What's selling coast to coast: from sports memorabilia in San Fran to conservation in Connecticut, here's a slice of what customers are clamoring for across the country

Art Business News, Feb, 2003 by Carol King

However, she noted, the trend of framing fabrics is not new to her shop. "Embroidery is not new, but the volume is up compared to the last two years, for which we are eternally grateful."

In the moulding arena, Bradley sees purchases leaning toward upscale products. "I don't mean that people are going for ornate, that was a trend a few years back. But, people are going toward the French rustic, old-world, European looks," she said. "We have a wall that features new mouldings, which we use to evaluate customer response. There are some new products that are really popular. Italian designs are selling off the wall, and burl wood sales are also very strong."

During November, she reported, her average sale per customer stood at about $566. "Some of those were multiple items," she said. "The other two people working in sales averaged between $320 and $325."

Bradley also observed that print sales are on the decline. "We only have three or four limited editions here for framing, which is low for us," she said. "Right now, we are not doing a lot of print ordering for people. My sense is that instead of ordering prints, people are having personal items--photographs, textiles and other mementos--framed. People can live without a limited edition; they can enjoy a reproduction. But, there are no substitutes for personal items in home decor."