I’m a firm believer that we all have our clever inventor sides. Most of the time we just use this energy & creativity to rationalize adding to our collections, but if you’ve made something clever and you’d like to take your invention or DIY project to the next level and sell, sell, sell, why not enter it in Fred Flare’s The Next Big Thing Contest?

(Even if you’re not the creative sort, the contest entries are unusual products you’ll want to buy. I’ll even help you rationalize another purchase or collection: Who doesn’t want to support the arts — or the crafts?)

The Next Big Thing is a contest run by FredFlare.com, and here’s Keith Carollo, the man behind it, to tell us all about it.

Keith, before we get into the contest, can you tell the kids at home some basics about FredFlare.com? When did it start & why?

My partner Chris Bick and I moved to NYC in 1997 and just wanted to do something creative. We LOVED the shopping here and were always so inspired by everything from the merchandise we’d discover to the way it was displayed to the level of service (or lack thereof) in certain boutiques. We always wanted to have our own store but kinda went about it in a roundabout way…

First we started a wholesale line of stationery and home items that we sold to those stores we admired. We’d package ‘em on our kitchen table. Then we created a website and that just grew and grew. We added more and more items - some designed by us, others made by friends — and we also added other fun components like interviews, podcasts, a blog… Now we ship orders all over the globe. In 2008 I am pleased to announce that we are FINALLY gonna open that store…

What is the Next Big Thing contest?

The NEXT BIG THING is an annual CALL FOR ENTRIES contest here at fredflare.com. We are on the HUNT for the latest in craft and design and invite our awesome customers to submit items they create to be considered for possible sale on the site. We select 27 of our favorite submissions and create an exclusive boutique really highlighting these upstart brands. This year we’ve also added a $1000 PRIZE which will be awarded to the designer who is voted the “Fred Fan Fave” by fredflare.com shoppers.

What’s the purpose behind it — aside from the purely corporate dealio where you discover new products, I mean. *wink*

Ha ha! We’re SO not corporate AT ALL and it was not that long ago that this business was just my partner Chris and me at our kitchen table. I think that’s why NEXT BIG THING is so close to my heart. I remember what it was like starting out and how much I wanted a big break. THAT’s the true purpose of this contest. We love discovering new talent and helping them reach a larger audience.

The website says this is an annual event — how many years have you done this?

This is our third year. I am soooo excited to see what happens. Last year’s contest was a smash and 2005’s was incredible. I am so pleased to say that most designers report an increase in web traffic on their sites, mentions in local and/or national media as well as unexpected wholesale opportunities as a result of their participation in NEXT BIG THING.

Please define ‘amazing creations.’ Is this open to all the categories the store has, including books?

YES! Definitely. I think by “amazing creations” we mean that we’re looking for something surprising. This is completely open to interpretation. Certainly, we do well with fashion, accessories and home items but I would especially LOVE to see things the store has never sold before. Like Diaghilev said to Cocteau, “Astonish me!”

You’ve even had celebrity entries, like Amy Sedaris! I guess that’s not a question… But how often can I drop names like that? Anyway, anything you’d like to say in response?

Amy is amazing in so many ways, what else is there to say?? It was awesome inspiring working with her. She’s so accomplished and yet had such enthusiasm about making things in her living room while watching Prime Suspect.

Any people or products become famous after entering or winning The Next Big Thing?

Well, we’re working on it. I will say two things… In years past select items featured in NEXT BIG THING have gone on to become best-sellers here at fredflare.com. I’ve also noticed items we debuted first on NEXT BIG THING have later been picked up at larger chain stores like Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie.

Who does the judging and what are they looking for?

Our buying team personally reviews all submissions and then the entire staff of fredflare.com helps make final selections. What are we looking for? I’d say we pretty much are searching for something that makes us jump up and down so excited cuz it’s so cute and so brillant and we HAVE to have it!

Since this is a collectibles site, I should ask about the rarity of some of your entries… It looks like some of FredFlare products in general are ‘limited editions’ or otherwise small runs, is that true? What are some of the rarest items you’ve had? Any that you know of which have been sold out and fetching high prices on the secondary market?

Yes, it’s true we do a lot of limited-edition items and I hope to do a lot more in 2007. Soon we’re going to feature select vintage collections as well as some one-of-a-kind pieces made by artists. Currently, I think probably one of the rarest items we’ve featured is an autographed fake cake handmade by Amy Sedaris. She only made us 24 and I imagine these will be worth a lot down the road.

Utterly smitten with this contest, I’ve been looking over the past winners. I’ll tell you something of my favorites & if you have any comments on these as far as sales, popularity, anecdotal stories etc., jump in.

Sure!!!

My Paper Crane. Cute + Insane + Handmade = Must Have

I am completely in love with Heidi Kenney. I think she’s such a supertalent and I can’t wait to see what she does next. We did a really fun interview with her for our podcast and we’re working on a fun top secret limited-edition project together.

Egg Press’s “Let’s Stich Frank” — just too cute and fun. I love handmade and this seems like a great way to indoctrinate my kids.

Tess Darrow and her talented team always inspire me with their incredible letterpress line. This stitch-it kit was a surprising departure for them. Can’t wait to see what they do next!

Rock Scissor Paper: I’m a sucker for vintage prints & patterns.

Heidi and Suzie Bauer have such a great retro-tastic aesthetic! I can definitely see their line speaking to your readers.

The Ulitmate Coloring Book: Can you tell I’m a DIY girl, with some self-starter issues?

Ha ha ha! This item sells AMAZING so you’re not alone. Roxy Marj is a fashion design student here at FIT. She also illustrated this year’s visuals for NEXT BIG THING. She’s amazing and I hope we get to do lots more together.

Banana Cell Phone Holder. I actually did mention this elsewhere because I need one of these — my fingers are always hitting buttons like the volume and my camera when I talk.

I think it is: Crazy + Practical = How have I lived this long without it?

Wow, thanks! Yeah, this also sold AMAZING.

This was fun, and I hope we can do it again, Keith!

Me too.

Like when you start selling those vintage pieces, open the store, Announce the Top Secret Project…

But meanwhile I’ll be looking at your contest entries and thinking about entering next year. (Starter issues, remember?) But I can begin collecting say plush PB&J sammiches & toast anytime…

Thanks so much for helping spread the word about this year’s NEXT BIG THING. We really appreciate it!

So what’s The Next Big Thing? Maybe it’s you.

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Article Tags: Big Thing, contest, Fred Flare, Keith Carollo

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 at 5:21 am and is filed under events, interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.