What People Are Saying About BDNY
The Boutique & Design New York (BDNY) show, produced by Emerald, has long been an East Coast destination for designers and specifiers working on hospitality-oriented projects. This year, reports from exhibitors on the show floor indicate that while attendance was good, inquiries were more general than specific to a particular project.
As expected during a volatile election year with a stagnant economy and high interest rates, many manufacturers said business in 2024 has ranged from a steady trickle to slightly soft. Nevertheless, the mood at BDNY was optimistic and upbeat as designers appeared eager to discover new resources, fresh product designs, and novel manufacturing capabilities.
Principals at Stump & Company, a merger and acquisition specialist in the furniture and furnishings industry, observed in their post-BDNY report, “We continue to see a blurring of the residential and commercial channels. We were intrigued to see several prominent residential players at the show and discussing a broader push into hospitality. For some of the big residential companies that already sell to interior designers, they see a natural extension into hospitality via the A&D community. We see a lot of opportunity in the collaboration between the two segments.”
As expected, a lot of residential lighting brands that designers are familiar with from attending other shows such as High Point Market and Lightovation were exhibiting (i.e. Arteriors, Cal Lighting, Currey & Company, Cyan Design, Elegant, Global Views, Hinkley, Hudson Valley Group, Hubbardton Forge, Lib & Co, Lucas + McKearn, Modern Forms, Oxygen, Palecek, Renwil, Sonneman, Visual Comfort, Uttermost), but there were also plenty of lighting companies from Europe (i.e. Bover of Spain, Ferroluce of Italy, Santa & Cole of Spain, and Zafferano of Italy, Chelsom of the U.K.).
BDNY is also where designers can find decorative lighting manufacturers specializing in the resi-mercial sector that are only found at hospitality-oriented shows (i.e. Arkansas BDL, Bluebird Lighting, Cerno, Fire Farm, Van Teal, 2nd Avenue and Meyda Lighting, Mario Contract, Coronet, Lite Tops/Stiffel, PTY Custom Lighting, Remington, Illumination Lighting, Innovations in Lighting, and Light Annex/iWorks)
One category that is not typically prominent at the BDNY show is ceiling fans; however, this year there were more exhibitors offering ceiling fans than in years past. For example, it was Matthews Fan Company’s first time exhibiting at BDNY. Noted company President Joel Maldonado, “BDNY was one of the most exciting shows to date for us to truly show the world our true personality and capabilities. We had an amazing time with future and current partners as well with great friends who just happen to work in the same industry.”
Matthews Fan introduced a bold Bordeaux finish on its Brisa ceiling fan. This is particularly notable for a product category that is primarily offered in simple black and white versions to blend in with light or dark ceilings. The Bordeaux finish, on the other hand, was designed to command attention.
At Modern Forms’ booth, the Wynd XL Smart Fan received a lot of rave reviews, especially since this fan is made with marine-grade stainless steel, which is ideal for coastal properties and harsh outdoor climates. All of Modern Forms’ ceiling fans feature DC motors for more energy-efficient and quiet operation.
Modern Forms’ parent company, WAC Lighting, showcased CCT-selectable fixtures and sconces for hospitality projects. The design allows for designers/architects/project managers to choose their desired color temperature at the time of installation, eliminating the guesswork out of ordering the right CCT for the application.
Oxygen Lighting has showcased its lighting fixtures, mirrors, and ceiling fans to the hospitality sector at BDNY for many years; however, it was the first time introducing its new Lavin Rug line.
“Our rug line generated significant interest, particularly for its material composition, performance, and use of sustainable resources,” says Jose Lopez, President of parent company Quorum International. “The modern design elements were widely praised as a refreshing addition, along with the breadth of our assortment. Many appreciated how seamlessly this new category complements our existing brands, enhancing the overall appeal of our offerings.”
Lopez noted, “We had a strong turnout at our booth, attracting numerous prospective customers from various channels — including the hospitality sector and both commercial and residential interior design firms.”
The lighting mirror category and the introduction of materials such as jade and calcite received positive feedback, according to Lopez. He added, “Visitors appreciated the variety in our offerings and the breadth of our product categories. I think the combination of high quality and competitive pricing stood out as a refreshing addition to their portfolios.”
It was the first time that retailer Capitol Lighting had a presence at BDNY, following the acquisition of Bellacor’s lighting brand and its digital properties. Launched under the name CapitolPRO, the company positioned itself as “a single source solution for all things lighting” for the commercial market. Noted Javier Fernandez, CapitolPro’s National Sales Manager, in a LinkedIn post, his experience at BDNY was about “making new contacts, reconnecting with old friends, and providing customers the services they need to make their hospitality lighting project management easier.”
One hospitality journalist who attended BDNY observed that most people attending BDNY were primarily “looking for ideas and inspiration” rather than placing orders. She also noted that designers expressed interest in the sustainability of the products they were considering for their projects. An increase in tariffs was another topic that attendees were concerned about, with many asking exhibitors where their products are manufactured.
Max Cohen of 2nd Avenue Lighting and Meyda Lighting has exhibited at BDNY since its inception. As such, most designers in attendance were already familiar with 2nd Avenue and Meyda’s domestic manufacturing capabilities. That said, Cohen said traffic in their booth was strong: “Our booth this year was in a new location right up front, so it attracted a lot of attention. We had a lot of designers stopping in who are working on smaller projects.” He added that when the prices on imports begins to climb (as it would with more tariffs), “we see an uptick in our domestically made products.”
Next year’s edition of BDNY will be held November 9th and 10th at the Javits Convention Center in New York City.
