Merilyn's Very Independent Showroom

Merilyn Aickin moved her showroom to a non-traditional location.

For Merilyn Aickin, you don’t need a traditional showroom building to run a successful showroom biz. She’s proving her point with her new venture.

She recently debuted her self named Merilyn Aickin showroom at 814 S. Spring St, which is a block north of the Fashion Intersection of showroom buildings such as the California Market Center, The New Mart, The Cooper Design Space and The Gerry Building. The "off-intersection" location is just one way of promoting an alternative downtown.

Her space is much more reminiscent of an independent boutique than a traditional showroom. Her four walls are a two-story storefront, and like a boutique, her doors open to the lively street parade in urban downtown Los Angeles.

Aicken debuted her new showroom for the January Los Angeles Fashion Market, after working at the CMC from 2005 to 2010. Much of her traffic for the first market was destination and appointment traffic. Yet, with neighbors such as popular downtown L.A. hangouts Infusion Café, Angelique Café and Haute Olive boutique, she said walk-in traffic was not uncommon.

Aickin, a native of New Zealand, sells updated contemporary lines such as Banana Blue, Sophie Finzi, Fenini and Jaskar in her 2,800-square-foot space. She said a big advantage to her location is the privacy it offers. “It’s away from the crowds,” she said.

View of Merilyn Aickin's showroom from downtown L.A's Main Street.