Oh, those icy fountain days seem so far away! But even though the summer's just beginning to heat up, we're already preparing for a new Holiday Shops season at Bryant Park. So if you're a new prospective vendor or a seasoned vendor, it's once again time to apply.If you need an application or more information on the shops or the application process, contact Deborah DiPrisco by email, ddiprisco@upsilonventures.com, or call her at (631)828-3909. We wish you many productive (and relaxing) summer months, but can't wait to have everyone back in Bryant Park for another memorable holiday season.
16 comments:
Bryant Park and the producers of this event should be ashamed of themselves for the exorbitant rents they are now asking for these booths. Vendors that have supported this market for years are being forced out because of greed. New vendors should be very cautious about the promises they are being made. This market definately NOT worth the rents being asked.
Dear Anonymous:
Since its inception in 2002, The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park have evolved from a bazaar-style crafts fair into a collection of boutique-style shops that, along with The Pond at Bryant Park -- NYC’s only free admission ice skating rink -- form a winter destination truly worthy of its midtown address. Any vendor who has participated in our show over the past several years has, on many occasions, heard from me personally that this transformation has been our long term vision for quite some time.
In 2004, we created a formal vendor selection committee to improve vendor quality, booth design, and overall aesthetics. In 2005, we added The Pond, as well as Celsius, a rink side bar and café. In 2006, we embarked on a three year process to upgrade the booths from open-air vinyl tents to aluminum and plexi-glass kiosks that fully enclose with lockable doors. In 2007 and 2008, we co-produced two televised tree-lighting specials. Along the way, we have hosted hundreds of special events that have involved, among others, Good Morning America, The Rachael Ray Show, The Simpsons Movie, Ugly Betty, The New York Rangers, New York Cares, Toys for Tots, New York Magazine, and dozens of world-class professional ice skaters.
This year, in another step towards our long term vision, The Shops will open on November 6th and close on January 3rd for a total of 59 shopping days. That is a 22 day increase over last season and a 15 day increase over our longest season in 2007. Admittedly, the show as it now exists is not a suitable venue for every vendor, particularly those vendors who focus exclusively on in-show sales. Although the in-show sales transacted by many of our vendors over the past several years have been quite strong, The Shops are now geared towards those vendors who also will benefit from having a midtown presence for two months that enables them to build their brands and/or identities, form long-term and repeat customer relationships, and develop other business lines.
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If you completely ignore everything that I have touched upon and simply compare our booth fees with the booth fees of other holiday markets in NYC, such comparison shows that you are, with all due respect, simply misinformed.
In 2009, the other holiday markets in NYC are all more expensive on a price per day basis:
• Columbus Circle, a 23 day show, is charging $8,450 (excluding optional placement fee) for an approximately 10’ by 6’ booth or $367 per day;
• Grand Central, a 32 day show, is charging $12,750 for an approximately 10’ by 6’ space or $398 per day; and
• Union Square, a 29 day show, is charging $12,250 (excluding optional placement fee) for an approximately 10’ by 6’ booth or $422 per day;
In 2009, we are offering 50 kiosks that measure approximately 10’ by 6’, 12’ by 6’ or 10’ by 8’ in size; they range in price from $10,000 to $18,000. Thus, based on 59 operating days, our price per day for comparable or slightly larger spaces range from $169 to $305 per day.
I identify these other markets simply to compare prices in response to your charge of exorbitant fees, not to criticize them in any way. To the contrary, in my opinion, they are all very good markets, their prices are reasonable, and they may, in fact, be more suitable options for certain types of vendors. Based strictly on price per day, however, the numbers speak for themselves.
As to the question of whether our booth fees are worth it for you or any other individual vendor, that’s a judgment call and you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I will, however, take this opportunity to announce that, although we are still early in our selection process, the following superb vendors have already committed to return in 2009:
Animated Closet (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008); Bearhands & buddies (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008); Dazzle Studios (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008); Friction Jewelry (2007, 2008); Ireland in Prints (2007, 2008); Metal Park (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008); Momo Glassworks (2007, 2008); Sabon NYC (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008); Santa’s Workshop (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008); and The Walking Art (2008).
Moreover, all of these vendors will occupy larger, more expensive kiosks than the ones referenced above.
Finally, I take issue with the implication that any false promises have been made to prospective new vendors (or returning vendors). I am quite confident that no other seasonal market in NYC, or the country for that matter, spends more time, energy, and human resources, developing relationships with its vendors than we do. And, despite my many other roles as one of the producers of the overall event, I have been personally and directly involved with each and every one of those relationships since 2004. As such, I know with certainty that no such false promises have ever been made and I will gladly address publicly and/or privately any specific allegation.
Sincerely,
Frank C. DiPrisco
Executive Director
Bryant Park Market Events, LLC
I doesn't matter how many excuses you can post Frank ,your false promises to new vendors are famous!!And the worse part is that you say the same thing over and over to different people every year so it's already legendary !
Please don't talk about the shows and events you said you hosted as if any of them help the market to increase sales or transit !
CQV promoting and selling their vendor's products was good for the market?
What you don't understand it that the problem of Bryant Park is not the time frame of the market but the customers that the show is attracting,and that is not going to change because you extended the duration of the show.
You have invested in everything but in what it's fundamental for any serious business,specially in New York City or in any big city : a serious PR agency.
Even small new restaurants,when then want to attract the press and the right crowd they hire the service of PR agencies,even Fashion Week does, so ...what made you think you don't need it or who told you so?
Your market attracts the worse crowd in town and definitely not New Yorkers, but the cheap tourists that are looking for bargains,the ones who are walking 42 street sharing a hot dog among 5 people and running into the park just because the skating ring is free.
Ones of your infamous lies is that Bryant Park has the same public as Grand Central: FALSE TOTALLY FALSE and you said that to more than 3 new vendors who came from doing Grand Central for years.
The result?: they did your show ones and they will never come back again.
But nevertheless I don't think as the first commenter said that you should be ashamed,because your business is to make money and this is the way you chose to do it.
Is up to us to agree with your BS or to walk away.
We visit the shops last year attracted by the beautiful structures,but we found only 20% of artisans made in America interesting items.
There was too many made in China items that you can find anywhere else.
You can quote all the other venues you like - but the truth is they GET the customers and Bryant Park doesn't. Management in 2008 was virtually invisible during your show and I agree with the others that all the management cares about is the skating rink. Vendors were robbed and no one cared, locked out and made to pay to unlock the booths. There is one vendor who leases over 40 of the booths there and loads them with the same imported junk. Every morning the truck with all their employees from Chinatown pulled up and unloaded them for the days work. American made products have no place in Bryant Park any longer - they have been pushed out by high rents and imported junk. You may say that your daily rent is cheaper but you have extended the number of days open beyond the point of being able to make money. You are now 59 days, you think we dont realize that every day after Christmas is a loss? Also no one makes any sales until after Thanksgiving - so all you did was line your pocket with MORE money and a smoke screen to the unsuspectibg new vendors who think they are getting a deal. What good is a $305 per day rent if you make NO SALES AND have to pay a salary! No one - not even the owners of the booth work for free. After Christmas is horrid - all the customers think it is a flea market and want discounts and two-for-ones. You should have been honest with the people, shortened the number of days to be in line with the other markets and charge the rents appropriately like you promised. Too bad - this was a beautiful venue where crafters were happy and tourists appreciated the Made In America unique products.
To the readers of The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park blog, particularly those prospective vendors interested in the Anonymous comments posted over the past month, I apologize for not responding sooner. As you can imagine, we are extremely busy preparing for the 2009-2010 season and, since the posters chose to do so anonymously, such comments are not our highest priority. However, I will take some time tonight to do so.
Handmade in America
The anonymous posters complain that the products sold at Bryant Park overwhelmingly consist of mass produced goods from China at the expense of goods handmade in America. Let me begin by clearly stating my position on some of the assumptions underlying that complaint.
First, I do not believe that a product is better simply because it is handmade. Although it is certainly important to understand the manufacturing process in evaluating a product, its quality -- in whatever way you define that concept -- is not solely determined by how it is made. Machine made, including mass produced, products are not per se low quality products. And, handmade products are not per se high quality products. As the producers, we do actively seek vendors whose products are made by hand because that personal relationship that the artisan or crafts person has with his/her creations often results in high quality, unique, interesting products. Furthermore, patrons usually love to meet the creator of the product and develop a personal relationship with that artisan or crafts person. However, handmade products, like machine made, including mass produced, products can be boring, unimaginative, overpriced, and of inferior quality. We evaluate products on a case-by-case basis and strive to come up with the best selection of products for our patrons whether they are handmade, machine made, or, in some cases, mass produced.
Second, I do not believe that a product is better simply because it is made in America. At The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, you will find products from around the world -- we are proud of that fact and strongly believe that our patrons appreciate the diversity and uniqueness that results from our global view. For example, Metal Park’s recycled metal part statues are made in Thailand (www.metalpark.org). Sabon NYC’s Dead Sea products are made in Israel (www.sabonnyc.com). Nahui Ollin’s candy wrapper handbags are made in Mexico (www.nahuiollin.com). The original photography sold by Ireland in Prints is photographed, well, in Ireland (www.irelandinprints.com). Nirvanna Designs’s hats and scarves are made by crafts persons in Nepal, Indonesia, India, and Thailand (www.nirvannadesigns.com). These are just some of the many immensely popular products made outside of America that have enhanced, not detracted from, our market. Fortunately, all of these companies will be back in 2009-2010!
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In any event, the specific complaints that Bryant Park has been almost completely devoid of “Handmade in America” products are simply not true. More importantly, our patrons have consistently praised the wonderful array of products offered at The Shops. I’ll take this opportunity to highlight some of the excellent vendors who have already committed to Bryant Park 2009-2010 whose products are unique, interesting, and, just happen to be handmade in America:
• Dazzle Studios -- Stained glass and sea glass jewelry designed and made by Susan Manley in North Adams, MA. Ms. Manley will also display the original jewelry of artists based in Reading, PA and Putney, VT (www.dazzlestudios.com).
• Jonathon Wye -- Designer leather belts and other accessories created by Jon Wye in his funktory (fun factory) in Washington DC (www.jonwye.com).
• Long Island Candle Factory -- All natural soy wax candles made by George Decatrel in Long Beach, NY (www.longislandcandlefactory.com).
• Momo Glassworks -- Mosaic glass jewelry made by Edo Mor and Rosario Torres in Hellertown, PA (www.momoglass.com).
• New West KnifeWorks -- Exquisite, finely crafted cooking knives made by Corey Milligan in Jackson Hole, WY (www.newwestknifeworks.com).
• Onurth Organic Skincare –- All natural, organic, vegan skincare products made by Jackie Bergman and Caroline Randel in Elizaville, NY (www.onurth.com).
• Paradis Found Designs -- One-of-a-kind children’s hats and clothes made from vintage camp blankets and chenille bedspreads by Dana Paradis in New York, NY (www.hats4kids.com).
• Severyn -- Hand printed and hand dyed shirts and scarves designed and made by Ihor Barakbah and his family in New York, NY (www.severyn.com).
• Shaya NYC -- Classic yet modern original jewelry designed and made (often hammered) by Shay Mehubad in Brooklyn, NY (www.shayanyc.com).
• The Walking Art -- Original etchings, mixed media artwork, and photography created by a collection of artists, including Pablo Osario and Ilia Pasymansky, working together in Brooklyn, NY (www.thewalkingart.com).
• Veripritti -- One-of-a-kind jewelry referred to as “The Antiques of The Future” designed and made by Susan Moran in Brooklyn, NY (www.veripritti.com).
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Our 59 Day Season
In terms of our closing date, the week after Christmas is not a new concept for our market. In 2002 and 2003, we did end the season on December 24th like the other holiday markets. However, in both seasons, while we dismantled the event, we observed that the week after Christmas was extremely busy in the park, which made sense because that week is a major tourism period in NYC and many locals take off from work that week. So, in 2004, we experimented a bit by remaining open after Christmas and did not close until Sunday, January 2nd. In our post-market vendor interviews, over 80% of the vendors prospered that week and were in favor of staying open longer in the future. As a result, from 2005 through 2008, The Shops have remained opened through the Sunday after Christmas and most of our vendors have viewed this as a positive aspect of the show. This year, because Christmas Day falls on a Friday, we have decided to keep the show open through the second Sunday after Christmas (January 3rd). While it is true that many shoppers are looking for bargains after Christmas, it is still a great opportunity for vendors to promote their brands and develop long-term customers.
With respect to our opening date, opening before Thanksgiving is not new -- we have opened the Saturday before Thanksgiving each of the past three seasons. Furthermore, the comment that vendors “make no sales until after Thanksgiving” is also simply untrue. In 2006 and 2007, we opened on November 18th and November 17th, respectively, and, according to many vendors, these opening Saturdays were two of the best shopping days in the history of The Shops. It didn’t matter whether it was before or after Thanksgiving. What mattered was that on both days, it was clear, sunny, and in the low 50s; the park was crowded and people were out shopping in numbers. Last year, unfortunately, opening weekend was brutally cold, icy, and generally nasty. The elegance and beauty of Bryant Park combined with its midtown location make it an attractive venue any time of the year so long as the weather is cooperative.
This season, we are extremely excited by the 59 day show as the longer season, in our opinion, affords our vendors more of an opportunity to create a true boutique style shop in midtown Manhattan. But, as I discussed in my last post, our longer show is not for everyone.
For those prospective vendors, such as the anonymous posters, who only want to be part of a three to four week show running from Thanksgiving to Christmas, I highly recommend the other markets and wish you the best of luck.
Sincerely,
Frank C. DiPrisco
Executive Director
Bryant Park Market Events, LLC
In every show I do and everywhere I go I find more and more vendors disappointed with the Bryant Park Holiday Shops not only for bad business but also by the extremely high prices of the spaces during such hard economic time as this one is, and the poor management of advertisement and personal relationship between the organizers and the vendors.
In my 15 years in business I've never seen so many of my peers so angry about an event.
I am glad I finally decided not to do it.This is not the kind of company I want to do business with.
I've been coming to the Bryant Park Holiday Shops since 2005 and unfortunately have notice a deterioration in the kinds of shops you've attracted in the past few years. As a matter of fact, I was very disappointed last year. Most of the better craftsman weren't there last year and there were so many booths that sold the same junk I couldn't wait to leave. Until this year, I looked forward to the opening of the Shops, now I look forward to the fairs at Union Square and Grand Central where they still find artisians with interesting crafts.
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091023/FREE/910239988/0/newsletter
Consumers looking to buy hand-crafted items like artwork, ceramics or jewelry at the annual holiday Shops at Bryant Park will have some extra time to peruse the booths this year. Bryant Park Market Events, the production company behind the gifts marketplace, is adding 22 days to the season for the Shops, which will now last from Nov. 6 through Jan. 3.
“Being here beyond the core holiday season is something we finally got approval for from the park,” said Frank DiPriscio, the executive director for the eight-year-old event. “Vendors want to be here longer.”
He explained that prices were raised this year because of the longer season, but that the daily rate has decreased. Last year, many single-sized booths ranged in cost from $12,000 to $14,000, and this year, that price range has increased to between $15,000 and $18,000. To participate, vendors must pay for a full season, and they do not have the option of choosing their own timeframe.
The Shops are currently 85% reserved, Mr. DiPriscio said, adding that such a rate is normal for this time of year. He and his committee engage in a rigorous acceptance process with vendors, in which owners are interviewed and booth aesthetics and the quality of products are researched.
However, some potential vendors say they received offers of steep discounts this year, because the gifts marketplace has not yet been filled. Last year, many Bryant Park booths saw sales decline by as much as 40% as shoppers shunned spending and tried to haggle for bargains. Sales were also down at the holiday markets of Grand Central Terminal and Union Square. Many business owners reported days where they were not able to sell a single item.
I did this market a few years ago.
It is MOSTLY a tourist crowd who are looking to spend as little as possible for the most "stuff".
I've popped by as a customer over the past 2 years.
Last year, the folks with the most customers and the largest booths had all Chinatown merchandise.
More cheap hats and gloves and repetitive crap. Yes, its crap - it's from Chinatown. They sell cheap stuff in mass quantities and eventually end up with a profit.
Sooner or later, word will get around and the market will just be a relocated Chinatown for 59 days.
As I was out on maternity leave for the last season of The Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, I missed out on the final Anonymous comments. Frank did a great job of handling these negative comments, but I would like to address the repeated derogatory comments, stating the same thing over and over, that were obviously left by the same person. FYI, we do not delete comments here on the blog unless they are profane.
However, I would like to say that these repeated and factually inaccurate comments are an egregious abuse of the spirit of this venue. Such railing away in this injudicious manner deserves a comment from the author of this blog:
It is laughable that you accuse The Holiday Shops of being akin to Chinatown! Upsilon and the Bryant Park Corporation have instituted a rigorous vetting process to ensure that we have a variety of product categories. During these vendor meetings, which begin soon after the end of the Shop's season and last through the summer, we also try and make sure that there is a variety of price points available at the market. We try to accommodate shoppers of all ages and income levels. There are 3 of us at Bryant Park alone (not including Frank and an outside design consultant) who sit on the vendor selection committee! And although we're not always right every season, we try each year to bring in new and exciting vendors. And we generally are happy with all of our picks, and stand by our vendors. Please email me at fashionherald@gmail.com if you would like more information about our vendor selection process. But please stop using this venue to air what is obviously the same personal grievance over and over.
Just came across this old blog, not sure if it is still active... Hey Mr. Frank C. DiPrisco here's a thought, How about designating some of your booths to small, very small business owners like myself... I have always wanted to try my hand at a Pop up booth to see how sales go.. But I can in no way afford $10,000 plus rent... make it a lottery type thing.
Hey Frank
Please explain why the rent is now 40k. This isn't for small businesses this is to for the bill in greed. 20-40k for a booth is disgusting.
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