Boutique houseware: Naaman china and ceramics & more...

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Ceramic collection from Naaman

Tel Aviv is an enigma in it's compactness. The older parts are crowded and for the most part upscale in character. This means store front area is also at a premium. So the Israelis like French and Italians have taken to making boutiques out of everything. One of the more interesting creation is a chain of housewares goods called Naaman. The store chain started out as Israel's first kitchen ceramics manufacturer. At first they made simple, affordable designs for everyday use. Today the small stores all over the country are like small boutiques. You will find the old 'daily-use' plates and cups with updated designs. The selection is small, but designs are rotated on almost weekly basis. The stores also carry a serving sets, pots, pans, plastic and glass storage, cutlery, glass and ceramic vases, different type of glassware, tableware and utensils, coffee and tea serving sets... lots of different things.
So how do they get all this into a small space? First of all, the selection in each category is just a 'sample' of what they have. They rotate the stock continuously and they also can order from a large catalog (see online version, sorry, in Hebrew only). The designs and styles vary from classic to modern. Naaman stores also carries designs from other manufacturers, specially in the cooking accessories area. They also brand many items manufactured all over the world. So when you see the Naaman logo, you know it means a high standard of quality and style. Finally, the staff is extremely helpful and courteous. One would think that when buying dishes as a gift, this would not be an issue. But making a shopping decision simple and easy even here is a nice change. The sales people will order you something not in stock, which in this case, is a larger selection than what you can find in the stores themselves. So whatever negative comments you heard of the service and friendliness of Tel Aviv merchant is certainly not true here.

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Look for the Naaman logo
Naaman is not actually known for it's store as much as for it's ceramic plates and cups. So if you see the Naaman logo in other stores, take a second look. The dishes have the strength for everyday use and are nicely designed. For the most part they are surprisingly affordable. If you buy a small set there is always another item that can complement or fit the design. So take a look at dishes, Israel style... in the city.