Replacements Acquires Huge Flora Danica Collection
Replacements, Ltd. has acquired an extensive collection of Royal Copenhagen’s Flora Danica pattern from private collector Richard Baron Cohen. This addition to the company’s current inventory creates one of the largest offerings of Flora Danica available for purchase in the world, according to Replacements.
“These pieces are unique and extremely fascinating on a number of levels,” said Replacements’ Chairman and CEO Bob Page. “Not only were many of them produced prior to 1930, most of the flowers and other botanicals painted within the last 100 years are represented in this acquisition. There are very few duplicates. Collectors are not likely to find these same pieces any place else in the world. We are absolutely delighted to add these rare pieces to Replacements’ inventory.”
Flora Danica is considered one of the most luxurious porcelain patterns ever produced and is one of the oldest patterns still in production. The pattern motifs and name are based on the historic botanical encyclopedia, “Flora Danica” which means “flowers of Denmark,” and feature thousands of flora native to the Danish country.
Replacements’ acquisition includes more than 1,000 pieces from Cohen’s exclusive Twinight collection, noted as one of the largest private collections of 19th century European royal porcelain. The highly collected array includes place-setting pieces, platters and other serving pieces such as intricate fruit baskets, soup tureens and an ice dome and basin, one of the most complex pieces produced in the Flora Danica pattern. The collection is on exhibit at Replacements’ retail store in Greensboro, N.C., and on the company’s website,
replacements.com.
The Shape of Things to Come
Gibson reports that dinnerware shapes that stand out at retail have been the key to its success. Innovative shapes that capture attention continue to drive sales for the company. Triangles, octagons, ovals, soft squares and scallops are among its most popular offerings.
“A fresh perspective on shape is a great merchandising solution,” Jim Schneider, vice president of marketing, said. “A unique silhouette can work either as a set or as a stand-alone piece for gift purchases. But it’s the interesting geometry that first catches the eye.”
The company works closely with each retail partner to customize the right approach, according to Schneider. “Mass prefers we explore the square while upstairs has success with triangles, rectangles and ovals,” Schneider said. “Then we give them distinctive variations that deliver the ‘wow’ factor fashion-aware shoppers appreciate.”
American-made CaliBowl Expands Grocery Presence
CaliBowl is riding a wave of success, having recently received financial support from a group of angel investors, and is focused on giving back and supporting the American economy by manufacturing its line in the United States.
CaliBowl/Simple Wave LLC’s product line is now manufactured in Union City, Calif. Previously, its entire product line was made in China. “It’s an optimum time for us to transition back to the U.S.,” Jeff Bollengier, Simple Wave LLC president and co-founder, told HFN. “We found a local U.S. manufacturer that was running at a lower capacity,” [so] we pulled all [of our] manufacturing equipment out of China.
CaliBowl’s new private investors also own one of the largest nonfoods distribution into grocery, according to Bollengier, and the plan is to leverage the grocery distribution channel and at the same time support CaliBowl’s efforts in other channels. The Ultimate Salsa Bowl and The Ultimate Ice Cream Bowl will be sold in more than 9,000 grocery doors by end of January 2012, Bollengier said.
“Also with this new partnership we have been empowered to tell our CaliBowl story on everything CaliBowl stands for,” Bollengier said. Manufacturing quality products in the United States, being able to recycle through its American manufacturer, and “the ability to manufacture quickly and deliver on great opportunities that in the past we were unable to do as a relatively small company,” are the benefits of the new partnership, he added.
Created by Bollengier, the CaliBowl is a bowl with an inward-curving lip, to prevent food from spilling while eating. Bollengier was inspired by surfing and watching a wave break; he realized that the shape of the wave, translated into a product design, could change the way we eat. CaliBowl is available in microwave- and dishwasher-safe plastic, ceramic, glass and stainless steel, and is available with or without lids.