Newsletter, Adirondack North Country Association

THE LEDGER

The Adirondack North Country Association Newsletter ... Summer 2006 Volume 13, Issue 1

THE LEDGER
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Buyer Days Awards Six Businesses in its 20th Year

by Nadia Korths

On April 6 and 7, the Adirondack North Country Association celebrated the 20th year of its keystone craft program—the regional trade show Buyer Days. In recognition of the thousands of exhibitors and buyers who have worked together for many years at Buyer Days, ANCA gave cash awards to six businesses.

Cash awards were given to the businesses most nominated by peers in both buyer and exhibitor categories. In the Buyer category most nominated was Greg Peacock, Adirondack Trading Company ($75), Lake Placid; in second place it was Joyce Teshoney, Adirondack Country Store ($50), Northville and Marilyn MacAbee, Adirondack Craft Center ($25), Lake Placid took third place.

In the Exhibitor category Stephen and Marilyn Leonard, Rusticwood.com ($75), Palatine Bridge, received the top cash award followed by Chris Hurd ($50), Adirondack Out of Hand, Willsboro with Scott Adams ($25), Orchard Beat, Ovid taking third place.

Buyers nominated up to five exhibitors based on the Buyer Days’ jury criteria: technical excellence in design, quality of workmanship, market viability, a distinct quality of unique and original thought, and production capacity.

Two awarded exhibitor booths: Stephen and Marilyn Leonard, Rusticwood.com and

Chris Hurd, Adirondack Out-of-Hand

Exhibitors nominated up to five shopowners on the following criteria: the shopowner is committed to fair business practices, honors all contracts (including consignment contracts) and agreements with customers, employees, colleagues, vendors and craftspeople, complies with all government regulations regarding identification of country of origin, supports the American crafts community by building productive partnerships with artists, uses advertising to promote good will and customer loyalty, and educates consumers on the quality and value of American craft. Niche Magazine, a nationally distributed trade publication for progressive retailers who sell only American handmade, uses the above criteria annually to have exhibitors vote on the top 100 retailers in the country.

Participating studios and shops again demonstrated they are an important part of the regional economy. 133 (232 owners and employees) shops came to see 67 vendors over the two-day show at the City Center in Saratoga Springs. The average total in orders and cash and carry per exhibitor was $3465 compared to $3321 in 2005. Cash and carry sales averaged $903 compared to $516 in 2005. Shopowners were ordering higher price-point product lines which reaffirmed the 2005 trend of lower price points not selling as readily as in previous years. There were at least three shops who came to the show opening up for the first time this season; The Naked Moose in Old Forge, North Country Artisans in Natural Bridge, and the Rusty Moose, from Chester, VT.