Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/247237
Saturday, August 17, 2013 OCG Show Daily rockflowerpaper (Cont'd. from p. 1) friendly industry that had room for smaller companies who were creative. There also seemed to be an opportunity for a new company that had a strong operational backbone. I also love to travel internationally and knew that sourcing new product would provide me with that opportunity. OSD: How do you use technology in your company? KS: From the beginning, we had an extremely robust software platform to manage our orders, customer service, finance, inventory, and everything else Hobo (Cont'd. from p. 1) one of our signature accessories. OSD: Who is the woman you have in mind when designing a handbag or wallet? KR: I am inspired by real women: the way they dress, the way they work and play. The Hobo woman is confident and cool. She knows what she wants and how she wants to express her individual style. I create accessories that are creative, unique, colorful and fun, with plenty of purposeful details. Every design makes the Hobo woman's life easier in some way, offering her versatile and practical pieces that are right on trend, but will look cool for years to come. OSD: What is your guiding design philosophy? KR: "Cool is when vintage meets modAmery (Cont'd. from p. 1) Notably, I'm taking my smaller collections and making some statement pieces that are more luxurious and adding more stones. OSD: Anything else that's new and exciting? AD: Well, yes. We are using 100 percent recycled metals this year for all of our castings. We have always used a huge proportion of recycled metals, but this is the year that we've made the switch and are using all recycled metal. We've been working towards that for a while. Mother Earth is precious, and we all need to do Hibe (Cont'd. from p. 1) a proprietary 3-layer fabric of lightweight, breathable micro-fiber along with a plush polyfill and a premium, super-soft fleece core that is easy care and machine washable. The Hibe body wrap is available in three adult sizes based on a wearer's height; the 2013/14 Earth & Sky Collection is available in two color ways: Twilight/Ocean & Flaxen/Ocean. "Reading, working on the computer, changing the laundry or getting the mail, Hibe is perfect for keeping you warm no matter what you're doing. Plus it feels so we do. It is cloud-based, which means I can run the business when I am in India meeting a vendor. We send automated emails when an order is placed, shipped, or cancelled, or when a credit card is declined. We also commit stock to orders as they are placed, so we can assure customers with early orders that their late delivery will be shipped complete. We are very committed to customer service, so these features are important to us. We also made the investment in a great wholesale website early on, which is easy to use, and showcases our product beautifully. We also use email marketing, and in the last year have taken that to a new level by stepping that up to a more ern." I look to combine the attitudes and aesthetics of bygone eras with fresh, modern details to create accessories that are original, stylish, and functional – perfect for every look and every lifestyle. OSD: What signature style are you most known for? KR: This year, Hobo celebrates the 10th anniversary of its iconic Lauren wallet, an American original revered for its "vintage meets modern style." With two roomy pockets and a kisslock frame detail, the Lauren is contemporary yet feminine. It is classic, cool, and versatile – a wallet by day and a perfect grab-and-go clutch for evenings. The Lauren is perfect for every busy lifestyle. robust software platform. OSD: What do you attribute your strong growth to? KS: We are growing quickly because we create hundreds of beautiful new skus each season. We design every piece so our products are unique and have a look that people seem to love. We have been adding higher and lower price points in our key categories, which has allowed us to expand our market. We have also seen a lot of growth with custom projects for key accounts, who have now seen us around long enough to know that we must be doing something right! All of this, combined with our systems and customer who have been carrying Hobo for years. I want every woman to have a bag that she will carry every day because it makes her feel fashionable, organized, and confident. Many women claim that the Lauren clutch has changed their life! To me, that is a huge compliment! I want Hobo to fit perfectly into a woman's lifestyle and effortlessly make her feel stylish and complete. OSD: Are you introducing any new collections? KR: I am excited about the relaunch of our Urban Oxide collection. It's a fresh take on stylish, functional commuter bags in durable, lightweight materials. We've created the perfect handbag solutions for everyday urban living, all retailing from $15 to $100. OSD: What brings you the most satisfaction when a customer buys a Hobo product? OSD: What are you most excited about for your brand in the coming year? what we can, even if it's on a small scale, to help protect her. a resurgence, so I'm bringing that back and expanding it. The Morning Glory features flowers and leaves and vines, accented with small stones. It's very feminine, very wearable, very every day. I'm adding signature pieces to both of these collections, and NY Now attendees will be able to see those at the show. KR: I love to hear stories from women OSD: Are we going to notice any themes for your designs this year? AD: Yes, Nature is a big theme for me. I have a collection called Chrysalis, which is inspired by butterfly wings, but sometimes reminds people of corals. That wasn't intentional while I was designing it, but once people started mentioning it, I realized that I had drawn some of my inspiration from the sea, since I am an enthusiastic scuba diver. The Morning Glory Collection, one of my first collections, has been quiet for a couple of years, but seems to have had amazingly cozy that once you put it on, you won't want to get out of it," promises Beth Sprole, president of Hibe LLC. The launch of Hibe LLC by Ms. Sprole, whose 20 year career as a marketing and product management executive was buoyed by her experience as a busy working mom, perfectly meshing her professional know-how with an understanding of practical need: "Living in chilly New England, my kids would watch TV wrapped in blankets, which made it cumbersome for them to come to the kitchen for a snack. This sparked an idea. Knowing how to develop a product was great experience for figuring out how to make the KR: The launch of our exclusive Mobile OSD: You're based in New Zealand. Why is NY Now the show for you? AD: I've been doing trade shows for more than 10 years, and this is handsdown the best show. The attendees here are particularly enthusiastic about my work. They appreciate the artistry in the Handmade section, and they appreciate Hibe body wrap exactly right. We put a lot of thought into every single detail, especially when it came to staying warm and moving around easily," Sprole says. We branded it 'Hibe' because it's so comfortable you could tuck your arms and feet in and hibernate in it, but at the same time it lets you move freely and safely so you do all the things you need to do when you get home at the end of the day. You can be cozy and yet still look put together," says Sprole. Because of its unique design, the Hibe body wrap makes a particularly thoughtful gift for new moms and those undergoing medical treatments. 25 service, is why we are growing so fast. OSD: What new products do you have? KS: We have 3 new types of trays, in a total of 27 designs, a new collection of scarves in 16 designs, 8 new collections in our totes, new iphone covers, holiday kitchen towels, and new art trays. OSD: How can our readers find out more about rockflowerpaper? KS: We are here at the show on level 3 in booth 1658, or if they miss us here they can go to www.rockflowerpaper.com, or call us at 800-281-0357 and we can send a catalog and connect them with a rep. Hobo: our travelling showroom. We will be launching it in our hometown of Annapolis, Md. this fall and hope to begin partnering with some of our local retailers to bring Mobile Hobo to their towns to share our story and products with their customers. OSD: How can our readers find out more about your company? KR: We are very active on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. We like to partner with our retailers through social media so they can keep their customers informed. By interacting with our retailers and customers in a more personal way, we can share information about new products, Hobo events and special promotions quickly and our fans can gain a better understanding of our brand. For more information, visit www.hobobags.com, call 800-277-4626, email inquiries@hobobags.com, or stop by booth 8102 and 8215 the opportunity to build relationships with the artists. That's good for everyone. The buyers come to the show knowing that they're going to get fantastic handmade products, and the artists come to the show knowing that they're going to get buyers who will appreciate the quality of their work. I would like to point out that my work is still 100 percent produced in the United States. OSD: And how can the NY Now attendees find you? AD: We'll be in booth #9571 in the Handmade section of the show. After the market closes, find us online at www.amerycarriere.com. The company's primary distribution focus is developing partnerships with high-end retail stores and catalogs, and home shopping. New for NY NOW this August 2013, Hibe is introducing the new Hibe Comforting Vest. Visit booth 13029 at PIER 94 in NY NOW NEW! section to see the Hibe product line and take advantage of show specials. To learn more, visit booth 13029, go to the company's website at www.myhibe.com, or call 888-my-hibe1 (888-694-4231). Retail buyer inquiries call 203-834-7860, or email beth@myhibe.com.