Design Glut who recently wrote the Insiders Guide to the New York Gift Fair for core caught up with Jan van der Lande of Kikkerland to get the background on how they started and more importantly, how to get such a company to carry your design product.

How do you pick new products to represent?

It has to fit the Kikkerland image. What we really do is take ordinary products and utensils that people use and give a contemporary twist to them. Most of the time designers come to us with a design they've created. If it fits with what we're doing in a certain section of the company (Home, Kitchen, Bar, Toy, etc...), and we think it's something new and different, then we take it on.

What is your advice for designers that would like to approach you with an idea?

Learn as you go, and try to visit as many trade shows as possible. A lot of times designers just sit at home and get so wrapped up in their work. They don't realize that they're working on something that's already been thought of, or maybe even already put into production. If they knew the market and saw what was already out there, they would be more cutting edge.

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