep learning curve again! First day I was so nervous... How will my products be received? How many people will visit our modest showroom? Will we get orders? Now being back in Amsterdam I can reveal that I feel confident and happy. We had great response from designers, shops and media. First orders have been written, new store locations will be added and Home Accents Today featured 5 of my designs! What more can a girl want.... well, we are booked for the next High Point Market in October. Thank you designers, buyers, editors and High Point Market staff for giving us the fuel to continue building the Mariska Meijers Amsterdam brand in the US. And last but not least thank you Eva, without you I could not have pulled this off, we make a great team!