By ERIC C. RODENBERG
AntiqueWeek Associate Editor COLUMBUS, Ohio — The people at Country Living magazine say they enjoy putting out their magazine 10 times a year, but every once in awhile it’s fun to throw a party.
And, that’s exactly what they plan to do Sept. 24-26 at the Ohio Village, right off I-71, near the center of the Buckeye capitol. The idea behind the fair – in its fourth year – is to bring the pages of the magazine to life. And with the prestigious Stella Show Management company at the reins, the show continues to grow each year.
Last year, more than 20,000 people attended the three-day event. This year, according to show management, it could even be larger.
“Our phones have been ringing off the hook,” said Michele Oswald, Stella’s Country Living Fair manager. “At last count we had people coming from 39 states … we’re booking bus tours, which is something relatively new, and the enthusiasm is as high as you can possibly imagine.”
The economy can be faltering; the middle class may be shrinking; but the clout of Country Living magazine will not be denied. “The economy is always a factor,” Oswald says. “But this is a show that people save up for. We get comments like, ‘this is our girls’ weekend out,’ or ‘we were promised this for our anniversary.’ This is an event like no other. There’s the shopping – of course, and that’s good – but there’s creative presentations, great food … and it’s just a happy place to be.
“The magazine really drives this show. It has a huge following, with loyal followers – these are people who want to get into the head of the magazine. They want to live the magazine’s lifestyle, meet the editors … it’s standing room only at many of the presentations. The pull of the magazine gives that extra energy to the show.”
Country Living, a Hearst publication which first appeared in 1978, currently has a circulation of 1.6 million. The magazine’s demographics illustrate that its highest concentration of readers come from the Midwest, all within easy driving range of Columbus. The second largest concentration is centered around Atlanta, a fact that is not lost on Country Living magazine executives.
“We were so very pleased with the public response to the weekend that Country Living wanted to expand the event, and the best way to do that was to have another fair in another part of the county,” says Stella Show management founder Irene Stella. That show will be held this year on Oct. 22-24 at Stone Mountain Park in the Atlanta suburbs.
In addition to cooking demonstrations going on all weekend at the Ohio Village kitchen, there will demonstrations in pottery, painting, soft sculpture and decorating hints, in addition to live music and a wealth of eclectic menu items.
For all those Country Living fans, the magazine’s editor-in-chief Sarah Gray Miller will be on hand, in addition to Sue Whitney, founder of Junkmarket Style and HGTV’s Taniya Nayak. More than 150 booths – 70 percent artisan, 20 percent antiques and 10 percent specialties – will be available. “Country Living is a leader in this lifestyle,” Oswald says, “and all the vendors really put forth the effort to show how to decorate with antiques. It speaks to a style that is simple and thoughtful, and shows that with just a little bit of planning and juxtaposition anyone can come up with a unique style.”
Stella Shows, located in New Jersey and renowned for their bi-annual Pier Show in New York, has been associated with Country Living on several projects for nearly 10 years, according to Oswald. However, it wasn’t until a few years ago that they embarked on their great Midwestern adventure helping the magazine bring its pages to life.
“It’s a lot of work for us,” says Stella Artistic Director Jeanne Stella, “but we love working with Country Living. It’s a different kind of show for us – a fun show. What makes this show so unique is that there are so many activities – so many more things to do and see than just shop. I like shopping – and the shopping here is always good – but it’s just one of those shows where everybody is happy, having fun and enjoying life.”
For more information, call 973-808-5015 or visit www.stellashows.com |
