Shopping the Shows
Shopping the Shows By Elizabeth Pensgard

The universe of gifts is constantly changing, and if you're not shopping the gift shows for the latest trends, you're getting left behind.

The most important thing you can do at any trade show is show up. Shows that cater to gifting are no different; you must keep abreast of trends to better serve your customer base. After all, if you don’t provide your customers with what they want, they will go elsewhere, and where else can you better determine trends in products than at a gift show?

Success Secrets

Veterans of trade shows will tell you that knowing your market means examining market trends locally, regionally, nationally and even internationally. For example, a local gift show would be in your state. A regional gift show would be within one day’s drive of your business — west, midwest, east regionality. A national gift show could potentially be a show located on the opposite end of where you are located in the country, and international gift shows are typically located in a major city within another country — Paris, Milan, London.

Another important reason buyers should experience trade shows is their ability to see the merchandise first-hand and determine its quality. The seasoned buyer will spend days combing over merchandise, noting new and continuing trends, and testing for quality and the best pricing. A pro will never place an order on first sight, or buy impulsively. Gifting shows, like everything else in life, must be taken in moderation. Impulse buy, and you could miss out on a trend, meanwhile wasting money. Wait until you get home to buy and you miss out on some substantial discounts.

Indeed, placing orders at, not after, the show is the secret for success of many gift show veterans. However, orders should be placed only after spending time reviewing merchandise and taking careful notes. Take in as many aspects of the show as you can, act stealthily and make only calculated decisions.

The following are some of the more popular regional, national and international gift shows that serve our industry. There are many, many other gift shows, at least one in every state. To find a show closer to home or to explore the variety of available shows, check out www.cyberexpo.com.

Atlanta International Gift/Home Furnishings Market

July 9-19 (temporaries); July 12-16 (permanents)

Contact/location information:

AmericasMart

240 Peachtree Street, Suite 2200

Atlanta, GA 30303

Contact Registration (404) 220-2446; AmericasMart (800)-ATL-MART

Fax (410) 721-9636

www.americasmart.com

Size of the exhibition space: 4.2 million square feet

Chicago Gift & Home Market

July 24-31 (permanents); July 27-30 (temporaries); Sept. 12-14

Contact/location information:

Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.

Suite 470, The Merchandise Mart

200 World Trade Center Chicago

Chicago, IL 60654

312/527-7687; (800) 677-6278

Fax: 312/527-7981

www.merchandisemart.com

Ratio of traveling to permanent exhibits: 650/300

Number of people who walked the show last year: 30,000

Number of exhibitors at last year’s show: 650 temporaries; 250 permanents

Other events available for attendees:

Sample Sale (to the trade only), November 4-5, 2002

Speakers? Yes.

Demos? Yes.

Number of different product categories the exhibitors represent:107

Size of the exhibition space: 650,000 square feet

Dates of 2003 show(s):

January Chicago Gift & Home Market

Jan. 22-29, 2003

Temporaries: Jan. 25-28, 2003

Dallas International Gift & Home Accessories Market

June 20-27; Sept. 21-24

Contact/location information:

Dallas Market Center

2100 Stemmons Freeway

MS 150

Dallas, TX 75207

(800) DAL-MKTS (800-325-6587)

[email protected]

Fax: (800) 637-6833

Size of the exhibition space: 6.9 million square feet

Dates of 2003 show(s): Jan. 15-22, 2003

New York City International Gift Fair

August 10-15, 2002

Contact/location information:

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and Passenger Ship Terminals

Pier 92 & 94

NY, NY

Attendee registration:(800) 272-SHOW

www.nyigf.com

Contact: Jung-Eun Kim (914) 421-3272

Number of people who walked the show last year: 45,000

Number of exhibitors at last year’s show: 2,900

Amount of time the show has been taking place: 51 years

Other events available for attendees: “Only in New York” Retail Tour;

New Buyer Orientation; Gifts and Decorative Accessories 51st Annual Retailer Excellence Awards Gala Dinner; Broadway show “Mamma Mia.”

Speakers? Yes.

Demos? Yes.

Size of the exhibition space: 638,000 square feet

Dates of 2003 show(s):

February 1-5, 2003

Galleria, Javits North Pavilion, Piers 88, 90, 92

February 1-4, 2003

Pier 94

February 2-6, 2003

Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

San Francisco International

Gift Fair

Aug. 3-7, 2002

Contact/location information:

Moscone Center & The Concourse Exhibition Center

Moscone Center north/south esplanade

747 Howard Street

San Francisco, CA 94103

(415) 974-4000

Fax: (415) 974-4073

www.sfigf.com

Number of exhibitors at last year’s show: Over 1,900

Number of different product categories the exhibitors represent: 16

Size of the exhibition space: 650,000 square feet

Dates of 2003 show(s): Winter show date: February 15-19, 2003

Seattle Gift Show

Aug. 17-21

Contact/location information:

Washington State Convention & Trade Center

800 Convention Place

Seattle, WA 98101

(800) 346-1212

www.seattlegift.com

Ratio of traveling to permanent exhibits: 150 permanent

Number of exhibitors at last year’s show: 895 companies; 1,460 booths

Other events available for attendees:

Opening night reception

Speakers? Yes.

Demos? Yes.

Number of different product categories the exhibitors represent:12

Size of the exhibition space: 141,086 net square feet

Number of buyers: 12,814

Dates of 2003 show(s): Jan. 5-29, 2003

Spring Fair Birmingham

Feb. 2-6, 2003

Contact/location information:

National Exhibition Center

Birmingham, England

011-44 (0)121 767 5511

[email protected]

Number of people who walked the show the year before last? 109,960

Number of exhibitors at the show the year before last: 4,170

Amount of time the show has been taking place: 25 years

Number of different product categories represented: 10

Number of buyers: 80,000

Dates of 2003 show(s): Feb. 2-6, 2003



Elizabeth Pensgard

Elizabeth Pensgard is an editorial assistant for Lawn & Garden Retailer.