Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosemary Krieger.
Rosemary, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Approximately 5 years ago I purchased the HADA Antiques Shows ( Houston Antiques Dealers Association) and rebranded them as the Houston Antiques + Art + Design Show. The rebrand brings together the marriage of items represented from the 17th, 18th, 19th and introduces the 20th century together opening the audience for this great antique show to all ages. Houston is a very traditional antique town but we felt there are enough younger collectors who are interested in vintage items created in the 20th century, or modernism as we call it.
Dolphin Promotions has been producing antique and modern shows for over 25 years We have antiques shows in Miami, Sarasota, Chicago and Houston and produces modernism shows in Los Angeles and Palm Springs CA. Rosemary Krieger, President of Dolphin is assisted by her media director Gordon Merkle and personal assistant Charlie Walter. Together this creative and innovative team is responsible for producing the top shows in the US offering dealers and collectors the finest in antiques, art, and design. All of the shows offer the finest merchandise and are very well advertised and attended. The combined expertise of this team is instrumental in the success of the company and the shows they produce.
So, my story began as a young woman working for two of the top tiered promoters who’s first task was to sell tickets for them and then began working in their offices and ultimately led to me buying the company and being a 100% female owned small business highly respected by my peers in the design industry
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been somewhat of a smooth move but there are always bumps in the road. Starting new shows in new venues can be tricky but you have to be sure that you are introducing a market that will be sustainable for your dealers. The dealers need to have sales and if they do, that is great and if they are successful, then you are successful – but if an area does not work and the dealers don’t sell, then the problem arises. We do our best to provide a good venue for our dealers. We also work to provide a schedule that offers more than one location on one trip for dealers thereby giving them one or two markets that would be outside of their home galleries
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dolphin Promotions – what should we know?
What we do as a company is work with and for our dealers. We offer relationships and not just booth spaces. Many promoters don’t get to take the time to meet their dealers and learn from them. I grew up working for two of the top promoters in the country, Bob Smith and Frank Farbenbloom and they always taught me to look at my shows through the eyes of my dealers. What sets us apart is the quality and ease of the setup and run of our shows. We are known for producing the shows with the top tiered dealers in their respective categories.
We are a small company and what I am most proud of is the schedule that we now have that cannot be matched anywhere else in the country. I am also proud of the monies that we have raised for charity through our shows. Each market offers an opening night party with all proceeds from ticket sales going to a specific charity. We have worked with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Art Institute of Chicago, Woman’s Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Modernism Week, P. S. Arts, Los Angeles County Museum of Modern Art, AIA-Chicago and Design Women amongst many others.
What sets us apart from others is that we are well known and dealers have the confidence that they are going to get a great production from us.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My two assistants, Gordon Merkle ( Media Director ) and Charlie Walter ( Executive Assistant ) have been with me for over 20 years and have always kept me grounded and focused on keeping our shows at the top spectrum of antiques, art, and design shows. Our combined effort is the reason that Dolphin Promotions is considered one of the top antiques and modernism producers in the nation.
Early years I was fortunate enough to learn all that I know from Bob Smith and Frank Farbenbloom who were both dealers before they became promoters. What I learned from them was invaluable.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dolphinfairs.com
- Phone: (708)366-2710
- Email: info@dolphinfairs.com
- Instagram: dolphinfairs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dolphin-Promotions-103785306001/
- Twitter: @dolphinfairs
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
