Braving the "Open See" at Henri Bendel
Nova Bronstein Monday, October 31, 2011 at 12:41PM 
Participating in the "Open See", an open call to designers for Henri Bendel, can feel a bit like being adrift on an expanse of ocean, but the rush of anticipation combined with the chance to be seen by Bendel buyers can easily make it worth it!
Wake early, grab your "jewels", business card and line sheet (if they like your stuff you want to be sure to leave them with something!) and head out to the still slumbering luxury row of 5th Avenue at 56th street and expect to wait outside the black-rimmed glistening doors of Henry Bendel in the cold and dark. Expect to get in line around 6am if planning to guarantee to be seen. If you aren't inside the brown and white striped Bendel by then there is a chance that you may miss your window-- at least till the next Open See. But don't fret-- Bendel's does an "Open See" for each of the buying seasons, so if you miss one you can always plan to catch the next.
(The Die Hard Crew waiting on 56th St)
Digits get quite cold during the three or more hours standing outside so be sure to bring gloves, mittens or muff to keep the blood flowing! This time around Bendel's did help to break through the cold by offering up hot coffee and tea for those in line, offered in a signature "I heart HB" paper cup. A very welcome surprise.
It's not until the clock strikes 9am and the line starts to move inside that the excitement -- and nervousness-- really begins to build. Those long hours spent in the cold waiting with great anticipation will garnish results - if in line early enough to break through the doors before noon you WILL be seen by the buyers at Henry Bendel. Be prepared that there may be a splash of icy water if they do not decide that your stuff fits the Bendel look - usually citing that work is either not girly enough -- generally if too classic or spare-- or too girly -- if all rhinestones in pink and purple. The sweet spot, design wise, is the territory in between. Think sophistocated girly with some glitz.
(The "Waiting Room" on the lower level of Henri Bendel)
If you are in the New York area or can make your way to town for the event it can easily be worth it, even if your work is not selected. How often do you get the opportunity to be seen by the buyers of an upscale, major New York department store without an insider contact? Not often, right? So, do your research before hand and get a sense of their "look". Don't forget to factor in price point too. Remember that most stores mark jewelry and accessories up between 2.0 and 3.0 times (the average is often 2.2 or 2.3). Make sure your work fits within these parameters and you are off to a running start!
Interested in making some of your own smashing jewelry? As a jewelry design instructor at the Sheffield School in New York, I encourage you to take the matter of making into your own hands! Check out the newly launched Jewelry Design Course offered at the Sheffield School. With thousands of active students and more than 50,000 graduates, Sheffield has trained more design professionals than any other school in the world.
- Request a free Sheffield School catalog describing our distance education courses.
- Subscribe to the Sheffield Designer newsletter.
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