Sales Up At Antiques & Garden Fair From Stella, Chicago Botanic Team

CHICAGO, ILL.

:"We are very proud of our relationship with the Chicago Botanic Garden," says Leanne Stella, president of Stella Show Mgmt Co. "Together, we produce a show that that runs smoothly and is enjoyed by all. This is a feel good show.

"So many people tell us how they love it and look forward to attending every year. The six display gardens, created and presented by the Chicago Botanic Garden, were breathtaking and put everyone in a good mood," she said.

"The exhibitors also made an extra effort to present inspiring garden displays. And it paid off. Merchandise sales were definitely up. The weekend had an excitement to it, rarely seen at shows these days."

The Antiques & Garden Fair was April 21-23. A private preview party was held Thursday, April 20.

Dealer sales skyrocketed on Friday and members of the Stella Show management staff responded quickly to handle customer pickups.

An on site delivery system was implemented; eight men brought dollies to pick up sold pieces from dealers' booths and deliver them to a customer pickup area, where the show's shipper was also located.

Every available Stella staffer was pressed into service to handle the volume. Leanne Stella handled the coordination of pickups while her visiting 10-year-old daughter was put to work running client service at the desk.

Thursday's preview party started the frenzy when, after about an hour of enjoying the display gardens and the sumptuous food and drink, the crowd of more than 1,000 (up from 800 in previous years) started buying the best the dealers had to offer. Sales ranged from exotic plants to a set of urns for $38,000.

There are likely lots of animals in Cook County backyards now. At one point, the shipping room held two deer, a pair of whippets, three dogs, two roosters and numerous statues, fountains and benches. Animals were the most prominent trend this year.

The shipper said he had deliveries to Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Colorado, Canada, New York, and New Jersey. Customers fly in for this show every year. These faithful customers, along with local sophisticated Chicagoans, come to the show because of the dealers' reputations and the quality of the garden antiques.

Joni Lima, owner of Iron Renaissance, Inc of Damariscotta, Maine, sold out of the 200 giant hydrangea plants grown just for the show. Along with the classic sky blue hydrangeas, he had a special color, "Chicago Botanic Garden Lipstick Red."

His sparse display on Saturday night showed that he also sold out of the zinc dining sets in which he specializes. Lima said that he "enjoys the professionalism displayed by Stella Show Mgmt Co., and the delivery system it provides makes it an easy way to do business."

Darwin: Compelling & Resonant Objects of Bryn Mawr, Penn., sold a giant 48-inch aged carved wood "trade sign" of a clam shell with the word, "CLAMS," emblazoned across it. It was tagged $10,000. Originally the clam was part of a carousel, and later a clam bar on Coney Island reincarnated it as its trade sign.

The gallery also sold cast iron garden benches and several decorative garden pots and vases. Owner Carolinn Pocher-Woody said she is "appreciative of the Chicago Botanic Garden board members who really come out and support the show. Many of the sales on opening night were attributed to members of the garden committee."

Other sales included a Fifteenth Century heavy stone fireplace for $8,000 from gallery Tuesdays on the Boulevard in Yorktown, Va. Proprietors Mary Meyerhoffer and Pam Haskins called this "the most beautiful show with which we have the pleasure of being involved. The show has wonderful and informed customers."

Many items were sold by Pine Plains, N.Y., gallery Balsamo Antiques, including two slate top dining tables and a very large and unusual fountain.

The Chicago Botanic Garden Antiques & Garden Fair is presented by Stella Show Mgmt Co. Next year's show is scheduled for April 20-22. For information, www.stellashows.com or 212-255-0020.