A Gift Market Overview
With so many gift shows throughout the year across the country, it can be hard to know which ones will suite your gift-purchasing needs: Some feature educational sessions or target specific regions, and some only serve certain markets. To take the confusion out of finding appropriate gift shows to attend, we asked representatives from different gift shows to give brief overviews of their shows. All the details come directly from each show’s representative: We at Lawn & Garden Retailer gathered the information but did not provide any of the facts.
The information on the next 7 pages covers 14 gift shows and includes information ranging from where each show is located to its target markets. When using the guide, please be sure to check each show’s Web site, which has been provided, before making plans in case details have changed. Additionally, though we listed as many as we could, this is not a complete listing of all gift shows; there are many other local and regional shows. This listing contains only the shows we believe are most important. Each show listed here offers a wealth of products and information for retailers. Read about them, visit their Web sites, and you’ll be on your way to choosing which shows are the best fit for you.
AmericasMart Atlanta
Atlanta, Ga.
www.americasmart.com
Mission/background: AMC creates the world’s markets of necessity by providing everyone touched by our business with superior service and value achieved through passionate innovation and continuous improvement.
When: There are six gift/home furnishings markets annually.
Registration: Call (404) 220-2404.
Attendance: More than 548,000 attendees annually come to the 23 annual markets.
Geographic region of attendees: Every U.S. state and 80 countries.
Dedicated floor space: 4.2 million sq.ft. of showroom and exhibit space.
Show vendors: More than 2,000 permanent showrooms and more than 4,400 temporary booths during the January and July markets.
Educational sessions: Numerous, please visit www.americasmart.com for more information on lineups.
Boston Gift Show
Boston, Mass.
www.bostongiftshow.com
When: March 25-28, 2006, and Sept. 9-12, 2006.
Registration: Call (800) 272-SHOW.
Attendance: 16,000 annually.
Target markets: General gift stores, specialty stores, home furnishing stores, garden and floral retailers, galleries, boutiques, jewelry stores, gift basket retailers, gourmet retailers, stationery stores, museum gift stores, mail order catalogs, gift and antique shops, bookstores, seasonal/resort shops and collectible stores.
Geographic region of attendees: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
Dedicated floor space: 128,000 sq.ft.
Show vendors: General gift, made in New England, handmade, museum source, at home, personal accessories, souvenir source (spring only) and Gift Basket Pavilion (fall only).
California Gift Show
Los Angeles, Calif.
www.californiagiftshow.com
Mission statement: The California Gift Show’s expanding resources continue to position it as a diverse, product-rich market for retailers. As an added benefit, the colocation with SOURCES LA will add dimension and greater international sourcing opportunities for volume buyers, importers and manufacturers.
When: Held semi-annually in January and July.
Registration: Open to the trade only. No fee for buyers to attend.
Sponsors: The California Gift Show is managed by George Little Management, LLC on behalf of dmg world media.
Attendance: 30,000 buyers per show.
Target markets: Attendees from specialty and department stores, gift shops, home furnishing and decorative accessory stores, boutiques, jewelry stores, importers and distributors of home products, mail order catalogs, museums and galleries, stationery stores, craft retailers, e-businesses, garden centers, interior designers, resorts and theme parks, hotels and spas.
Geographic region of attendees: Show attracts buyers from all 50 states and 39 countries.
Dedicated floor space: The show presents buyers with a world of trendsetting diversity that is laid out in 10 easy-to-shop product divisions and five special-focus areas.
Educational sessions: Offering a comprehensive mix of educational programs addressing product trends, gift baskets and visual merchandising.
CGTA Gift Show
Toronto, ON, Canada
www.cgta.org
When: Jan. 29 through Feb. 2, 2006.
Registration: Trade only.
Sponsors: The Canadian Gift & Tableware Association.
Attendance: 19,000 attendees.
Target markets: Retailers.
Geographic region of attendees: North America.
Dedicated floor space: 426,957 sq.ft.
Show vendors: 1,032 vendors.
Educational sessions: Free daily seminars and workshops: Find out the newest business strategies and merchandising ideas, plus industry trends.
Chicago Gift & Home Market
Chicago, Ill.
www.merchandisemart.com
Mission/background: We are proud to be the longest-running gift and home market in the country. Over the years, we have grown significantly and today offer more than 1 million sq.ft. of permanent showrooms and temporary exhibitors.
When: It is held semi-annually each January and July.
Registration: Open to the trade only, and does not require a fee.
Attendance: 25,000 buyers per show.
Target markets: Markets represented and profiles of attendees are similar to those who attend Atlantas Mart and the Dallas Market Center.
Geographic region of attendees: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan.
Dedicated floor space: Square footage tops 1 million with nearly 300 showrooms and 1,000 exhibitors all in one building.
Educational sessions: Educational seminars are offered for both the January and July Markets on topics ranging from marketing to Web site design and merchandising.
Galveston Gift & Resort Merchandise Show
Galveston Island, Texas
www.urban-expo.com
Mission/background: The Gal-veston Gift & Resort Merchandise Show, formerly the Gulf Coast Gift & Resort Merchandise Show, is now Á managed by show producer Urban Expositions. The show provides retailers with a wide selection of themed merchandise, resort apparel, gifts and souvenirs in a convenient, nearby location.
When: October 8-10, 2006.
Registration: Register online at www.urban-expo.com. Open to the trade only. Two forms of business ID are necessary for entry into the show. There is no fee to attend.
Sponsors: Owned and managed by Urban Expositions.
Target markets: Souvenir, beach and surf shops, casino gift, card and specialty stores, home furnishings, decorative accessory stores, mail order catalogs, department and chain stores, floral gift stores, book stores, garden centers, museums, zoos and aquariums, and fashion accessory stores.
Geographic region of attendees: New Orleans, La., to Brownsville, Texas.
Show vendors: There are 200 booths featuring exhibitors presenting categories such as destination, resort and tourist merchandise, souvenirs, beach items, t-shirts, general giftware, logo products, shell items, coastal and nautical, decorative accessories, fashion accessories, toys and games, greeting cards, paper goods and social stationery, tabletop, garden gifts and more.
Miami Gift Show
Miami, Fla.
www.urban-expo.com
Mission/background: As the largest gift trade event in the state of Florida, this all-category gift show attracts buyers from every segment of the industry from general gift shops and hotel/beach stores to mass merchants, garden centers and resort specialty shops.
When: A semi-annual event held each summer and winter: This year, Jan. 28-31, 2006, and Aug. 26-29, 2006.
Registration: The Miami Gift Show is open to the trade only. Attendees must present two forms of business ID to gain admission. No admission fee.
Sponsors: The Miami Gift Show is owned and managed by Urban Expositions.
Target markets: Gift and card specialty stores, home furnishings, decorative accessory stores, mail order catalogs, department and chain stores, floral gift stores, book stores, garden centers, beach shops, museums, zoos, aquariums, fashion accessory stores, theme parks, destination areas and export businesses.
Geographic region of attendees: The show consists of attendees from south Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Dedicated floor space: There is 55,000 sq.ft. of floor space.
Show vendors: Approximately 300 exhibiting companies present in categories that include general giftware, decorative accessories, aromatherapy, greeting cards, paper goods and social stationery, tabletop, destination, resort and tourist merchandise, logo products, shell items, jewelry/fashion accessories, toys/games, gourmet, garden gifts and more.
Educational sessions: Educational programs are offered in topics such as retail merchandising, display techniques, gift basket design and gift basket business strategies, customer service and promotions.
New York International Gift Fair
New York City, N.Y.
www.nyigf.com
Mission/background: For 75 years, the New York International Gift Fair has been the industry’s leading marketplace in the United States for gift and home furnishings merchandise. It is the markeplace to find the largest number of new product resources from all over the world, new trends, access to key vendor personnel, convenient open-booth layout, relevant educational programming and exciting networking events.
When: It is held semi-annually each winter and summer.
Registration: Open to the trade only. There is a one-time-only onsite registration fee for new registrations.
Sponsors: The Gift Show is managed by George Little Management, LLC.
Attendance: 43,000 retailers per show.
Target markets: Specialty and department stores, gift shops, jewelry stores, interior designers, importers and distributors of home products, mail order catalogs, museums and galleries, stationery stores, craft retailers, garden centers and book stores.
Geographic region of attendees: International attendance from nearly 100 countries around the world and from within the United States.
Dedicated floor space: 660,000 sq.ft. is dedicated to the winter show with nearly 2,800 exhibitors, and the summer show covers approximately 620,000 sq.ft. with nearly 2,700 exhibitors.
Show vendors: Merchandise categories include general giftware, tabletop/housewares, decorative/personal accessories/personal care/wellness products, museum gifts, ethnic, traditional, country and contemporary crafts, specialty foods, contemporary design products, juvenile products, floral/outdoor living products and pet products.
Educational sessions: There are always a number of business activities planned during the market including after-hours events that New York is famous for.
Orlando Gift Show
Orlando, Fla.
www.orlandogiftshow.com
Mission/background: As Florida’s largest, most established temporary gift event, the Orlando Gift Show is one [show] retailers from Central and Northern Florida as well as the Panhandle have turned to for their buying needs for 20 years.
When: A semi-annual event held each summer and winter: This year, Feb. 4-6, 2006, and Aug. 5-8, 2006.
Registration: The Orlando Gift Show is open to the trade only. Retailers must present two forms of business ID to gain admission. No admission fee.
Sponsors: The Orlando Gift Show is a partnership venture between Á Urban Expositions, George Little Management, LLC (GLM) and Universal Shows Inc. (formerly Western Exhibitors, Inc.).
Target markets: Gift and specialty stores, home furnishings and decorative accessory stores, mail order catalogs, department and chain stores, floral gift stores, book stores, garden centers, beach shops, museums, zoos and aquariums, fashion accessory stores, theme parks, destination areas and export businesses.
Geographic region of attendees: The Orlando Gift Show attracts top retailers from Central and Northern Florida as well as the Panhandle.
Dedicated floor space: 60,000 sq.ft. of space.
Show vendors: Pres-ent are 350 exhibiting companies in categories including general giftware, decorative accessories, aromatherapy, greeting cards, paper goods and social stationery, tabletop, destination, resort and tourist merchandise, logo products, shell items, jewelry/fashion accessories, toys/games, gourmet, garden gifts and more.
Educational sessions: Educational programs are offered in topics such as retail merchandising, display techniques, gift basket design and gift basket business strategies, customer service and promotions.
Philadelphia Gift Show
Fort Washington, Pa.
www.urban-expo.com
Mission/background: Celebrating its 10th anniversary in January 2006, the show offers retailers an extensive product selection in a relaxed, hassle-free environment. Features like free parking at the Expo Center and inexpensive hotels and restaurants make the show affordable for its large drive-in audience. The recent addition of the Philadelphia International Handcrafted Expo in July 2005, which runs alongside the Philadelphia Gift Show, provides more new resources than ever before.
When: Held semi-annually in January and July. The 2006 dates include Jan.7-10 and July 23-26.
Registration: Register online at www.urban-expo.com. Open to the trade only. Two forms of business ID are necessary for entry. There is no fee.
Sponsors: Owned and managed by Urban Expositions.
Target markets: Gift and specialty stores, home furnishings and decorative accessory stores, mail order catalogs, department and chain stores, floral gift stores, garden centers, fashion accessory stores and boutiques.
Geographic region of attendees: The Mid-Atlantic states.
Dedicated floor space: More than 1,300 10×10-ft. booths.
Show vendors: Exhibitors represent categories that include general giftware, greeting cards, paper goods and social stationery, tabletop, decorative accessories, fashion accessories, toys and games, gourmet, garden gifts and more.
Educational sessions: Education seminars are available covering various topics including gift baskets, marketing, merchandising, etc.
San Francisco International Gift Fair
San Francisco, Calif.
www.sfigf.com
When: Feb. 4-7, 2006.
Registration: Available to the retail buying trade only.
Attendance: 20,000 retail stores.
Target markets: General giftware, tabletop, housewares, decorative and personal accessories, contemporary and traditional home furnishings, handcrafted Northwest crafts, floral and garden, juvenile products, toys and games, antiques and found objects, pre-packaged Á gourmet food items, stationery, souvenir/resort products, personal care items, fine and fashion jewelry.
Geographic region of attendees: California, Nevada, Utah, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Wyoming (all states are represented).
Dedicated floor space: 300,000 sq.ft.
Show vendors: 1,700 companies in 3,000 booths.
Educational sessions: Several.
Toronto International Gift Fair
Toronto, ON, Canada
www.torontointernational
giftfair.com
Mission/background: The Tor-onto International Gift Fair features more than 600 exhibitors, many of them new to the market, displaying unique, distinct gift items.
Registration: Open to the trade only, and does not require a fee.
Sponsors: The Toronto Inter-national Gift Fair is managed by George Little Management, LLC on behalf of dmg world media.
Attendance: 8,000 retailers per show.
Target markets: Specialty retail, chain, department, gift, drug stores, home furnishing/decorative accessory, bed/bath/linen stores, book stores, bridal, children’s gifts, craft and hobby, dollar stores, florist/garden, gal-lery/museum, gift basket, kitchen stores, wholesaler/distributors, premium incentive buyers, souvenir/resort shops, gourmet food and stationery/card stores.
Geographic region of attendees: The show consists of attendees from across Canada, particularly from Ontario.
Dedicated floor space: 80,000 sq.ft.
Show vendors: Approximately 600 exhibitors including general gift, at home, personal style and garden accessories.
Educational sessions: Education-al programs are offered in topics such as merchandising and display and customer service techniques.
The Torquay Fair
Torquay, Devon, UK
www.torquayfair.co.uk
Mission/background: To meet the needs of gift retailers and suppliers at the first major gift trade event of the year.
When: Jan. 15-18, 2006.
Registration: Register online at www.torquayfair.co.uk or by calling the Ticket Hotline at 01934 733456.
Attendance: 6,000-plus trade-only buyers.
Target markets: Independent retailers, multiple retailers, department stores, tourist attractions, historic and heritage sites.
Geographic region of attendees: 75 percent Southwest United Kingdom.
Washington Gift Show
Washington D.C.
www.washingtongiftshow.com
Mission/background: The Mid-Atlantic’s premier gift market.
When: Aug. 6-9, 2006.
Registration: Complimentary to qualified retail buyers.
Attendance: 6,000.
Target markets: Same as other GLM gift shows including Boston, Mass., and New York, N.Y.
Geographical region of attendees: Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware.
Dedicated floor space: 30,000 sq.ft. of exhibit space.
Show vendors: 300.
Educational sessions: Onsite programs.
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