August/September 2010

INDUSTRY

NEWSLETTER

2010

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The Association of Partners for Public Lands (APPL)

The Association of Partners for Public Lands (APPL) Trade Show, Feb. 7-10, at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center, San Diego, Calif., draws buyers and decision makers from more than 400 nonprofit and interpretive sales outlets on national parks, forests, refuges and other public sites across the United States. Buyers use this event to find products and services that help engage the public in understanding and appreciating the importance of the nation’s public lands.

Canadian Gift & Tableware Association (CGTA)

The Canadian Gift & Tableware Association (CGTA) and dmg world media announced recently that they have not yet concluded all legal aspects of the previously announced agreement in principle for the CGTA to purchase the Canadian DMG gift shows by the end of September.

“Both parties understood from the outset that the timetable was extremely aggressive to complete the transaction in time for the next show cycle. While we are disappointed a sale has not yet been completed, the Board of the CGTA remains committed to acquiring the DMG gift shows as soon as is practical,” said CGTA Executive Director Peter Moore.

The spring edition of the show, Jan. 31-Feb. 4, 2010, at the Toronto International Centre and the Toronto Congress Centre, is a must-attend for qualified retail buyers. The event will feature more than 930 exhibitors.

Mid-Atlantic Gift & Souvenir Show

Mark your calendars this March 17-19, 2010, to attend the third Annual Mid-Atlantic Gift & Souvenir Show in Ocean City, Md. There will be well-known exhibitors as well as new companies introducing the freshest hot products for next summer. Exhibitors will be showing new merchandise, novelties, gifts, eco-friendly products and more. For example, W.S. Stetson will be showing handmade seashell gifts from exotic lands, Leonard Radinsky will have new jewelry and accessories and Joe Bonk will be showing the newest trendy jewelry around. Several companies will be showing monogrammed items and imprintable novelties.

Just when you think you have seen it all these sources break the mold and bring out new products. Some of the newest and hottest trends will be at this show, such as: mermaids, flip flops, nautical décor, stationery, apparel, pirates and beach gear. New hermit crab accessories will be shown by FMR. At this show you will find products that your customers cannot resist. The companies exhibiting will be displaying last minute merchandise that may be the best seller of the season. This is also a very valuable show for storeowners to attend and meet with companies they have already purchased from to review or add to previous orders.

This Ocean City, Md., show is held at a time of year when the hotel rates are reasonable and the town is not too crowded. Most of Ocean City’s best restaurants will be open as well as the shops. Be sure to allow time for shopping and exploring in and around Ocean City. You may find some great display ideas for your own business.

Jack Childers managed successful shows for many years, and since his passing in June, his wife Cindy and daughters Virginia and Jackie hope to carry the torch and make the Mid-Atlantic Gift Show the best it has ever been. If your business is located in the Mid-Atlantic region, or you are traveling from afar, you really cannot afford to miss this superior show. Visit the website for more info or to pre-register. 

Urban Expositions

From Friday, Jan. 8- Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, the most comprehensive selection of wild bird and backyard nature products will be on display at Birdwatch America’s new downtown Atlanta location – the Georgia World Congress Center. Along with the show’s new location, buyers can benefit from many business-building opportunities, including a comprehensive education series, goody bag giveaway program and networking opportunities at a special free show floor reception.

“An ongoing theme in the feedback from both our buyers and exhibitors has been the request for a downtown Atlanta location to make the show more convenient for visiting Atlanta buyers,” explained Tim von Gal, executive vice president, Urban Expositions. “We found a way to be more accessible to the buying audience while maximizing the business-building opportunities for our exhibitors –all while maintaining the convenient, hassle-free shopping nature of Birdwatch America.”

The January 2010 edition is expected to feature more than 200 booths displaying bird feeders, bird houses, water gardening supplies, bird baths, bird seed, optics, garden décor, wildlife art, jewelry and many other birding industry items.

Responding to industry demand from buyers and exhibitors alike for a more buyer-friendly market schedule, as well as a single location and consolidated floor plan for shows, Market Square has moved to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center to co-locate with Urban Expositions’ Market Place Show Feb. 6 – Feb. 8, 2010 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pa.

Together, Market Square’s The Market Place, The Buyers Cash & Carry and Grass Roots events will present an unrivaled, unified selection of order-writing, immediate delivery and American artisan designs to offer a truly cost-effective, convenient and easy-to-work atmosphere for buyers and exhibitors alike.

“By jointly promoting our show with Market Square, we will both be able to finally deliver what the industry has been asking for – everything on one floor, under one roof and within one date pattern,” explained Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. “There’s strength in numbers and by working together, we will be able to secure the best prices at area hotels, build an even stronger exhibitor base, and strengthen our marketing messages to attract even more retailers to this expanded buying opportunity. It’s a win-win for everyone.”

“Our buyers and exhibitors will no longer have to deal with separate floor plans, different locations and staggered dates for the order-writing and cash and carry components of this industry’s shows,” added Kathy Goodrich, show promoter, Market Square, Inc.

Returning Jan. 15-17, 2010 to the Orange County Convention Center’s North Concourse (North Hall A2), the winter Orlando Gift Show is perfectly timed to help Florida retailers preview new lines for spring holidays and restock after the busy holiday season. As the only winter gift show in Florida, the January show also runs concurrently with the Orlando Cash & Carry Show– providing one comprehensive product resource with tremendous cross market buying opportunities. “The Orlando Gift Show is the biggest gift show in Florida offering the largest assortment of new products and money-saving resources,” said Miller of Urban Expositions. Urban Expositions are managers and producers of the Orlando Gift Show along with partners GLM®, a dmg world media business. “When you combine the show’s extensive product selection with the fantastic buyer incentives and the Orange County Convention Center’s convenient and central location – this show delivers everything a Florida retailer could ask for.” The show will present hundreds of exhibiting companies, including leading Southeastern sales representatives and top manufacturers, showcasing items in virtually every product category, including general giftware, home and garden accents, gourmet gifts, party and paper goods, tabletop, holiday/seasonal, collectibles, souvenir/resort merchandise, stationery, bed, bath and linen and more.

Now owned and managed by Urban Expositions, the Seattle Gift Show’s Jan. 23-26, 2010 edition at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center will come together with the permanent showrooms at Pacific Market Center for Seattle Market Week – (Jan. 20-26, 2010.) These two world-class, easy-to-shop venues will bring together thousands of gift, home and lifestyle products in every market category, as well as a full range of buyer services, that promise to make Seattle Market Week the launch pad for breaking trends and new business opportunities for the forward-thinking retailer.

“The Seattle Gift Show has always catered to the specialized needs of the Pacific Northwest retailer,” said Miller of Urban Expositions. “Our team is working hard to build upon the show’s strengths by bringing in even more new product and trend resources, as well as time and money-saving buyer services, so the region’s retailers can stay close to home to find everything they need – all while saving travel dollars and reducing their carbon footprint, as well as supporting the local economy.”

Retailers can explore more resources than ever before from hundreds of companies representing more than 3,000-plus top name lines and innovative newcomers. Exhibitors are categorized in eight easy-to-shop sections: Food Focus, Gifts and Collectibles, Handmade, Home and Garden, Northwest Directions, Personal Style, Treasures to Go (Cash and Carry) and Vintage Collection.