Buyers line up at the registration area of the 2011 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®). The show saw three consecutive days of record-breaking attendance.

Motivated, quality buyers needing immediate inventory characterized attendance at the winter 2011 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®), with three consecutive days of record-breaking attendance bolstering order-writing and setting a positive tone for overall results, despite the winter weather, which arrived mid-market.  The NYIGF ran January 29-February 3, 2011, at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminal’s Piers 92 & 94.

Exhibitor participation was robust for the winter market, with four of NYIGF’s 10 divisions achieving “sold out” status and two divisions recording significant expansions.  Divisions at capacity for winter 2011 included At Home at Pier 94, Handmade® (in both its Designer Maker and Global Design categories), Personal Accessories featuring Details, and EX?TRACTS®.  Baby & Child, which debuted last summer, grew by 15 percent, and New York’s Newest, which was re-established last summer, increased in size by 10 percent.

	Buyers browse the Décor Craft Inc. booth at the 2011 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®). Exhibitors reported that order writing was less price-conscious and more driven by quality, trend and aesthetic.

“NYIGF attendance skyrocketed the first three days of market, resulting in 10-plus percent gains over winter 2010,” said Dorothy Belshaw, NYIGF director and GLM senior vice president. “While the mid-week storms in New York impacted NYIGF’s overall attendance figures, there was still brisk buying on the exhibit floor throughout market.”  GLM reported that nearly 35,000 attendees, representing all 50 states and 86 countries, attended the market.

Anecdotally, many exhibitors reported record shows, and order writing that was less price-conscious and more driven by quality, trend and aesthetic.

	The Accent on Design section held buyer interest at the 2011 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®). Exhibitor participation was robust for the winter market.

According to Belshaw, buyers who could not travel to the market due to the weather or other circumstances will still have the opportunity to source and shop on NYIGF.com.

Highlights of this winter’s market included an expansion of Baby & Child. Another notable change was the relocation of some 25 creators of handcrafted jewelry into Personal Accessories, resulting in the creation of a buyer-friendly, easy-to-shop handmade jewelry “neighborhood.” This concentration is expected to continue and to grow for the summer 2011 market.

	The Calypso Cards booth at the 2011 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®). The company was featured in the show's Stationery Neighborhood section. Four of the fair's 10 divisions achieved "sold out" status and two divisions recorded significant expansions.

Additionally, further refinement within the General Gift division resulted in an enhanced “neighborhood” of nearly 70 stationery suppliers and publishers. The consolidation has benefited exhibiting companies.

The summer 2011 edition of the New York International Gift Fair will run Saturday, August 13 – Thursday, August 18, 2011.

Six companies were presented with Best New Product Awards recently at EX•TRACTS®, with Tatine of Chicago, Ill., receiving “Best of Show” honors for its Foundry collection of scented candles.  EX•TRACTS was one of 10 divisions of the New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®).

	This booth in the Baby & Child section of the 2011 New York International Gift Fair® (NYIGF®) generated many interested buyers. Baby & Child, which debuted last summer, grew by 15 percent.

EX•TRACTS awards are presented semi-annually in five categories: Bath & Body; Beauty Accessory; Cosmetic & Fragrance; Natural/Organic; and Packaging. Winners and finalists in each category are selected by trade and consumer editors based on innovative design, creative use of materials/construction and use of new materials/technology. 

In addition to Tatine, winners included: Bath and Body Category, ILLUME, Minneapolis, Minn.; Beauty Accessory Category, Ecoya, Botany Bay, Australia; Cosmetic and Fragrance Category, Royal Apothic, Los Angeles, Calif; Natural/Organic Category, Lotus Love Beauty, San Diego, Calif.; and Packaging Category, Simpatico-Home, St. Louis, Mo.

Halloween & Party Expo

Mix cutting-edge educational sessions, with dazzling entertainment, and a huge helping of deal making and you get the 2011 Halloween & Party Expo. This four-day event was once again the showcase for the Halloween, Costume, and Party industry's hottest new products, which buyers from across the globe came to see, feel, and, most importantly, buy for their stores.

	The main aisle at the 2011 Halloween & Party Expo.

“The primary purpose of the Expo is to put buyers in contact with exhibitors and to facilitate order writing. But we also want the show to be educational and fun,” said Jonathan Erwin of the Halloween & Party Expo. “We pride ourselves on putting on a show by the industry, for the industry. We sincerely appreciate the support of the buyers and exhibitors, and plan to tweak the show so that it gets better and better every year.”

Bob Negen, best-selling author and renowned business coach, set the tone for the 2011 Expo with his opening keynote address. “He definitely had show attendees raving about his session,” said Erwin. “His goal was to teach store owners how to ensure customers leave raving about the experience in their shops.” Negen gave attendees tips on how to generate tons of foot traffic, work with local non-profits, and make customers for life.

After the Expo attendees finished their Saturday business, they were entertained by the famous Halloween Costume Style Show, which featured more than 30 participating vendors.

“We thought last year would be hard to top, but the Halloween Costume Style Show continues to be a great feature each year at the Halloween & Party Expo,” added Erwin. “We appreciate the enthusiasm of participating exhibitors and buyers who attend the event.”

The next Expo in Houston is scheduled for January 28-31, 2012.

OASIS

Last year, OASIS announced they were “growing and going” on the road for a new expansion show at the Albuquerque Convention Center in an effort to increase market reach and allow more convenient options for buyers. “We opted to 'bring our shows to the buyers’ to allow them more options and decrease their overhead,” said Kevin Thomas of OASIS. This April 8-9, 2011 will bring the second annual OASIS Albuquerque Gift Show, which is even bigger and better, with an expanded Cash and Carry Area and more exhibitors on the main floor.

For their Arizona shows, OASIS recently returned to its rightful home in downtown Phoenix. The newly renovated Phoenix Convention Center, the convenient light rail transportation and the vibrant downtown setting proved to be a successful formula as the show made its return debut this past January. Buyers and exhibitors alike reported enjoying an enthusiastic and successful show. In addition to the 600 booths on the main floor, OASIS also made the introduction of some new ‘Showrooms’ during their January debut in downtown Phoenix. Each of these showrooms included over 1,800 square feet of unique product selections and allowed buyers more flexibility to visit these exhibitors and their expanded displays.

International Gift Exposition in the Smokies and the Souvenir Super Show (IGES)

The staff and management of the International Gift Exposition in the Smokies and the Souvenir Super Show extend a warm Smoky Mountain welcome to Urban Expositions and their newly acquired Smoky Mountain Gift Show. We welcome the opportunity to work together with our friends at Urban to provide an even more exciting and profitable experience for buyers attending both premier November resort and souvenir gift shows in the Great Smoky Mountains.

Urban Expositions

Urban Expositions has announced the acquisition of The Smoky Mountain Gift Show® held annually at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in Tennessee. Assuming all ownership and management duties from founding management company, The Smoky Mountain Gift Show, Inc., the Urban Expositions team plans to build upon the tradition of success that has defined this souvenir/gift show throughout its 45-plus year history.

“It is an honor and a privilege to take over the reins of an event that has been such an important mainstay in the souvenir industry,” said Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. “Over the years, the Smoky Mountain Gift Show Inc. management has cultivated a show with a solid reputation not just for the amount of business that is done, but for the networking aspect that takes place in this beautiful mountain setting. We look forward to further strengthening the show’s position as the premier souvenir and gift resource in the Eastern United States.”

The first edition under Urban Expositions management will be the November 4-7, 2011 show. Among the highlights will be a series of upgraded buyer and exhibitor services, as well as new marketing initiatives.

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