1. Trunkt Show @ Gilt Groupe

    Trunkt Shows are exclusive opportunities for our members to pitch their wholesale products to prominent retailers in New York City.  Retailers include e-tailers, boutiques, department stores, galleries and major museum gift shops.

    Our first Trunkt Show will focus on jewelry and be hosted by Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, the Founder and Chief Merchandising Officer of Gilt Groupe.

    At Gilt Groupe, Alexandra is on the forefront of revolutionizing and innovating the landscape of luxury e-commerce. Prior to co-founding Gilt Groupe, Alexandra was a senior executive at Bulgari and Louis Vuitton. She is involved in a number of non-profits including: Dress for Success, Endeavor Global, Robin Hood Foundation, the New York Junior League and El Museo del Barrio. Alexandra is also an official mentor for Tech Stars and an unofficial mentor for many budding entrepreneurs.

    Pitch your jewelry to Gilt Groupe.

    Alexandra will meet with you at the Gilt Groupe offices to hear your pitch, to offer you feedback and to arrange a meeting with a buyer.

    This is a rare opportunity to get exposure to a top retail executive and to pitch your jewelry to one of the hottest e-commerce sites around where millions of customers will be able to buy your work.

    Gilt sells a variety of products for women, men, kids and the home. Future Trunkt Shows in this series will focus on all of these categories.

    UPDATE: the application deadline has passed.

  2. Featured Buyer: Paper Hat

    Greta Norlander recently opened a beautiful new gift boutique called Paper Hat in Minneapolis last month. We caught up with Greta to get the scoop on her venture and to learn how Trunkt helped her get started.

    1. Tell us about your store.

    Paper Hat is meant to be a space where creativity thrives. We wanted to fill the store with art, merchandise, and design that isn’t seen everywhere in Minneapolis and sparks new ideas. We are highlighting local and national artists, handcrafters and designers, so that you know that when you leave the store you have something unique.

    The name Paper Hat is supposed to evoke a feeling of handmade and whimsy. Paper hats are usually handmade, unique, and take on the individuality of the maker.

    We have ever rotating featured artists, with gallery openings, artist challenges, and other events that create a fun place to start or expand a customers’ art collection.

    2. Tell us about your customers.

    We are located in south Minneapolis, near the lakes, and the customers in this neighborhood are looking for unique gifts and housewares that set them apart from other shoppers in the area. Our customers take pride in finding unique items.

    3. Why do you use Trunkt?

    Trunkt allows store owners like me to quickly see terms, time frames, prices and availability without first trading multiple emails or phone calls with the sellers. It is a quick and easy way to find artisans interested in wholesale and the mix of products is great - varied and very unique.

    4. How do people find your store?

    Check us out on the web or on Facebook.  We are located at 2309 W. 50th Street in Minneapolis.