posted 07-12-2007 03:59 PM            

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Thursday, July 12, 2007
Lifetime Licenses Lenox’s Sterling Silver Businesses

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (July 12) -- Lifetime Brands added more brands to its tabletop business today with the announcement that it has licensed Lenox Group Inc.’s sterling silver brands, which include Gorham, Kirk Stieff, Whiting and Durgin.

The agreement also allows Lenox Group Inc. to continue its strategy to improve its financial picture. Lenox will still use the Gorham brand in non-silver product categories, such as gift ware and crystal, which it plans to grow and develop.

“This transaction reflects our strategy of expanding Lifetime’s portfolio of distinctive brands and the product categories in which we participate,” Jeffrey Siegel, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Lifetime, said in a statement.

“The highly regarded sterling silver and silver ornament businesses of Gorham, Kirk Stieff, Whiting and Durgin are a perfect complement to the sterling business we acquired from Syratech Corp. in 2006. We look forward to applying Lifetime’s outstanding brand development and product innovation skills to these prestigious brands.”

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posted 08-01-2007 12:19 AM            

I'm a part-time dealer of antiques (not just silver) in northern New England. I've noticed that at auctions, I'm usually one of the younger people present (and I'm 53). Shops up here are selling fine furniture (especially) and other antiques for less than they were getting five years ago. This is not a good sign. The young flock to Ikea and Bombay and Target to buy junk, but evidently have no time or interest in educating themselves about and seek out old stuff that is beautifully and solidly made by true craftsmen.

I wonder lately if those of us who love fine things for their exquisite artistry and intrinsic value are a bunch of old farts destined to go the way of the dinosaurs.

Anyone care to weigh in on this weighty philosophical topic??

posted 08-02-2007 03:19 PM            

As for lower prices, I'm all for 'em. Why should only the wealthy possess what they desire? Certainly, it may leave the dealers looking askance, but it doesn't hurt the realm of collecting...

posted 08-02-2007 04:30 PM            

I was at a large East Coast antique show two weeks ago looking at everyone's wares in hopes of maybe finding something to add to my collections - there were several hundred dealers and it was very well advertised. I walked out with just one small sterling pin. It wasn't that there were not many nice things - there were, though the reproductions, forgeries, and other junk seemed to outnumber the real things. The problem is that pretty much everyone was pricing their things far above what it can be had on Ebay. The show was well attended by people of all age groups with no shortage of twenty-somethings to forty-somethings to go along with similar numbers of older folks. However, I did not notice very many dealers who were doing much selling. The reason, at least from what I gathered as I eavesdropped on people's conversations after they had walked away from a table without buying anything, is that pretty much every dealer had prices that ranged from double to multiples of what you can get the same things for on Ebay. I know that dealers need to make money - I've been on the other side of the table as a dealer at points in my past life. But, I do not think it is a very healthy situation for either the dealers or the hobby to have relatively static overpriced inventories in the dealer's hands, and very slow additions to collections on the collectors side. Velocity of transactions stimulates collectors to buy more and collect more. It also stimulates new collectors to get into the game. After all, how many new collectors want to start collecting in an area where the prices on even the more common objects have been run up to sky high levels? Dealers do not make as much per transaction when they lower their prices to make them irresistible to the average collector, but on the other hand they achieve a greater number of transactions which stimulate faster inventory turnover which makes collectors want to come back sooner and buy more. This gets collectors juices flowing.

I know all of this is easier said than done, but until the majority of brick and mortar dealers or weekend show dealers catch up with the Ebay effect I think that they are going to be in the slow lane of the business.

posted 08-02-2007 05:25 PM            

I tend to agree with your assessment of the situation, however the other big factor is the multitude of websites that offer goods. You no longer have to plod through the Yellow Pages etc. finding dealers & sellers maybe 50 or whatever miles away from you. A click of the 'ol Mouse will take you anywhere to get almost anything you want! Maybe not always today, but most times within a relatively short period of time.

Also I have found that the older dealers tend to be selling what (I feel) are the same old things that were sought after 5 even 10 years ago. The younger generation hasn't much of a thought (yet) .... about Great Grandma's things pre-1930's. Grandma's stuff 1960's & up is cool. Stuff in the house they grew up is just old. There will always be those who's interests are specific to a certain time frame & style. Every 10 years or so things change to a new time frame & area of collecting. Eventually the oak ball & claw table will be hot again.

That reminds me of the Towle silver pattern being scraped today, noted by one of the forum members..it should be hot in another year or so...(the streamline look). The question raised is do you want to hang on to it waiting for that to happen or do what you have to now financially even if it means taking a loss.

Most things made in Japan & Mexico (generally speaking) was the kiss of death 10 years ago.....now look. When I look at old silver flatware pattern books with prices, many of those listed as Not collected by many are flying high now. Great quality stuff will always be Great! Things that were junk then are still junk now but with a bit of a price tag. This too shall pass.

Buy & sell what you like not what's in fashion, just be prepared to take that hit if it comes.

And that's my 3 cents. Didn't mean to be so long winded.
BTW Any member in the Minneapolis area where the bridge collapsed, my prayers are with you.

Stay Safe.
Jersey