Jane Seymour Up Close and Personal

Vintage Verandah has worked up close and personal with Jane Seymour for over 5 years. First, working on product for her exclusive collection with Sak's Department Stores. Then, as her contract ended with Sak's, Jane asked us to work with her to market lighting and decorative accessories for the Jane Seymour Home Collection directly to independent retailers all across the U.S.

It was an easy transition for us, as we took into account two factors that we felt were the most important part of the process for doing licensed product:

1. The lifestyle represented by the Jane Seymour Home Collection closely profiled that of our core customer(the independent specialty gift and furniture retailer).
2. The ease of working with Jane, her talent, her broad appeal - and creative energies that seem to be boundless.

More times than not with licensed product, the name on the product is the only involvement the name has in the product itself.

For the Jane Seymour Home Collection, not only is Jane the name in the brand - she is the lifestyle for the brand - and the creative force/style maker for new product introductions. She comes to meetings with drawings (in some circles she is known just as much for her art as she is for her acting). And drawings from Jane come in all forms - from ideas copied from her ever-present sketch pad, to drawings and written ideas on the back of napkins. Yes, true to point 2 above - Jane is constantly working (with energy and enthusiasm that would make most of us jealous!).

Proof of the strength of the brand is public response to Jane through her many public events. Her enthusiasm for design comes through not only in her words - but in the product itself.

On a recent visit to Nebraska Furniture Mart stores in Omaha and Kansas City - Jane delighted hundreds and hundreds of customers in a "style seminar" where she presented them the Jane Seymour Home Collection (lighting and decorative accessories, soft home textiles ranging from top of the bed to throws to decorative pillows, rugs, home fragrance and dried florals).



Jane doesn't just show an item - she tells the "story" of how the item came from concept to reality. For instance, our "Castle Key" collection inspired by antique keys from her 16th century home in the English countryside. Or an embroidered bird decorative pillow inspired by her favorite bird from her childhood.

Typically, after a style seminar Jane likes to meet and greet, signing items ranging from lamp shades to face paper from picture frames in her collection. Her genuine warmth and affection for the public comes through.



Thanks to all of the wonderful customers in Omaha and Kansas City who patiently waited for hours to meet Jane and have her personalize their Jane Seymour Home Collection purchase.

Just as importantly - and true to Jane's character, these events are not only about selling the brand and meeting the public. In each store, charity auctions were held with art donated personally from Jane and lighting/accessories from Vintage Verandah on behalf of the Jane Seymour Home Collection, with proceeds benefiting worthwhile children's charities that are near and dear to Jane's heart.

After a lively auction in Kansas City, Jane is shown below personalizing one of her limited edition pieces of art to the winning recipient, who not only bid on the piece of art because of Jane - but ran the auction up purposely to add to the proceeds for the charity.



Vintage Verandah is thrilled to have partnered with Jane Seymour in launching her lifestyle brand nationally. Even more importantly for all of us, we are thrilled that the many many retail partners of ours across the country - are voicing their success in selling this collection at retail.

Thank you to Nebraska Furniture Mart for hosting Jane Seymour and Vintage Verandah for these successful events!

Next up for Jane... High Point Market! Join Vintage Verandah and Jane Seymour in our IHFC showroom (IHFC H-427) for the premiere showing of Jane Seymour's newest collection - Cimarron Valley. Inspired by Jane's love for the American West - and casual lifestyles.

Get up close and personal with Jane during our western-themed cocktail party on Tuesday - 4/8, from 5 - 7 p.m.

Best -

Todd from Vv.