Winners for ‘Best New Products’ Highlight New England Talent

est New Products” winners were announced at the 20th annual New England Products Trade Show (NEPTS), co-sponsored by KeyBank N.A. NEPTS is the only business-to-business wholesale trade show in the country dedicated to presenting handcrafted giftware, home furnishings and specialty foods exclusively created in New England. Each exhibitor is juried for workmanship, design and production capability. More than 300 exhibitors were at this year’s show held at two locations in Portland, Maine.

At the Portland Expo Center, Duane Patricio and Laura Fuller of Patricio Woodworks in Portland, Maine, took first place for their one-of-a-kind furniture, mirrors and glass pieces. Created out of vintage wood and antique bottles, their functional art has been featured in DownEast, Traditional Home and Renovation Style magazines.

Bette Hartzband of Hall’s Clothing in Peterborough, N. H., received second place at the Expo for her unique fleece hats, jackets, mittens, headbands, sweaters, booties, buntings and blankets.

Honorable mention went to Jodi Clayton of One Lupine Fiber Arts in Orono, Maine, for her one-of-a-kind felt stockings and handbags, and to Mad Gab’s Julian Marks of Westbrook, Maine, for his all-natural fragrances and other body products for gifts and personal use.

First place at the Cumberland County Civic Center went to Nancy Brown of Springcliffe Designs, Cumberland, Maine, for her one-of-a-kind, whimsical, children’s upholstered footstools finished with coordinating socks and fun footwear.

Duane Patricio (left) and Laura Fuller (center) of Patricio Woodworks accept the first place award for Expo Giftware exhibitors from Susan B. Snowden, senior vice president, Small Business, KeyBank N.A.

Cathy Perma of Custom Cards in Rangeley, Maine, earned second place at the Civic Center for her creative and colorful pop-ups on laser-cut cards and ornaments.

Honorable Mention went to Nancy Tang of Glass Orchids in Frankfort, Maine, for her kiln-fired, dichroic glass jewelry, accessories and dishes, and to Connie Davidson of North Country Wind Bells in Round Pond, Maine, for handcrafted bells based on her research of actual bell-and-gong buoys along the East and West coasts. Each bell has its own distinctive sound representing the area for which it is named.

Incubator without Walls scholarships, sponsored by Out on a Limb, maker of homemade fruit-based products in Lamoine, Maine, went to Vinny and Holly Gartmayer of Bold Coast Smokehouse in Lubec, Maine, and to Alexis Sounder of Prospect Harbor Soap Company in Prospect Harbor, Maine. The scholarship helps underwrite booth costs for companies exemplifying the ideals of the Incubator Without Walls program that offers technical assistance to micro-businesses starting up in Downeast Maine.

In addition to Keybank and Out On a Limb, NEPTS’ diverse sponsors and supporters include the Maine Department of Agriculture, Free Community Papers of New England, Gourmet News, Tastes of New England, Mainebiz, WHOM 94.9, Maine Products Marketing Program, Maine Small Business Development Centers, Franklin Printing, Maine Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Maine Restaurant Association, Maine Wood Products Association and Reid Graphics.