STORES Magazine - April 2009 - (Page 20) EXECUTIVE SUITE / RETAIL PEOPLE Uniquely Gifted Eleanor Leinen Gift wrap artist Hollywood, Fla. rtist Eleanor Leinen is between teaching gigs. In February, she shipped out from the Port of Miami with Royal Caribbean International to host a series of handson, mixed-media classes for guests cruising the Caribbean. This month, the former Fashion Institute of Technology educator (she taught event planning) will ta k e t o t h e h i g h seas on R o ya l Caribbean’s Panama Canal cruise. and Chris Noth. Chris and his business partner gave me my first showing at the Cutting Room, their New York club. First paying job? Teacher’s art assistant in a summer school program for kids. Greatest influence on your career? A My mother. Her mantra was, “You can do anything.” She also said, “There are no failures in life, only experiences.” Advice to retailers about gift wrap? For most of her life, Leinen has been involved in some aspect of art – studying it, creating it (in addition to sculpture, she designs a couture line of diabetic and orthopedic shoes), teaching it or selling it at her Englewood, N.J., gift gallery. Perhaps best known for her Present Sculptures, signed works of gift-wrap-based sculptures created for myriad corporate clients, socialites and celebrities, Leinen has exhibited at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York. Author of “Uniquely Gifted,” a lush coffee-table book, and creator of a line of note cards and art posters, the Queens, N.Y., native now makes her home in Hollywood, Fla. As a retailer, you once refunded money for poorly giftwrapped presents. Is that how you started wrapping? Dream client or project? I’d design a gift wrap paper line with coordinating accessories. I want to create extravagant winter holiday sculptures for Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s or Nordstrom windows. I’d also like to do an American-themed Christmas tree for the White House. How would you approach wrapping the perfect Easter basket? Probably wouldn’t use a basket, but if I had to I’d use nontraditional fillings in pastel colors or pastel monochromatic schemes with faux flowers and faux fun furs. I’d definitely alter the basket color or texture to add a “wow” factor. I’d use tons of angel hair curly ribbons. Other passions you might have pursued? I delegated wrapping to my employees, but on this particular day both were absent with the flu. I attempted to wrap all of this particular customer’s gift purchases, but the outcome was an abomination. I couldn’t even do a corner. When she returned to pick up her gifts, she very lovingly asked for a full refund because of the gift wrap. That evening I taught myself to wrap. A few weeks later, I began enhancing wrappings with fabric, jewels and flowers, among other materials. Today, nothing is off limits except for endangered species. My favorite materials are patent leather and velvet. I like creating my own papers, sometimes using regular wrapping paper that I might stamp, hand paint or decoupage. Who dubbed you the celebrity gift wrapper? Dog breeder or jury psychologist. Favorite music, films or books? George Michael and Seal. I love “Moulin Rouge.” Any book by Catherine Ponder. Little-known fact about you? I finally learned to drive and I love it. Also, I’m a news junkie. Guests at your ultimate dinner party? My clients. It was a nickname that stuck, and TV hosts loved it. Among the celebrities that have either received or contracted my services are Cheryl Freeman, Lauryn Hill, Mariah Carey 20 STORES / APRIL 2009 Putting together parties is one of my passions. I have an eclectic group of friends and know they would mix well with President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama, Elton John, Morgan Freeman, Brad and Angelina, Chris Matthews, Alicia Keys, Candace Bushnell, Al Gore, Emeril Lagasse and Joel Osteen. StORES — Janet Groeber WWW.STORES.ORG Photo: Marc Vaughn A lot of retailers cutting back might be thinking about their gift wrap, but it’s their mobile billboard. Even if they must cut, I’d advise them to keep being creative and making sure the wrapping has a “wow” that makes it memorable. Gift wrap is all about making “the moment.” http://WWW.STORES.ORG
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