NOV./DEC. 2008

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2005

Dallas Market Center

“F!NDS continues Dallas Market Center’s nearly 50 year legacy of presenting innovative new merchandise in a quality environment. F!NDS is one more example of a marketplace where it all comes together – buyers, sellers, merchandise, success,” said Georgia Davis, executive vice president of the center, in the statement.

The F!NDS buying environment will feature newly designed display booths and common areas. Models of the new booths were on display on the 13th floor during the June market. The design philosophy is warm yet contemporary and sophisticated yet casual. The goal is to provide an attractive, updated marketplace for the benefit of both buyers and sellers, the statement said.

George Little Management, LLC (GLM)

The new Jubilee Gift Basket Pavilion will host 80 exhibitors in a specially designed exhibit area of the show.

“The Boston Gift Show promises to be a spectacular event with unique resources that buyers can only find in Boston. The collocation with Jubilee! offers retailers access to a growing facet of the gift industry. We are looking forward to another successful, buyer-friendly market at the BCEC,” said Show Manager Tony Orlando in the statement.

M & M Gift Shows, LLC

Announcing a Change In Location
Enjoy shopping at two major locations in Pigeon Forge. Both show sites will have many returning vendors, as well as new companies, most with exciting new merchandise. This will be the third year for exhibits at The Smoky Mountain Convention Center and Pavilions located at the Ramada Inn between Traffic Lights #8 and #10. The newest and largest exhibit location is the Music Road Convention Center and Pavilion located on the main parkway at traffic light #1 (just behind Ruby Tuesday.)

Free gift show shuttles will operate between these two show locations as well as into nearby Gatlinburg from the Smoky Mountain Convention Center/Ramada location.

(There will be no exhibits this year at The Grand Convention Center in Pigeon Forge or at Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg.)

Combine pleasure with your business trip. Bring your family and/or friends and enjoy the beauty of the Smokies. Welcome back to the Smokies in November!

North East Souvenir Salesman’s Association (NESSA)

New York and New England Souvenir Shows

Ed Loughlin, of Blair Cedar, spearheaded the shows, and brought the industry together in the North East. He single handedly cajoled, bullied, enticed, convinced and talked all the major players to be part of this endeavor.

Al Bass, Bass Resort Sales, Dick Brown, Beachcombers International, Denny Stewart and Ken Rosendorf, are the only remaining members of the original group. Larry Zutty, Bert Kaiser, Rich Sheft, George Denham and Hardy Scheib joined the show shortly after the small beginning years.

The shows host the retailers with free coffee and doughnuts, free lunch, cocktail parties, and in North Conway, a Salesman of the Year Award Banquet complete with entertainment. They will also write orders for next season. The shows have grown over the years, but still retain the same friendly, low-key atmosphere that keeps people coming back.

VNU

Sourcing in China can save money. Still, although China’s manufacturing capabilities are enormous, doing business in China can be a daunting task.

To counter the intimidation factor, VNU is creating a platform for international businesses to take full advantage of China’s production opportunities by introducing suppliers or sourcing partners to create or enhance a company’s global supply chain in one convenient location: Merchandise China 2005.

“After a visit to Merchandise China, attendees will leave with the kind of knowledge and confidence needed to source successfully in China,” says Isabel Hu, Senior Project Manager for Merchandise China 2005, in a press statement. “Soon after they begin to source in China, international companies will see a reduction in their production costs and an increase in their profits.”

“You will only find the products listed on our Web site prior to the show. Coming to China is a big commitment, so we want you to be able to focus your efforts on finding the right partners to make your business excel, not wading through hordes of vendors hawking products that have nothing to do with your business needs,” said VNU Exhibitions Asia’s International Marketing Manager, Tim Williamson, in the statement.

To educate attendees to Merchandise China 2005 on the finer points of doing business in China, a one-day symposium will be organized to present current trends and concerns in production relationships, helping international companies to understand and deal with potential sourcing partners more comfortably.

Merchandise China 2005 is offering value-added services that are not found in other sourcing shows in China. The combination of a focused exhibition experience, a symposium to sharpen business knowhow, an opportunity to meet real decision-makers in the matchmaking program, a chance to see production capabilities first-hand through factory tours, and a visit to Shanghai, Asia’s most exciting city, all combine to illustrate how Merchandise China 2005 is the sourcing event international wholesalers, retailers, and importers must attend in 2005, according to the statement.