In the spotlight

A myriad of innovative products are bound to turn heads at GlobalShop 2002. GlobalShop's New Product Showcase, debuting this year, gives companies an opportunity to share their latest and greatest products with show attendees. GlobalShop has designated a special section in the Store Fixturing Show for companies interested in standing under the spotlight. Here are several products to be featured:

Media Pictures, South Easton, Mass., will feature its Spectaculars product line, an exclusive new graphic medium that delivers high-quality images with a low overall cost. The Spectaculars line is available for either floor or countertop applications and produces quality photographic image made of a durable, industrial strength rubber.

"We can make it look sleek and sophisticated. It's very versatile and is a great promotional tool that has not been available before," says Adam Morse, national sales manager for Media Pictures. "It's a top-of-the-line graphic but also machine washable. If you wash it a hundred times, it still looks new. Another advantage is, unlike a floor graphic, you can pick it up and move it easily yourself.

"Flooring is something that has not been utilized to its full potential in retail. The typical floor graphic can have its limitations and many retailers complain about ripping," says Morse. However, Media Pictures' Spectacular is actually a photographic mat that can be placed anywhere on the floor.

Fabric Images Inc., Elgin, Ill., will introduce its dye sublimation graphic in the New Product Showcase. "We've created the first dye sublimation graphic that is up to 120 in. wide and is completely seamless," says Alvarez. "In the marketplace, the graphics are only available up to 72 in. wide. Our new product really opens up the gamut of what can be created, especially if working with exotic materials."

According to Alvarez, dye sublimation provides better color saturation and durability on non-coated fabrics than a typical inkjet system. Non-coated fabrics include poplin, sheer, spandex, lycra, satin and non-coated mesh fabrics. "Non-coated fabrics are much more wrinkle-resistant and alleviate creasing issues. If you use the poplin fabric, you can easily fold it and put it in a box," Alvarez explains. "All the materials we work with have a polyester base. Polyester is a more user-friendly product when it comes to shipping and storing."

Wind Mill Woodworking Inc., Sheboygan Falls, Wis., will showcase V-Line, the company's new slatwall product. V-Line uses 2-in. vertical standards to allow for faceouts, downslants, hangbars and shelves. V-Line comes with a substrate back panel with buried standards. The face panel is a dashed panel that adheres to the substrate via velcro strips, which allows for easy change-outs and new looks without removing the entire wall.

Lees Carpets, Greensboro, N.C., presents its Art for the 5th Wall Collection at GlobalShop. Up-and-coming artist Louis Vega Treviño has applied his drawings to this new line of carpet. Inspired by a mix of culture and modern architecture, the artist's designs are translated into two highly-styled products. Products in the collection are Vitral and Cantera. Vitral is a light mosaic design with muted hints of color emerging through a contrasting background. Cantera is an elegant, three-dimensional design capturing the beauty of Cantera stones layered to form blocks in a pathway. Vitral and Cantera are offered in 24 in. by 24 in. modular carpet tiles.

"We wanted our latest partnership to be with a professional who was not strongly associated with the carpeting industry, which would enable us to get an alternative standpoint on carpet design," said Alex Jauregui, executive vice president and general manager of modular carpet.

Be sure to check out other exhibitors in the New Product Showcase, including Marlite, GCI Group, Accuride, Zunzu, Grimm Industries, Scentair Technologies and Colite.